The email that struck like lightning!

Just woke up around 3am, took a nap while finishing Rambol #2 pages. My wife told me, I got mail. I was surprised to see who it was from. Now I truly believe in the power of the internet :)

The email:

Hi Gilbert,

It's only now that I saw your Kapitan Kidlat version which was posted in your blog webite January 2006. I must say it look good. I hope to see your own version in the near future. My father created Kapitan Kidlat especially for young Filipinos like you. If Kapitan Kidlat is the first Filipino Fictional Superhero (pangalan pa lang pinoy na pinoy na!), I can certainly say that you and other young Filipino artists are the first Real Superheroes that's putting the Philippines in the top class of the animate/print comics industries. Keep up the good work.

God Bless!

Leonardo "Bobby" Abutin, Jr
Seattle, Washington USA

Imagine that? Thank you sir for your appreciation towards our efforts. I'll send you a personal reply very soon. Well, I guess I have to hit the sack. Tomorrow's another hectic day and we'll be delivering copies of Tropa and Rambol at NBS branches again, greenhills area I think.

nite nite-- err g'morning na pala hehe.

RAMBOL issue 2

As requested, here is the preview of RAMBOL komiks issue 2. I hope I can finish all the pages soon, so we can release it within this month of February. Flipbook format, 60 pesos. Featuring two action-packed stories, Gilbert Monsanto's Metropolitan and Alagad Inc. with interior art by Kriss Sison, Lui Antonio and Gilbert Monsanto.

TROPA and Rambol Komiks Now available at COMIC QUEST!

Finally abled to drop off copies of Tropa and Rambol issue 1 at Comic Quest in Megamall and at Festival Mall, 4th floor yesterday. With every purchase, you'll also get a free poster from Sacred Mountain Publications.

Please visit their stores soon.

TROPA and Rambol Komiks Now available at COMIC ODYSSEY!

Yesterday, we've finally managed to drop off several copies of TROPA #1 and RAMBOL Komiks #1 at Comic Odyssey Robinsons Galleria. I hope new people will check out our titles. Also, I'll be joining Philip Tan when he visits the shop and sign comics for everyone. I am looking forward to see Philip again, who’s doing wonders for SPAWN.
Anyways, we think that Comic Odyssey is a very nice place to find comic treasures. The set-up is neat and very easy to look at, giving comics the highlight they deserve.

Hope to see you guys there!

Comic Odyssey Robinsons Galleria,
Ortigas 3rd Level Expansion Mall
tel. # 914-0040
Sunday, January 21, 2007
From 1pm - 4pm

a little preview for 2007

Here's hoping for an exciting New Year everyone!

BUSY BUSY BUSY!

I was not able to write or post anything here for quite some time now. Must be the season. We've been so busy with lots of upcoming family gatherings and outings. Relatives from UK and the US will be spending the holidays here in Manila so it will be a massive reunion with lots of kids and it will be all fun and body aches :) Aside from that, I've been juggling to keep up with deadlines and recently, we had a major termite invasion and we had to evac our stuffs from our room. 28 big boxes total. I am amazed on how we managed to fit all those stuffs inside a small room. I had to plan ahead just to make it work when it is finally time to return them inside. But I this will be one memorable Christmas for sure. As of now we still have to plan more parties before Christmas. Plus having our newest baby boy needing all the care and attention from us. There is just no time to spare. I even had to return to my old ways of working late as in up to 3-4 am just to keep up with the deadlines. Feel like a Zombie sometimes. A bit cranky even sometimes. Getting old I guess :)

Anyways, i'll to post in updates on our books.

Also, please check out Enchanted Kingdom, the Christmas issue. I colored some pages inside for them. The art on those pages done by my friend, Jim Jimenez and lettered also our friend, Reg Ting (ex editor for DC Superheroes and DC kids Philippines).

I guess that is it for now. I'll post new stuffs soon.

