KOMIKS INTERVIEW with Tepai Pascual

Today flipgeeks have a chat with Tepai Pascal of Meganon Comics, creator of Maktan 1521 and Mark 9 Verse 47

FLIPGEEKS: Hello. How are you?
TEPAI PASCUAL: Fine.

FG: Tell me about yourself?
TP: I’m a graduate of UP Fine Arts. I work in an Advertsing Agency as a Creative Visualizer. And I make comics on the side
FG: Nice
TP: Which is also the love of my life. Hahaha.

FG: What is the best part of yourself?
TP: I’m a very enthusiastic person. Jolly, if i may say.

FG: What about the worst part?
TP: When i’m angry, I’m evil. Hahaha.
FG: Hehehe.

FG: How did you first discover comics?
TP: In general, my older sister would read (The Adventures of) Tintin comics way, way before. My friend also reads Archie comics.
FG: Tintin is a good book/
TP: That was… 1990’s. YES! I love Tintin
FG: They’re making a movie out of it. Spielberg pa.
TP: Really?
FG: Yup.
TP: I haven’t heard of it yet. Well… now I know.

FG: If you weren’t working in comics, what would you be doing?
TP: Hmm, that’s hard. Maybe while in the advertising industry, I’d be opening my own coffee shop.
FG: Oooh.
TP: Baking pastries and cakes.
FG: Nice. Love cheesecake!
TP: Although, I don’t want to abandon my love for drawing. Me too! Drool…
FG: Hehehe

FG: What are you most likely to complain to an editor/a co-creative team member?
TP: Complain??? Um… when I have to ask them about the things that i need for the art, I guess. Like, the script and the edited script. IF AND ONLY IF it takes them too long to give it to me.

So far, nothing like that ever happened.

FG: Who is the biggest influence on your work?
TP: The biggest would be, Hiromu Arakawa and Frank Miller.
FG: Why naman?
TP: I love both of their art styles. I somehow managed to merge them both into my style.

FG: What were your past projects?
TP: I’ve worked with Vladimier Gonzales as an artist for his comics. He’s my professor in UP. and apparently, he loves to write. We did “Ang Pagiging Iba”. I think it was published, but I’m not sure if it is still available.
FG: Well, how was it collaborating with him?
TP: It was different in a way compared to working with Maika (Ezawa). I’m very distant and reluctant about telling my ideas. But somehow, I was able to cope up with that. He’s open with my ideas so it was a good working experience. After he gave me the script, i immediately worked on it. I gave it to him to check on it. Then when he’s good with it. it’s finished! He gave me 2 action figures of Fullmetal Alchemist for that! Hahahahahah!

FG: How do you work? Do you do any rituals before, during and after working?
TP: Oh, those rituals. Hmmm… usually, when I wanted to start on the art, I wake up; eat breakfast; take a bath (kasi pagod ang kamay — pasma!). Hahaha. So, take a bath before drawing. Then drawing na all day. Breaks ko ay lunch and dinner. Yun lang. But, if I have some questions regarding the script i would call Maika immediately to clarify anything.

FG: What is the single work of which you are most proud of?
TP: I’m proud of my thesis – MAKTAN 1521.
FG: Why?
TP: It’s the first graphic novel that I finished and it’s in full color!

FG: Name one your guilty pleasures.
TP: Lol. Buying hardbound comic books, collecting action figures and eating sweets.

FG: Name someone you admire. And explain why.
TP: I admire one of my UP professors. He’s a teacher and an ECD of an ad agency, creative director of one show in GMA, creative director of one fashion brand, he has his OWN fashion line, and he has a flower shop. To top it all, he has a salon din pala na hinahandle niya all at the same time!
FG: Andaming raket. Hehehe.

FG: What are you working on right now?
TP: Aside from my work, I’m working on the chapter 5 of Maktan 1521, and chapter 6 of MARK 9verse47 with Maika.

FG: What do you think of komiks nowadays?
TP: Here in the Philippines, it’s growing. Well, it’s my personal observation. There are a lot of indie comic artists like us who are sprouting in the ground like daisies! And it’s a good thing. I just hope the market will also grow.

FG: Tell me about being an independent komik creator?
TP: Being an independent komik creator is hard. We have to have confidence and guts. To showcase our works to the public, it’s hard work too because we have to finance our own works, it’s not that easy to get money in these times too.

BUT… even though we’re working so hard and facing all those challenges. We still love what we do and it’s the passion of the indie comic creators that I appreciate and admire. Mapa-writer or or artist, umangat at sumulong pa tayo ng masmataas. Masmadaming tao ang makapansin at makaapreciate sa atin. Hindi lang sa Manila kundi sa buong bansa.

FG: What would you like to see happen in Philippine komiks in the next 12 months?
TP: It’s starting and it’s growing. Sana ma-continue natin to all the way. Kaya dapat go for gold tayo lagi. Hahaha.

FG: What the world needs now is…
TP: Peace! Hahaha!… and a superhero that will make it possible!

FG: Who is your favorite and up & coming komik artist, writer or creator?
TP: From the indie community? Hindi ko pa kasi nababasa lahat ng comics. So, I’ll just name some of my faves so far si Macoy, Freely (Abrigo), (Rommel) Omeng (Estanislao), RH (Quilantang) and Taga-ilog.

FG: Anything more to say? What about Komikon? What are you gonna release and sell?
TP: KOMIKON is one of the reasons why indie comics is alive. Here’s one place that everyone who loves to make and read comics. Ito yung isang lugar kung san pwedeng masama sama ang mga mahihilig gumawa ng comic at magbasa ng comics. Magkwentuhan at magkakilala ng iba’t ibang klase ng tao at maibahagi ang angking talento ng bawat creator. so malaki ang nagawa ng Komikon satin. Dahil din sa kanila, nakikilala na din tayo ng mga tao.

Meganon Comics will release MARK 9verse47 Volume 1 and Chapter 5, MAKTAN 1521 chapter 4.

Thanks, Norby!

Watch out for the Maktan and Mark books in the upcoming Komikon!