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Coming Up: Singapore Toy, Game, and Comic Convention 2012

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:21:28 +0100

Callous Comics
ARTIST ALLEY - BOOTH F48

    Yes, you read it right! Callous Comics is going to Singapore!
    This is the first time I'll be appearing outside my own country in a convention, so I'm really excited! I have no idea what to expect as I haven't even attended STGCC before. Braving the world, indeed!
    It's also quite heartening to discover that many of my friends from the Philippine comic community will be there as well. So be sure to pass by my booth (F48) and that of the incredible people of Komikon (A16)!

    If you're new to the series, please do check out the About page!

    So what's in store from Callous Comics at STGCC 2012?

1. Callous Comic Books

All Callous Comics books will be available at STGCC 2012, including the recently released Callous Comics - On Lighter Dreams! They are listed below:

Callous: The Comic Strip Series - Chocolate Chip Wishes and Caffeine Dreams (4.50 SGD)
- The Webcomic Doctor is in! Dr. Rianne Nicah is a struggling new physician who braves the world with her Guardian Duck, Cal Duck! Meet Rianne and her friends in the first-ever Callous Comics compilation of gag-a-day comic strips! The book is A5 size (5.23"x8.27"), saddle-stitched, with 32 full-color pages. Features Black & White and Colored comic strips.
Callous Comics - Take Two Spoonfuls of the Sunny Side! (4.75 SGD)
- The Webcomic Doctor returns! Dr. Rianne Nicah, Cal Duck, and the rest of the Callous Comics gang return in their second gag-a-day comic strip compilation! The book is A5 size (5.23"x8.27"), saddle-stitched, with 36 full-color pages. Features full-color comic strips, Sunday comics, and a bonus storyline!
Callous Comics - The Land of the Guardians (4.50 SGD)
- An ancient evil threatens the world of the Guardian Ducks and Dr. Rianne Nicah is made to brave their world! Could she be the key to stopping this menace? Book is A5 size (5.23"x8.27"), saddle-stitched, with 32 full-color pages. Features "The Land of the Guardians" and two bonus storylines!
Callous Comics - On Lighter Dreams (6.00 SGD)
- Dr. Rianne Nicah returns to the Guardian Realm in this sprawling epic fantasy storyline to face a shadowy threat! Book is A5 size (5.23"x8.27"), saddle-stitched, with 52 full-color glossy pages! It also features a foreword by fantasy author Walter Shuler (Celadonian Tales Vol. 1: Blood and Brass, Gods of Sand and Stone, At the Edge of the World)

2. Webcomics: What's Cooking? (24.00 SGD)

Hey webcomic lovers! This one-of-a-kind collector's item is headed to Singapore! Get it and not only will you have a great collection of art and comics from over fifty of the world's popular webcomic artists, but you get corresponding recipes as well! That's right, it's a comic book AND cookbook! Furthermore, you get to help feed someone in need (proceeds go to North American food banks).

Listed below are the contributing webcomic creators:

    Brian Anderson (Dog Eat Doug)
    Chu (Slightly Damned)
    Benny Powell (Wayward Sons: Legends)
    Ben Carter & Paul Westover (Woody After Hours)
    Krishna Sadasivam (PC Weenies)
    Lora Innes (The Dreamer)
    Emy Bitner (Trying Human)
    Irma Erikkson (Imy Comic)
    Lezley Davidson (Peeling Onions)
    Barry Linck (Phineus: Magician For Hire)
    Jeff Schutze (JEFBOT)
    David Reddick (Legend of Bill)
    Samantha Wikan (Life’s A Witch)
    Dawn Griffin (Zorphbert & Fred)
    Thomas Overbeck (Times Like This)
    Peter Vine (Hard Graft)
    Michelle Van Zandt (Ginpu)
    John Horsley III (Y2CL)
    Kneon Transitt (Shadowbinders)
    Agent Eben07 & Agent DBethel (Eben 07)
    Amy Letts (Epic Fail)
    George Ward (Dungeon Legacy)
    Antoine Gagnon (The Drunken Fools)
    Byron Wilkins (1977 the Comic)
    Jules Rivera (Marsh Rocket)
    Sandy Debreuil (Crowbar Benson)
    Pam Harrison (House of the Muses)
    George Ford (Addanac City)
    Aidan Casserly (Scapula)
    Tom Szewc (Alone in a Crowd)
    Kevin Broden and Shannon Muir (Flying Glory)
    Sean Archer (Milo the Cloud)
    Sean McLean (Underwhelmed)
    Caanan Grall (Max Overacts)
    Teri and Lee Blauersmith (Godseeker)
    Adam Schlosser (Sins)
    Graham Moogk-Soulis (Postscript)
    Dr. Carlo Jose San Juan (Callous Comics)
    Rob Chambers (Meat Shield)
    Tim Lai (Lemon Inc.)
    Arne Schulenberg (Union of Heroes)
    Rachel Keslensky (Last Res0rt)
    Tricia Lupien (Swiftriver)
    Chet Spiewak (Vinny The Bug Man)
    Jules Faulkner (Promise Comic)
    Scott King & Micheal Odom (Holiday Wars)
    Dustin Reese (Plus One)

