Webcomic 01-09 Uploaded!

Chapter One, Page Nine:
http://www.drunkduck.com/Life_Again/index.php?p=94087

It's a friday again... well, in the US atleast. It's actually way past midnight here in the Philippines already. I'm really cramming on making this page.

As you may know, a strong typhoon called Milenyo (or Milennium in english) hit Metro Manila yesterday badly. It paralayzed the whole Northern Philippines totally. Black outs and telephone lines were cut. Not to mention heavily damaged structures and fallen trees. It's a good thing that just earlier, power went back to normal... well, I guess only here where I'm living that is. So here I am adding a new page.

About the page... I didn't know where I went wrong, but the resolution seemed to have made a mistake somewhere when I was doing Photoshop. I don't know if you'll notice, but the image is kinda hazy. But still, I hope it carries through and hope you guys enjoy the page.

Super Typhoon Milenyo

Okay, I guess most of the bloggers in the Philippines must be writing the same story as what I'm about to write now.

Last thursday, a super typhoon called "Milenyo", struck the Philippines hard. It crippled businesses for atleast two days counting yesterday because of the damage it made. Most structures that withstood previous storms were damaged badly. Billboards along the streets tumbled down. Trees were uprooted from the ground. Cars were either flipped over or were crushed by falling trees or billboards. Power was out and so was the telephone lines. And cell-sites were inoperable making mobile phones useless. It was the worst typhoon that the Philippines had encountered.

I was at the office when the typhoon came. I didn't know that office was called off that day. When I got there, the storm built up and I never had the chance to go back home. Me and a couple of my friends at the office who also got stranded there just watched the typhoon as it raged by. We saw roofs flying all over the place. We were like "this looks like something straight out of a disaster movie". When the eye of the storm reached the place where we were, we decided to go to a mall nearby, hoping that it'll be open and have lunch. We saw along the way the havoc it created. It was very awful yet exciting at the same time. I've never seen nor experienced anything like that before.

When I got home, I was expecting the power to be out. And it was. Good thing yesterday morning, power went back up. As I went around the place, I realized that not everyone has power already. I guess we were just lucky. Up till now, most of Metro Manila (and probably the surrounding provinces) still doesn't have power yet. From what I've heard from the news, most of the power will be back by Sunday. That really sucks.

Anyway, kids must be happy when the typhoon hit, thinking that they don't have classes. But for us working people, it's not really a good thing. Especially for the economy. It's a good thing that rebuilding is quicker now than it was before. And hopefully by the start of next week, all will be back to normal.

Bounce!

Webcomic 01-08 Uploaded!

Chapter One, Page Eight:
http://www.drunkduck.com/Life_Again/index.php?p=91107

Like I said before on my previous post, I'm making this webcomic called Life Again that's updated every friday. And once again, it's a friday. And it's update day! Weee!

It took me some time to use the computones on this page. I was planning on a big lightning storm BG for the 2nd panel, but as it turned out, the lightning storm was too much for me.

Anyway, I'm really having fun in making this webcomic. Though with a tight schedule at work and at the gym, plus the upcoming deadline for the Hamthology, I'm having a hard time on trying to fit making the page with all of that in the way. Still, I did promise to deliver every friday and thank God, I can still do it. This one page a week business seems like it's not doing any justice for the story. But if my schedule does loosen up, I'll try to update maybe twice a week atleast. ^^;

Back On My Feet

It's been quite sometime that I've been bumming around the house. And just this monday, I've already started at my new work. All I can say is, I'm glad to be working again. It's not that I wasn't working while I was at home. I was still doing some "rakets" here and there to keep me alive. But still, nothing beats a regular day job.

I applied to my current job some months ago. And because of a health problem that I have that the HR found, I was put on hold. And just recently did I start on this new job.

From then on, I realized a couple of things:

1. I realized that a day job is a necessity and I must persevere at my work to stay at work. I hate those shmoes going off to work and do nothing (much like me before. That also means I hate my old self) while there are alot of people out there who are eager to work but can't find a job.

2. Healthy living is the way to go. I've started working out, doing boxing, eating less; and right now, I've just lost 10 lbs and feel better than ever.

Bounce!

Crocodille Hunter, killed

It's been all over the news yesterday. Steve Irwin... steve who? You know, that Crocodille Hunter guy who chases Crocs with his wife, was killed yesterday. Apparently he was doing an underwater documentary of the Great Barrier Reef when a stingray struck him in the chest. Yeah, we all know what a stingray is and what it can do. Pretty dangerous stuff.

To be perfectly honest, I like Dr. Brady Barr more than Steve Irwin. But still, he's such a good guy. It's sad to lose someone who has done alot to the conservation of wildlife all over the world. May he rest in peace.

Bounce!

Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls

Okay. Before you read on, a word of caution, for this topic may contain some spoilers. If you do not wish to know what's going to happen in the anime Basilisk, I suggest don't try reading on.

