Gerry Alanguilan - Cartoonist Survey #261

Award-winning comic book artist, writer and publisher Gerry Alanguilan was born January 20, 1968 in San Pablo, Laguna in the Philippines. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Santo Tomas in 1989. During his sophomore year of college, he began sending out submissions to Marvel Comics. Unfortunately, these submissions resulted in many rejection letters. Undaunted, he continued to submit artwork to Marvel as well as the other major companies including DC, Dark Horse, Valiant and Fantagraphics.

Gerry became a licensed architect in 1990, but was unsatisfied with the job and quit. Inspired by fellow Filipino comic book artist, Whilce Portacio, he honed his skills working in Philippine comics for several years. By the end of 1995 he was working for Wildstorm Studios inking Wetworks and then Grifter.

Wasted, an 8-issue photocopied mini comic, was Gerry’s first self-written comic. Originally produced between July of 1994 and July of 1996, Wasted was collected and published by Alamat Comics in 1998. It was serialized monthly in PULP Magazine in the Philippines in 2000, and then in 2003 PULP compiled the story as Wasted: The Final Edition. Now out-of-print, Wasted is available here to read for free online, complete with notes by Gerry.

He has also written and drawn many more of his own comic stories including, Crest Hut Butt Shop, Humanis Rex!, Johnny Balbona, Timawa, and others. The graphic novel Elmer, is another of his own works. Pitting talking chickens against humans, Elmer tackles political and social issues like bullying and racism. His chicken named Solano that he owned as a child was his inspiration for Elmer. The story was originally published by Gerry’s own Komikero Publishing company and has since been published by SLG Publishing in both English and French.

Gerry has been an inker for Marvel, DC, Image, and Millarworld. He has worked on Batman, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Silent Dragon, Superman, Ultimate Avengers, Wolverine, X-Men, X-Force, Superior and Supercrooks. He has also illustrated various short stories for Graphic Classics such as: “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe, “The Judge’s House” by Bram Stoker, and “The Plague of Ghosts” by Rafael Sabatini.

Being very interested in promoting and preserving the works of the great Filipino comics illustrators of the past, Gerry hosts the Philippine Comics Art Museum Online at his website. There you can find galleries of artwork by Nestor Redondo, Alex Niño, Francisco V. Coching, Rudy Florese, Alfredo Alcala and many others. He is also an active video blogger who creates short films, interviews, documentaries, cooking recipes, and art tips and demonstrations. His comedic short film ‘Hey Baby!’ went viral and was even featured on the television shows Tosh.0 and The Graham Norton Show. Learn more about Gerry by visiting his website, Facebook page and Youtube channel. You can purchase 'Hey Baby!' gear here at Gerry's CafePress store.

What is your favorite pen to use?
Uni PIN

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I use a Mongol #2 pencil.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
Computer.

What type of paper do you use?
Anything that's available at the local shop that works best with my linework.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Hair.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
A mixture of both.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
I just start drawing, no fuss.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I listen to pretty much anything except hip hop.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Tintin. 70s era Marvel like Uncanny X-Men, Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Calvin and Hobbes.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
‘Star Surgeon’ by Alan E Nourse. No, I don't have a copy. I wish I did!

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
None.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Both, curse its eyes.

Did either of your parents draw?
No.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My wife.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I did. I didn't enjoy it very much because I wasn't really good at it.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
More important than what? But they are important in any case.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Old Filipino Komiks and original art.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Richard (Hartford) in Daimos.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Right handed.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Cook.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Very, very, very, very, very, very, very messy.

Do you play any musical instruments?
Yes, a guitar.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
You gotta love it man, or you can just forget about it.

Who is your favorite artist?
Barry Windsor Smith.


Thanks again Gerry!