English Translation of Culture Crash Comics Vol. 1 Issue No. 7

By Theresa Dy Lising

 

Translator’s note:

[ ] –> Culture notes/Translations

CCCom’s New Year’s Resolutions:

 

Da Bhoss:  I will not forget the IPAQ, bank book, wages, wallet, tissue paper, etc. at the office.  And I will give my employees a raise…. Wait a minute!  Who’s typing this?!?

JIO: I will no longer kill off a character per issue.  Maybe every other issue or five characters per issue.  I also won’t forget the names of my cousins… Giggles Arceo and Kim Dungo.  Happy Valentines to my Ledluna.

Taga-Ilog: I will never again wear a bucket over my head on New Year’s because it gets way too noisy.  I won’t forget to greet… aaaa… uuummmm… Grobie, Carlo,  Jose, Mara, Birdie, Nemcy, David, Albert, and all of the other people whose names escape me at the moment.  Happy Valentines to Joanah.

 

PASIG – Chapter 7: Grief

Story and Art by Taga-Ilog

Flat assists: Evil Dex

 

KRUG

***

Guy 1: Dammit!!!  What the heck do they expect from us?  Now, Central’s even put a bounty on Mina’s head!

Guy 2: $%@%#$!!  Isn’t that window fixed yet?  It’s freezing in here!

Dispatcher: Why’re you screaming at ME for?!!

Dispatcher: I’m just a dispatcher… all orders come from people higher up!!!

Dispatcher: If you’ve got a problem, don’t come to me for solutions!

Guy 1: Hmpf!  They’re even putting price tags on our [bounty hunters] head!  None of us even know what Dante’s done with her…

Guy 1: …For all we know, she could be dead…

TPTPTP

***

Guy 1: If anyone should be locked up, it should be Isiah… he didn’t even have any respect for a fellow bounty hunter.

Isiah: If I didn’t have any respect, you’d be missing a head by now.

CH-CHK

Guy 1: Ow….

Isiah: Listen up, all of you!  I won’t think twice about crushing anyone who comes in my way… bounty hunter or otherwise!

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

Charen: Brave words coming from a loser…

Isiah: !!!

Charen: But… I just might be able to help you.

***

TOKTOKTOK

Lando: Mina!!!  What’ve you gotten yourself into this time?!!

***

Hff Hff Hff Hff

Slave 1: Aren’t they done yet?

Slave 2: Heh… They’ve been at it since this morning… almost as if those we fought off last night weren’t enough.

Kiii---

YAAAAAHH!!!

Tp Tp Tp Tp

***

Slave 1: There they go again…

Slave 2: C’mon let’s get something to eat.

WHP!

Girl slave: N-no!

Tp

Girl slave: !?!

Slave 3: 26-0… Heh, heh… You lose, Charen.  Care to try again?

Charen: Hmpf.  No, thanks.

***

Hff Hff Hff Hff Hff Hff Hff

Girl slave: One more time, Dante…

Dante: Aren’t you tired yet, Kiara?

Kiara: Thanks.

Dante: !!!

***

FWOOOOO

Charen: I win.

Slave 3: Hey!  That’s mine!  No cheating!

Dante: …

Kiara: You just need some practice.

Slave 4: Hey, everybody!  The enemy’s approaching…

Slave 4: They’re about 10 kilometers away.

***

Slave 5: Finally, a fight!  I was starting to get restless.

Slave 2: He… Heh… Those bastards don’t give up.

Slave 2: Max, how many?

Max: One squad and two golem units.

Slave 2: Too bad for them.

Voice: Dante.

***

Voice: An empty grave.

Voice: What’s happening to you, Dante?

Slave 1: Heh. Kiara’d be laughing if she could see you now.

Dante: …

Slave 1: Ha!  Ha!  Ha!  The ferocious leader of the warrior slaves, now a sentimental freeman.

Dante: Miguel, Kiara once told me that she no longer wanted to live for the sake of killing…

Dante: …She wanted to be free of the chaos brought about by being a warrior slave caught in the middle of a war.

***

Miguel: Hmm… a freedom she got in death… we easily defeated the squadrons of the Allied Philippines that attacked Pasig 4 years ago…

Miguel: … Which was why it was so surprising, because Kiara isn’t one who’ll lose to a bounty hunter like Isiah…

Dante: Kiara could’ve finished off Isiah if she wanted to, Miguel.  But she was sick of fighting.  She would’ve preferred to die than to kill again.  A promise she made to herself before we parted ways… On the honor of a warrior slave.

Miguel: Hmpf.  “Honor”?  Tell that to a traitor like Charen.

Miguel: I’m not like Kiara who’ll give up without a fight…

Miguel: Dante, Charen will die by my hands before I can rest in peace.

Dante: Don’t be careless, Miguel.

