A glimpse into the ‘komikero’ life
In the lead-up to Komiket back in October and earlier this month, and Komikon Grande, happening today and tomorrow at Bayanihan Center, Unilab Compound in Pasig City, Pinoy comic artists have been sharing funny and meaningful glimpses into their lives as they create their strips and engage with readers.
Comic artist Allan Jeffrey Bacar said that #allaboothkomiks and #komikslife give comic artists space to share their memorable, heartwarming and funny booth stories in support of the local komiks community to encourage new artists, and thank the people who support the community.
Using the hashtags #allaboothkomiks and #komikslife, komikeros like Pol Medina Jr. (“Pugad Baboy”), Hulyen (“Ugh”), Kevin Eric Raymundo (“Tarantadong Kalbo”), Bacar (“Sskait”), and many others posted their own personal experiences as thanks to their supporters.
“Chikidude’s” Ardie Aquino said it started as a simple conversation among comic artist friends about “upcoming comic events this year, new budding artists, and also going back to our roots.”
A lot of the strips showed how these artists started, capturing the moments in a life of a komikero with booths at conventions.
Kapitan Tambay wrote in Filipino about his first time securing a booth at a comic convention: “I didn’t know what I was doing. I also didn’t know how people were going to react to my works, especially since many tend to get angry at my comics online.”
He added, “But my heart grew tenfold whenever someone audibly laughed at my comic strips.”
Raymundo poked light fun at how he would misspell unusual names of fans asking for his autograph. “That’s why I bring a mini white board during cons,” he said.
Bacar said he often asks fans who approach his booth about their wants and wishes. In his post, he reminisced about the time a fan who told him she wanted to become a nurse around two years ago came back to report to him that she had, indeed, achieved her goal.
“One of the greatest things about being a komikero,” he said, “is being part of other people’s journeys and directly giving a positive impact. Thank you for your support; moments like these are really priceless.”
Added Ivyree Rosario (“Little Things PH”): “The goal is to just, really, spread a positive impact to the local comics community, let other artists share their stories, encourage people to join in and see the local komiks community, inspire new budding artists, and, lastly, to thank the people supporting local komiks.”
