Too many comics (Here’s Podcast episode 1)
The podcast will be uploaded shortly; we’re just figuring out how to take away the echo. We sound like we’re in the Batcave, which is appropriate because we ended up babbling about comics. (Note to self: For the next episodes prepare script outlines. Listeners can only take so much spontaneity.) We have read a lot of comics lately, and by “a lot” we mean “All the comics that friends have recommended over the years, devoured in a two-month spell of excruciating boredom.” If it hadn’t been for Moore, Morrison, Millar, Ellis, Whedon et al, we would’ve gone berserk. Thank you, comics.
In the meantime, tell us what comics you’ve read over the years and which titles you like. Jimmy Corrigan? Ghost World? Little Audrey? Asterix? Does anyone have any old Zuma komiks they want to trade? Does anyone besides Chus remember that komiks series Goombooroomboo where creatures pop out of someone’s boils? Post your answers in Comments. Randomly-selected commenters will receive these comics, which are all available at National Bookstores.
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Click on the Podcast button on top to see all episodes.
Jessica Rules the Universe Podcast
Episode 1. 17 Aug 2012. Jessica and co-host Budjette attempt a proper introduction to the series but quickly disintegrate into comics-induced chaos.
We’re still tweaking the site, feeds, etc. It will be available on iTunes shortly. For now you can listen to the podcast or download it.
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Ejia, you or your rep can pick up your prize at the Customer Service counter, National Bookstore, Power Plant Rockwell. Just give them your full name.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
August 22nd, 2012 at 06:29
I have read The Sandman Vol. 1-10. I used to buy them as Christmas presents every year for my best friend. My favorite is volume 10: The Wake.
August 22nd, 2012 at 08:08
I’ve recently been reading the Locke & Key series by Joe Hill, illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez.
August 22nd, 2012 at 08:10
Wow dami!
1. Filipino Funny Komiks (I was always looking forward to Niknok, Planet Opdi Eyps, and Berlin Manalaysay’s Combatron). I remember this was published every Friday.
2. Archie and Jughead, some Casper
3. random Marvel comics… the What If series, Infinity Gauntlet, Dark Phoenix Saga
4. Death of Superman and that Batman movie (where Jack Nicholson played the Joker) in a comic book (won this in a Coca Cola Promo)
5. I had this collection of Ikabod comics that grew with my Booksale adventures in the 90s.
6. You guys remember ALIWAN, WAKASAN, Kickfighter, Pinoy Shocker? I grew up next door to this manang who rented komiks out for a peso each. Overnight. She schooled me well.
August 22nd, 2012 at 09:32
I like The Sandman and Transmetropolitan.
August 22nd, 2012 at 10:03
FUNNY KOMIKS’ “Combatron” — the local version of Rockman. :D
Brian Vaughan’s “Y: The Last Man”; taught me French grammatical gender, Morphic Resonance and reminded me about girl’s cipher speak.
And Kazu Kibuishi’s “Flight” series; pure eye candy when eyes are sore from reading.
August 22nd, 2012 at 10:31
When it first came out, I was really into X-Force. It was a “breakaway” title from X-Men (in philosophy) and the evolution of The New Mutants, the younger generation being “trained” by the X-Men. Instead of being “peaceful”, their then-leader Cable believed in “taking the fight to them.”
Sounds proactive.
And the saga Crisis on Infinite Earths by DC which was an excuse to bring all the characters into one storyline. I was blown away with how the writers were able to give everyone a part, even those I didn’t care too much for.
August 22nd, 2012 at 11:21
I’ve only read (and liked) Trese, Elmer, Kiko Machine, Pugad Baboy, Archie Comics, and the Kwentillion Magazine (does this count?). I need some serious schooling in the comic book department.
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:06
I like The Sandman, the first Books of Magic, Fables, Ghost World, most Alan Moore and Frank Miller stuff, Kikomachine Komiks!, and everything by Arnold Arre.
