Pinoy nominated in comic book industry's Oscars

MANILA, Philippines - The Filipino creator of “Lastik-Man,” a local comic character played in movies by Vic Sotto, has been nominated in the international comic book industry’s version of the Oscars, GMANews.TV reported yesterday.

Comics artist Gerry Alanguilan’s “Elmer” is among the nominees for Best Graphic Album in the prestigious 2011 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award.

The event, dubbed as a celebration of the best of the comics art form established in 1987, is a much-awaited affair at the Comic-Con International, the United States’ largest and oldest annual comics convention, the website report said.

Alanguilan’s Elmer is the story of a chicken living like a human.

The official Elmer website said the character “is a window into an alternate Earth where chickens have suddenly acquired the intelligence and consciousness of humans” and, as such, have begun to see themselves as “a race no different from whites, browns or blacks,” and to push for their own “human rights.”

GMANews.TV said Elmer was originally released in four issues from June 2006 to November 2008.

First published in 2009 as a trade paperback by Komikero Publishing, Elmer was picked up by SLG Publishing in North America last year, the report said.

Alanguilan, a licensed architect by profession, has been writing and drawing comic books since 1992, according to the report.

Other than Elmer and Lastik-Man, Alanguilan is also the creator of “Wasted,” “Crest Hut Butt Shop,” “Johnny Balbona,” “Humanis Rex!” and “Where Bold Stars Go to Die.”

He is said to have inked for DC, Marvel and Image comics including Wolverine, X-Men, X-Force, Superman, Batman and Fantastic Four, the report said.

He has likewise adapted and illustrated several short stories, among them Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat” and Bram Stoker’s “The Judge’s House.”

In 2010 he was a recipient of the Gawad Pinakamaningning na Alagad ng Sining and Outstanding San Pableño for Visual Arts.

“I’m very happy to be nominated (for the Eisner Award), but I’m happier knowing other Filipinos were also nominated for other categories. Filipinos have gotten nominations and even won Eisner awards numerous times in the past. I’m very honored to be included among them,” Alanguilan told GMANews.TV.

Other nominees in the best graphic album (new) category are “Finding Frank and His Friend: Previously Unpublished Work by Clarence ‘Otis’ Dooley” by Melvin Goodge (Curio & Co.); “Market Day” by James Sturm (Drawn & Quarterly); “Return of the Dapper Men” by Jim McCann and Janet Lee (Archaia); and “Wilson” by Daniel Clowes (Drawn & Quarterly).

The first Filipino to win an Eisner for Best Single Issue in 1995 for Batman Adventures Holiday Special was Ronnie del Carmen.

Among the judges in the 2011 Eisner Award panel are Metropolis Comics store representative John Berry, Comic-Con board director Ned Cato, Columbia University librarian Karen Green, “The Shadow” comics writer and editor Andy Helfer, publishing consultant Rich Johnson, and Lone Star Comics retail manager Chris Powell.

Later this month, ballots with this year’s nominees will be sent to comics creators, editors, publishers, and retailers.

Organizers have also set up a special website for online voting.

The results in all categories will be announced in an awarding ceremony on July 22 at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California, the report said.