There's more! For every purchase of Webcomics: What's Cooking? you get a FREE limited-edition magnet featuring Captain TGT artwork by Lar deSouza (Least I Could Do)! This offer is only valid while supplies last.

3. Button Pins (1.00 SGD)

Five different Callous Comics button pins will be available! Pick your favorite or get them all!

Of course, I'm always open to comic chitchat (as well as football talk) so be sure to come on over and say hi!

See you there!

Callous - The Newspaper Comic Strip

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 16:29:36 +0100

The August 19, 2012 issue of Manila Bulletin and its first published Callous comic strip!

    I have a sort of superstition that if I divulge too much of what I'm working on, particularly things that really matter to me, it will probably not succeed. Indeed, I had been pushing for Callous Comics to be in the newspapers for some time now but had kept really quiet about it.
    For those not in the know, the Manila Bulletin is the Philippines' largest broadsheet newspaper by circulation. It's the second-oldest as well, being founded in 1900.
    One additional reason why this development is so fantastic is that I grew up reading the Bulletin's comics page. That's where my love for the comic strip genre began. So out of purely sentimental reasons, I glad Callous is in there.
    So, my longtime dream has come true... sixteen years after the series started! I couldn't be happier!
    Thank you, all of you who have given me and my little comic support and encouragement within those long years of dreaming. Who would have thought that I'd be paid to draw Callous Comics one day?!
    As awesome as it is to finally be in the papers, there are a few minor catches:
    The current status of Callous Comics in the Manila Bulletin is that of a "filler". That sort of means that it's on the bench while the starting lineup plays first. If for whatever reason a regular daily comic strip isn't available for printing, a "filler" is published in its place. I'm fine with this. Gotta start somewhere, right? I've been told, however, that there's a good chance that the comic may be published more often during Sundays.
    Those who did pick up a copy of today's edition will most likely note a glaring error in the series title. Yeah, my comic was mistakenly given the title of another series. It was a real downer for my strip's debut... but I'm channeling my inner Cal Duck and counting my blessings. After all, they got my name right!
    Will there be any changes to the comic for the Manila Bulletin? Yes. One, the size of the strip will be different (you might note the larger panel gutters in the above image). Two, there will be an infusion of a bit more local color in the strips to be published in the paper or I'll flat-out translate the strips to Filipino.
    What about the webcomic? It'll go on. While I'm working on the "Heartstring Pizzicato" storyline, I'll be submitting re-written comic strips from the archive as the need arises. After the storyline is done, I'll re-size the comic template to properly fit the dimensions used in the paper. Then there will be two versions of newly-produced gag-a-day strips, one worded appropriately for the Manila Bulletin and another for online publishing here in the website. I might even make some exclusively for the Bulletin. We'll see.
    So, what's next? No idea. Let's see where we go from here. :)