Grew up on Funny Komiks (read lots of it when I was confined in the hospital as a kid), Archie Comics (when they were priced P50-95 per digest), Asterix, The Adventures of Tintin, Mad Magazine (Spy vs. Spy!), Garfield, Bloom County, and Pugad Baboy compilations, and various random X-Men comics my cousins used to leave around their house. (Wanted to get into manga but I gave up easily.)
I want to collect everything but all I have are ebooks/scans.
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:06
The Sandman of course. Kung payat lang ako gagayahin ko porma ni Morpheus. The Mythology Class by Arnold Arre is in my opinion the best local comic work so far. Lately I’ve been digging to the reboots of Batman and Superman called “Earth One.”
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:17
The top two for me would still be Watchmen and DC’s Kingdom Come. Both miniseries had art that went so well with the narratives.
More recently I’d say that Jonathan Hickman’s Secret Warriors would be up there. It focused on S.H.I.E.L.D. as what it always was: a spy organization. There’s a lot of backstabbing and ambitious agenda being put to play by various competing factions in the secret Marvel Universe.
The Uncanny X-Force series with art by Jerome Opena is also up there for me–who wouldn’t want a team that’s got Wolverine, Fantomex, Archangel, (Age of Apocalypse) Nightcrawler, and Deadpool among others in the lineup? This interest was sparked by the X-Men: Second Coming storyline which I immensely enjoyed.
One to also check out would be the recently-concluded Irredeemable and Incorruptible, both by Mark Waid. These are parallel series following a hero’s fall into madness in Irredeemable while Incorruptible follows a villain’s turn into heroism. Both character trajectories come to a head as the story progresses. I’ve yet to get the conclusions to these series myself.
Then there’s the untouchable Luna Brothers on Girls and The Sword. I’m more partial to The Sword and would hope that one day, this action-packed book gets the well-deserved movie treatment. It will definitely work as a trilogy of sorts.
Then there’s Preacher. So much good has been mentioned about it that it really doesn’t bear repeating.
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:19
Aliwan, Wakasan, TSS
Kung wala si Zuma, wala rin si Galema.
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:22
1. Grade school up to high school: Comics section of Liwayway and all Filipino komiks including Horror and Lagim Komiks, Walt Disney comics, with the Junior Woodchucks (Huey. Louie and Dewey) series and Gyro Gearloose as my favorites.
2. College: Superman and Batman comics (borrowed from male classmates), MAD Magazine (borrowed from mad classmates), comics version of classics
3. Post-graduate, pre-motherhood: Loony Tunes
4. Motherhood up to present (in this order): Niknok, Little Archie, Walt Disney, Archie, Tintin, Asterix, Jo and Zet, Trese, Catwoman
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:31
Sorry, I forgot to include that for the past three years occasionally read manga series. Favorites are QED, Gokusen, Yakitate Japan, Master Cooking Boy…
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:34
1. In High School, I read mostly X-Men comics. My favorite was the Age of Apocalypse story: A time traveler went back in time and killed Prof X which resulted to Magneto forming the X-Men.
2. Recently I fell in love with Craig Thompson’s works Blankets and Habibi.
2. Now I’m reading a lot of online comics. My favorites include the not-funny-if-youre-not-intellectual XKCD. The often morbid but always funny Cyanide and Happiness. And the very entertaining theoatmeal.
August 22nd, 2012 at 14:25
Ay oo pala… Trese
August 22nd, 2012 at 15:01
1. Kamandag by Carlo J. Caparas (back in the 80s)
2. Ikabod Bubwit
3. Marvel 1602 (Marvel superheroes in Elizabethan era)
4. Books of Magic
August 22nd, 2012 at 15:31
I love Funny Komiks which my parents brought home from the wet market especially Niknok and Lilit Bulilit.
When I was in grade school, Archie comics digests were like a status symbol. Mas madami, mas sikat ka. Pero ayaw naman ipahiram sa amin…
In high school I read Superman and Wonder Woman even though everyone was reading the Xmen.
Now I love Trese and Skyworld and Kiko Machine, which are all Filipino-made, modern komiks.
