The History of Komiket

During a time when selling opportunities for komiks creators were scarce, komiks creators Paolo Herras, Mark Navarro, JP Palabon, Tepai Pascual and Jon Zamar, came together to provide more opportunities for the local comics community.

KOMIKET positioned itself as an affordable art market, an accessible entry point to first time comics creators, artists and readers. The VISION was to help nurture and grow the Filipino komiks community with the following MISSIONS:

1. To provide opportunities for creators to market original work through KOMIKS AND ART MARKETS;
2. To recognize and promote local talent through the KOMIKET AWARDS, and help sustain the winners’ next work through KOMIKSTARTER GRANTS;
3. To discover new creators through the COMIC BOOK CREATOR’S WORKSHOPS;
4. To feature creators through PUBLISHING comic books and graphic novels;
5. To grow international awareness through the PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL COMICS FESTIVAL (PICOF);

JP Palabon designed the Komiket logo and official mascot, KOMET, a blue komet cat with a speech bubble face with a look of determination.

The Filipino Komiks and Art Market was launched on April 5, 2015, Easter Sunday, at Centris Elements, Quezon City with 40 exhibitor tables, and approximately 120 creators. In order to grow more creators, Komiket put up the Comic Book Creator’s Workshop. 36 students were guided from concept to comic book development and launched their work in a free batch table at the next Komiket held on October of the same year. From a one-day event, Komiket quickly grew to a two-day affair.

In 2016, Komiket hosted an annual Komiket Awards, giving komikstarter grants for the winners of the Best Komiks, Best Illustrator, Best Writer and Best Students Komiks. KOMIKET INC. also formally registered as a Civil Service Organization under the Securities and Exchange Commission. The following year, Komiket Inc. published comic book anthologies, Komiks Cum Laude, showcasing student winners and finalists of the Komiket Awards, and Kommunity, featuring komiks creators who started making komiks from the 90s to the present day content creators. Komiket also expanded from its Quezon City roots to other communities and partnered with friends, Fringe Manila (Komiket Makati), Cebulitfest (CebuLitfest x Komiket) and Buku-Buku Kafe (Komiket South and Komiket Cavite).

In 2019, Komiket built its Head Quarters in Poblacion Makati, which is a local comic bookstore and workshop space.

Now Komiket has grown to over 1,200 creators, and 20,000 attendees annually enjoy Filipino Komiks and original content.

Who knows where Komiket will go on its next komiks adventure?

• Paolo Alessandro Herras President
• Mark Navarro Vice President
• Sandy Allan Beltran Corporate Secretary
• Noel Santos Treasurer
• Romelyn Sale Managing Director
• Aiza Elpedes Sales Director
• Bunny Luz HR Manager

• Komiket SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City
• Komiket Cavite SM Dasmariñas, Cavite City
• Komiket South SM Southmall, Las Piñas City
• Cebulitfest x Komiket Ayala Center, Cebu City
• Philippine International Comics Festival Green Sun Hotel, Makati City
• October Komiket Centris Elements, Quezon City
• December Komiket Centris Elements, Quezon City