CoRe Studios presents Duyan ng mga Magigiting

The Magitings (three/pre)view

2011-08-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

Coming this September!

2011-06-24T23:50:00.001-07:00

Magiting Komiks logo and Duyan ng mga Magigiting #1 cover, unveiled

2011-04-04T17:10:00.000-07:00

Available at the Comiccons

2011-03-18T02:27:00.000-07:00

See us at The Summer Komikon (April 16)

2011-03-11T21:28:00.000-08:00

The Magitings (and Magiting Komiks) will be at the Bayanihan Center, Kapitolyo, Pasig. April 16, 2011, 10am onwards Check out: www.komikon.org for more details.

Duyan ng mga Magigiting #.5 Cover

2011-02-06T05:36:00.000-08:00

Kami ay mga Magigiting!: Diwata at Macho

2010-12-24T21:46:00.000-08:00

Ako ay isang Magiting!: Maliksi

2010-12-24T21:42:00.001-08:00

Ako ay isang Magiting!: Jejeman

2010-12-24T21:41:00.000-08:00

Magiting Throwdown Now Available!

2010-08-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

Head to the ComicQuest, Comic Odyssey and Planet X Comics Branches. Magiting Throwdown is now available there. Hurry. Limited stiocks are available. About 10 to 12 copies per branch. Buy Buy Buy!

Ako ay isang Magiting

2010-08-29T21:36:00.000-07:00

Ako ay isang Magiting

2010-08-29T21:33:00.001-07:00

A Little Death In Dixie

Kami ay hindi Magigiting

2010-08-29T21:32:00.000-07:00

A Little Death In Dixie

Metrocon Fun

2010-08-29T21:29:00.000-07:00

The Suburbs The Suburbs
Two extraordinary and mindblowing days at the Manila Metro Comic Convention, held at the Megatrade Hall 2 in the SM Megamall (August 21 to 22, 2010). Thanks to all those who purchased Magiting Throwdown. And a shout out to Earl Maghirang, Carlo and Bel San Juan and Hazel Manzano.

Duyan ng mga Magiting to launch in the Manila Metrocon

2010-08-17T01:35:00.000-07:00

Buy a copy at the Manila Metrocon at the SM Megamall Trade Hall 2 on August 21 and 22. 80 Php only.

Duyan ng mga Magigiting #1 cover revealed!

2010-07-07T04:15:00.000-07:00

A Thank You to Gerry Alanguilan

2010-07-01T07:26:00.000-07:00

Omigosh! It's finally here! It wouldn't have been possible without the help of the Great Gerry Alanguilan of "Wasted" and "Elmer". Thank you Master Komikero Avenger.

Magitings Throwdown Cover!!!!

2010-07-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

Prepare for The Magitings at the August Metrocon

2010-06-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

See the Preview of "Magitings Throwdown!" in Glyphwall!

2010-06-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

Check out www.glyphwall.com. Link: http://www.glyphwall.com/glyph-art/item/95-magiting-throwdown.html

The Magitings are headed to METROCON!

2010-06-16T18:18:00.000-07:00

Omigosh! Omigosh! Omigosh! We're launching "Magitngs Throwdown!" at the Metrocon. Prepare 80 Php for a copy. It will be sold cheaper here than on comicbook stores. Wala pang consignment dyan. Tell your friends!

Magigiting Throwdown! this August

2010-06-14T21:49:00.000-07:00

"Magigiting Throwdown!" will be sold in Comic Odyssey, Planet X Comics and Sputnik Stores on August. Malabo nang maka exhibit kami sa Metrocon. We might launch "Duyan ng mga Magigiting" #1 on November. I'll keep you posted.

Encore for a Preview

2010-06-14T21:45:00.001-07:00

Magigiting Throwdown! this August

2010-06-14T04:57:00.000-07:00

Magigiting Throwdown! Coming soon to a Komiks Shop near you..

2010-06-11T17:32:00.000-07:00

Vote on who we should have the team to go against or partner with.

2010-06-09T20:14:00.000-07:00

Choices are found below the blogsite.
Voting lasts for 3 months.

Notice Anything New? Plus more info on our upcoming issue.

2010-06-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

Notice anything new? Notice anything new? Yes We already have a header and a cover, courtesy of our very prolific artist, Andrew Villar. See you at the August Metro Comics Convention in SM Megamall Convention Center. We'll be selling "Magitings Throwdown", in the Indie Valley Booth.

