Pinoy to launch graphic novel at New York Comic Con in October

New York Comic Con, the largest pop culture convention in the U.S. East Coast slated Oct. 11-14 at Jacob Javits Center, will have its first Filipino author and illustrator present his own graphic novel along with the world’s greatest in graphic novels, comics, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies and television.

 

Arnel Arcedo and his mind-blowing work, “In the Name of the Father and of the Sons,” will debut before over 100,000 people expected to gather at Manhattan’s West Side on 34th Street to meet and greet their favorite creators, actors, writers, musicians and other major players in the entertainment industry.

 

Among the announced guests so far are Adam West (the original Batman), Burt Ward (the original Robin), Ian McDiarmid (Darth Sidious from the Star Wars movies), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings movies), Tom Felton (Harry Potter movies), Peter Davison (Doctor Who), Lou Ferrigno (Incredible Hulk), Yoshitaka Amano (Final Fantasy series) and literary giant Anne Rice.

 

“In the Name of the Father and of the Sons” is Arcedo’s interpretation of the world history and his own artistic twists that have the readers hooked from the first page.

 

Created for the graphic novels enthusiasts and newbies alike, it’s a story of two brothers whose love for each other endured time, war and death.

 

According to Arcedo, the fictional book was created out of his “frustrations” in life, while depicting the Holocaust during World War II and reflecting on modern day mass killings in Africa and the rest of the world.

 

“When I was a child, my peers were enjoying their childhood while I was sitting in the corner wondering over the inequality, poverty, war, injustices and killings,” Arcedo wrote.

 

“It started with my own life in the slum areas of Manila along the Pasig River,” he continued.

 

“Living in the harsh conditions, I could not help but think about the welfare of humanity in the world.”

 

Arcedo’s work “looks at how humanity out of greed and hate waged war upon each other time and time again, and how the strong devour on the weak creating inequality and poverty of millions and delivering wealth to a few. The book sends a strong message about civilizations’ rise and fall and the history of war and destruction that is bound to repeat itself if we, humans, do not do something about it.”

 

Arcedo’s dream of writing his own book and filling it with drawings began at a very young age when he would make sketches of superheroes, sell them to his schoolmates, and use the money to buy milk for his baby sister.

 

But due to his family’s poverty, Arcedo’s violent father prohibited him from drawing, prompting him to always hide in a small closet and draw by candlelight.

 

The young Arcedo could not resist his passion to illustrate even though it would meant beatings if he was caught.

 

Once he heard about an art contest, he asked his father for money to buy materials to join.

 

His father got furious and instead gave him a good beating.

 

The incident did not stop Arcedo, who begged a store to lend him a couple of crayons and paper on the condition that he would repay the owner as soon as possible.

 

With his colossal determination, Arcedo won the contest with cash, which he handed to his mother, who was so proud of her son’s first taste of victory that she cried.

 

Arcedo knew that education will help him succeed and bail his family out of poverty.

 

Due to financial difficulties, he kept quitting school so he can work several jobs and support his family, only to come back repeatedly until he earned a degree in computer science from Philippine Christian University.

 

He eventually landed a full time job at Mabuhay Hotel in Pasay City and became its manager.

 

In 2000, he got a chance to move to the U.S. and is now employed at Murray Hill Properties, a large commercial real estate broker and property manager, while pursuing his artistic passion.

 

He hopes of giving back someday and discover poor but talented young artists who can be part of his next projects.

 

“My work as an artist is voiceless compared to giant publishers such as DC Comics, Dark Horse or Marvel Comics,” Arcedo told the Filipino Reporter.

 

“However, we could make an impression if our fellow Pinoys would back me up. Through the power of the press and social networking, we could persuade the Pinoy community to be there with me at Comic Con through their Facebook likes. I am carrying the Pinoy pride at Comic Con. It would be very important to our country if we could make an impact for this first event that will mark a date in our history.”

 

Visit Facebook.com/thegraphicnovel or www.NewYorkComicCon.com - Filipino Reporter