August 22nd, 2012 at 16:18
I’ve read Tintin as a kid (I was a regular tambay in our school library because they had every book), as well as all those local komiks that had new issues every Tuesday. Hiwaga, Aliwan, Love Story, etc… Funny Komiks, if I remember correctly, had new issues every Friday (my aunts used to have the new issue waiting for me in their sala by Friday afternoon!). I used to have this insane collection of Pugad Baboy books that I lent to some people and never got back :(
I also read Kikomachine, Archie, Trese, Buffy (when I was in HS), a bit of X-Men.
August 22nd, 2012 at 17:03
I had a friend in college who was really into comics and is now a semi-known writer/illustrator in the local comic book industry, and he had the goods, so to speak, so I was able to read:
– Maus by Art Spiegelman (the first comic book to win a Pulitzer Prize)
– The Sandman by Neil Gaiman (the first – and only – comic book to win a World Fantasy Award)
– Domu: A Child’s Dream by Katsuhiro Otomu (winner of the 1983 Japan Science Fiction Grand Prix)
– Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore (winner of an Eisner Award and a GLAAD Award)
– among many others (Justice League of America, etc.)
Like commenter Momelia, as a child I grew up next to a store which rented out komiks, and I got to read them for free because the owner was a family friend. As such I was exposed to the comics of my era – Funny Komiks, Bata-batuta, etc., – and aside from that I learned at a young age that just because the comic was wholesomely entitled “Happy Komiks” didn’t necessarily mean it was wholesome. (Yeah, my mom wouldn’t have been too happy knowing her six-year-old daughter was reading PG-pushing-R material.)
August 22nd, 2012 at 17:13
I really like Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell’s The Sandman:The Dream Hunters which I bought at a bargain price about a year ago. I also have copies of the Kikomachine and Pugad Baboy comics series.
Growing up, I read a lot of Filipino comics (Funny Komiks, Ninja, Samurai, Ghost) but i particularly liked the sci-fi Speed comics which came in small, pocket-sized editions in the 1980s. Sadly, however, copies of Speed which i kept in a box were given away by my mother to visiting relatives.
I’d like to re-read Iloko action comics serialized in Bannawag magazine especially Kudor and the three-generation saga of Zalvar, Ti Maingel; Zalivia, Ti Anak ni Zalvar and the third part which I failed to read because my mother stopped buying the magazines after my siblings and I have already learned to read.
August 22nd, 2012 at 17:29
i remember Goombooroomboo from HOLIDAY (?) comics. i also remember this character Frica, i think, with heads of monsters for boobs who are always making her do evil things.
i also grew up with Funny Komiks. i liked Niknok and Bing Bam Bung a lot. me and my siblings would send drawings of their characters to be posted on a special page dedicated to kids’ drawings.
and i also remember liking a lot all the illustrations by Vincent Kua, Jr. remember Pokwang? :)
August 22nd, 2012 at 20:53
I grew up reading Classics Illustrated and its Junior series. I remember trembling while reading Lagim Komiks (and Yes, Chus that Goombooroomboo)with unforgettable Esmeralda (which was filmed with Amalia Fuentes as the title role who comes alive and steps out of a portrait, seduces men, and literally snatches their hearts as offerings to a giant orchid and Rimpampanita, the wickedly funny imp of a girl. Prince Valiant, The Phantom, Sad Sack, Nancy and Sluggo, Casper and Wendy, Donald Duck and his nephews, Daisy Duck and her nieces.
