Once again, another kababayan gives our country pride and glory in the art industry. Gerry Alanguilan‘s “Elmer” surfaced among 1,500 Asian comic books in the Prix Asie-ACBD 2011 awards. His work was chosen by the Association of Comic Book Journalists on its fifth year of honoring the Best Asian Comic Book published in France. FRANCE!
In addition, Alanguilan did not actually know about the nomination until he stumbled upon a French post online talking about his work. What you don’t know can really bite you, in a good way in this case. This is a one-of-a-kind surprise for an artist.
Elmer, as the cover artwork obviously showcases, is a comic book about a chicken who behaves like a man. The awesome thing about the now-famous talking chicken is that he was able to beat other comic books of renowned nominees such as Kamui Den by Sanpei Shirato, La Plaine du Kantô by Kazuo Kamimura, Le Voyage de Ryu by Shôtarô Ishinomori, and Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura, Kurokawa.
Here’s a peek at Alanguilan’s quaint fiction+art.
The sudden international fame does not stop there; Alanguilan might be headed down the red carpet as the same comic book gets nominated for Best Graphic Album in the 2011 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award. This prestigious recognition is coined as the “Oscars of the comic book industry,” and it will be held on July 22 in San Diego, California. What can I say, Elmer is on a roll going worldwide!
Way to go Elmer and Gerry Alanguilan! Break a leg! (;
Like it? Share this post so your friends can also get introduced to one of the great works of Gerry Alanguilan! Thank you for reading. (: Here’s a virtual donut as a token of my appreciation:
UPDATE!!!
I did not expect to come across a copy this soon but I have it now! I was looking around Fully Booked when that familiar chicken, framed like some late politician, caught my attention. Bought a copy and I just can’t wait to start reading it! ( :
I have been so intrigued about it. Apart from making a mark in the worldwide comics scene, the concept of the novel is strangely interesting.
On another note, this weekend has been a good one. I really love it whenever my hunger for art is being consistently satisfied; like an old comic strip, some art exhibit of preschoolers, Crayola in sets of 64s, or a wall full of random doodles. (:
After Fully Booked, I headed to a cafe, grabbed a drink, read a book, and did some doodling. I noticed a guy from across my table watching – as I doodle, read, talk over the phone, read, draw, doodle, draw.
And my jaw dropped when I thought I saw a sketch of me as he puts the paper and all his stuff in his backpack. I was about to tell my friend about it when he returned to the coffee shop and popped beside me showing his artwork OF ME.
I was mumbling words I can’t remember out of shock. He just came out of nowhere and said, “I noticed that you were doodling.. So I doodled you while you were, uhm, doodling.” SOMETHING LIKE THAT. Gulo! Hahaha! ((:
He gave me his artwork and here it is!
y. pulongbarit-cuevo 