ELMER #1 Reviews v Gerry Alanguilan's ELMER July 25th, 2006 This week my colleague Kenny has been scouring the international world of comics to bring us this relatively unknown gem for his Did You Miss Me? piece: Did You Miss Me? Well
this is one you almost certainly did, as up until now it hasn�t actually
been available in the UK. Elmer is the creation of Filipino comics artist
Gerry Alanguilan who has worked as a penciller on many strips in his native
land and as an inker on many comics projects for Marvel and other US based
publishers over pencillers such as Whilce Portacio. The man is a damned
fine artist. Now he is also a publisher and the first effort from his company
Komikero Publishing is the comic Elmer.
Elmer is a beautifully
drawn and tightly scripted family drama set in a world where the advantaged
and disadvantaged live in a state of mutual distrust, for the most part.
Neither believing fully that the actions of the past were totally reprehensible
on one side or that the new enlightenment of the present with its promise
of equality and equal opportunity is truly real on the other. Think any
nation deeply divided by race or religion and I�m sure you get the picture.
The difference here is that whilst one race is man the other is chickens.
Yes CHICKENS! And they talk and interact on all levels with the human population.
Ok it�s a thinly veiled allegory for many such situations happening all over the world today, but it manages to actually pull you into the story by the characterisation of the Chickens. By the end of the book you actually care what happens next, to the characters and to the plot. In fact you might just think twice next time you are shopping in Sainsbury�s. The stand out of the book is the art which is very tight for the most part, occasionally reminding me of past Filipino greats like Nestor Redondo. While the subject matter leans much more to Indy comics the art has all the style and finish fans would expect of mainstream comics work, so it should pretty much appeal to a wide cross-section of readers. Especially chicken lovers :-) . We�ve imported a load of the comic - which isn�t distributed through normal channels - and it will be in our shops by this Thursday; it�s available to order online now. It�s normally a $2.95 cover price but we are going to tempt you to try something a little bit different - available in store at £1.40 and online delivered to you for £1.65 (inclusive of postage because we really want you to read this). We�ll be doing an interview with Gerry next month when we look at comics around the world. Forbidden Planet
UK Review
v ELMER #1 by Gerry Alanguilan, 32p b&w comic Alanguilan has turned into one good cartoonist, and his fable about an angry talking rooster trying to carve out a place for himself in a human world prejudiced against chickens despite promises of equality and equal opportunity. The parallels are obvious but understated, the characters touching, and Alanguilan does as good as job with the dialogue as he does with the art. If I can be allowed one chicken joke, this is the work of a mature talent that has come home to roost. Check it out if you get the chance. -Steven Grant
v Gerry�s Chicken Supreme By Ruel S. De Vera
Last updated 08:16pm (Mla time) 06/09/2006 WHEN Gerry Alanguilan decides he�s going to pull something you�ve never seen before, he does it. Though he�s a top-shelf comic creator whose provided inks for characters like Wolverine and Superman, it�s his personal projects that really push the limits of the panel. When he decided to write and draw a comic book series about a spurned lover�s homicidal rampage through Metro Manila, he churned out the ultra-violent tale of catharsis and carnage called "Wasted," that rare story where readers find themselves cheering for the gun-toting madman. Now, Alanguilan�s got a chicken for you. Not just any chicken, but the ultimate chicken. Hot on the racks is Elmer Book 1, the first part of a four-issue series from Alanguilan�s newly conjured Komikero Publishing. In it, Alanguilan explores a parallel Philippines, almost exactly like our own, except that, somehow, the chickens have developed human intellect and the ability to speak, becoming a part of Filipino society. "Despite the apparent humor in the overall concept, that of a world of talking chickens, it really is one of the most serious stories I�ve ever attempted to write and draw," he explains. "It�s an idea and a story that I feel very strongly about and I didn�t want to compromise it by removing some of its edge." The egg behind this chicken finds its origins as far back as when Alanguilan was 13, when he had a pet chicken named Solano, as recalled in his afterword: "I admit I hadn�t been as good as I should have been to my chicken, so when he suddenly attacked me shortly before he died, it made me think that they may well