Dante: …Max, Tigre [Tiger], and now Kiara…

Dante: Our ranks are thinning out… now even the bounty hunters are after us…

Dante: …Even those who had nothing to do with this are getting involved…

***

Miguel: You mean the bounty hunter you were with?

Dante: …

Miguel: Don’t worry.  She’s safe.

Miguel: It was a good thing we managed to stem the flow of poison in her system.  A little more rest and she’ll be good as new.  What’s her name, by the way?

Dante: Mina.

***

Miguel: Concern was written all over your face when you brought her to me last week.  It’s funny, but…

Miguel: …I never thought you’d be that concerned for her well-being… heh… for a bounty hunter that hunts the likes of us…

Dante: I owe a debt of gratitude to her family…

Miguel: “Debt of gratitude, concern, worry, grief…” words that aren’t in a warrior slave’s vocabulary….  Despite all that….

Miguel: …Behind this white mark, there still exists a human being… looks like you’re finally coming to understand that.  Right, Dante?

***

Dante: Looks like it, Miguel.

Dante: Looks like it.

To be continued…

 

Cat’s Trail

By: E.A. Damaso

 

Episode 7: Bell

 

Narration: The cave was filled with the sounds of gunfire and guns being readied…

BKOOM!

KA-CHAK!

AAAAAAWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOO…

BRAKAK!!!

SPAK!

SPLUK!

Narration: …Accompanied by the melancholic and chilling howl of a pitiful animal…

Narration: …Until it fell to the ground…

Narration: As if in reverence, the fire that once served to illuminate the darkness died with it.

***

Poppy: Damn!  You were a waste of good bullets!  But thanks to you… I’m now sure that Airee and her friends are in here.

Guard: Sir, the path splits at this point.

Guard: One going up, and the other going deeper into the cave.

Poppy: We go further in.  Airee and her friends wouldn’t go up because there’s no way out for them there.

Guards: Yes, sir!!!

Poppy: I’ll finally catch them.  They’ll pay for all the humiliation they’ve caused me.

***

Airee: I know those eyes…

Airee: …That cold stare…

Airee: It still scares me!

Airee: …I’m awake and you’re still here…

Airee: …Go away!!!

Polaris: Hey, Airee!  You’ve spaced again!

Polaris: Hey!!!

Butler: I had nothing to do that, okay?

Voice: Airee Collette…

Voice: …You belong to me now…

Voice: …You will be my slave…

***

Airee: Ha?!

Airee: What’re these things at the statue’s feet?…

Airee: Golden balls?!?

Airee: Yahoo!!!  Lucky!!!

Polaris: Oh no!  She’s gotten careless again…

Airee: Don’t!!!  It might be trapped!!!

Ptink! Ptink! Ptink!

Airee: Woohoo!!!  This’s mine… and this… and this too…

Polaris: DON’T!!!

Shaaaa

***

Statue: That’s the last thing you’ll take, kid!

UWIP!  UWIP!

Airee: Ulk!

Statue: Didn’t you know that those globes belong to me?

Airee: AAAAHHHHH!!! Polaris! Help!!!

Statue: Is this the ‘Polaris’ you’re calling to?  Hehe!  He can’t do anything for you now.

Statue:  Time has stopped for him.

Statue: Why don’t you ask this one for help?

Statue: Then again…

Statue: He looks weak.

Airee: Even Mr. Weakling?

***

Airee: I’m just dreaming…  This isn’t real…

Statue: Hehe!  You still don’t believe?  Maybe you’d like me to pinch you.

Poppy: Airee!!!  I’m gonna get you!!!

Airee: Poppy?

Statue: Pests…

Statue: I’m not yet done.

Statue: Don’t interfere!!!

KRRG K-KRAG! KRRK

Guard: What?!?

Poppy: Magic?

Guard: Sir!!!

BRRRM BRRRM BRRRM BRRRM

Guard 1: But none of them know how to use magic!… Right?

Guard 2: Don’t cave in… don’t cave in…

Poppy: Looks like I was right in thinking she had a third party member…

Poppy: Grrrr… remain in your positions!

***

Statue: Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t hesitate to turn you over to your pursuers…

SHAAAAA

Statue: …But I have other plans!

Statue: Earlier, you had the gall to steal the golden balls at my feet…

VWP! VWP! VWP!

Statue: Do you even know their worth?

Statue: Do you realized whom you’re messing with?!

VPT! VPT!

Statue: Hmp!  It’s time I teach you a lesson!!!

SHWIP!  SHWIP! SHWIP!

Airee: Aaaakk!!!

FPT FPT FPT FPT

Airee: Tight…

Airee: Getting hard to breathe

Airee: … Why can’t I wake from this nightmare?…

***

FLP FLP FLP FLP

Statue: Don’t you know who I am?!?

