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:
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?
Winners receive a 5,000php komikstarter grant to print their next komiks
Itch
written and illustrated by Mitch Cervantes
Best Komiks, Best Writer
Agila#1
written by Juan Carlos Panlilio
illustrated by Jose Victor Fuentecilla and Arjohn Perdon
Best Illustrator, Best Student Komiks
Sagala
written and illustrated by Tori Tadiar
Best Komiks
Cadilily Quins
written and illustrated by Alane Alunan
Best Illustrator, Best Student Komiks
Flow
written and illustrated by Danielle Dy-Liacco and Japhet Marquez
Best Writer, Best Student Komiks
Ultimo
written and illustrated by Ruvel Abril
Best Komiks, Best Illustrator, Best Writer
Talumpati
written and illustrated by Lizette Daluz
Best Writer
Daloy
written and illustrated by Issel De Leon
Best Illustrator
Palaso
written and illustrated by Marian Hukom
Best Student Komiks
Emla and Bugan
written and illustrated by Ma-i Entico
Geiser Maclang Alamat Award
My Name Is Agung
written and illustrated by Ma-i Entico
Geiser Maclang Alamat Award
Ligaw Tingin
written and illustrated by Dead Balagtas
Best Komiks
Darahug
written and illustrated by Michael Molo
Best Writer
Ultimo 2
written and illustrated by Ruvel Abril
Best Illustrator
No Rest for the Gagus
written and illustrated by Zyrus Manuel
Best Student Komiks
ACADS ZINE an Abridged Version of How One Guy Made His Thesis About Komiks
written and illustrated by Alain Andrew Boquiren and Gioseppe Custodio
Geiser Maclang Alamat Award
Laya
written and illustrated by Ara Villena
Best Komiks, Best Artist, Best Writer
La Historia Komiks
written and illustrated by Maou No Sekai
Best Komiks Strips
Smile
written and illustrated by Hansel Dimapilis
Best Student Komiks
Want to bring Komiket to your community? Invite us to teach workshops or organize art markets. We'd love to hear from you!
5A E&M Building, Dona Carmen St.,
Poblacion, Makati City, Philippines