On the Indieket 2012 Video

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:04:35 +0100

The Callous Comics Indieket 2012 Video

    For this year's 100 Araw ng Komiks campaign, we've been tasked to come up with "fantasy soundtracks" for our respective comic series. As many of you who read this blog know, I've made some "unofficial" music videos for Callous Comics before. I haven't talked about the reasoning behind the songs selected for those videos before so I'll do so for one of them now.
    Prior to Indieket 2012, we independent comic exhibitors were told that we were being given the chance to promote ourselves through a one-minute video to be projected on the event's main screen. I originally opted to use an old video, albeit edited to be a minute long, which featured Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Le nozze di Figaro Overture". My intent was to portray Dr. Rianne Nicah's frantic, confusing, and maddening life while having that undertone of Cal Duck's point of view that life is beautiful and that everything is just part of the harmony in the world's grand symphony. I felt Mozart's piece would have been a wonderful soundtrack to Callous Comics (and I still do) but it was tough to edit it down to anywhere close to a minute while maintaining the parts I felt spoke the message of the comic.
    I then thought of my favorite opera, Gioacchino Rossini's Il Barbiere di Sivigla (which, like many people, I first encountered through Bugs Bunny) and realized that the last aria of the first act, Mi par d'esser con la testa, somewhat fit the bill. It's an amazing composition in itself and requires particularly slick-tongued artists in its quintet. It's also my favorite part of the opera.

This piece takes place in a frozen moment in time when all the major characters and the policemen in the background speak of their respective personal variations of confusion, sometimes at the same time, in thunderous fashion. It's all done brilliantly and in a lighthearted tone which plays well with the portrayal I was going for in the video. Read the lyrics below and my meager attempt at translation:

Mi par d'esser con la testa in un'orrida fucina, dove cresce e mai non resta delle incudini sonore l'importuno strepitar. Alternando questo e quello pesantissimo martello fa con barbara armonia muri e volte rimbombar. E il cervello, poverello, gia' stordito, sbalordito, non ragiona, si confonde, si riduce ad impazzar.

I seem to have placed my head into a horrid forge, where the anvil pounding grows louder with unending rage.
The alternating heavy hammer blows make the walls and ceiling resound with barbarous harmony. And my brain,
poor thing, already stunned, astounded, can no longer reason, becomes confused, and reduced to madness.

    It is worth noting that while the lyrics seem quite dark in context, the opera itself is a pretty lighthearted comedy (a rarity in the world of opera, I hear).
    When the video was played in the Indieket the initial chirping violins couldn't be heard over the crowd noise and the fast-paced flashing insanity probably went over everyone's heads. Those already familiar with the series enjoyed it but I doubt it gained me any new readers. Nevertheless, while the video wasn't a good promotional tool in the middle of a comic con, I felt it spoke well of the comic.

    Lastly, enjoy this decent performance of Act I's finale! Mi par d'esser con la testa comes in about halfway through:

An explanation on what occurs in the above video and more talk about the song as well.

Insert Smiley Face Here: My Indieket 2012 Report

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:03:28 +0100

Rock on! (Photo by Kit Perez)

    I've mentioned before how brilliant the Indieket was as a proposed event. After the fact I realized how much of an understatement that was!
    Within the independent komiks community, the Indieket (short for Komikon's Grand Independent Komiks Market) was one big contest of sorts. Most of the participants were vying for the limited free spots in the independent comics area of Komikon's main comic conventions. The top ten highest-earning comic groups would get such spots. Another ten were raffled off. The remaining spots will be given to those who achieve certain aspects of comic production such as best comic cover, best booth design, outstanding marketing, etc.
    It's that latter-most aspect that showcases the brilliance of this event, in my opinion. Groups that work that extra effort in such aspects of comic production get rewarded and I love that!
    For an attendee, the first thing they'd probably notice was how much smaller the convention space was compared to Komikon's main events. However, the space was more than adequate to house over fifty independent groups plus nineteen booths with sponsors, paid exhibitors, speakers, and organizers.
    What I didn't expect was the surprisingly large number of attendees that showed up for an all-independent comic convention! It was a heartening to witness such support.
    There were talks by Melvin Calingo, Professor Emil Flores, and Gerry Alanguilan on various topics on comic production. I would catch bits and pieces but when business would come to my table I'd focus on that. I was in a poor spot on the floor to make the most of these talks anyway. Still, it's always a shame to miss out on these panels and an inherent disadvantage in being a convention exhibitor, particularly a solo one.
    I was extremely thankful that the Carbtrim Iced Tea booth had returned. Their free samples kept me alive as they were so close to my table. Yeah, I didn't have a bite to eat all day so thanks, Carbtrim! Alleged health benefits aside, it was quite tasty!

