Summer Komikon | The Saturday After

04.14.2019 – Summer Komikon is on its tenth year since its first event at the old UP Bahay ng Alumni in 2009 expands the annual Komikon event to two at the time prior to Indie Komiks Market or simply Indieket that was held in July 2012. Conventions these days are not just about what its objectives, but also something new to see here. One year removed from this event in 2018 it was different from the one I last attended in 2017. This event changed over the years that most people would look forward to more than the one held in October/November. The weather heating up there were few familiar faces that didn’t turned up the way you expected to see in a long time.

The past few days unrelated to these event things where quite challenging with the soaring temperatures incomparable to the harshest weather I’ve been. Some probably decided to stay at home and cool down in their homes while being blasted with the cold breeze of an air-condition unit or an electric fan.

But earlier today the fiery heat of summer wasn’t that hostile for the locals. Personally, it was quite the opposite that didn’t make me stay longer time inside the venue of the Bayanihan Center. Prior to being stuck inside the halls of the complex for the rest of the event I went off to pick some personal errands that needed to be addressed and then preceded with the improvisation of the plan that was concocted as a surprise and a return of gesture to a few people I’ve come to appreciate back down under that kept me busy throughout Summer Komikon.

The View from the Seat, where the Light Tries to Enter the Hall.

Out of the Depths of the Eyes Can See the Rows of Tables.

For the past nine years since its inception I’ve been to this event with the exception of 2018 as I’ve been down south living a different lifestyle although I was still keen on supporting the local grassroots the focus has shifted my interest of expanding the usual knowledge I’ve enjoyed to something out of my wheel house.

Most of the day I’ve taken a different initiative in being part of this event and in those past iterations it’s the redundancy of the grit and grind of doing coverage that’s what I usually do up to 2016. But for the following year it was a different perspective already having decided to move to a foreign place. The 2017 Summer Komikon was part of a quick visit to get things in order personally and it was at that time the last event I attended before making it back in South Australia.

There’s a saying the only constant and permanent in this world is change. After a year of absence from this event there was something different about it. Although there have several factors concerning recent events it was still a good day for comics. There were new faces but entirely their first rodeo to be at this event, but from another one that has become a constant word of mouth. You’ll be surprised how creativity has expanded and not limited to just comics.

At the far end which was the huge wall where the stage used to stand the merchandise area ruled. From postcards, stickers, and prints this was not just the area that have most people have gathered because they have friends being there it is that one part of constant change that made this event significant. I wasn’t around much for the whole duration of this event early in the morning as I stepped out once I arrived. I got back at what should be the highlight of Summer Komikon, namely the crowed that would have been slow crawling each table checking out the latest local komiks.

Social Interaction Happens from A Far and the Crowd.

Anino and Epik Two Tables of Great Publications

But I’m surprised how the attendees spread out that there was enough room to run or do cartwheels. I never had the chance to check the cafeteria though as I was already stuffed by Taco Bell before heading back and most of the time I was in one area having a few laughs and engaged in senseless but truthful conversations.

There were not much highlights for me to say but the handful of books I acquired speak volumes that there are a few rare gems that would certainly catch your attention thanks of course to the huge projector that has been looping most of the sponsors and some of interesting books that I have to scramble looking for their booths up to the last minute that they almost packed their stuff already by 8 PM.

Although I’m not going to elaborate each one, but pretty much appreciate the interaction for most of them at the same time that social communication established. I’ve practically was out of sorts since I only had a few hours of sleep from the busy commute on Friday. It was quite an overwhelming adventure around the city taking unconventional ways to get from point A to point B. But going back to this year’s Summer Komikon there were not much fireworks only the little things that matter.

Since being not here for a year I was literally not connected to the last one I’ve been, but I do appreciate how the set up and the execution of programs that includes the panels in each conference rooms. Missing this year is the Indie Tiangge a small market self-published area that has been part of the Komikon brand. For the first time they replaced it as part of the events artists panel.

A View of Ariel Atienza's Table. Find Something Familiar?

At the Corner where Comic Odyssey can be seen.

It was quite noting Comic Odyssey one of the co-presenters and major sponsor of this event was light on their stuff on sale because Sandy Sansolis, the store proprietor just got back from the US trip and Wondercon after twenty four hours. Sandy was a trooper early in the day but a few hours before this event he was really out of sorts. Jetlagged but still accommodating even if his eyes needs toothpick to make them open. For the rest of the self-published authors/artists they are really diamond in the rough to search for them in every corner of the exhibitor’s hall.

After ten years this event should be ahead of the pack, but as constant change in midst they must be on their toes to be forward thinking than just keeping the komiks tradition. The heritage will be there but you have to integrate something different and notable to the current generation as things move fast with social media and what is out there everything should be at constant.

The Organizers, Hardworking individuals. An Extended Family Everyone Should Congratulate for the Success.

Summer Komikon, personally was fun but not like the past five years I’ve been doing coverage. It has become smaller for me to just chill and just hangout not taking things too serious. Coming up an idea at last minute really gave me focus what I want to do for this year than just take note and highlight what worked and what did not.

From those Diamonds in the Rough, the best that caught the Summer Heat and Made it into Their Energy.

At the end of the day it was personally rewarding to get to know some of the people I’ve met in the last komiks-related events and just sit there have a nice chat with those that I established a two-way communication. It is about just being real and not just there to support their work but to also appreciate the other side of their personalities. An overall just another Komikon for me and at the same time thinking about some friends back down south how they’re doing at the Adelaide Comics & Toy Fair since I never had the chance to get there, but that’s another thought to process.

Entirely, Summer Komikon is a decade already its time to change up and hope to see what they’re cooking up for the next five summers moving forward.