Push Admin

Renowned Pinoy comic-book artists in Manila, as fans meet their real-life heroes

Article (news)

Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">HAPPENING NOW: SuperManila at Podium. It features Pinoy artists who have created content for Marvel, DC, etc. The artists will be available to do signings and there will be panel discussions and merchandise for sale. Plus, surprise announcements for comic fans <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABSCBNNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/vQpdfsMWRm">pic.twitter.com/vQpdfsMWRm</a></p>— Kristine Sabillo (@kristinesabillo) <a href="https://twitter.com/kristinesabillo/status/1185069323280248832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>With the popularity of Marvel and DC films, more and more Filipinos are buying comic books and related merchandise.</p><p>There is also increased interest in Filipino artists such as Leinil Yu and Whilce Portacio, who have done covers and artwork for popular comic book titles.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/08/25/19/pinoy-comic-book-artist-leinil-yu-part-of-landmark-marvel-1000">Pinoy comic book artist Leinil Yu part of landmark Marvel #1000</a></li></ul><p>Yu, who has illustrated for Wolverine, X-Men, Fantastic Four, New Avengers, and Captain America, made headlines recently for designing Wave, a Cebuana Marvel superhero. Wave appeared in the “War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas” and had her first cover appearance in a variant cover of Aero #1.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/03/09/19/look-filipina-superhero-to-debut-in-marvel-comics">LOOK: New Filipina superhero to debut in Marvel comics</a></li></ul><p>Yu also started working with writer Jonathan Hickman for the new X-Men series.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/07/30/19/pinoy-comic-book-artist-leinil-yu-to-draw-x-men">Pinoy comic book artist Leinil Yu to draw X-Men</a></li></ul><p>Portacio, who did work for The Punisher and The Uncanny X-Men and who has helped other Filipino artists jumpstart their careers, also recently did a variant cover for Marvel featuring Filipino superheroes Wave, Sea Hunter and Red Feather. He also did a variant cover for the same X-Men series Yu is working on.</p><p>Other Filipino artists with comic book covers recently released are Miguel Mercado for The Amazing Spiderman and Elmer Damaso for Robotech Remix.</p><p>To recognize the continued success of Filipino artists, local comic book stores Filbar’s and Comic Odyssey organized the SuperManila Pop Culture Convention held at the Podium in Pasig City from Friday to Sunday this week.</p><p>“This is like a celebration of Pinoy-made art that are now known internationally,” said Filbar president Jacob Cabochan. </p><p>Attendees can buy comic books, collectibles and other merchandise and meet Filipino comic book legends through signing events and discussion panels.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Among those showcased at SuperManila are Whilce Portacio’s covers for X-Men and Aero. The Aero cover shows Filipino Marvel heroes Red Feather, Sea Hunter &amp; Wave. Portacio drew a star into each of the heroes’ costumes for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pinoypride?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pinoypride</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABSCBNNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/v7ziVGMJpU">pic.twitter.com/v7ziVGMJpU</a></p>— Kristine Sabillo (@kristinesabillo) <a href="https://twitter.com/kristinesabillo/status/1185073305927077888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div><strong>PINOY COMIC LEGENDS</strong></div><p>Harvey Tolibao, who has drawn for X-Men, Iron Man and Green Arrow, among others, said the event is a great opportunity for Filipino children who dream of becoming illustrators.</p><p>“They can see us draw (up close). They can learn. And they can ask us questions,” he told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>Tolibao said he is looking forward to the future when they can also hold workshops and live demos for aspiring artists.</p><p>Tolibao himself is excited to be around other artists, especially the likes of Portacio, Yu and Pol Medina of the popular Pugad Baboy series.</p><p>Medina said he is equally thrilled to see his contemporaries.