Airee: Mmmpphh!

Statue: …Don’t you, kid?!!

Statue: I am SPOT!!!  The best thief in the world!

VOOOOOSSSHHH!!!

Airee: Spot?

Polaris: …And he was never heard nor caught.  Not even once…

Polaris: That’s the story of Spot.

***

FLP FLP FLP FLP

Spot: Do you know how important those globes are?

FWAKK!

Spot: Each of those globes are a testament to my talent and skill.

Spot: I’ve traveled the world and not once have I been found nor arrested.

Spot: The eight globed signify the eight directions of the compass.  Eight kingdoms that I’ve duped.

Spot: I will not let my name be soiled by an amateur like you!!!

Airee: Uhuk!  What’re you gonna do to me?…

Airee: Cough!

Spot: Hmph!  Don’t worry.  I have no plans of killing you…

Spot: …I prefer to torture you!  To tech you a lesson…

Sheeeee…

Spot: …Or die!  If you aren’t careful, hehe!

Ooooooom!

Spot: Here!!!

Spot: Accept my ‘gift’!

Plink!

Airee: A bell?

Hehehe!

Airee: Thanks, but Polaris says that I hear enough ringing from all the screws loose in my head.

Airee: E-he-he-hehe…

***

Spot: SILENCE!!!  That bell shall end your career as a thief!

Airee: Wh-what’re you saying?

Spot: It’ll ring only when you’re trying to steal something!  Let’s see how you plan to get out of all the messes you get yourself into!…

BWAHAHAHAHAH!!!

Airee: Ulk!

Karin: My cute Spot!  You’ve been picking on Lgin again?  Good dog!!!

Woof!  Woof!

Karin: Lgin’s being mean, right?  Bad Lgin!  Bad Lgin!  No biscuit for you today…

Woof!

Hu-hu-hu…

Lgin: The real mess begins to unravel in Cat’s Trail… What new tests will Airee face in future episodes?  ‘Til next time.

Sniff… sniff…

To be continued…

 

Solstice Butterfly

Story and Art by Jerard F. Beltran

 

Chapter 1:7 Reward

 

Raya…

Mommy?

Do you know why you’re one of the Mandirigma [Warriors]?

Yes, to serve the country, defend our freedom and…

Not that… Why did we send you there?

For discipline.

And?

To set right all the lies of the Americans.

And?

To save them from the bad machines…

***

Raya: Aagh.

Luna: You deserve more than just that!

Luna: You’re heartless!

***

System on…

Rajah: Raya!

Raya: I’m fine, Rajah…

SKRITCH SKRITCH

Rajah: This girl’s going too far!

Rajah: Whatever reason you may have for hurting Raya, miss…

Rajah: You just gave me a reason to get even!!

Raya: Rajah, let it go.

Luna: You started it.

***

Luna: She has to pay…

Luna: …For her crime!

Luna: She started it!  And she must answer for what she’s done!!

Raya: Rajah, this is my fight.

FWAP!!

***

Guy 1: Look, a fight.

Guy 2: Pu@%#! Again!

Guy 2: It’s those Warriors again!

Luna: Lemme go!

Luna: Fight fair, dammit!

Guy 1: It’s Luna…

Guy 1: Looks like she finally found the one she was looking for…

Guy 1: …and a fight!

Raya: Joanne, let her go!  This is between her and me!

Joanne: It’s okay, Raya.  Whoever this pesky girl is…

***

Joanne: Hey!  And still putting up a fight!  Take it easy or I just might break something!

Luna: Why’re you interfering!  This is our fight!  Don’t get involved!

Luna: Don’t you people have a conscience?

Luna: She has to pay for her crime!

Luna: She killed my friend!

Luna: She’s killed Sylvia Herrera!

Raya: H-he-Herrera?

***

CLACK!

Guy 2: Stop it, little girl… let her go.

Guy 2: Let them…

BRKAM!

HYAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Guy 2: Gaakh!

Rajah: His gun went off!!!

Rajah: NO!!

***

Rajah: What happened?!!

Guy 1: …

Guy 3: He beat Riker!

Guy 1: That’s not the problem…

***

Raya: Rajah…

Raya: Rajah…

tp tp tp tp tp tp

Rajah: RAYA!!!

Raya: Rajah…

***

At Raya’s garage…

Host’s vitals are dropping to critical…

Switching to secondary power supply

System restore…

VEEEET!

FWIPFWAPFWIPFWAPFWIPFWAP

System regen active…

Solstice unit found.

Surplus materials readily available…

Flick! Flick! Flick! Flick! Flick! Flick!

Personality profile uploaded.

Host’s name: Raya Mahabharati

Psychographics: a very friendly, likable nature, could excel in artistic, dramatic and musical expression… overly sympathetic in nature… must incorporate more practicality, system, and concentration…

AT system adaptation complete.