With M.O.U.S.E. artist Pilar Nenita Esber

It was great to catch up with good friends too, of course. I was seated next to the dynamic duo of Hub Pacheco and Teddy Pavon of fellow webcomic Work in Progress and on the same table as the the Happy Lockjaw bunch, known for their excellent comic "Drop Dead Dangerous". As usual, it was great to see Pilar Esber again (we only see each other in conventions) and we had short chats about M.O.U.S.E.. She showed me her pencils for some of the already published pages and they look phenomenal! I'm hoping to display those in Komikon 2012 in October.
One of my many hats is being moderator at Usapang Football and finally those two worlds merged. I got to meet one of the regulars of the forum and live chat, Jerwin Esarza. It was his first foray into the world of Philippine comics and he left with a glowing impression! Astoundingly, we didn't talk about association football at all. If you remember what I wore in Metro Comic Con 2011, you can probably tell I'm a longtime fan-crazed nut when it comes to the Philippine Men's National Football Team.

Callous Comics at Indieket 2012 (top photo by Joanah Tinio Calingo)

    I mentioned earlier that most of the independent exhibitors were vying for Indie area spots for Komikon 2012. I was an exception. Due to Callous Comics being the highest-earning indie seller in Summer Komikon 2012, I already won a free full-sized exhibitor booth for Komikon 2012 in October. Nevertheless, that didn't stop me from having as great a time as I could in this Indieket!
    After the initial winners of indie seller spots were announced, I was told that Callous Comics was the 6th highest-earning booth and won the votes for best booth design. Considering the only new release I had was the Amami Bunny Brand button pin, being 6th among over fifty indie exhibitors was pretty darn good in my book. As for booth design, I had my recent co-hosting of the TGT podcast's "Business of Conventions" episode to thank. Featured guest Jonathon Brock and hosts Kurt Sasso and I tackled booth design and its various philosophies so that chat helped a lot. However, the supposed indie spot I won was given away to respective succeeding winners since I had already won an exhibitor booth. Still, the fact that my efforts were somewhat recognized was already a reward in itself.
    When it was all said and done the Indieket looked like a successful experiment! I applaud Komikon for coming up with the idea in the first place and for giving independent comic producers like myself such a bright spotlight to shine under. The comics industry in the Philippines is growing with each passing day and events like this are giant leaps forward.

Coming Up: The First Komikon Indieket 2012

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 11:28:35 +0100

Callous Comics is part of another first and an exciting one at that! This Saturday, July 14, 2012, the first-ever Komikon Indieket will take place in the Bayanihan Center in Pasig City.
You can find Callous Comics at table I15 along with Komikon 2011 Webcomic Readers' Choice awardee Work in Progress (WIPComics) and the incredible folks of Happy Lockjaw who bring with them their book, Drop Dead Dangerous!

I've talked about my thoughts on this epic event before so I'll jump straight to what's in store from Callous Comics for Indieket 2012!

I'll be launching the Amami Bunny button pin in Indieket 2012! Slap on the official Amami Bunny brand logo onto your armor... just like the Black Queen herself! I'll also be launching the Guardian Duck button pin reissue which actually had to go through a second production run. This time, however, it'll have revised art though it won't be too different from the original. All Callous Comics button pins are only Php 30!

The gag-a-day compilations: "Callous: The Comic Series - Chocolate Chip Wishes and Caffeine Dreams" and "Callous Comics - Take Two Spoonfuls of the Sunny Side!" will be available at Php 150 and Php 160, respectively.

The compiled adventures of Dr. Rianne as the Black Queen in the world of her Guardian Duck friends, "Callous Comics - The Land of the Guardians" and "Callous Comics - On Lighter Dreams", will also be available at Php 150 and Php 200, respectively. I'll also have an On Lighter Dreams poster by Ernest John Daryll Fiestan for sale at Php 50 each.

