Trese is NBDB Book Club's pick for July

Join the NBDB Book Club as we follow the trail of Alexandra Trese as she roves the streets of Manila to unravel crimes involving paranormal creatures Sherlock Holmes style.

This July’s book pick is Trese, the highly acclaimed series of graphic novels by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo. Contributing to the renaissance of Pinoy comics, Trese reintroduces us to the rich Philippine folklore with its inky sketches detailing creepy stories of dark creatures looming the streets of Manila. The NBDB Book Club will be joined by author Budjette Tan and Illustrator Kajo Baldisimo who will talk about their work and answer questions from fans.

Trese is published by VisPrint and is available at Comic Quest, Comic Odyssey, Pandayan, National Bookstore, Best Sellers, Fully Booked, Powerbooks and other leading bookstores and comics outlets.

The NBDB Book Club session will be held on July 25, 2 pm, at the Filipinas Heritage Library, Makati Avenue cor. Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Admission is free. Call 926-8238 for details.

KOMIKON AWARDS 2009 nominations now open

http://komikon.deviantart.com/journal/25484263/

The first ever KOMIKON AWARDS was held back in 2006 on the 2nd year of the Philippine Annual Komiks Convention. It is with great delight that we bring it back in a bigger and better venue and in celebrating the event’s 5th year. Once again, let us give recognition to those who continue to pour their heart, soul and income to a said “ailing industry” that still thrives to bring entertainment to future generations.
The categories are as follows:

Best Comic
This is for the ultimate… the chosen one. This is for the best among the rest. This means that the comic has achieved its ultimate potential; it’s all that and then some. This covers the mainstream comics, published and sold in the major local bookstores. This is for those that have reached the pinnacle of comic making; it’s up there, head and shoulders above the rest, looking down on us through a magnifying glass. This is for the comic that embodies all the things that made us love comics in the first place. The Best Comic award is divided in four categories:

- Best Graphic Novel / Anthology*
Graphic Novels are defined as novels whose narrative is related through a combination of text and art, often in comic-strip form. On the other hand, an anthology is a collection of stand alone comic book stories collected in one publication by a group or one author. This award aims to honor the best comic book creator or group of creators for their exemplary work.

- Best Serialized Comic*
A comic series published regularly in a magazine, newspaper or comic book publication.

- Best Comic Magazine
This award is given to the best comic book magazine still seeing print be it a single story or made up of several.

- Best Comic Strip Compilation
Here’s a step from the day-to-day print to more lasting impressions. One strip is never enough.


Best Comic Creator/s*
This award recognizes the talents of a solo artist or team of artists in making the best comic there is.

Best Cover*
A cover dictates how people see your comic. Sales also depend on the cover. And here we salute those covers that made us look and look hard. And the effort to it took to conceptualize, pencil, ink, and in some cases, to color the cover. The award shall go to the artist or group of artists that created such masterpiece.

Best Cartoonist*
The award acknowledges the countless comic strip artists whose works are published in newspapers, tabloids and magazines. Some might say that comic strip artists don’t get the props that they deserve. They give us the simple delight of a smile, a chuckle or an all-out laugh. They’re one of those everyday things we tend to pass by, yet they’re sometimes important as their humor is sometimes the only solace in those dreary days.

Grassroot Award*
This award is for those countless photocopied mini-comics that we now fondly call “indies”. That among those countless black and white comics stood out and proved to be the one with the most Oomph! of them all. This is for the indie that made the biggest dent among the populace be it good or bad, it made enough noise for people to look and take notice. It made enough of a statement that people actually stopped and listened. It brought something new and fresh that has never been done or seen before. Be it the concept, the art, or the story, it was a breath of fresh air among the masses of photocopied, folded in half and stapled twice in the spine comics. This is meant for those who dreamt of making a mark on the comic industry, and have succeeded, quite magnificently at that.

Best Webcomic*
A lot of effort goes into the webcomics we see and enjoy on the net. And they do not get the credit they deserve. But that’s why we are here, to give props to those under-appreciated webcomics, to give to where it is due.

Komiks Character of the Year
This award is for the most memorable, the funniest and most unforgettable komiks character. It could be male, female, a robot, an animal…anything. This is for our respective favorites, villain or hero.

Best Comic Scene
Who would forget that first kiss, that most tragic death, that most exhilarating fight, or even that scene that brought you to tears or made you curl up in laughter?