August 22nd, 2012 at 21:08
We3 (A 3 issue limited series about a dog, a cat and a rabbit which were trained into becoming “animal weapons”. Highly recommended for those who have pets :D)
100 Bullets (What would you do if you were handed a briefcase containing 100 untraceable bullets which you can use to exact vengeance on the person who ruined your life? Carte blance. Great concept, but the ending felt rushed)
Y, The Last Man (Every single male mammal on earth dies, save for Y and his monkey)
August 22nd, 2012 at 22:22
In no particular order:
1. Maus – I didn’t finish it the first time so I’m planning to re-read it.
2. Asterios Polyp – My first foray to ultra non-superhero comic books.
3. Superman Red Son – One of my all time favorites.
4. Infinty Gauntlet and Infinity War – Longest series I’ve read so far.
5. Marvel Civil War and the in-betweens – Still currently reading. I don’t think I would appreciate this as a child.
6. Funny Komiks – Who does not love this? :)
7. Batman Elseworlds – So far, my favorite is I, Joker.
8. Trese – Read the first book.
9. Culture Crash Comics – Ah! High school!
August 22nd, 2012 at 22:25
Yes, I remember Goomboo Roomboo penned by Vic J. Poblete and illustrated by Lan Medina in Holiday Komiks!!! The story about a group of friends who went to Africa to discover that dreaded goomboo roomboo in which all tribesmen fled with terror just the mere mention of the words. They killed the giant cucumber- like monster(the goomboo roomboo), went back to the country, unaware they were cursed – developing lumps with small ugly little heads popping out killing people!
I was a komiks addict back in grade school! – I devoured everything including my Dad’s collection of Crime Comics in the 50s neatly compiled and hardbound so sad we lost when our house was gutted by fire.
August 23rd, 2012 at 01:26
Goomboo Roomboo was written by Mars Ravelo and not Vic J. Poblete.
August 23rd, 2012 at 10:06
Watchmen
Niknok
Dark Knight Returns
Planet of di Eyps
Astonishing X-Men
Pardina
Sandman Series
Maus (first one)
Pol d Bopol. May isang klasik na isyu kung saan may takdang-aralin na gumawa ng isang tula tungkol sa isang parte ng katawan. Ganire ang ni-recite ni Pol:
“Sipon… sa butas ng ilong ay bababara-bara
sinisinghot-singhot kung ayaw isinga
ang payo ko lang ay wag biglang tatawa
at baka lumobo’y kahiya-hiya ka.”
Nang sinabi ng titser na di parte ng katawan ang sipon, na dapat ilong ang ginawan ng tula ni Pol, binago ni Pol ang tula, at naging ganire:
“Ilong sa butas ng sipon ay bababara-bara…”
hinabol ng patpat ng guro si Pol. Hahahaha
August 23rd, 2012 at 10:09
Just listened to the podcast. Good introduction. But I feel that 15 minutes per week is too short. How about at least an hour a week (moving up to three hours per week just as with the live radio show)?
August 23rd, 2012 at 10:11
1) Watchmen
2) Niknok
3) Dark Knight Returns
4) Planet of di Eyps
5) Astonishing X-Men
6) Pardina
7) Sandman Series
8) Maus (first one)
9) Pol d Bopol. May isang klasik na isyu kung saan may takdang-aralin na gumawa ng isang tula tungkol sa isang parte ng katawan. Ganire ang ni-recite ni Pol:
“Sipon… sa butas ng ilong ay bababara-bara
sinisinghot-singhot kung ayaw isinga
ang payo ko lang ay wag biglang tatawa
at baka lumobo’y kahiya-hiya ka.”
Nang sinabi ng titser na di parte ng katawan ang sipon, na dapat ilong ang ginawan ng tula ni Pol, binago ni Pol ang tula, at naging ganire:
“Ilong sa butas ng sipon ay bababara-bara…”
hinabol ng patpat ng guro si Pol. Hahahaha
10) Dark Knight Returns
August 23rd, 2012 at 10:14
*The brilliant Trese, of course.
* After I read The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, I wanted to have a copy of their comics.
*Anything by Stan Lee.
August 23rd, 2012 at 10:50
The Sandman series – by Neil Gaiman and various artists.
I’ve read the whole series at least 4 times. I always discover something new – in the text or in the art.
For readers who just want to have a quick look at what the series offer, I recommend Calliope and Ramadan.