    The one-of-a-kind collaborative comic book/cookbook by various webcomic artists from around the world for the benefit of food banks in North America, Webcomics: What's Cooking?, will be available as well at Php 740 and that includes a free limited-edition magnet featuring exclusive artwork by Lar deSouza (Least I Could Do)!

    I'll also be wearing another prototype T-Shirt. It's the same T-shirt I wore in Summer Komikon 2012 but this time in red and produced by Zazzle.com. Tell me what you think of it! The Cal Duck and Ling Duck plushies as well as the figurines by Rommel "Omeng" Estanislao will be on display! Woo hoo!

    Well, see you at Indieket 2012! :D

Komikon Annnounces the INDIEKET: My Thoughts

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:47:46 +0100

    Just this week, the good folks that bring us Komikon announced a new event that's, surprisingly, coming up really really fast! That event is the First Komikon Grand Independent Komiks Market, or "Indieket", for short. It'll be on July 14, 2012 in Hall A of the Bayanihan Center, Unilab Center, in Pasig City from 10am – 7pm. For more information about the event, check out the announcement at the Komikon website!
    Much has been said regarding the role of the independent comic scene in the current revival of "komiks" (as locally owned and/or produced comics are known as). Some have gone as far as saying that it is the heart and soul of the current Philippine comic book industry. Indications of its perceived importance can be seen during any major comic convention in the country where independent artists are given prime convention floor space, often for free.
    In such conventions, indie komik producers run an online race to stake a claim for these very limited free tabletop spots. This leaves those who aren't proverbially glued to computer screens to often miss out on getting a spot in these shared tables.
    Perhaps recognizing this drawback in their exhibitor selection process and limitation of tablespace for the increasingly populous indie komiks community during their main comic events, Komikon brings us an all-independent convention! They do add, however, that all those who wish to have a spot in the Indie area of the upcoming Komikon in October have to participate in this event as the exhibitors who can avail of these tables will be determined from the Indieket.
    It was announced that the free tables for October will go to: the top ten highest-earning exhibitors of the Indieket, the top ten ticket sellers (I'm still confused as to how this will play out), and the remaining fifteen spots will be raffled off.
    As for the Indieket itself, there doesn't seem to be another online race to get free spots for it. Perhaps it is a valid assumption that there will be enough space for all who wish to participate.
    What do I think? The INDIEKET is a brilliant idea!
    First and foremost, this brings independent titles to the forefront! For this event, the indies are the stars of the show!
    Secondly, the selection process for independent area tablespaces is a warranted experimentation and, in my opinion, an improvement. It rewards those who have gained a following and perhaps even newbies who have a keen sense of effective marketing. And even without the above, there are fifteen spots given by pure chance. I'm very interested to see how it'll all pan out.
    Third, this may bring the local komiks community to a new frontier. I believe this is a daring experiment and I'm incredibly excited about it! I may be speaking beyond the scope of the event, but within the Indieket, a convention filled with ideally unrestricted creativity, we may witness a whole new maturing of the community in ways that may not have been possible with the former methods of support for the local independent scene. It'll be a fascinating event!
    Yes, I've applied to be a part of it. I do hope I get a spot in the Indieket. Nevertheless, if not, I'll still be there! This is too epic to miss. :)

My Summer Komikon 2012: Woot!

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:42:31 +0100

My spot at the Independent Komiks Tiangge

    "Oh my! A BEL BEAN figurine!"
    That was the delightful exclamation of a regular reader as he spotted the figurines made by Rommel Estanislao displayed on my table. Another fan adored the duckling plushie I recently purchased from a bargain bin and instantly knew it was supposed to be Ling Duck! It was a wonderful feeling to see secondary characters like Bel and Master Ling get as much, if not more, love than Rianne and Cal Duck.
    And those were but a few moments that made a truly memorable Summer Komikon 2012, quite possibly my best comic con to date!
    Let me, however, start from the beginning.
    My preparation for Summer Komikon 2012 was turbulent to say the least. The hunt for an affordable and quality printing press for the On Lighter Dreams book was an adventure in itself. My favored press gave me a quotation that I just couldn't afford so I hunted around for an alternative.
    Then, my wife and I were blessed with a second child. As wonderful as it is to have a new baby daughter, she took what little spare time I had for Callous Comics so I had to go on break from the series and that included my work on the new book.
    Furthermore, the precious free spots of the independent comics area of Summer Komikon 2012 filled up within hours of their initial availability. I wasn't sure if I was one of those who landed a table and all the paid booths were taken.
    Fortunately, I was one of the few who submitted the application in time for the free tablespace. Then, I found a great printing press that far surpassed the quality of my previous one with a decent quote. Suddenly, it seemed like things were going full speed ahead for the con and I was grateful!