have emotions and could think well enough to want to poke my eye out." This groundbreaking comic creator doesn�t pull his punches with this title that, like Wasted, is for mature readers. In the opening sequence, readers will realize that the chicken--Jake Gallo--is apparently pulling some self-loving while looking at Internet porn. "The opening scene is definitely quite risqué, but I wanted to open on a strong note, establishing that in this book, anything can happen," he says. "I also wanted to establish quite quickly the idea that chickens have indeed become as humans, and very, very few normal young lonely males would not be, even superficially, attracted to a half naked young woman, or man, if your beak pecks that way." That chickens must deal with the problems of regular people, as well as the problems that have to do with being chickens in a man�s world goes to the heart of Elmer�s plumage. In the first issue, we accompany Jake as he tries to apply for a job, goes all pollo loco and then has to return home because something is wrong with his father--the titular chicken Elmer. Aside from the wiseacre dialogue, savor Alanguilan�s insanely detailed black-and-white art, more elaborate than anything he�s done so far. Inspired by the idea behind Elmer, Alanguilan�s artist friends sent their own chicken fan art, and Alanguilan was so impressed with the unsolicited submissions, he imbedded them in some scenes as posters and paintings, something he plans to continue doing in the upcoming issues. In coming issues, Alanguilan promises clues as to what enabled these chickens to evolve as well as reveals the saga of Elmer in earnest. Keep an avian eye out for Elmer Book 2 which should be out by the end of August. Beyond Elmer, fans of the San Pablo-based Alanguilan�s work will see his collaboration with fellow Pinoy penciller Leinil Yu with the July release of the Silent Dragon trade paperback from DC/Wildstorm. "I�m also writing and drawing a humor strip for Mwahaha! called Johnny Balbona, and a full color science fiction story told two pages a month in the pages of Fudge Magazine. I�m doing bit work for US companies here and there, but for the moment, I�m concentrating on my local projects." The world of Elmer is a complicated cockpit full of contradictions, including the fact that Jake, seething with outrage at being the victim of anti-chicken sentiment, disapproves of his sister May�s fiancé because the fiancé is a human. "Yeah. Get over it," Jake thinks to himself. "It�s so f__king easy to say." Experience the hatching of a new avian age with Elmer Book 1, a profound and profane perspective on a planet gone fowl. "I�m not a vegetarian, but as I grow older I�ve realized the wisdom of eating less meat and more fruits and vegetables," Gerry Alanguilan explains. "But yes, I do cook and eat chicken. It�s really one of my favorites." Original Link:
v Chicken Joy Once in a while, a comic book comes along that blows everything else out of the water by the virtue of its excellence. This time around, it's "Elmer" by Gerry Alanguilan. "Elmer" tells the story of a chicken caught up in the realities of life, deftly presented by Alanguilan whose storytelling prowess is at its finest. The textured nuances of his characterization permit observations and explorations into the themes of loss and longing, love and duty, differences and commonalities, and the confusing complexities of familial relationships. In the same manner that the Pulitzer-award winning "Maus" managed to evoke the human condition via the travails of mice, Alanguilan's anthropomorphized poultry provides a mirror for us to look at ourselves and our common concerns. What sets this comic book apart is the author's matured storytelling, fulfilling the promise of his earlier work and continuing the natural evolution of his artistic growth. On the graphic side of things, he balances technical challenges (using a 9 panel grid, or anatomically accurate poutry) and creative expression (showing emotions in the faces and body language of his avian characters) and presents a final product that I can only imagine would be stunning in full color but works nonetheless in stark black and white. Easily the best comic book I've read this year (including both local and imported comic books), "Elmer" is something you must read. After reading and reading the book, I consider the author the most talented creator in the industry today, which is only fitting because Alanguilan is also the caretaker of the past of Filipino komiks. He admirably bridges the past, present and the future of Filipino graphic fiction. It is with "Elmer" that Alanguilan truly makes his mark, raising the bar high for all who would follow after. I'm proud to have worked with him - and to call him both friend and comrade-in-comics. -Dean Alfar
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