IN PROGRESS.
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DELL BARRAS was born in Manila, and his artwork was published in the Philippines from 1970-1984 by Atlas, Bulaklak and Miranda Publishing. Romeo Tanghal introduced Dell to the editors of DC Comics and started as an inker, then penciled and inked various titles for the Marvel US and Marvel UK (Death's Head ... to name a few ). From 1984-1993, Dell worked on titles such as Batman, Superman, Green Arrow, Web of Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, and Conan the Barbarian. He also worked with Neal Adams for 5 years, penciling and inking for his Continuity Comics. A designer, animator and storyboard artist for films/television and the internet, Dell is based in Van Nuys, California.
How Did You Start in the Biz:
Advice for Newbies:
I started as an inker on Romeo Tanghal's work on TEEN TITANS ...Then he brought me to Dick Giordano at D.C. wherein they gave me THE BLUE BEETLE to clean pencil then ink for 10 issues. I got to ink Incredible Hulk , Conan,Green Arrow and many more. Then PAUL NEARY of Marvel UK (London) took me to London to pencil DEATHÕS HEAD, KILL POWER, MOTORMOUTH, BLACK ANGEL and more. When I came back to the US, I collaborated with DAN BARRY on pencilling and inking the newspaper strip of FLASH GORDON, which lasted for 3 years and after that, the famed NEAL ADAMS hired me to be the art director of his studio here in California. I learned a lot of things from him and the studio. It was part advertising, part comic book publishing so I had a good time sometimes pencilling,sometimes inking on various comic books for his studio. I also learned how to do Movie Posters, and TV storyboards with him. I resigned from his studio to pursue a career in Animation. And here I am now.
For all newbies in the comic book field, all I can say is it starts with practice and probably will end with practice. Art is infinity and whatever it takes to learn, you should jump on every oppurtunity that you can get. Take art lessons, seminars ..etc. Remember in this field...it gets THINNER at the top!
April 2004
www.barrasandclark.net
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javlin47@yahoo.com
dell@media-blastoff.net
Filipino Comic Creators
Directory
CARLO PAGULAYAN wowed the industry with his works in Elektra for Marvel Knights. His Elektra works graced the pages of issues #11-15, 18, 21 & 22 written by Greg Rucka and inked by Danny Miki. He recently finished a one-shot issue for MVCreation's Master of the Universe line. His upcoming projects are under the Ultimate lines for Marvel Comics.
Current Projects:
How Did You Start in the Biz:
Then September 11, 2001.
A few weeks later, Dark horse was in a hurry to release a 9-11 Tribute book, and needed 3 pages of sequentials. Wilson Tortosa at Banzai was busy so I accepted the assignment. I thought that not only was this an opportunity to create inspired work, but it was the right time to help the victiims of September 11.
Dark Horse liked the pages, so I was asked to do Kiss. The problem was that I'm not familiar with their faces AND all the Kiss websites only had small pictures of the band, full body shots at that! After all that time spent on research, I still didn't have any drawings of Kiss for Dark Horse. That's why on January 1, 2002, I thought of drawing Elektra inspired by Greg Horn's drawing ... and as luck would have it, Marvel was looking for a new artist. And that's where I am now. Long story huh?
Advice for Newbies:
Right now, I'm working on Emma Frost (which is being inked by Dennis Crisostomo), as a substitute for Randy Green. Originally I was supposed to do a miniseries on Rogue and the Ultimate Daredevil/ Elektra, but they've been placed on hold. I've done a fill-in on Superman. I still don't know when the Superman issue will be released. But last I checked, it's being inked.
I was among the attendees of the first Glasshouse seminar in the Philippines in January 2000. I wasn't accepted; hence I became a supervisor at the PCB Plant, resigning after 7 months because I might've died from the chemicals, and I noticed that I was drawing everytime I got the graveyard shift. So I went back to trying out at Glasshouse. No luck again, until I submitted an X-men sequential. I continued submitting samples, but I signed a contract under Glasshouse after submitting a Fables sample. (But the sample came out late and Lan Medina landed the gig).
Practice, Practice, Practice. And never give up trying out. Listen to what others have to say about your work, and if you get in, never stop trying to improve your art. You will never know where you'll be in the future.
October 2003
camp78.fateback.com/
www.artis4hire.com
ARNOLD ARRE has won two Manila Critics Circle National Book Awards for his graphic novels The Mythology Class (2000), a four-part action adventure miniseries, and Trip to Tagaytay (2001), a future fiction piece, released under his own graphic design and publishing company, Tala Studios. Mythos, his first solo gallery show, featured images of characters drawn from Philippine folklore. He was also part of the '2001 Filipino American Art Expo Exhibits' in San Francisco and New Jersey.
How Did You Start in the Biz:
I love creating comics because its a very good medium for telling my stories. I guess I'm just crazy enough to like the medium. ;)
Advice for Newbies:
All I can say is that if you're a comic book creator, or planning to be one, just go out there and do your thing in order for the gears of the industry to work. Anyone interested enough should pitch in. The most important thing you should do though is to develop your own style. Be original. Write stories that no one has ever heard of.
It all began when I borrowed my brother's 'Incredible Hulk with Doc Samson' comic way back when I was 6 or 7. I've been fascinated with sequential art ever since. Sometime in my teens, I started making my own comic books but since I didn't have the means of releasing them, I worked in the advertising industry for a while after graduating from college. I left the ad industry shortly after realizing that I wanted to focus on making comic books. I would work on odd design and illustration jobs just to gather up enough savings, then finally released my first self-published graphic novel 'The Mythology Class' in 1999, followed by 'Trip to Tagaytay' in 2000. In 2001, Adarna Publishing came up to me asking for story ideas. I submitted 'After Eden,' a story I've been toying with since 1999 but never got to finish, and they published it in 2002. as a colourist. After a while, I pitched Kissing Chaos to the editors at Oni. In the future I hope to continue wit my creator owned projects, and maybe do some work here and there for larger companies.
I won't suggest comic book-making as a day job though because it's really tough. I myself had to work in several ad agencies before I could release Myth Class. It's sad but that's how things are. The industry is still in its infancy but its showing signs of growth. Only time will tell.
August 2003
ARTHUR DELA CRUZ has worked as a colorist for 'Monster Fighter's Inc.' (Image), and on covers for various publications. He is also a freelance illustrator and designer. For Oni Press, he is the inker on 'Skinwalkers,' and the writer/artist of 'Kissing Chaos.' He is in a rock band, also named 'Kissing Chaos.'
Current Projects:
How Did You Start in the Biz:
Advice for Newbies:
Working on a Kissing Chaos one-shot. KC is somewhat of an ongoing series of one-shots and mini-series. Preparing to work on a graphic novel for Oni Press, to be released in 2004.
After a year of art college, I decided to try and learn art on my own, and joined a studio in Toronto. In this studio, I learned a bit about how things sort of worked in the industry, and met some good writers and artists. At this studio I worked on Monster Fighters. Then with the connections I made, I got hooked up with Oni Press, working as a colourist. After a while, I pitched Kissing Chaos to the editors at Oni. In the future I hope to continue wit my creator owned projects, and maybe do some work here and there for larger companies.
I still feel like a newbie in the industry myself, but if I could give any advice to anyone, work hard. Always try to improve your skills, whether it be writing or art. And this may sound lame, but do what you like.
June 2003