Comics Aid Award
Komiks would have not been possible if creators did not have any help. This is for those who have helped take comics from concept to fruition, from the little things to the humongous tasks. For all those who helped from photocopiers to publishers, family and friends, for artists, fans and fellow believers who continue to spread awareness about the industry, this is for those who have helped make what we see before our eyes.

NOMINATIONS
* Different titles created by a single artist/group can be nominated in one category.

• Nominated works, whether published, independent, or web comic, should have been released from 2006 until May 2009.

• Artists and works that have been nominated during the first KOMIKON Awards can still be nominated considering that their work/s is/are still being published during the nomination period.

• Nomination period will begin on July 1, 2009 and end on July 15, 2009.

• E-mail your nominations to komikon.awards@gmail.com with the subject: KOMIKON AWARDS NOMINATION. Only e-mail nominations will be accepted.


VOTING

• Voting period will be from August 10 – September 20, 2009. The voting procedures will be announced.

For inquiries about the awards, please feel free to comment or direct your questions to komikon.awards@gmail.com

We have a new partner outlet!

Pinoy Pocketbooks, the leading Tagalog Romance Pocket book online store, has alloted some online shelf spaces for VISPRINT titles.

They deliver anywhere in the Philippines (yey!) and across the globe! (with the exception of NIGERIA, IRAQ, AFGANISTAN and NORTH KOREA.)

Powerbooks' Book Fiesta!

Come one, come all!!!

All Visprint titles will be sold with a 10% discount in all participating Powerbooks branches :)

Book Fiesta Sale
Mechanics for book fiesta:

1. All books from these participating publishers are discounted accordingly:

PUBLISHER [DISCOUNT]
Anvil Publishing [10%]
Visprint [10%]
Milflores [10%]
OMF Literature [10%]
Lampara Books [10%]
Precious Pages [10%]
UST Pub. House [10%]
Adarna House [5%]
CSM Publishing [5%]
UP Press [5%]

2. Participating Powerbooks branches are Greenbelt, Megamall, Alabang Town Center, Glorietta, Shangri-la, Mall of Asia, Festival, Robinson's Ermita, Trinoma & Powerbooks Website

3. Promo period is from June 1 to 30, 2009.

[Mechanics and banner ad courtesy of Powerbooks website.]

Maraming salamat po sa mga nagpunta ng Komikon :)

Sa mga bumili, tumingin, pumila, naghintay, nag-picture-taking, nangulit, at nagpasarap ng isa na namang Komikon...

Maraming maraming salamat po!

Sa uulitin :)

Pagkatapos ng Heneral, sunod si Kapitan!

a short (?) message from BO.

Kapitan Sino - updated

THERE IS SOMETHING STRANGE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Naunahan na naman ang mga pulis sa pagtugis sa mga holdaper ng isang jewelry shop. Bago noon, may iba na ring nakahuli sa isang carnaper; sumaklolo sa mga taong nasa itaas ng nasusunog na building; nagligtas sa sanggol na hinostage ng ama; tumulong para makatawid sa kalsada ang isang matanda; tumiklo sa mga miyembro ng Akyat-Bahay; sumagip sa mag-anak na tinangay ng tubig-baha; nag-landing nang maayos sa isang Boeing 747 na nasiraan ng engine; at nagpasabog sa isang higanteng robot. Pero sino ang taong ‘yon? Maililigtas nya ba sila Aling Baby? At ano nga ba talaga ang sabon ng mga artista?

KAPITAN SINO

Ang pinakabagong superhero noon.
Mas matibay pa sa orig.
Sa mas mahabang panahon.

KAPITAN SINO
ni Bob Ong
ISBN: 978-9710-54501-8
168 pages, paperback
Filipiniana, FICTION
Suggested Retail Price: P175.00

*NOW available in Pandayan Bookshop branches 05.13.09
Powerbooks: Trinoma, SM Megamall, Shangri-la, Glorietta & Greenbelt 05.15.09

**UPDATE as of 05.19.09
Now in selected National Bookstore branches
Best to call your branches to inquire of the book's availability.
Konting pasensiya lang po at mahina ang kalaban.
We're hoping to reach all branches nationwide before the month ends.

**Now available in: (as of 05.25.09)
Fully Booked branches
Merriam&Webster Kalookan branch
101 Boutique (UPLB)
Newsies Books & Magazines (Gaisano Mall, Butuan City)
Divisoria.com (for international orders)

Next week in:
Sunlife Bookstore (Lucena City)

For Komikon first timers, here's how to get to the UP Bahay Ng Alumni:

Thanks to the organizers for providing this Road Map :D

The Hottest Komiks Event This Summer!