Sister Title to Duyan ng mga Magigiting's 2nd and 3rd Year script, done too!

2010-06-07T00:52:00.000-07:00

Prepare for a big Finale! If my finances enable me, I promise A BIG NAME Artist to draw the Finale to the two titles i'm publishing (I'm praying I can fund the 2nd title and find a diligent artist). Magiting Komiks Annual #2! What a way to finish the storyline.

Year 2

2010-05-29T05:48:00.000-07:00

I've just finished the outline for the 2nd year's storylines. It's so mind-boggling, I don't know how to put them into the script. I used the Paul Levitz way of scripting per character. I'll be working on the sister title's storylines tomorrow. I hope to finish it so I can proceed to the big mini-series event, where plot-threads of both sister titles will be resolved. It'll lead to something big. As in TEXAS BIG! For now, I'll be working on finishing the teaser issue.

The English Version of the Intro Page for "Duyan ng mga Magigiting"

2010-05-27T08:57:00.000-07:00

A History of Heroism

"When the Creator made humans, the Entity gave them the power to change the world, to alter the course of its destiny. Empires were built and then crumbled. Entire ethnic races moved from continent to continent. Animals and plants were extinguished, only to be replaced by species created by the humans themselves. And war engulfed the Planet.

Out of the chaos, humans rose up to the occasion and gained the powers to make extraordinary changes. The Annals of history repeat their names: The Martyrs and Saints, Hercules, Gilgamesh, Jeanne D' Arce, Solomon, Moses, Samson, Hippolyta and Mulan. They all changed the course of human destiny.

In the coming of the 20th century, governments grew wary of the powers that certain individuals possessed and sought to control them. A reign of terror and oppression took place for 60 years (World Wars I and II, the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement). This conflict openly ended when Stan Lee, Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby rewrote the roles of fictional superheroes and how humanity perceived them. Thus the open war became a hidden struggle.
Now, with the advent of 21st Century media, the pressures of an industrial society and a planet in peril... super-humans are emerging at a faster level. The time is now. It's Time to be the Hero!"

Magitings Throwdown Preview

2010-05-26T04:54:00.000-07:00

Page 7 of the Teaser Issue!

2010-05-21T05:50:00.001-07:00

I, IMPACT, AM A BAYAN KNIGHT!

2010-05-19T06:40:00.000-07:00

After posting some of my sketches for "Duyan ng mga Magigiting", Gilbert Monsanto of the Bayan Knights-series added me on Facebook. He immediately asked if he could include Impact (The character formerly known as "loser" and Invictus) in his comicbook, promising to promote and advertise Duyan ng mga Magigiting and my other comicbook for me.

After consulting with Teacher Andrew, I decided to seize the opportunity. And yes! You will see Impact (Paul Capulso) in the pages of Bayan Knights, following his original concept and the Magiting Universe Continuity (hopefully utilizing the Multiverse Scheme).

Fortunes turn. I've found my Artist!

2010-05-19T06:28:00.000-07:00

As, I mentioned below, I was down on my luck, nowhere to go with my dreams. I spent 3 weeks in a psych ward. Things happen so magically, next thing you know, you're ready to slay your demons. I have a new paradigm of thinking right now. Then the winds of fortune turned to the right direction.

I had been corresponding with my Elementary and High School Art Teacher, Andrew Villar, since last year, looking for any artists who were willing to take on my project. We also shared interest in the Avengers of Marvel Comics. After buying the Ambush #2 teaser from the UP Comiccon, I found out that he was a fan of the Avengers as well. I was already deep into the "New Avengers" saga, collecting almost all the tradepaperbacks and the Dark Reign issues. I decided to share with him some of my books.

On my last visit to him at school, bringing House of M and TPBs #s 3 and 4, we got to talk about my frustrations with artists. It turned out, he was looking for a project, himself. And being both Avengers fans and all, I pitched to him the concept of having a New/Young Avengers-esque team for Manila: "Duyan ng mga Magigiting." Things fell into place, and now he's working on the teaser for the next (July/August) SM Megamall Comiccon. Talk about fate.

Amazing! Talk about Fortunes Turning.. Checkout my new artist and co-creator!