August 23rd, 2012 at 11:37
hay salamat jessica at narinig ulit kita
mahahasa na naman ang english ko kasi nabobobo na ako kay chico delamar ginoboi at sumasama naman ugali kay nega king shellane lookalike na si Mo Twister sa pakikinig sa kanila
breath of fresjh air tong podcast mo
after 15 years narinig ko ulit ang voice ng crush ko kumabog ang dibdib ko at the same time bumagsak ng malaman kong taken na siya :-(
August 23rd, 2012 at 13:18
Does japanese manga count? If yes, Ranma 1/2.
I agree with the colonial discount in Spain idea.
August 23rd, 2012 at 17:16
Oh, Mars Ravelo pala! So Devil Car ang kay Vic J Poblete naco-confused ako duon. Thanks po!
August 23rd, 2012 at 17:32
Kikomachine Komix
Ang Alamat ng Panget
Ghost World
Persepolis
Fables
The Adventures of TinTin
August 23rd, 2012 at 17:45
Archie, Richie Rich, Casper (thanks dad)
Combatron, Eknok (thank you grade school classmates)
Calvin and Hobbes, Far Side (thank you rich hs classmates / the now-nonexistent Armchair Reader in Glorietta 2)
Beerkada (thanks Phil Star)
Global Frequency, Assorted graphic novels of Neil Gaiman, Watchmen, Claymore (Jap Manga) (thank you torrents)
Nice podcast. I listened to it at work! More please!
Budjette – I like your recurring name-withheld “Aaaaaym baaaaack” intro and outros. Please keep it up!
August 23rd, 2012 at 17:45
@swanoepel – lol @ shellane lookalike!
August 23rd, 2012 at 19:47
Funny Komiks
whatever wakasan Komiks was lying about our neighbor’s house
Pugad Baboy
Illustrated Classics: Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
Archie
Persepolis
Trese: Murder on Balete Drive (which I got from a bookswapping site)
The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 5: Land of Black Gold / Destination Moon / Explorers on the Moon
August 23rd, 2012 at 21:19
Back in the 80’s I would sneak out our plantsadora’s Kilabot komiks. It was R-rated campy horror anthology drivel which was lots of fun. Someone was always “naaagnas” and there were loads of excuses for nudity. In one story a family lived in a haunted house and died one by one. The aunt was forced to dance endlessly by the spirits until she died from exhaustion. Of course she danced for 3 whole pages… butt-naked.
August 24th, 2012 at 10:24
that picture looks like a delicious cake. a cake that looks like a stack of comic books. could someone make something like that? plz?
Maus – Art Spiegelman
Moore – Watchmen
Archie Archie Andrews Where Are You
Jughead!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Funny Komiks – Niknok – My Little Pupung – Planet of d Eyps – Dax – the Noon at Ngayon page
Kilabot
August 24th, 2012 at 10:32
“Goombooroomboo?”
di ko yata naabutan yun.
is that what Jose Manalo was referring to when he saw this 2-yr old child in their Juan for All All for Juan segment?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhVrUwsFHEA
August 27th, 2012 at 00:04
one of my recent favorites is PREACHER. i always remember the scene where Herr Starr shoots up a written report by one of his minions while screaming “Improper use of inverted commas, Hoover! Improper use of inverted commas!”
August 27th, 2012 at 01:47
walang tatalo sa FUNNY Comics… who would ever forget NikNok and Planet op di Eyps… By the way, buti naman nagbalik podcast ka na JZ… I’ve been listening to your radio show over at K-Lite for years, I even recorded some of them and they’re on cassette tapes hahaha…
September 4th, 2012 at 02:36
hay sobrang huli na ako! pero maglilista pa rin dahil sa pinoy komiks ako natutong bumasa :)
naalala ko pa sina:
1. zuma
2. zarbot
3. freaka
4. diabolica
5. manoka
6. toytona
7. herculo
8. the hands
9. kakambal ko’y manyika
10. agua bendita
12. may halimaw sa tyan ko
13. 13 little fingers
14. pokwang
15. niknok
16. goomboo roomboo
17. golgota
18. ada ang nuno sa punso
:D
pati “bold” komiks pinapa-renta sa akin ng kapitbhaway namin haha (10 yrs old pa lang yata ako nun)