First page The Pearl Keeper

2009-12-15T20:17:00.000-08:00

This is the start of one of my original stories dealing with pretty babes, demons, and female fighters

My Struggle as a Comic book writer/artist

2009-12-03T01:42:00.000-08:00

I remember being fascinated by science fiction, fantasy, horror and adventure movies, novels, animated features and comic books; no not the piecemeal super hero types but those with “alternative” artwork styles and subject matters when I was a kid. I think these “things” are the stuff that help mold my mindset and convictions in life today. My creative outlook was deeply influenced by blockbuster movies, coupled with the radical yet surreal tales and artworks from “Heavy Metal” fantasy magazines and later, added by the sublime eroticism of several female characters from Japanese animation and manga.

But one of my most formidable handicap is being “Financially Challenged”.
This drawback had opened my eyes to the barest rule of modern Filipino society: “No matter how creative or a visionary you are, as long as you’re poor as a rat, nobody would take you seriously. Whereas even you’re as dullard or a retard, as long as your pockets and personality reeks with gold and money, people will take your words as authority."
This lifestyle rule transcends even the boundaries of kinship and family, demonstrated by our so-called well-to do-relatives in Negros Occidental, where my old folks retreated after being bankrupted in Manila many years ago.

For ten grueling years we lived in scrutiny and virulent criticisms under these so-called relatives in such “provincial” conditions. But it never shook-off my creative dispositions; after this sordid ordeal, I was able to return to Manila, bringing with me my hopes and dreams of expressing myself through the skills I’ve choose and perhaps, be one with those who are blest by creativeness and resources.
I am a very idealistic, optimistic and impulsive in some times.
I hang on dearly to my confidence believing in a naïve precept that inspiration, determination, dedication and good old hard work would guide me to my sought after goal, sooner or later.
But I found myself, twirling in a hellish rat-race of other writers and artists; each trying to move on top of the other. It was a path filled with vituperations, frustrations false hopes and so called friends with empty promises and a lot of razz-ma- tazz
My hopes and dreams were laid down in ruins; enough to doubt my skills and myself in despair; the desolation was such, and it even intensified my crumbled faith in the Judeo-Christian god and it’s “existence”!

I was compelled to abandon my dreams for a more tangible alternative; like having a job but I was too old for a more, feasible work and I landed doing odd jobs to demeaning and more likely to be “begging”!

Yet my creative impulses prevailed and soon found myself back in the comic book “rat-race”. This time, instead of “longing to be one of them”, I opted to be “different” by experimenting on other styles I found very convenient to work with.

Desperately trying to find “my own voice”, I made some self study of fusion between Disney, “Winks Club” and several manga styles with some personal touch thrown at. I even self studied several 3D modeling programs for effects and backgrounds to be used into comics.

Still fascinated by “Heavy Metal” fantasies and the naughtiness of sexy anime/manga female characters, I created stories that highlights the exploits and adventures of spunky and headstrong female heroes, stressing on crude feminist subtext without eliminating the physical sexiness of the female characters through “panty shots” and fan service.

This new set up still proves to be very frustrating, especially around the issues of morality and gender power which clashes soundly against hypocrites from both mainstream and independent comic book publishers held on leash by their holier-than thou-sponsors, obviously put off by graphic display of female sexiness and some anti-Christian under tones.

Two supposedly potential indie offers had put me down because of my style and philosophy, but I continue to hang on, coming up with this blog that act as an online portfolio. This e-comics blog is my “message in the bottle” floating in an endless sea of cyberspace. Still optimistic, I can only say, “Who knows what the tide may bring?”

Buddy's E-Comics Odessey

First page The Pearl Keeper

My Struggle as a Comic book writer/artist