2010-05-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

Sleight of Hand and Twist of Fate

2010-05-19T06:21:00.000-07:00

After my two artists bailed on me, I decided to take matters on my on my own hands. However, my hands weren't up to it. Because of the medications i'm taking, I'm suffering from twitches. I tried to get my sister to draw for me, but I kinda felt that it wouldn't work. But fate has its ways. Check the next blog post above...

Team Sketch

2010-01-22T20:26:00.000-08:00

Duyan ng Mga Magigiting Sketches: "Pankista"

2010-01-22T20:23:00.000-08:00

This is Pankista. A rocker/projectile powerset hero, and is Emote's main love interest. The artist didn't color his face yet. He's supposed to have blood red face paint to make him look like a "punk".

Duyan ng Mga Magigiting Sketches: "Emote"

2010-01-22T20:20:00.000-08:00

This is Janice Yu/Emote. Our main female protagonist. She' kind of the team's Jean Grey/psychic-back up powerset, with emotions instead of mental telepathy.

Duyan ng Mga Magigiting Sketches: "Shining Armor"

2010-01-22T20:17:00.000-08:00

Here are a few sketches my other artist worked on. This is Shining Armor, the team's main "powerhouse", a love-sick Superman.

The long wait... pitching the series.

2009-11-07T14:10:00.000-08:00

These days, much of the Komiks activities are in hibernation. I've taken an 8 to 5 job to fullfil my material needs. I'm currently writing in limited minutes the 9th issue of "DnmM". My plan is to finish all 18 issues of thr first year slate of Magiting Komiks by the end of the year. Pitching and proposing to Publishing companies is getting frustrating for this month. The long wait for an answer will kill you. I've just had my first rejection last month. Know anyone who publishes stuff?

Copyrighted at last. "Whew" What a day!

2009-09-02T00:24:00.000-07:00

Finally, my works are secure and owned by moi and Zivi. It was quiet a tedious process for me and my artist. I got lucky the money we brought was just exactly the amount we needed to have it done. I can't wait to post further stuff for you guys. Now for the really hard part: pitching it to publishers...

Taking weeks off my usual grind.

2009-08-01T03:42:00.000-07:00

I've been doing 120 plus pages of scripts for weeks now. It's starting to take a toll on my enthusiasm for my work. I'm taking two weeks off to reflect and think up of crazy new ideas. All work and no play makes me very dull. But i'll be posting a sketch of one of the upcoming villains. Enjoy!

Building a Mystery...

2009-08-01T03:39:00.000-07:00

I've added an additional 8 pages to my komiks series per issue. It mainly involves a conspiracy concerning a certain person related to the cast of the series and world domination. Zivi, by the way, has finished his designs on the costumes. I can't post 'em yet til they're copyrighted.

Meeting with Zivi

2009-07-23T19:29:00.000-07:00

Just met with Zivi yesterday. And the art is gorgeous! He even altered the designs in a way that outdid my idea. A pity I can't show them to you. :( I forgot to ask him for copies. Once the profile drawings are copyrighted, I might offer you a sneak peak. "Mga Magigiting! Magsama!

Villains, villains, villains.

2009-07-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

What's a comic book story without main antagonists? Originally, I was supposed to just leave the story with American criminal invaders. But it seemed so vanilla to keep it with just them. So I went to the character archetypes again. What would make a Filipino villain? I'm using everyday experience people. Those in power and those in the street level. From the Halls of Malacanang to the side streets of Tondo. The people who steal from you from public office or at the jeepney. The type of people that piss you off. Fun stuff ahead guys!

Burn out fever: EIGHT MORE Pages!

2009-07-23T19:18:00.000-07:00

After a long time of contemplating and conceptualizing, I've decided and written eight extra pages for "Duyan ng mga Magigiting". It's been quite exhausting and exciting at the same time. Now, you can read about the other support characters and the Conspiracy. I've promoted a third tier character as a main character. Not only is she a main character, she is central and integral to the conspiracy against our superheroes. On the bad side... I'm getting burned out with work. 56 added pages in a week can really burn you out. I'm not doing anything with the komiks for a week or too, to keep me interested in it. I've more posts for this blog though.

Magigiting! Magsama!

First Art! By the Amazing Zivi!

2009-07-02T22:47:00.000-07:00

Check this out! I think my eyes flew out of its sockets! :D Proposal issue work by the Amazing Zivi.