-G

METROPOLITAN FAN ART by RENIE PALO

Renie Palo sent in this beautiful fan art for Metropolitan. Thanks Renie!

INTRODUCING SHAWN DAVID MONSANTO

We like you to meet our second baby who was born November 15 around 2:20am.

Druid's Keep 2nd anniversary adventure.

Last Saturday, I went to the 2nd Anniversary of Druid's keep in Magallanes. Gerry Alanguilan was there to promote and sign his very successful title Elmer now on its second issue. One thing I noticed when he signs his books, he'll be comfortably slow and felt like, he was actually drawing his name on the book. I admire that actually. Me? I'm a speed freak! I did some speed sketches for fun. I sold some issues of Rambol and Tropa plus gave out some free posters of Sacred Mountain and I am content that new people tried and I hope will enjoy our titles. Gerry encouraged me to write down some of my views on how to improve the current state of komiks. I'll have to polish that thought before posting it here in my blog. I really enjoyed our conversation and the delicious BBQs Mr. Cua has prepared for the occassion. Thanks Felix for the support and Happy 2nd Anniversary!

Another look back at komiks 1994

Just a week ago, Mr. Rod Espinosa wrote me an email. Rod is just one of our local artists who migrated to the US and continued their profession abroad doing comics. He's already done numerous project under Antartic Press. I actually colored some of his pages for "For Eternity" when it was reprinted here locally by PSICOM.

I happen to have a copy of his old work while working for TERMINATOR komiks( Sonic Triangle ) he worked on "CYBERINA" while I did X-Trooper inside the said Comic Magazine. We haven't met personally but is good to know that more of us back then are now working on more projects that are internationally released.

Keep the magic coming Rod!

METROPOLITAN fan art from ALAN GALLO

First ever fan art for Metropolitan from Alan Gallo.
http://rowper.deviantart.com

Now available at Druid's Keep

Rambol and Tropa

Now available at

Druid's Keep

3rd Floor, Gateway Mall

(where Rustan's is)Magallanes

Get Tropa and Rambol by mail!

Great news! You can now get your copy of RAMBOL KOMIKS and TROPA by mail! Just follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Go to any nearest BPI bank and deposit the correct amount to the account as shown below. Please write clearly to avoid any errors.

GILBERT MONSANTO
Savings Account Number: xxxxxxxxxx ( due to security reason, please email us a request letter to proceed with the transcation.)

Step 2: Write down your name, complete mailing address, telephone or cel number or email for confirmation on a piece of paper and fax this, together with the validated deposit slip duplicate, to 6556780 or scan the said duplicate and send as attachment via email to smp_letters@yahoo.com

Step 3: Wait for 10 days for a package to arrive.

Remember that when you order Tropa #1 and Rambol #1 as a set, you’ll be receiving a FREE POSTER from Sacred Mountain Publications.

Note: LVM means LUZON/VISAYAS/MINDANAO

We are still formulating ways to send copies outside the Philippines, so stay tuned!

RAMBOL cover 2 preview

The LAUNCH, a RAFFLE and then SOME

Komikon 2006 was a blast! The launch for both Rambol and Tropa was a success with a lot of positive feedbacks. The place was full of creative geniuses in the field and it is nice to have a chat with most of them while I made my rounds around the area. Aside from selling our komiks, we had a little something for those who would buy from us on that day. We have this small scale raffle just for fun. I prepared an original artwork of BIOTROG for a lucky individual who bought a set of komiks from us.

I know it is not much but I felt that a little token of thanks is required for the support they gave us and our book. So just yeserday, we started the raffle, we designated numbers to each of their names and placed them into a small container. I was actually suprised to see lots of respected comic creators' names on the list. Truly, the comic industry in the Philippines runs on a close and much welcomed support system.

Later within the day we called upon our very own version of a DTI (Darling Toddlers Inc.)representative and he eagerly lent us his hand on picking the winner for the draw.