KOMIKON SUMMER FIESTA 2009

UP Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman
May 16, 2009, 10am-8pm, Saturday
Entrance Fee: Php 50.00

The VISPRINT booth will be at the right side exit of the venue.

Meet and greet and have your books signed by Visprint creators:

• Carlo Vergara of "Ang Kagila-gilalas Na Pakikipagsapalaran Ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah"
• David Hontiveros of the Penumbra novellas: "Takod", "Parman" and "Craving"
• Manix Abrera of the "Kikomachine Komix" series
• Freely Abrigo of "Kulas"; and
• Budjette Tan & Kajo Baldisimo of the "Trese" series

A limited number of For Official Use Only and Kikomachine t-shirts will be available too!

See you all there :D

Coming VERY soon

Kikomachine Komix Blg. 5 out now!!! -- UPDATED

(cover spread with detachable band)

(front cover without the band)

Kikomachine Komix Blg. 5
"Alab Ng Puso Sa Dibdib Mo'y Buhay!"
Creator: Manix Abrera
ISBN: 971-05450-0-0
B&W comic strip compilation
SRP: P125.00

Bobong Pinoy for Dummies

Update on Bob Ong's Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Totoo bang may E-book version ang mga libro ni BO?
A: Kung meron man, ilegal na mga kopya; walang kabayaran na natatanggap si BO at walang donasyon na napupunta sa mga organisasyon na umaasa sa tulong ng mga mambabasa. Hindi sinusuportahan ni BO ang E-books dahil aksaya lang sa natural resources ang pagkain nito ng kuryente. Sa pagtangkilik ng E-books, tinatalikuran mo ang pagkakataong makatulong sa mga kapuspalad, ninanakawan mo maging ang likas na yaman ng planeta, at pinagkakaitan mo ng pasasalamat ang isang poging Filipino author. Hindi ka cool, at bagay sayo ang pangalang Lucifer.

Q: Hindi ko naman yata nabasa sa mga libro ni BO yung mga quotations na umiikot ngayon sa text at email; kanya ba talaga yon?
A: Hindi. Minsan korni si BO, minsan jologs. Pero pag sabay na korni at jologs ang quote, di sa kanya yon. Simula ngayon ang magpasa ng maling text may hadhad. Game!

Read (and enjoy) the rest of it here :)

Bob Ong is...

busy with his new enterprise:

and his latest book:

"10 Big Myths about copyright explained"

by Brad Templeton

An attempt to answer common myths about copyright seen on the net and cover issues related to copyright and USENET/Internet publication.

1) If it doesn't have a copyright notice, it's not copyrighted.
2) If I don't charge for it, it's not a violation.
3) If it's posted to Usenet it's in the public domain.
4.) My posting was just fair use!
5) If you don't defend your copyright you lose it. -- Somebody has that name copyrighted!
6) If I make up my own stories, but base them on another work, my new work belongs to me.
7) They can't get me, defendants in court have powerful rights!
8) Oh, so copyright violation isn't a crime or anything?
9) It doesn't hurt anybody -- in fact it's free advertising.
10) They e-mailed me a copy, so I can post it.
11) So I can't ever reproduce anything?

Note that this is an essay about copyright myths. It assumes you know at least what copyright is -- basically the legal exclusive right of the author of a creative work to control the copying of that work.

Good news? Bad news?

Please be advised that our titles for release for 2009 has already been filled-up and closed.

Expect the following titles in your suking bookstores by the first quarter of the year:

- Kikomachine Komix Blg. 5 "Alab Ng Puso Sa Dibdib Mo'y Buhay!"

- Trese No. 3, the third and last (???) installment

- Bob Ong's [surprisa!!!]

- A horror/suspense novel from Visprint's newest author, G. M. Coronel

- - - - - - - - - -

We have opened 2 more slots for the 2010 release to NEW visprint authors/creators. Interested parties, see our Submission Guidelines here.

Reminder though, the list do get filled-up pretty fast.

Yey! Komikon na naman!

Ika-4 Filipino Komiks Convention
November 22, 2008 (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
UP Bahay ng Alumni, Diliman Quezon City
Entrance Fee: Php 50

The 4th Filipino Komiks Convention aims to bring together comic book artists/groups and publishers in a venue where they could present their talents, works and services to the public. It will showcase the creations of Filipino artists from various genres and themes and give tribute to the creators and their creations.

- - - - - - - - - -

VISPRINT booth will be located at E24 - along the Exhibitors Area, and near the Guest Artists area.

See you there!