GOTTA GO GEEK AGAIN!

I’m back! Sorry for that guys…

I have responsibilities with my Yahoo Blog Gotta give them my comic stuff. But for now, I just want to share that I’ve recently gained a lot of interest in a particular toy brand. It’s been alive for ages now and I have to say that I’m back at it!

I consider it to be the type of toy that helped me with my imagination and creativity.

Ladies and Gents, LEGO!

For Christmas, my girlfriend gave me Slave I from the LEGO STAR WARS sets. Boba FRIKKIN Fett!!! Loved it!!! It was actually such a wonderful surprise. I never expected it! She bought it even before I liked Lego again.

 

The STAR WARS stuff came in during the release of Episode 1. That was in 1999. So much stuff has been released and I can’t wait for the new sets in 2011.

Other than the STAR WARS stuff, I got some Minifigures from the Kris Kringle activities this month. Once I got 1, I had to get some more.

Here’s the Minifig of the day!

Comic Book Movie Mania in The Philippines

I was very happy that 3 comic book movies were shown for 3 weeks straight.

KICK-ASS was definitely a KICK ASS movie! It was actually an improved version of the comic book. I’m just sad that it didn’t do as well in the box office. But hey, it trended on Twitter! Plus Hit-Girl just rocked in the movie! Mark Millar is just an awesome comic book writer! He really wants to make his fans happy!

THE LOSERS was also a straight out fun action movie. I thought the cast was well thought of. The casting team did an awesome job getting Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Clay. Zoe Saldana just solidified herself as a new geek goddess. She was just plain bad-ass!!! I thought Cougar was well casted too and Chris Evans as Jensen was surprisingly entertaining. The “Don’t stop believing” sequence was excellent!

Finally IRON MAN 2. Now we all have HIGH expectations on the movie. It may not have been as awesome as the first flick but it was still awesome in its own right. The addition of Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer, Scarlett Johansson as The Black Widow and Mickey Rourke as Whiplash gave more spice to the movie. Don Cheadle was an excellent replacement for Rhodey plus the War Machine sequence was marvelous!!! Ahhhh… fandom… Nerdgasm at its best! Of course, Robert Downey Jr. just carries the part of Stark so well and Gwyneth as Pepper is just sweet. What I did love about the film was the incorporation of Matt Fraction’s Invincible Iron Man elements. Only the geeks will get it and be happy about it and it was a job well executed!!!

It’s awesome how the Philippines gets all 3 movies on time. Iron Man 2 ahead even!!! It’s all about fighting piracy

It’s good to be a geek

Answers to the first GEEK Q&A

# Hello Ahia Jiggy I have two broken Ipods, I’m thinking if I should pay and let apple repair my two ipods or dispose them both and invest new and modern ipod? what do you think? but I guess no one would be interested to avail broken ipod/s

Clariz, if they have sentimental value, have them repaired. But what are you looking for in an iPod? Will you run with it? Watch videos?

Get a classic if you want GB! More songs! But if you wanna run with it, get a Nano. 16GB! Don’t settle for the 8. Sayang lang.

# Cindy Says: March 16, 2010 at 4:17 pm | Reply edit What are your techie gadgets in your car and room at home. Which is your favorite?

Hi Cindy! I used to use a Belkin adapter for the iPod for my car but it’s really bad with radio… The thing is I don’t have an auxiliary slot in my car which sucks big time. I have my laptop and iPod in my room. And I also have my old CD player so I can listen to the radio. My favorite is my RED Nano

# Andrea Says: March 17, 2010 at 2:44 am | Reply edit Hi jiggy!!! Do you think spiderman is better than batman? Why or Why not? Just curious about your opinion about it. Thanks..

Hi Andrea! HAHA! Really? Nako, this will take a whole entry. But to cut it short, Yes. Being a Spider-Man fan, he’s the best. Better than Batman? In my honest to goodness opinion, HELLS YEAH! Why? Because ANYONE can relate with Spidey. I did a paper on this back in college believe it or not. The thing is, sure Batman is cool, he doesn’t have powers, he has an awesome car, but at the end of the day, I can’t relate to Bruce Wayne. The guy is way too serious. He’s brilliant though but he’s not for me. I will only agree that Batman has better villains. No one can top his Rogues Gallery. Spider-Man comes in second with his Rogues.

