ONE-FOURTH INDIE REPORT: See Carlo Valenzuela’s Glory Hole

FLIPGEEKS: Kamusta ang 2014 sa iyo so far?
CARLO Valenzuela: So far, busy I guess?

FG: Busy in komiks? Busy in…?
CV: Work actually.

FG: Anong job mo na pala? Kasi last time ata sa interview mo nun student ka pa.
CV: Ah. [laughs] Layouts ako sa isang BPO company.
FG: Layouts? Like comic book page – layouts? [laughs]
CV: Nope, instructions ng gadgets at medical equipments. [laughs]

FG: How do you manage working sa BPO company and sa komik-work?
CV: Well, sa day time – work. Paguwi – komiks. At least maka-1 page a week ako.

FG: From the years of making komiks, what things did you improve on?
CV: Well, not much. But, maybe [on] my skills in drawing I guess?

FG: Sa penciling, layouts, pacing, inking or on what aspect?
CV: Probably mostly on inking.

FG: How did you do it?
CV: Well, I don’t use unipin pens or techpens anymore. I now use a brush on my inking. I only use pen for panels and backgrounds.
FG: Some artists would use penciled works of professional artists and they would ink them. Did you do that?
CV: Yup, I do that for practice.
FG: Like whose penciled art?
CV: Well, I printed out some of Jack Kirby’s penciled works.
FG: Nice. Jack Kirby lang?
CV: Well, some works of John Buscema and JRJR (John Romita Jr.) [laughs]

But mostly Jack Kirby.

FG: Are you working on new komiks to be released this year?
CV: Yup,
FG: For this summer anong meron?
CV: Ah, the adventures inside the Glory Hole.
FG: What’s the new book about?
CV: It’s about a girl named Lexy Bell who suddenly found a hole on her dining table, then suddenly a Cucumber came out on that hole. She was stunned and curious about that cucumber and once she touched it, she was brought into the world of Pantasya and met Pedro Norte and Sasha “The Grey Ninja”. Together, they must defeat KingJobert Pipino who brought Lexy into the world of Pantasya.

FG: Ilang issues and ilang pages ang series?
CV: 3 issues. 20-25 pages each.

FG: Iba na ba ang approach mo in making this new Glory Hole book?
CV: Well ‘di naman sobrang iba. Pero its not a superhero comic that I usually do. It’s a whole different genre pero comedy pa rin.

FG: How would you sell your new book sa mga tao in seven words?
CV: Come and look inside my glory hole.