As usual, I was there early to set up my tablespace.

For this comic con, I went all out when it came to my booth display (at least without the aid of electronic media). I took some advice I got from my participation in Patrick Scullin's #webcomicschat and from Jim Clark & Dave Wachter's (The Guns of Shadow Valley) TGT interview. The thing about the Independent Komiks Tiangge is that roughly three comic creators/groups share a single exhibitor table. That leaves roughly a little more than a two square foot tabletop area per independent comic exhibitor. That necessitated a more vertical display to be eye-catching, so I had banners in front of my table and one behind me as a backdrop. I also finally remembered to bring the aforementioned figurines (something I kept promising to the sculptor I'd do but would eventually forget in prior conventions) and duckling plushie as well as the Cal Duck plushie (a modified Donald Duck) I made for GTMACCON 2011. I didn't stack my books on the table like I'd normally do. This time I propped them up on cheap book holders with a browsing copy laid down in front of them.

Callous Comics at Summer Komikon 2012

    Sales were good (more on that later) and On Lighter Dreams was my best seller this comic con followed closely by Chocolate Chip Wishes and Caffeine Dreams. I guess that probably meant that I had a lot of returning customers but still picked up a fair amount of new readers. I also sold a few button pins and a poster by Ernest John Daryll Fiestan.
    I also "field-tested" a T-Shirt design. I'd ask people who'd stop at my table for their opinion on the shirt. I got enough positive feedback to warrant serious consideration into its production.
    But of course, I wasn't all business during the comic con. At least to me, it's about meeting people and catching up with good friends.

My longtime friends Dre and Janlo Cui at their Electromagnetic Tentacle booth

Cal Duck wearing the Boy Bakal helmet

The view from my table: Mr. Mark Millar himself (he was hilarious)

There's only so much a smartphone camera can do. This is the Supercrooks gang:Gerry Alanguilan, Leinl Yu, Mark Millar, and Sunni Goh.

Here I am trying to compute change in my head when the whole time my phone had an app for that! Loved this guy's bag.

It's the norm, I sign every book I sell unless asked otherwise.

Take Two Spoonfuls of the Sunny Side! cover co-artist Dr. Joyce Dancel passed by just as a couple of lucky buyers got their copies. Joyce was happy to sign their books as well.

I was delighted to finally meet this lady, Patti "The Cheesemaster"!

    I got to meet a few "tweeps" this comic con. It's an absolute pleasure to finally meet these wonderful people outside of Twitter. I only regret that I couldn't chat with them longer, being stuck behind a table and all. Nevertheless, I was delighted to meet them all! :)
    Now the bad news... I finally encountered an inquirer I wasn't too fond of. I won't give away who this person was though. Still, it was an experience I could have gone without. Really, I was too old for it.
    Now the great news... Komikon awards the highest earning independent comic exhibitor with a free exhibitor booth for their next event and for Summer Komikon 2012... I was the winner!

With my best seller this comic con, the gorgeous On Lighter Dreams

    I packed up an hour before the convention ended to get the chance to roam around the event hall. I picked up a few independent titles. I was amazed to find one of my favorite comics, Massimiliano Frezzato's The Keepers of the Maser 1: The Second Moon being sold in the Happy Lockjaw booth. It's such a rare gem. I'm glad someone bought it. I bought a few back issues of Heavy Metal and the Spy vs. Spy Omnibus.
    Finally, the convention closed and we independent artists gathered around to do what is quickly becoming a tradition... have a quick post-convention mini party! There was a bit of dancing and a cake to much on (thanks again, Tepai!) and just a great sense of, I don't know, victory amongst us all. Perhaps it was the post-convention high or the knowledge that we once again did our part to keep comics alive in the country. Or both.
    Well, that's it for now. I'll post more pics from the event in the page in Facebook soon. Thanks to all who gave Callous Comics a chance and those who continue to support it! I truly appreciate it! And a big thank you to those who support Komikon and other conventions in the Philippines!
    See you at the next event! And particularly, Komikon 2012 in October! ;)

Coming Up: Summer Komikon 2012

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:20:54 +0100

Hey everyone!