Early series divisions

2009-06-24T19:44:00.000-07:00

Because of the multitude of characters I planted in the story. I was in a dilemma on how to give equal attention to each character. I won't be naming the characters yet(to avoid spoiling the story), but I can show you the titles:

Year One
Pasyon at Paninindigan: Youth focused story
Puso at Prinsipyo: A gritty crime and love story

Year Two (A merging of character rosters of the previous year)
Kinabukasan: A youth story
Henerasyon Ngayon: The current shakers and movers of the present society.

I narrowed it down to one series, axing some of the characters.

By the way, I'm posting one of the characters present in the series right now.

Kagitingan Battle Scene

2009-06-24T19:39:00.000-07:00

A little doodling I did during the conceptualization of the book. One of the characters in the battle has since been axed off in the main story and will be a normal supporting character. Also in the sketch is 'Macho', one of the main characters in the story. The drawing is set in the Sta. Mesa/Rotonda flyover.

"A History of Heroism"

2009-06-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

This was the core idea of my comics. A sort of revisionist history regarding my Kagitingan Universe. I've developed a deeper backstory since then. Enjoy reading!

Mga Magigiting! Magsama!

A History of Heroism

"When the Creator made humans, the Entity gave them the power to change the world, to alter the course of its destiny. Empires were built and then crumbled. Entire ethnic races moved from continent to continent. Animals and plants were extinguished, only to be replaced by species created by the humans themselves. And war engulfed the Planet.

Out of the chaos, humans rose up to the occasion and gained the powers to make extraordinary changes. The Annals of history repeat their names: The Martyrs and Saints, Hercules, Gilgamesh, Jeanne D' Arce, Solomon, Moses, Samson, Hippolyta and Mulan. They all changed the course of human destiny.

In the coming of the 20th century, governments grew wary of the powers that certain individuals possessed and sought to control them. A reign of terror and oppression took place for 60 years (World Wars I and II, the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement). This conflict openly ended when Stan Lee, Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby rewrote the roles of fictional superheroes and how humanity perceived them. Thus the open war became a hidden struggle.

Now, with the advent of 21st Century media, the pressures of an industrial society and a planet in peril... super-humans are emerging at a faster level. The time is now. It's Time to be the Hero!"

Original concepts and storyline

2009-06-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

The comics I'm producing at the time of this post's publication started out as a protest to what was happening to comics. To make it more realistic. Ironically enough, the story evolved into a pure traditional costumed superhero comics, the type I was against. The ideas and the limitless possibilities demanded for it. I had to be more compromising of my concepts. Compromise is what makes the world move. The characters started out as normal human beings gifted with power, and how the world would react to it. However, the dynamism of costumed superheroes and the richness of the tradition made me abandon my original idea. I'll be posting the costumes as soon as I have it copyrighted. Keep your eyes on the blog.

- Amado Aparentado

Settings and the Story

2009-05-29T16:07:00.000-07:00

When I started conceptualizing the Kagitingan Universe, I wanted a world that would reflect that of ours'. I wanted a plausible world where superhumans truly did exist. And set in Metro Manila. Originally, the story was supposed to be similar to the show "Heroes" until someone told me that my concept and the show were too similar. Originally, the heroes were not supposed to have superhero costumes and weren't supposed to save anybody. With his suggestion and Gilbert Monsanto's open invitation for people to create superheroes for his 'Bayan Knights' comics series, I decided to create costumes for my characters anyway. So how do I make costumed heroes plausible? I decided to make a conspiracy theory in the lines of the Papal Inquisitions and the McCarthy Communist Purges. Add a little of the stories of psychics and voila! The Kagitingan Universe!

Here are some of the notes I made, early in the designing phase.

Elements:
Poverty, corruption, crime, war, racial and socio-economic differences, societal divide, Church Hegemony, ideological conflicts, 'Messiah Complexes', slavery.

Support characters:
1) Artists
2) The dispossesed
3) Political Scions
4) Corrupt enforcers (Police and Military)
5) Criminals
6) Businessmen
7) Religious leaders
8) Civil society leaders
9) Racial and sexual orientation minorities
10) Environmentalists and humane society
11) Overseas Filipino Workers and manual, low wage workers

Designing the characters.