# luiboi Says: March 18, 2010 at 11:40 pm | Reply edit jiggy,i really love your Q&A posts and my question this time would be,are you also into video games? and what games do you play? thanks

Hey Luiboi! I used to play loads of games. But that was during the SUPERNES days. Hahaha. Joke. I’m a Nintendo loyalist. I love Super Mario! I had a Gamecube and now I have a Wii. But the last game that hooked me for weeks was Spider-Man 2 for the PS2. My brother has the PS2 and I finished that game! I’m not into the whole Counter-Strike, WOW, DOTA… I did play Starcraft back in high school.

# Danry Ocampo Says: March 20, 2010 at 5:44 am | Reply edit Hi Jiggy, I am DC fan and occasionally buy marvel depending if the writer and artist combination is good. So far I have Omnibus copies of astonishing xmen, ultimates , new xmen and known best selling marvel books. Can you give me your top ten recommended reading for Marvel or Indie titles? Books that make yours marvel. PS. Still want to thank you for recommending Superman: Secret Identity. Awesome read. Thanks po Dan Dan

Hey Dan Dan. Top 10 huh? Here goes. For you I recommend:

TOP 10 Marvel in no Particular order

1. Immortal Iron Fist (Get the Omnibus)

2. Daredevil by Bendis and Maleev

3. Daredevil by Brubaker and Lark

4. Captain America by Brubaker

5. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN (You liked Secret Identity? This is better)

6. Fantastic Four by Hickman and Eaglesham

7. Wolverine: Old Man Logan by Millar and McNiven

8. New Avengers by Bendis

9. Invincible Iron Man: World’s Most Wanted by Fraction and Larroca

10. X-Factor by Peter David

TOP 10 Indies

1. Blankets

2. Powers

3. Kick-ASS

4. The Sword by The Luna Bros

5. Proof

6. BONE

7. The Walking Dead

8. Invincible

9. Goodbye Chunky Rice

10. Mouse Guard

# Michelle Says: March 21, 2010 at 4:38 am | Reply edit Hi Jiggy! Thank you for Q&A opportunity. How much was the G10 from Quiapo when you got it? Do you have any idea if how much it would be now? Sorry, that was two questions.

Hi Michelle! I got it from Mayer for around 25 I think. I think it’s around that price pa din. But get a G11 na lang

# Richardson Says: March 24, 2010 at 12:32 am | Reply edit Hi jiggy, what cars have you had or tried driving? Which among them is your favorite and why? Plus what car do you dream of owning someday and why?

Hey Richardson! I had a Mazda 3. I loved my Mazda 3. But among all the cars I’ve driven, my favorite is the Suzuki Jimny. It was the first car I drove alone. I’d like to own an A4 someday. Kapag manalo ng Lotto, R8 na! Hahaha! Why R8? IRON MAN!!! Hahaha!

GEEK Q&A!!!

So I did this to my blogspot account and I decided maybe it’s time to put a geek twist into it

So the Q&A with Jiggy is back You can ask all the geek-related queries you have.

Why am I doing this? Well, I want to interact with my geek followers on twitter!

Whether it be why I read comics, what gadgets I use, why I love Spider-Man, why am I a geek, etc… ASK AWAY!

I’ll leave the questioning open until Sunday!

What is THE BEST Backstreet Boys song???

Asked a question on Twitter and the Backstreet geeks voted. But we have to make it formal…

So to all the Filipino fans…

Poll ends in a week!!!

Lola: A Ghost Story by J. Torres and Elbert Or

I saw this and I just had to get it. Oni Press got 2 Pinoy Talents in Eisner Award nominated writer J. Torres and Elbert Or. It’s about a kid named Jesse and his Lola (grandmother) just died. Jesse can see dead people… His Lola told so many stories about the creatures that bump in the night.

The setting is based in The Philippines and Jesse came from abroad. I don’t want to give away much but this book is about unfinished business and family. The art by Elbert Or is fantastic. I like the cartoon type drawings and it made the comic easier to digest since it’s a ghost story and all. Elbert Or was taking his masters when I took the comic book elective in Ateneo de Mania. Now he’s teaching there. I think it’s pretty cool Elbert Or got this project. His art matched well with J. Torres’ storytelling.

I specifically admire J. Torres for being one of the few Pinoy writers who made it to mainstream comics. He wrote for DC with Teen Titans Go! and he got nominated for an Eisner for crying out loud!!! You have all sorts of artist names but you never hear the writers. J. Torres is THAT GUY who makes us Filipinos prouder!!!

