KOMIKS INTERVIEW with Gilbert Monsanto Part 1

I’m not that knowledgeable about the indie komiks scene here in the Philippines. Heck! even, about the Philippine Komics! I know… I feel terrible. But, doing interviews to some of the current comic book creators, whether they are foreign, local, or indie. They just give me so much input and inspiration for improve my knowledge and passion about this form of art and media.

This week, here’s the first installment of many installments of the interview of Gilbert Monsanto, one of the many well-respected illustrator/creator in the current Philippine Komiks scene.

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Flipgeeks: Hi, sir Gilbert.
Gilbert Monsanto: Hi, ambush interview na ba? Hahaha

FG: Pwede po ba? [It was 11:57PM.]
GM: Okay naman. Gising pa naman ako. Hehe.

FG: Tell me about yourself
GM: I’m Gilbert Monsanto, I’ve been a comic book artist for more than 20 years now.
FG: 20 years?! Wow!
GM: Yup, that’s professionally. 2nd year high school ako when my work first got published.

FG: Main job mo po ba ang pagiging artist or do you have a day job?
GM: I’m a freelancer. I have like 5 different jobs. Being a (1) dad included. Hehe.
FG: What are your 4 other jobs?
GM: (2) I do commissioned works. (3) Publish Bayan Knights and my other titles. (4) A flatter for a marvel colorist. (5) Kung hahatiin mo, pagsusulat sa pagiillustrate.

FG: How old are your kids?
GM: A 6 (year-old), a 3 (year-old) and an 8th month old baby. All boys.
FG: Nice. What do they think about their dad being a komikero?
GM: I’m not sure really. They’re still too young to be ask about their opinion of my work I guess, they never really mess around with my stuffs.
FG: Hmmm.
GM: My eldest like to draw na rin.
FG: What was the first thing he drew?
GM: Mostly designs ng superheroes, creatures and our own power ranger team. Yung pinakauna niya mga clouds, house and cars dati.
FG: Would you be proud and happy if he would follow on your footsteps?
GM: (It’s) up to him. ‘Di ko pinupush. Kung gusto niya. okay lang. Pero marami namang options. Hinihintay namin kung saan sila talaga, tapos we encourage them.

FG: You said that you do commissions, yes?
GM: Yup.
FG: Anung/sinong character ang palaging pinapadraw sa’yo?
GM: Hmmm, Batman yata. Pero, halo halo naman. Yung iba kasi gusto nila yung medyo naiiba sa collections nila
FG: May character ba na pinapadraw sa’yo na minsan nakakasawa na i-drawing?
GM: ‘Di naman, nakakasawa, it is quite challenging. Lalo na sa mga requests

FG: Were there any silly/crazy requests na pinapadraw sa’yo? O minsan nakakatawa?
GM: Yan ang maganda, kasi walang same script. Lahat special scenes. Well sa commissions kasi, you’ll give ground rules kasi. Pwede mo sabihing hanggang ‘sexy’ lang ako. siguro, 2 pa lang naman na nude ang nagawa ko. Lahat halos wholesome.

FG: Ano po ang rules mo whenever you do a commission?
GM: Bale, pwede mo sasabihin sa client na hanggang ganito lang ang pwede ko gawin. ‘Di pwede porn and stuff, and they will respect your limits. Ayoko ko rin na lalampas sa 3 revisions. Minsan ‘pag may revisions na major na di napagusapan, additional fee na siya.
FG: I hate revisions.
GM: Waste of time ang revisions

FG: Have you met like a client na willing to pay in any price, basta you draw something out of your limits of rules?
GM: May pinagbibigyan lang ako pag maganda naman ang idea. ‘Di naman lahat sa pera din.

FG: What is the most memorable commission that you did?
GM: I think pag after sa iconic poses na mula sa lumang comic covers, kasi nabibigyan ko ng sarili kong flavor. Parang ganun pala pag ako gumawa nung pose na iyon ngayon.

FG: A perosonality nyo: What is the best part of yourself?
GM: Hmmm, simple kausap. ‘Saka pag okay, eh di okay. Kung kaya ko naman, bakit hindi.

FG: Worst naman.
GM: Well, kabaligtaran lang nun. Pag ayoko, wag mo ipilit. ‘Di ko talaga gagawin.

FG: What do I do para magustuhan mo ko? Hahahahaha.
GM: Magustuhan kita o ako ang nagtatanong? Kaibigan mo lang ako. Ayoko ng too formal. Naiilang ako pag ganun.
FG: “too formal”, like what?
GM: Ang ayoko sa iba? Yung ‘di sasabihin na ayaw dahil nahihiya. Tapos sasabihin sa huli na napilitan siya. May maling klase ng hiya kasi. Yung parang ‘alien ambassador’ ako, “we come in peace”.

FG: Sa chilhood nyo po , How did you first discover comics?
GM: Si kuya (at ang) pinsan ko nakita ang mga DC and Marvel comics. Tapos, Ayaw ipabasa ang iba, pero nakakalusot pa rin. High school – yung sa local komiks naman. Mahilig magbasa Auntie Nita ko noon. Bumibili pa kami sa Libertad. Mura pa noon. Naaalala ko, ibang titles ang binabasa sa kapit bahay. Kaya swapping pagkatapos.

FG: Anu po ang mga first foreign comics na nabasa nyo?
GM: I think HULK, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, ‘saka OMAC yata.

FG: Sa lokal komiks?
GM: Mga aliwan, wakasan, kilabot,topstar at iba pa. Madami noon.

FG: What are you most likely to complain from an editor/a co-creative team member?
GM: Well, sa amin, nagset kami ng rules. Pag nagedit, edit tapos suggest. But, never rewrite kasi nawawala yung authority ng writer sa sarili niyang book.

Sila na lang kaya magsulat at vice-versa, ano? Hehehe.

FG: In Bayan Knights, may minsan po ba na may away or argument between members?
GM: Ahh, dati meron. We worked it out na. That is why I send them an agreement bago magstart.
FG: Hmmm. That’s nice.
GM: Parang family yan, eh. Pag malaki, may ganyan talaga. Pero, dahil family, mabilis ayusin. May invested interest ang lahat para buo pa rin ang family.

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The next installment of the interview of Gilbert Monsanto will be released soon. So, keep checking into Flipgeeks and watch out!!!