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The man behind the machine

by Igo K. Gonzalez

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“Die! Die, Evil! Die! Ahrrrgh!” says the cover of the third compilation of Kiko Machine Komix, a comic strip published in the Inquirer. From the title alone, it’s easy to surmise that reading Kiko Machine will take you on a ride filled with craziness and laughter.

The strip, which chronicles the escapades of a group of students from the University of the Philippines (UP), has gained a following all over the country. The man behind this is Manix Abrera, who graciously answered a few questions for g Magazine.

ManixWhy is the comic called Kiko Machine?
MA: Galing siya sa pangalan ng banda namin noon na Kiko Machine, na galing sa Batibot character na si Kiko Matsing na paborito naming lahat.


How much of what’s in the strip comes from real life?

MA: Karamihan doon ay hango sa tunay na buhay ng iba’t-ibang tao, o kaya mga napulot ko sa kwentuhan, o mga narinig kong nangyari, tapos ine-exaggerate ko.


How did you decide to start creating comics?

MA: Bata pa lang ako sobrang hilig ko na sa comics. Mula sa Funny Comics, Archie, Tintin, napunta na sa X-Men, Wildcats, tapos pagdating ng kolehiyo nag-explore at nahilig na ako sa iba’t-ibang comics pa, mula sa Watchmen hanggang sa mga underground at alternative comics na sobrang weird at nakakasira na ng ulo.

Nung nakapasok ako sa Philippine Collegian (university paper ng UP Diliman), doon ako nasanay gumawa ng comics talaga. Required kasi kaming gumawa. Sooobrang kadiri at ang babaduy nung mga gawa namin nun, pero nasanay na lang kami habang tumagal.


Where do you get your ideas for jokes?

MA: Napupulot ko lang kung saan-saan, mahilig kasi ako makinig sa mga usapan (kahit hindi ko kilala!), tapos nakakaisip na ako ng ideya.


What are your favorite comics, local and abroad?

Gustong-gusto ko yung Mythology Class ni Arnold Arre, tsaka Zsazsa Zaturnnah ni Carlo Vergara, tapos The Far Side ni Gary Larson, Calvin and Hobbes ni Bill Waterson, The Sandman ni Neil Gaiman, tsaka mga gawa ni Alan Moore.


ManixDo you have plans of making comics that tackle a different matter, similar to ‘Splat!’?

MA: Meron na, ilalabas (hopefully) ngayong November.


Besides comic book making, you’re also part of a band. What other things are you into?

MA: Opo, kasama din ako sa Gorgoro. Tapos mahilig din kasi ako mapagod, kaya sumali din ako sa UP Dragonboat Team, tsaka sa UP Marine Biological Society.

In one of the forums, you talked about encountering 15 Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) as a child. Is this true? Has this influenced your lifestyle in any way?
MA: Seryoso, totoo talaga ‘yon!! Kasama ko tatay ko. Parang bubbles lang sila na see-through sa langit, tapos hindi talaga sila gumagalaw o nag-iiba ng posisyon. Ang taas-taas nila. Nakakabaliw! Tapos lumiwanag sila lahat at nawala. Mahiwaga talaga. Nakita kong mahiwaga talaga ang buhay.

What plans do you have for Kiko Machine?
MA: Tuloy-tuloy pa rin siya, hanggang kamatayan.

Photo by Igo Gonzalez




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