If J. Torres or Elbert Or ever get to read this, THANKS FOR THE AWESOME COMIC GENTLEMEN!!! Loved every page!!!

Tallying the movies.

2010 movies. I haven’t been keeping count. I’ve been just so busy.

1. The Rebound

2. Sherlock Holmes

3. Paano na Kaya

4. Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief

5. Miss You Like Crazy

Can one actually watch 100 movies in a year? Are there 100 good movies in a year?

Up ahead… Alice in Wonderland.

Making Mine Marvel

I will tell you why I am a Marvel Zombie. I am not here to bash the Distinguished Competition.  I am here to tell you why I MAKE MINE MARVEL.

1. Characters are more realistic.

Marvel Comics gives you more of the human perspective of the characters. You get to see how they deal with their problems. You tend to connect with them since you feel what they’re feeling more or less.

Peter Parker can’t get a date, Wolverine’s jealousy of Cyclops getting Jean Grey, Bruce Banner trying to remain calm, Captain America being different, Tony Stark having everything and nothing at the same time, Sue Richards not feeling the love from Reed, etc…

2. They live in the real world.

Marvel’s Universe is basically put in New York City and not some generic sounding city name. You get to see buildings that really exist!

3. Passionate writing and awesome art!

Bendis. Brubaker. Fraction. Millar. Aaron. Hickman. Diggle. What more can you ask for? The Marvel writers are just too frikkin cool!

Yu. McNiven. Coipel. Deodato. Caselli. Lafuente. Lark. Immonen. I can go on and on with the artists!

4. Spider-Man.

Greatest. Hero. Ever.

New acquisitions – February

One of the things that really gets on my nerve is when things you like are sold out. You keep on checking other stores and when you ask when the next shipment will be, it’s always “we don’t know”.

So thankfully, I tried my luck earlier today in Fully Booked High Street to check if The Lightning Thief was available. They had 2 copies left. One was the movie cover and one was the original cover. I went with the original of course! (I always like the classics!)

I’m amazed with all these authors. It’s  just one BIG idea!!! The imagination of JK Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Stan Lee, etc… Wow! They all made it big!

Upon seeing the latest trailer of Percy Jackson, I was definitely intrigued. The teaser trailer wasn’t that good. But after the full version,  I wanted to read the books! They were sold out most of the time though.

Maybe I’m in luck now

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Next on my acquisition list is Dave Mazzucchelli’s Asterios Polyp. CBR said that it was the best comic book of 2009. I have to give it to my brother. He got it before this book hit it big.

I’m just happy I have my own copy now

I love independent work. I love creator owned work. Mainstream will still be the cool versions but the indies have something different to offer. I like how these creators do it for the love of creating All the ideas brought to life with dedication and love.

I love being a geek

RENAISSANCE

To all Filipino fanboys and fangirls, it can’t get any bigger than this!!! Renaissance is a fundraising event for the Ondoy/Pepeng victims organized by the Filipino artists. You have the best of the best of Filipino Talent. You have Philip Tan, Gerry Alanguilan, Whilce Portacio, Ed Tadeo, Harvey Tolibao, Carlo Pagulayan, Kajo Baldisimo, The Luna Brothers, etc… THE LIST GOES ON AND ON!!! You have all these artists drawing a piece of the famous Fililpino Superheroes during the typhoon. I saw Alexandra Trese by Kajo, Timawa by Gerry A., and a Darna piece done by The Lunas! They were all awesome!!!

A book of all the artwork will come out and an auction of the different works of art will be done during the event.

The artists of our heroes are doing their part being heroes.

Please do support this event.

Mabuhay tayong lahat!!!

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www.hobbylinkproductions.com/renaissance

For over six decades, Filipino Artists have been making jaws drop around the world, by creating and enhancing popular art thruout the world with a diverse yet distinct Pinoy visual style.

Many of our local talents have influenced the way local Komiks and international Comicbooks are drawn for over sixty years, and are now being given credit for breathing life into many unforgettable characters not only in comics, but in animation and gaming and films. In fact many have become Pop Icons for their role in the creation of many of today’s popular media. Name a popular movie, animation, comicbook, or game and you will most likely find Pinoys proudly lending their artistic talents to these efforts.

To be able to see many of these Influential Great Pinoy Artists of yesterday, today, and tomorrow – come together in one room for a historical charitable event – would have maybe remained a dream. But sometimes, and usually when we least expect it…

…DREAMS DO COME TRUE!

Get ready – the Renaissance is upon us!