Why Pinoy Komiks Are Much Cheaper Than What People Think.

The following is another repost of a Facebook Note by Gilbert Monsanto. View the original, including comments, here.

A guy asked me how much is a copy of my comicbook. I said, sixty pesos only. He'd go, ang mahal na ng komiks ngayon no? He is not alone in thinking that Pinoy komiks nowadays are expensive. A few months ago I received an email, a guy was insisting that komiks should be priced cheaper, ten pesos even less. He said that's how low he can afford it to be. I told him, we can do that but we have to time travel back to 1996 then.  Because today, it is just not possible... at all.

 Let me try and explain why this is so. Imagine you are an independent creator. You'll be needing things for you to produce your very own comic book:

 Content- This is basically everything you'll be putting inside your title. From cover to back cover.

-Cover art

-articles, editorial page and such.

-interior pages

(around 36 pages standard numbers of pages including cover.)

 Printing- reproducing the actual books.

 and you are ready.

-photocopy (let's start small)

Okay, so let's start the computations then. If you intend to print just a plain one color book using photocopies. Then That's easy. 1.50 per face.  36 pages divided by 4 (2face) =9 x 3.00= 27.00

If you like the colored cover version. I think the cover is already like 15pesos per face ad that to 24 pesos, equals 39.00

From here you'd think nice, I can sell that for 60 bucks and maybe I can earn a profit.

But wait, we are forgetting something here. Can you guess? Yup.  It is the production cost. Yes, the author and the artist is the seller yes. But does it mean, what he wrote and drew is for freeeeee?

Okay, different artists means different rates. So let's start small again. Let's say an amateur's work is at a minimum. Like 100 or 200 per page? 200 x 32= 6,400.00

Writing rates? hmmm let's say 75 -100 per page. 100 x 36 (including editorials and articles) =3,600

6,400.00 + 3,600.00= 10,000.00

Let's say the creator printed 100 copies to be sold at conventions. 100 x 27.00= 2,700.00 + 10,000 =12,700

12,700 divided by a hundred is 127.00 per comic book. He will sell this for 60pesos at the convention. Now tell me is it still expensive for you? You may argue that if he sold a thousand copies of these then he'll be earning more and will cover all the expenses. This is true, but are you seeing young indie titles selling more than a hundred at conventions?

The cost for putting these on bookstore for distribution, (legwork, fare and all) are not yet included.

Still think Komiks are expensive?

Now picture this using my rate :) You'd probably realize what you are buying from us is actually a gift. And if you do? Thanks!

NOTE: Katarungan sa Pilipinas komiks making contest rules have changed! We are now making it an editorial cartoon contest, and deadline has been extended to December 16. You can work on it over the weekend! If you're interested in joining and want to know the details, please email me with your real name and contact details at komiksadvocate@yahoo.com Thanks!

What Google eBooks could mean to komiks

If you hadn't heard the news yet, Google just launched their eBooks service. It's been setup to be readable on any device that can log onto the web. The books are not downloaded, but rather stored in a personal library you can log into from anywhere. It will automatically sync between devices too, so you could start reading on your desktop at home, and then continue on your smartphone or laptop as you're going about your day. Cool stuff.

Here's a video explaining the whole concept:



So why should komiks people be interested in this? Unlike existing ebook stores from Amazon and Apple, Google is looking to partner with as many publishers as possible. They're partnering with all the publishing giants, but will also accept independent publishers. Directly self-publishing through Google is not quite there yet, which they may pursue depending on the success of this endeavor.

In any case, it also wouldn't be too much of a stretch to see some comics made by Pinoys, and even locally made comics, to appear here eventually. If we do get in such a market, we're more likely to get more favorable terms than from Apple's restrictive App Store approval process. It's best that we find out about these technologies now so that we'll be ready to utilize them when they become available to us.

Sources here and here. You can also read Google's official press release here.

you can check out Google eBooks (which already has some complete public domain classics, for free) here http://books.google.com/ebooks

Reminder: Join the Katarungan Sa Pilipinas komiks making contest! Just a few hours to go! You can see the details and submit your entry here.

Katarungan Sa Pilipinas; a one-week-only komiks making contest

DigitalFilipino and The Komiks Advocate are proud to present the Katarungan Sa Pilipinas one-week-only komiks making contest! This is partly inspired by the 24 hour comics project, only we're giving you a full week so that you can do it just right!

In light of recent events such as the continuing detainment of the Morong 43, the Maguindanao Massacre, Panfilo Lacson's escape from prosecution and Cheche Lazaro's documentary Dalawang Mukha Ng Hustisya, do you feel there is still justice in the Philippines? Please share your thoughts in illustrated form.

For those who were unable to watch Dalawang Mukha, but want to know why Hubert Webb's case is being reassessed in the public eye, please read this blog post from InfluentialBlogger.net: Hubert Webb, Vizconde Massacre: The Philippines Justice System On Trial.

We are looking for komiks makers to make a quick komiks strip about justice in the Philippines. To join:

1) make an account in the Digital Filipino Ning network (you can use your Twitter or Facebook)

2) post your entry with your name as a comment here! post your emails if possible, but you can message me if you prefer.
You can also send pics & contact info to my Twitter @plsburydoughboy or my Facebook but we'll be putting them here anyway, so you might as well do it directly!

-You can opt to make a one page illustration or a four panel strip, as commonly found in newspapers.

-Please bear in mind we may share entries in an upcoming public event via projector or slideshow, so keep your concepts simple.

-Due to time constraints, we won't require you to make full komiks (pictures with text), but of course this is preferred.

-We will accept all entries from all komiks makers! Active, retired, hobbyist or even aspiring komiks makers, but you have to submit it within the week!

We are offering the winner a prize of PH P 3000! We will also post the winner's work in Digitalfilipino.com as well as The Komiks Advocate. And, we will share some of your entries in the upcoming iBlog Mini: Blogging About Cases, Sub Judice, and Freedom of Expression.

A few disclaimers:

-You will retain ownership of your entries, but please note that you are giving Janette Toral and Komiks Advocate the right to upload your entry to their blogs and social networking sites.

-Joining the contest also means that you are giving Janette Toral and Komiks Advocate the right to use your entry for promotional purposes.

-The prize will be transmitted via Paypal.

-This flash contest is a project for an online course.

-Do not post entries here. Again, you have to post them at the DigitalFilipino Ning network