rak en rol - Manix Abrera

this month's special post for the online interview will feature Kiko Machine's comic creator Manix Abrera. he graduated Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines in Diliman and is very popular for his comic strips published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. being funny and diverse, he is also part of the band "Kiko Machine". many people enjoy Manix's humor because of the youth in the campus set up with events that everyone can relate to. you can identify his art because of the punk and funny characters.

here's the online interview.

the dong: Before you created the Kiko Machine comic strip, what were your first comics (unpublished)? first characters?
manix: iskolokoy d' wonderboy (philippine collegian, up diliman) :)

the dong: Kiko Machine art represents the youth today relating to the happenings in the campus and the country, are the characters real? Do they really exist or you just base them on the people you see everyday?
manix: hehe mga imbento lang sila, pero yung personalities ay based sa ibang mga kakilala ko at mga naging kaklase :)

the dong: In the characters that you have created, who is the closest character to being Manix Abrera?
manix: ahg, ang hirap sagutin nito!! :p

the dong: Do you have specific goals when you do the series or you simply do it just to entertain people?
manix: haha nilalagyan ko din ng content/mensahe para di lang for entertainment :)

the dong: How much time do you spend in doing comics in a day?

manix: usually mga 1 hour per strip, 2 strips a day :)
the dong: What do the common people don't know about you?

manix: di ako masyado kumakain ng isaw hehe :)

the dong: Any plans of making Kiko Machine a cartoon series?

manix: naku, wala po haha :D mahirap yun! haha

the dong: What was the best and the worst experience that you had from a Kiko Machine fan? manix: eto naaalala ko, may nagtanong kung may stalker na daw ako. tas sabi ko wala, tas sabi nya sya na lang daw, yas seryoso mukha nya, natakot ako haha :D

the dong: What is the most challenging experience of doing comic strips?
manix: under pressure! deadlines, etc. o kaya pag badtrip ka o malungkot tas kelangan mo po gumawa ng komix haha :D

the dong: Soon you will be releasing book 4 already of the Kiko Machine collection entitled "Kaligayahang Walang Hanggan, yeh!", what should we look forward to this book?
manix: mga magagandang aral at kabutihang asal haha RakenRol! :D

the dong: thanks a lot sir Manix. Asteeg ka nga talaga!his comicstrips are funny but it also has the feel of the issues in the Philippines. you can check out his site at http://www.kikomachine.tk/. first three books are available on bookstores nationwide. again watch out for the fourth book.