KOMIKS INTERVIEW with JONAS DIEGO

FLIPGEEKS: How did you first discover comics?

JONAS DIEGO: I was a sickly child, and wasn’t allowed to run and play around like most other kids. My mom regularly bought me comics (local and reprints) to keep me entertained.

FG: Do you have a day-job? If the answer is yes, then what is it?

JD: I’m a full time comic book creator with a lot of other projects on the side. I manage projects, serve as a new media consultant, and organize events.

FG: If you weren’t working in comics, what would you be doing?

JD: Most probably a graphic designer.

FG: Who is the biggest influence on your work?

JD: Probably, Scott McCloud. His book, ‘Understanding Comics’ changed the way I make comic books.

FG: What were your past works?

JD: ‘Merc 43′, which was my first graphic novel, a 12-page story for Siglo: Passion, and President Noy Aquino’s webcomics to name a few.

FG: What are you working on right now?

JD: I’m working on the second issue of Stories from ‘Barangay Eternity’, a series of graphic novels I’m producing for a US missionary group working here in the Philippines. I’m also doing pre-production for an action themed (Pinoy martial arts, specifically) graphic novel for an American film maker.

FG: How do you work? Do you do any rituals before, during and after working?

JD: Not really. I pretty much just dive in. I take a nap in the middle of the day and maybe have a bottle of beer at the end of the day.

FG: What is the single work of which you are most proud of? Why?

JD: I guess that would be my contribution for Siglo Passion since the anthology did win the ‘Best Comic Book of the Year’ at the National Book Awards held by the Manila Critics Circle on August 31, 2006.

FG: As an individual in the komiks community, how can you get new readers introduced in this kind of medium?

JD:: Going around the convention circuit and taking advantage of online technology.

FG: What is it like working local creators? What is it like working with foreign creators? Are there any differences? Any pros and cons?

JD: Aside from the proximity and language difference,s there’s not much difference between foreign and local creators.

FG: How was your 2010?

JD: Like a roller coaster ride. Forecast say that 2011 will be more relaxing compared to 2010 and I am looking forward to it.

FG: What are your plans this year 2011? What are your future plans of komiks and projects?

JD: I actually want to lessen my events and focus more on comic production.

FG: Name one your guilty pleasures.

JD: Catnaps.

FG: What is the last comic that you bought?

JD: Tenjho Tenge.

FG: Who could play you on a movie about your life?

JD: My life is too boring for it to be made into a movie. LOL!

FG: Pick three things that you couldn’t live without.

JD: Friends, family, and air. Water and food too if it comes down to it. Wait, that’s five.

FG: What is the strangest thing in your house?

JD: Nothing really.

FG: What music are you listening these days?

JD: Michael Buble, Foo Fighters, and a lot of 80’s new wave and 90’s Pinoy rock.

FG: What is your favorite comic of all time?

JD: Kingdom Come.

FG: What TV shows & TV series do you like?

JD: I love the The Big Bang Theory and FRIENDS television series.

FG: If you have superpowers what would it be?

JD: A healing factor would be awesome.

FG: What is the worst advice that you’ve ever received?

JD: Get a regular job.

FG: What is the best advice that you’ve ever received?

JD: It can’t hurt to try.

FG: What do you think of komiks nowadays?

JD: I’d love to see more of it.

FG: Are you more of a comic book artist or an indie komik creator?

JD: I’d like to think both.

FG: Tell me about being an independent komik creator?

JD: The thing I love about the most is the freedom to do anything and just experiment.

FG: What would you like to see happen in Philippine komiks in the next 12 months?

JD: More attention in other media.

FG: What do you think of critiques? Is there a bad critique and a good one?

JD: I wrote about it extensively here

FG: Please finish this sentence: “What the world needs now is…”

JD: I’d love to say “love, sweet love”. But, we can use some common sense as well.

FG: Do you advocate comic books? Philippine komiks? How and why?

JD: Yes. I organize events with a Komiks theme, encourage others outside Metro Manila to do so (notables: KOMIKSTRIP in UPLB, The First Cebu Comic Book Convention, the San Pablo Comics Art Festival), and frequently brainstorm with other comic creators to come up with ideas to push Komiks.

FG: How would you know when to stop if your komik is not ‘clicking’?

JD: Usually if no one is buying it (in the case of indies and printed comics) or if it’s not being visited enough (in the case of webcomics).