The Philippine Online Chronicles

Co-publishers Komikero Publishing and National Book Store, Inc. held the launch of the second edition of Gerry Alanguilan's Elmer at National Book Store Bestsellers in Robinsons Galleria last October 15, 2011. The event featured a Q&A section hosted by Jiggy Cruz and prizes like t-shirts and art prints were raffled off to the attendees. It was also announced during the event that those who purchase a copy of the book will have a chance to win an “Elmerized iPad” through a raffle running until November 15, 2011.

Elmer takes place in an alternate Philippines where chickens have attained sentience. The comic was originally serialized as four separate issues by Komikero Publishing from 2006 to 2008 before it was compiled into a graphic novel in 2009.

Since then, it has been published in the US and France by SLG Publishing and Editions çà et là respectively.

Elmer won the 2011 Prix Asie de La Critique Best Asian Album award and was a nominee for the 2011 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards in the Best Graphic Album-New category.

National Book Store co-published this rerelease of Elmer, which features a new afterword, a sample of the script, and some drawings previously available in the Elmer Limited Edition Box Set.

Alanguilan decided to tie-up with National Book Store as the initial local print-run of Elmer sold out. “After being tormented by the fact that Elmer was widely available abroad but not locally, I’m ecstatic to be able to share this book with my fellow Filipinos,” Alanguilan writes in the new afterword, citing the nationwide distribution available through his new partner.

During the Q&A held at the event, Cruz asked Alanguilan why he chose the name/title Elmer. “I wanted to use a name that wasn’t generally known as a very strong name. I wanted an ordinary name… I want the heroism of the character to come out of the character, not out of the name.”

Alanguilan also mentioned that Elmer was his first work that wasn’t based on personal experience. “I don’t really make my stories to promote a certain kind of agenda,” Alanguilan said when elaborating on whether Elmer was pro-Vegan or pro-Vegetarian.

“It’s about human beings and how we treat each other differently,” he said.

Some of Alanguilan’s previous works include Wasted, Lastik-Man, Humanis Rex!, and Where Bold Stars Go to Die. He also served as inker for comics like Wolverine, X-Men, X-Force, Superman, Batman, Fantastic Four and Iron Man.

Alanguilan also hosts The Philippine Comics Art Museum on his website to educate Filipinos about the rich history of local comics.

The second edition of Elmer is available through National Book Store for P250.00.