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Among the important events at SuperManila is the reunion of 55 Balete group composed of popular artists Whilce Portacio, Gerry Alanguilan, Leinil Yu, Roy Allan Martinez, Gilbert Monsanto, Edgar Tadeo, Jay Anacleto &amp; Ryan Orosco. They are all major internat’l artists <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABSCBNNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/M1JUCzIGiQ">pic.twitter.com/M1JUCzIGiQ</a></p>— Kristine Sabillo (@kristinesabillo) <a href="https://twitter.com/kristinesabillo/status/1185070961709600769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>“Idol ko lahat yan kasi sila ang mga pinakamapusok na artist na Pilipino na hindi lang nakilala sa Pilipinas pati sa buong mundo,” he said.</p><p>(I’m also a fan because they’re trailblazing Filipino artists who are not not only known in the country but also the rest of the world.)</p><p>Medina said he is happy that there are now more events catering to comic book fans.</p><p>Portacio said the “mere existence” of Filipino artists “will prove to other aspiring Pinoys that the dream of becoming a world class artist is possible”</p><p>SuperManila will also serve as a reunion for Portacio’s group of artists he worked with in a studio he set up at 55 Balete Drive. The group, composed of Yu, Gerry Alanguilan, Jay Anacleto, Roy Allan Martinez, Edgar Tadeo, Gilbert Monsanto, and Ryan Orosco, eventually worked for international comic titles.</p><div><strong>WAVE SERIES</strong></div><p>The event’s organizers is also pushing for Wave’s own comic book series. </p><p>Cabochan pointed out that Wave is only an “extra” or a minor character.</p><p>“Now we have a signature campaign. Since Wave is now very popular, perhaps it’s time that she has her own title series,” he said.</p><p>So far a thousand or so fans have signed the <a href="https://www.change.org/p/marvel-give-wave-her-own-comic-book-series-and-funko-pop-vinyl-figure/sign?original_footer_petition_id=16498399&amp;algorithm=promoted&amp;source_location=petition_footer&amp;grid_position=6&amp;pt=AVBldGl0aW9uAFgHFQEAAAAAXZpbdhc74%2BI5ZmQwYmRmNQ%3D%3D">petition</a>.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">SuperManila (Filbar’s and Comic Odyssey) also has an online signature campaign to convince Marvel to create a series for Filipino comic book character Wave. <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABSCBNNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/e7sqNkSzI6">pic.twitter.com/e7sqNkSzI6</a></p>— Kristine Sabillo (@kristinesabillo) <a href="https://twitter.com/kristinesabillo/status/1185101517012889601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>The Cebuana superhero has appeared in a number of Marvel books and has even been included in a Marvel video game.</p><p>Portacio told ABS-CBN News that the increasing number of Filipino superheroes under Marvel is “a testament to the Pinoy fanbase.”</p><p>Cabochan said comic book publishers now also recognize how big the Philippine market is.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/entertainment/10/19/19/marvel-urged-to-create-solo-series-for-filipino-superhero-wave">Marvel urged to create solo series for Filipino superhero &#x27;Wave&#x27;</a></li></ul><p>At one point, Wave became viral after Filipino actress Angel Locsin, who has played the iconic Pinoy hero Darna, said she was “excited to learn more about this character.”</p><p>Yu replied by saying that he would love for the actress to play the character of Wave.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/03/19/19/angel-locsin-as-marvels-wave-designer-of-pinay-superhero-shares-choice-casting">Angel Locsin as Marvel’s Wave? Designer of Pinay superhero shares choice casting</a></li></ul><p>SuperManila at Podium will be open until Sunday. Schedule of panel discussions and the appearance of artists can be found on their <a href="https://web.facebook.com/supermanila.ph/">Facebook Page</a>.</p>

<p>Whilce Portacio and Leinil Yu are two of the big-name illustrators featured in the SuperManila Pop Culture Convention in Pasig, an event that runs until Sunday, Oct. 20.</p>

Whilce Portacio and Leinil Yu are two of the big-name illustrators featured in the SuperManila Pop Culture Convention in Pasig, an event that runs until Sunday, Oct. 20.

Renowned Pinoy comic-book artists in Manila, as fans meet their real-life heroes

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Lifestyle

Renowned Pinoy comic-book artists in Manila, as fans meet their real-life heroes

Kristine Sabillo,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 19, 2019 11:42 PM PHT

|

Updated October 20, 2019 03:52 AM PHT

Read More:

Leinil Yu

Whilce Portacio

Marvel Comics

Wave

Harvey Tolibao

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.