It's summertime once again here in the Philippines and the premier comic event of the season is just around the corner! On May 26, 2012, all roads of fantasy, adventure, humor, and superheroic excitement lead to the Bayanihan Center in Pasig City! Here comes Summer Komikon 2012!

Once again, Callous Comics will be at the independent comics area, known in Komikon events as the Indie Komiks Tiangge (see the other indie comic creators in the area)! Here's what's in store for you from the Callous Comics tabletop!

1. Callous - The Comic Strip Series: Chocolate Chip Wishes and Caffeine Dreams (Php150)

The webcomic doctor is in! Dr. Rianne Nicah is a struggling new physician who braves the world with her Guardian Duck, Cal Duck! Meet Rianne and her friends in the first-ever Callous Comics compilation! Book is A5 size (5.23"x8.27"), saddle-stitched, with 32 full-color pages. Features Black & White and Colored comic strips.

2. Callous Comics - Take Two Spoonfuls of the Sunny Side! (Php160)

The webcomic doctor returns! Dr. Rianne Nicah, Cal Duck, and the rest of the Callous Comics gang return in their second comic strip compilation! Book is A5 size (5.23"x8.27"), saddle-stitched, with 36 full-color pages. Features full-color comic strips and Sunday comics!

3. Callous Comics - The Land of the Guardians (Php150)

An ancient evil threatens the world of the Guardian Ducks and Dr. Rianne Nicah is made to brave their world! Could she be the key to stopping this menace? Book is A5 size (5.23"x8.27"), saddle-stitched, with 32 full-color pages. Features "The Land of the Guardians" and two bonus storylines.

4. Callous Comics - On Lighter Dreams (Php200)

This year's new release has Rianne and Cal Duck returning to the land of the Guardians! A shadowy threat is plaguing the inter-realms! Will they be able to stop it? Book is A5 size (5.23"x8.27"), saddle-stitched, with 52 full-color glossy pages.

5. Webcomics: What's Cooking? (Php740)

Callous Comics is a proud contributor to the Webcomics: What's Cooking? project, a campaign to help raise money to benefit food banks across North America! The book features full-page, custom-created comics and/or artwork by over sixty great webcomic creators from around the world, paired with a fun, tasty recipe! Satisfy your hunger, tickle your funny bone, and help those in need at the same time! Read more about the cookbook HERE.
Those who do purchase the cookbook will receive a limited-edition Captain TGT magnet featuring artwork by Lar deSouza for FREE! That's a combined value of USD $21.95! Also, I'll put in a free sketch into the book's sketch page to start off your collection.

5. Callous Comics Button Pins (Php 30 each)

The Callous Comics figurines by Rommel "Omeng" Estanislao will also be on display. Have your picture taken with the Cal Duck and Ling Duck plush dolls! They also offer free hugs (just don't get them dirty).

See you all on Saturday!

Hello 2012!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:54:14 +0100

    Hello everyone! I just thought I'd give an update on things.
    First of all, my break from comics that started last October 2011 is over. I realize I never got into the details of why I had to go on break. Although the nature of my comic does deal with my other, more demanding profession, I do try to keep the two worlds apart, hence my reluctance to divulge such information. I will say, however, that I did have to focus on an important task when it comes to my being a doctor, and it has turned out well. :)
    Those of you who do follow the comic on a daily basis should have noticed that my update scheduling has been erratic. That is because I'm in the process of moving to a new home and am producing comic strips in a makeshift setup that is far from my comfort zone. This also explains my disappearance from Google hangouts and live streams. It may take a few weeks to months for things to smooth over enough that I can produce comic strips comfortably. In the meantime, I'm doing what I can when I can.
    I was also fortunate to be hosted by Comicx Hub to man an artist table at the De La Salle University Comic Con. It was nice to show up at my old alma mater and to the place where Callous Comics was born all those years ago. (Pics here).
    I do have some things lined up when it comes to appearances and comic cons. So be sure to keep following me on Twitter and Callous Comics on Facebook.
    And as for comics I'm hoping to launch a new webcomic soon. I'll be the writer of an upcoming series, this time in longform, with artist Pilar Esber.
    And last but not least, THANK YOU to all those who contributed guest work during the break! I received some that I couldn't post because I was too busy to do so but I'll be sure to feature them sometime soon! :)
    Well, bring on 2012!