Now that we've got that out of the way...

In the tradition of Battle Royale comes this wonderful and beautifully made anime called Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls. I've recently got hold of a copy of Basilisk and I must say that I am truly awe-struck on how it's wonderfully made. The story goes that for 400 years, a rivalry between two ninja clans, Iga of Hidden Tsuba and Kouga of Manji Valley, has been brewing. Only by the mediation of the first Hattori Hanzo on the night the Iga village was attacked by Oda did peace reign. Years have passed, the retiring Shogun, Ieyasu Tokugawa, has sent the two clans' heads, Ogen of Iga and Danju of Kouga, to show their clan's ninja prowess. It is in his belief that the ninja will be the deciding factor on who will be the next Tokugawa shogun. With the help of the fourth Hattori Hanzo, they decided that both clans will be pitted against each other to the death, thus breaking the peace pact made by the first Hattori Hanzo. Each clan chooses 10 of its best ninjas. And from there, they fight to the end. The last clan standing will be the winner.

The story is full of treachery and deciet. Amidst the violence, there is romance between the two heirs to both clans, Oboro of Iga and Gennusuke of Kouga. Tragically, while they were betrothed to each other, they must face the fact that they are from different ninja clans and must do their duty to finish of each other if they must. In the end, due to their eternal love for each other, both committed seppuku. Tragic.

If you were wondering why the anime was called Basilisk, it is because both Gennusuke and Oboro has this special "ninja technique" (if you will) that uses their eyes. Gennusuke's gaze will put fear on those people who have malicious intent and would rather kill themselves in the process. Oboro's, on the other hand, is not really a technique but more of a gift (at the same time a curse). Her gaze would diminish every ninja who looks upon her eyes helpless. Losing their ninja powers in the process. Pretty wierd yet awesome, if you ask me.

The only thing I hated about this anime is that each ninja has their own character. And once they build up one ninja's character, they instantainously kill him/her off. Well, that is the premise of the story after all. We can't do anything about that. Anyway, I suggest you guys watch this anime. It has 24 episodes in all. Every episode is a must see.

Bounce!

Spending Time

Lately, since I have nothing much to do, I've been imersed in doing a webcomic entitled Life Again. For some of my friends out there, you might be familiar with this since I did the first seven pages back in 2001. Back then I was really planning on putting it online and only recently did I just have the urge to continue it. The story's about a zombie that came back to life only to realize that he has no recollection whatsoever of his past (just flashes of random images). Now, his on a quest to find out what his mysterious past was and how he became what he is now.

There's been alot of zombie comics out there (which most of them I haven't read yet) and I hope mine would be different. Also, if you've seen my gallery at deviantART and look at my current webcomic, you'll notice a similarity to some of the pages. That's because it's really one and the same. Only this time, I decided to continue the comic and placed it to a real webcomic hosting site. The first seven pages are from the previous one. The following will be seen at the latest link. Also, I changed the title from Dead Men Walking to Life Again to avoid any legal issues.

To keep me motivated in doing my webcomic, I've been reading a couple of mangas (DoMu, Blade of the Immortal) and watching a couple of animes.

Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex



It's been awhile since it's been shown at Animax. And only just now did I get into watching this anime when I bought the DVD. Back then I find this anime boring thinking that it would be like its feature film counterpart. But I was proven wrong. I like how the story is going and how the focus of the show is not only on Major Kusanagi but to all the members of Section 9. Everyone has their share of the lime light... even the Tachikomas.

Neon Genesis Evangelion


Like GITS:SAC, I found this anime such a bore back then. It's really hard to understand if you'll be watching this anime with just the subtitles. There are alot of scenes in this anime that is text heavy and to top it all, it's written in Japanese. Good thing that the DVD that I bought has the english dubbed option. Watching it in english is more soothing. And only then did I realize how complex this anime really is. It's just wierd that the creator of NGE based the story from some parts of the bible and some judeo-christian symbols. No wonder Angels have been attacking Tokyo 3. Also, the main character, Shinji Ikari, is so irritating. He's such a loser and a wimp. That's why by the end of the series (ep.25 and 26 and The End of Evangelion), I was like flaming mad and frustrated, all because of Shinji Ikari. Sigh... Well, we can't do anything about that.

Hajime No Ippo


Well, this anime wasn't really in my list. But eversince I started boxing, it got me intrested in watching Hajime No Ippo. It's funny how skillful most anime characters are even at a beginner's level. When I started working out, I had a hard time doing jabs, straights, coordination and foot work. But, Ippo, the main character, make it look like it was so easy to do. But then again, this is anime we're talking about. Reality check. Hahaha...

Still, you got to hand it to the Japanese on making such wierd story lines that eventually we'll get to like. Hopefully my motivation in making my webcomic will last. I have this tendency on not finishing what I've started and it really is frustrating in my part.

Bounce!