Tag: Kajo Baldisimo

#SuitsForHeroes PPE fundraiser art auction starts Aug. 1

Post author By Joey Alarilla
Post date July 31, 2020
1 Comment on #SuitsForHeroes PPE fundraiser art auction starts Aug. 1

Bid on high-quality prints of the #SuitsForHeroes campaign’s distinctive art pieces in a blind online auction from August 1-7. Image credit: Comic Odyssey

Heads up, comic book fans! The incredible double-sized conclusion to Comic Odyssey‘s #SuitsForHeroes initiative is upon us.

Following a donation drive at the Suits For Heroes website, fans are now invited to bid on high-quality prints of the campaign’s distinctive art pieces in a blind online auction. Filipino comic book artists and the country’s top comic book shops joined forces for the #SuitsForHeroes PPE fundraiser. They launched this to help purchase personal protective equipment for real-life superheroes: the Filipino health workers fighting COVID-19.

From August 1-7, those interested may visit the site and place their bids, with the highest bid for each winning the print. Each print will be rendered on 12×18″ board paper, and autographed by the artist who created it.

Geek Culture

PPE fundraiser: Comic Odyssey unites artists, shops

Post author By Joey Alarilla
Post date July 10, 2020
2 Comments on PPE fundraiser: Comic Odyssey unites artists, shops

Artwork that Whilce Portacio (X-Men) created for this PPE fundraiser. Image credit: Comic Odyssey

In a real-life crossover, internationally-renowned Filipino comic book artists and the country’s top comic book shops have united for a good cause. They have joined forces for the #SuitsForHeroes PPE fundraiser to help purchase personal protective equipment for real-life superheroes: the Filipino health workers fighting COVID-19.

Comic Odyssey, in association with Filbar’s and Planet X, and in partnership with Wunderman Thompson Philippines, has launched this #SuitsForHeroes PPE fundraiser. The inspiration for #SuitsForHeroes was the notion that frontliners, through their efforts to save lives, are just as super and heroic as the characters appearing in comic books. To pay tribute to them, Comic Odyssey approached the artists who draw the adventures of the world’s most famous superheroes. Every artist said yes, and the biggest challenge was giving each of them enough time to complete their work.

The artists include Leinil Yu (X-Men, Civil War), Stephen Segovia (Wonder Woman), Kajo Baldisimo (TRESE, Buffy), Whilce Portacio (X-Men), Mico Suayan (Captain Marvel), and Harvey Tolibao (Green Lantern) with Levi Ramirez on colors. Towards the end of July, these exclusive pieces will be put up for auction to raise additional funds.

Geek Culture

TRESE comes to readers worldwide via ABLAZE

Post author By Joey Alarilla
Post date June 24, 2020
1 Comment on TRESE comes to readers worldwide via ABLAZE

Image credit: ABLAZE

Philippine mythology will now reach an even bigger audience. Portland-based ABLAZE has announced that it will bring the critically-acclaimed Filipino comic book series TRESE by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo to readers worldwide. TRESE is a three-time winner of the Philippine National Book Award for Best Graphic Literature of the Year. It won in 2009, 2011, and 2012.

ABLAZE will release the series of graphic novels, starting with TRESE Vol 1: Murder on Balete Drive this September. When the sun sets in the city of Manila, don’t you dare make a wrong turn and end up in that dimly-lit side of the metro, where blood-sucking aswang run the most-wanted kidnapping rings, where gigantic kapre are the kingpins of crime, and magical engkantos slip through the cracks and steal your most precious possessions. When crime takes a turn for the weird, the police call Alexandra Trese.

In a press statement, writer Tan talked about how TRESE started.

“When we started TRESE back in 2005, we did it for fun, because we wanted to tell stories about Philippine myth and folklore through the lens of a detective story. We photocopied 30 copies and sold it for less than a dollar. Most of copies ended up with friends. Thankfully, more people wanted to read our stories. So, we are extremely excited to have partnered up with ABLAZE and now have a chance to share with the world the wonders and mysteries of Philippine mythology to a new set of readers,” Tan said.

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Geek Culture

Filipina Vampire Slayer slays in PH-exclusive ‘Buffy’ cover

Post author By Joey Alarilla
Post date May 22, 2020
2 Comments on Filipina Vampire Slayer slays in PH-exclusive ‘Buffy’ cover

Image credit: Filbar’s

As Giles told Buffy: “A Slayer slays.” And this Philippine-exclusive variant cover by TRESE co-creator Kajo Baldisimo of the Buffy: Every Generation #1 one-shot definitely slays. Baldisimo’s cover features the unnamed Filipina Vampire Slayer teased last year by publisher BOOM! Studios, who will have her first full appearance in a 10-page story.

Earlier this year, BOOM! Studios said this one-shot will introduce the “most important new character in over twenty years” to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe. They described the stories as the “secret origins of some of the most important Slayers in history”. Not only that, but also this is the very first BOOM! Studios Philippine-exclusive variant cover — a historic feat pulled off by popular Philippine comic book store Filbar’s.

“Pinoy talent has always been recognized by international publishers. In recent years, local collectors have become more supportive of Filipino stories, art and talent — both locally or internationally published. The demand for Filipino-produced artwork is now enough to able to meet the minimum order quantity for exclusive covers,” Filbar’s President Jacob Cabochan told Digital Life Asia.