The winner with a number 10 on his listed name, is none other than Dominique Cimafranca with only his blogsite written on the paper, villageidiotsavant.blogspot.com I'll have to email him to ask him his current address so i can send him the original artwork.

That night, with much energy to spare. i decided to work on the 2nd issue cover for Rambol. During my time working in local komiks, I've always wondered who will win between X-Trooper and Biotrog. In this issue, we will finally know and it won't be a tie unlike the rest of this kind of slug fest story that has been done again and again in Marvel/DC books.

Tropa and Rambol Komiks

It is now official! We'll be releasing two titles this saturday at the KOMIKON 2006. Tropa priced at 75 pesos and Rambol Komiks priced at 60 pesos. If you buy one of each together, we'll give you a special Sacred Mountain poster for free! The poster itself is priced 20 pesos if bought separately. Hope to see you guys there.

Sacred Mountain's first baby delivered!

My wife and I, considers Tropa issue1 as just one child to be born before the end of this year. We hope that Rambol issue 1 will be delivered by next week, just in time for the Komikon this year.

The copies of Tropa is finally in our hands. Now we'll need to put them in plastic bags. We're formulating a way for people outside NCR get a copy possibly via snail mail. I'll get into that process soon and post it here soon.

Tropa is a full colored book, 52 pages including the cover and priced Php 75. We hope that people will give our books a try. If everything goes well, and I pray it does. Sacred Mountain will be producing more books to try and help Komiks back into shape. I've heard alot of exciting titles coming out this year from other fronts like Alamat, Mango Comics, Komikero and other studios and I hope that Komiks will once again be more visible and available to more readers. These are all good signs.

Kita kits sa Komikon!!!

My answer to another letter.

Good day sir!

You may have heard or read this question a million times, but how does one get to apply to be an artist in the local comic book industry. I dont have any one to back me up. Just plain old hard work.

Thanks!

My answer:

Chris,

There are several ways to break into comics:

1.) Self-publishing- More and more publications now are looking into those independent titles. Because they can really look at your work in a finished and polished format. This is beneficial to you as well. You'll get your very own signature product. This will also be your testing ground, if you'll have a fan based audience who will support you with other and future projects.

2.) Create your own gallery on the web. Easy access to potential publishers, try to open an account, either a Deviantart or a simple blog to showcase your work. Your goal is to entertain possible readers of your work.

3.) Join a group, there is power in numbers. Working with people can really help you improve. It will also be a rewarding experience since most artists are loners. Social skills should be encouraged.

4.) Whenever people say that you need more practice, that means you need to learn more about your weakness and strength. Improvement is the key word. If you'll practice and practice doing the same routine? Chances are, the results will be the same. Try new things, if you've mastered a technique, move on and work on new techniques until improvements are evident. You'll know because people around you will tell you exactly that.

5.) Dedication- Comics is a lifestyle. If you are going to try this out of curiousity or as a hobby, do so. But, be quick to stop if you feel it is not working out. Because if it does not work out the way you want it to happen? It never will. it takes a lot of heart to stay in this business. It will only get easier if you love doing comics.

Hope that helps,
Gilbert Monsanto

RAMBOL proofs

I think Rambol will also make it this Komikon, Yehey!! Here are the proofs. I think the copies of Tropa will be delivered within the week. There's so much to do after that. I am working on issue to as we speak. Hope to see you guys this Oct. 21 at the Komikon. More updates soon.

The proofs

Presenting the proofs for Tropa. Because of the Storm Milenyo, the printing is taking more time to finish than expected. I'll post in more images of Rambol very soon as well. Let us just hope that at the end of next week, the copies will be delivered to us.
As Milenyo was doing its damage on us all. My PC was also affected by the storm as a result ruined four fully colored pages that I had no choice but to redo all those pages. Now, all we can do is wait and see if RAMBOL komiks can make it to Komikon 2006 as well.

More updates soon.