My Komikon 2011 Report: WOW!

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 04:00:20 +0100

Nothing. Nothing could have prepared me for the visceral Komikon crowd. Even after going through the insanity that was Komikon 2010 as an attendee, I was absolutely astounded by the awesomeness of Komikon 2011 from behind the table!

Still early. People setting up their tables.

    I arrived in my usual early time for the ingress. I was already quite excited due to my fond memories of Summer Komikon 2011. Once I had my table all set up, I roamed around the convention hall before the event opened its doors knowing it would be the only time I would have the chance to do so.
    I spotted Sir Gerry Alanguilan already going through boxes of comics at the Comic Odyssey tables. I went over to his table a bit later to have my copy of the Elmer trade paperback signed, which he was more than happy to do.
    I said hi to my longtime friends, Dre and Janlo Cui, at the Electromagnetic Tentacle booth. I checked out the brand new Trese T-shirts and loved them, based on the comic by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo. (I later on bought that shirt)

With Jonah Hex co-creator Tony DeZuniga.

Then the gates were opened. I was once again happy to introduce Callous Comics to new readers. However, I was thrilled to find fans who had read the first book coming back to buy the next two! Several said they couldn't stop reading Chocolate Chip Wishes and Caffeine Dreams, which sent me over the moon! That included a little girl whose mom told me how much her daughter loved reading my comics. To that shy little lady and her mom, you two truly made my day. :)

The Callous Comics table at Komikon 2011!

By noon I checked my inventory and realized I had come close to already equaling my sales from full days in previous comic cons! I was like, what?! The crowd had died down a bit during lunchtime but my tablemate, Boy Bakal creator Carlo Valenzuela, and I just couldn't leave our tables because there would always be that person who would walk by and get attracted to our displays. We were both solo creators, so we didn't have the option of a partner to explain our comics to people while we were gone. We were getting hungry and tired but the prospect of new readers kept us going.

With the Cal Duck plushie from GTMACCON 2011, Rommel "Omeng" Estanisao's Callous Comics figures, and a gift print of his fan art for "Callous Comics - On Lighter Dreams" from Ernest John Daryll Fiestan!

The afternoon rush of people in Komikon was close to overwhelming! As happy as I was to talk about my comic to people, I sure wish I could have chosen a more self-explanatory title! My voice was starting to crack and my back and hamstrings were beginning to ache from leaning over the table to talk to people while trying to overcome the loudspeakers in the hall. Nevertheless, I was having an awesome time!
Webcomics: What's Cooking? did well too! If anyone stood out, it would be the guy who cried "YES!" to the heavens after finding it on my table. Apparently, he and his sister were Jefbot fans and were thrilled to find it in the cookbook.

As much as I like talking about myself and the comic, I also appreciated chitchat about other stuff!

There were a lot of requests for a printed edition of the On Lighter Dreams storyline, which surprised me. I guess I'll have a new fantasy-based book next year! :)

    Normally, around 6PM or so the crowd would have died down and no one would be buying my stuff anymore. I had planned on packing up early so that I could have the chance to go around and buy comics and whatnot for myself, but more and more fans kept coming to my table, which thrilled me even more!
    It was great to hear that other indie titles did very well too. The support for independent comics here in the Philippines is phenomenal!
    While I didn't get to see other tables as much as I had planned to, the love I got for Callous Comics was fantastic and more than made up for it! Furthermore, I got to be the first to try Tepai Pascual's chocolate cake, "Chocobo the Third", which was gloriously yummy and a fitting end to a wonderful Komikon 2011.

But wait, there's more!
Be sure to read Gerry Alanguilan's take on Komikon 2011, with video and loads of great photos!