Manila Comic-Con!

I'm still feeling remarkably giddy, which is exactly how I was feeling when I came home from the first Manila Comic-Con yesterday, August 8, 2009. And while I highly doubt it could compare to the wonders of the San Diego Comic-Con, at least this one was special, not only because I didn't need to leave the country to go to it, but because it featured a great many local artists, many of whom have worked with Marvel and DC. And of course, there were the indie comics makers, many of whom I was more than happy to support.

So here's how the day started: I swung by Buko on Taft to pick up coffeebased, nisa_dranyam, limextreme, and mlina, so that we could all go together to Megamall, where the Con was being held. soloproject had already texted to inform me that she had already gone ahead to Megamall and that we'd meet her there instead.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with that, so when Siannie arrived we all piled into the car and made our way there, the air filled with rapid-fire conversation, the SOP of our group of friends. We made our way to the Megatrade Hall, where the first thing we noticed was: holy hell, look at them cosplayers! I was thinking: where'd all these freaking Vaizards come from?! And was that Kikumaru from TeniPuri who just walked by?

So while we lined up for tickets we gawked at all the Lolitas and Goth-Lolitas who were hanging around (and there were lots of them, trust me...), we gawked at the cosplayers and wondered why there was no Star Trek in sight. We'd figured, after the incredible popularity of the new movie, there'd be a couple of Uhuras and several dozen Spocks hanging around, but surprisingly, there were none to be seen. Well, except Bunny, who came as a member of the Science staff and not necessarily as any character in particular.

After Bunny had distributed her presents from the San Diego Comic-Con (Hellboy stuff OMG!), we dove right into the thick of the Megatrade hall and our group just broke apart like the shrapnel in a hand grenade as we made a beeline for the things that called out notice. We only managed to recongregate when Bunny and Hope managed to find Doctor Horrible, and since I was the only one with a camera in the group, I was more than happy to take pictures.

But the real highlight, I think, was the Artists' Alley where all these wonderful indie comics were being sold - with the artists more than willing to give out commissions at pretty reasonable prices. So I grabbed a few comics that looked promising, and then started scanning the other tables, because I had also come here to get Siannie her advanced birthday present: copies of the first two volumes of Trese, as well as to get my own copies signed.

As luck would have it, I found the Trese table, and behind it were none other that Budjette Tan and KaJo Baldisimo, writer and artist, respectively, of Trese. So I plunked down the money for Siannie's gift, and then whipped out my own copies and had them signed, following that up with having Siannie's set signed. And since by this point Siannie was right behind me, I turned around, smiled, and handed her the signed copies, saying: "Happy birthday, Siannie!"

Judging from her comment on Facebook about Trese, I think it's more than safe to say that she loved it.

XD

Anyway, there was a bit more roaming around and whatnot before we decided to head on out and get something to eat - preferably at a Starbucks. But since the nearest one was full, we headed off to the one on the ground floor, where Bunny whipped out her laptop and started showing the photos from her trip to the San Diego Comic-Con. Best pictures: those of Leonard Nimoy, the Grand Old Man of Star Trek himself.

After grabbing snacks and some more conversation, Bunny had to go and get to her cousin/uncle, which left me, Hope, Siannie and Lime to swing right back up to the Con, and this time, we managed to grab some time with the Marvel and DC artists themselves, who were more than happy to fulfill our commissions - but I had something else in mind. I went right back to the Trese table, and asked KaJo to draw the Kambal for me.

Budjette's question: *cheeky smile* "Shirt or no shirt?"

My reaction: *blushes* "Err...ahh... Draw them kicking ass."

Yeah... I think I was wearing my fangirl sandwich board at that moment. Anyway, KaJo asked me to come back in twenty minutes, so I drifted off to where Siannie and Hope were getting their commissions made, and we chatted up the artists and the other people who drifted in, particularly Lime's cousin, who proved exceedingly friendly and knowledgeable and fun to converse with.

Twenty minutes later, I swung back to where KaJo was, and this time, he had finished the drawing. And all I could say was, over and over again, was "Wow!" And if you want proof, you can always go to this Facebook album to see the actual piece. It's supposed to have my name on it, but the scanner kinda ate it since it was written in a particular shade of gray that the scanner couldn't pick up.

*sighs*

Anyway, by this time the con was starting to wind down, and Siannie remarked it was because most of the participants had to be in their homes before bedtime. We waited for the commissions to finish, and we all headed down to KFC for a quick bite before we all headed home, dizzy and giddy and fully satisfied and more than happy with the way things had turned out.

So: here's to hoping that there are gonna be more cons like this to come! And maybe, if I can get my hands on a natural-looking blonde wig and a leather duster, I might actually cosplay this time around!