2009-05-29T15:50:00.000-07:00

It was after Mumbai when I began to realize the need for real heroes in the world of comics. Not just powers and costumes given persona of people,. but real people first. So I thought to myself, "How do I make real people and yet make them fictional?". I'm not a people person, so I had to start with someone I knew very well, every minute detail. Me. I learned years ago how Stan Lee created his characters, basing them on his personality, ditto for Pol Medina Jr. (creator of Pugad Baboy).

Here are some of the characters I left out off the main story:

Hole- Extremely "wanting more person", very sexually perverse, greedy, insensitive to others and yet very self-sensitive, extravagant, has a n extreme case of ennui.
Powers: corrupt, increase want, weaken morals.

Zeal- Catholic religious Extremist, will do things by "any means necessary", self-righteous
Powers: strengthen faith and resolve

Look familiar? I decided to axe the character from my series because I discovered that DC had recently designed a character similar to him "Azrael the Death Knight". I didn't want to be sued in the beginning of my comics run.

My characters are a fusion of myself and people I know. Melissa is my emo side fused with my idea of my dream girl. Rams is my rocker persona. Marga would be a mix of my self-righteous personality and my kid sister and Dinky Soliman. Macho? My intolerance and a professor I knew in college.

How it all Began...

2009-05-27T04:07:00.000-07:00

Starting an only comics isn't an automatic idea to arrive upon. I've been planning of creating my own comics ever since I read my first Marvel Comics issue way back in grade 1. The intertwining artistry of the visual and intellectual elements of the medium has always amazed me.

My first attempt at comics creation was in 2001. I had conceptualized an Edge-inspired (WWE's superstar Adam Copeland) and Highlander themed series called Crucifix. As fate would have it, the idea died a natural death. The same thing happened to my epic 'journey to hell' comics series idea. I just knew writing and producing comics was something I would like doing as a job.

It was after Captain America's death and the demonic retcon of Spider-Man's marriage when I thought to myself: "Why not stop complaining about what you see as lacking in comics today? Why not make your own comics?". It took an email from a local inker in the Philippines for me to follow through with what I asked myself.

Timing is a key element in starting a series. It needs a push for an artist to start his craft. I had envisioned my comics to deal with real social and political events. After the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina, I asked myself how superheroes would react to such events realistically. I told myself to wait for a global shattering event that would rattle my characters. Only then would I start writing. Then the Mumbai attacks happened. And the characters all came together in my imagination. That was how Magiting Komiks started.

An Introduction and Invitation

2009-05-16T21:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Magiting Komiks' official blog, readers and newly christened Magigitings. My name is Amado Aparentado, creator and writer for the aforementioned series. All my life, I've always wanted to share my ideas and stories to a large readership, Filipinos and international comics fans alike. All these years, I've struggled to think of a concept that would be original and yet reflective of who I am. Looking back, maybe the times and I weren't really that prepared or open to these ideas that I'm working on now...

With the advent of the new milieu of comics out there, fresh ideas are needed. The innovations of the Mark Millars, B.M. Bendises and the artistry of the Olivier Coipels have opened worlds for people like me. Of course, who can downplay the advances of technology today. With the World Wide Web (Google, Blogger and Comics websites) and cellphones, the world's distances are shrinking by each passing day.

These days, comics are getting expansive. It doesn't help that the world economy is in disarray. I'm trying out a niche on readership. Free Comics. Not just one or a few issues on May 1, but two or three regular series. Right now, the job I have pays for the production of comics. Things don't come cheap these days. Artists' fees and domain fees. I try to stick to three to four issues on my buying list each month.

In the Philippines, getting recognized in the art is a process of more than starving for your art. It's more of getting malnourished and barfing out what you eat, just to get noticed. Only singers get props in my country. While there is no shortage of great Filipino writers and artists, most of the great illustrators work for American publishers, while writers fade into obscurity. There's a reason why recognition tends to stay with a clique of friends and contemporaries. It's the pessimism and the costs of art that drives away the Filipino audience.

This is why i'm doing this for free. We, as artists, thrive for the attention of people to be able to express and impress. There's no better feeling of having the spotlight on you, alone in the stage, and hearing the uproar of the audience. It's the recognition that you have the right magic and rapport with the crowd. It's the connection that seeks to link us into the lives of others, like the Pol Medinas of the world.

I hope you join me in this adventure, as we unravel the world of my komiks.

P.S. Here's one of the original concept sketches I did in the first days of conceptualization.