Solstice Butterfly fully functional.

***

Unit evolution is 99% efficient.

Assimilation for host is 99.989%

First priority: protect my mistress

Second priority: protect the citizens

Third priority: eliminate the threat

Machine: Value one’s self as one values others.

Machine: Find my mistress…

Machine: …And save her from harm.

Machine: (Her mother would be upset if I fail.)

***

[2 page spread]

SKRAAG!!!

Mouse: Squeeek!!

MP: What the..!

Raya: Who’re you??

Machine: How’re you?

MP: Wha-wha-what… the…

K-KLACK!

***

Sniper: Great…

Sniper: Bishop to King Three.

Comm: Check.  Cheshire Cat?

Sniper: Alice received the three of hearts.

Comm: Very good.

Sniper: Will be returning to the looking glass.

Comm: Very good Ringgo… you may return.

Comm: Our squad is almost complete.

Ringgo: Sir….

Ringgo: Will we be attacking the Americas?

 

JIO on HOW WE DRAW 7: Basic CCCom Filters

(The program we’re currently using is Adobe Photoshop 6)

 

                For those of you who have computers, in this issue, we’ll be teaching you how to use PhotoShop filters, layer effects, and line art clean up.  Sorry, to those who don’t have PCs, but that’s this issue’s topic.  Many people have been writing to us and asking us how we achieve the effects on the comic pages which is why we chose this topic.  Before anything else, just what ARE ‘filters’?  Are these those things used to purify water?  Are these the stuff you find in cigarette butts?  Of course not.

                Filters are computer effects used for image modification in order to emphasize or subdue the image according to what the artist wants.

                But before we go into that, we first have to talk about how to get clean line art.

 

Line Art Scanning: Getting That Good, Clean Scan

 

                If you want to scan a line art or drawing, you must set your scanner to grayscale format or black and white photo with a 300dpi output resolution (150dpi is also okay, but you will lose some details).  Don’t use line art setting or black and white only scanner option because your work will become pixelated.  Then, save your work in PSD format or as a TIF file in LZW compression (to make the file size really small).

                After you scan your drawing, bring it to Adobe Photoshop (if Photoshop’s already open, you can use the Easy Twain module or scanner module that could be found in the File>Import menu for scanning).

                As you would see, scanned artwork looks really messy (1).  Now it’s time for clean up.  After you’ve opened the file, go to the Image>Adjust>Levels menu.

                When the Levels dialogue box appears (3), you may now adjust the settings.  The little leftmost arrow is the black slider, the one in the middle is the gray slider, and the rightmost is the white slider.  Move the black slider to the center of the first slope and the white slider to the foot of the last slope.  Look at your image.  Notice that much of the gray has disappeared.  Adjust the white slider some more until you have completely minimized the gray without your work becoming pixelated.

                You can clean up the rest of the gray using the brush tool, now you have a clean line art (4)!

 

Fast Fact: [fragments]

                Jio, now you have to make another “Where We Draw!!!”

 

Filters: Special Effects for Emphasis

 

                After you’ve finished with the flats and seconds (as was discussed in issue 2) you can now apply the filters.  The basic filters that we use are Blur, Noise, and Layer Effects.

                The blur effect could be found in the menu Filter>Blur (5).  The ones that we most often use are Gaussian Blur, Motion Blur, and Radial Blur.  But before you use the blur effect, make sure that your foreground and background are two separate layers.

                The Gaussian Blur is for foreground-to-background distinction.  Here’s an image without the effect (6).  If you use this filter on the background (7), the foreground will have the emphasis.  On the other hand, if you use it on the foreground (8), the emphasis will be transferred to the background.  Isn’t something more eye-catching when you aren’t distracted by the background?

                The Motion Blur is used to give movement to your characters.  Is your character moving fast?  You can do two things: you can either use the motion blur on you character (9) or on the background (10) to emphasize the quick movement.

                In Radial Blur, this will show the zooming on or out effect.  You don’t need separate layers for this, but it would be good if you have a back-up copy of your file in case you make a mistake.  This is best used for characters with movements that are either quickly approaching or receding (11).  This also adds emphasis for when your character is surprised or if he or she discovered something.

                It would be good to add speed lines or blast lines before adding blur because it adds to the detail of the motion for a frame.

 

Layer effects: Setting the Mood

 

                Have you noticed that Pasig is usually colored brown?  This is due to Layer Effects.  This helps in setting the mood for a panel or page.

                For example, Ringgo (the sniper in Solstice) is hiding in a dark place, and the original color of the clothes is a somewhat bright shade of blue.  Because it doesn’t look as if Ringgo’s in the dark, the colors must be subdued.  You can use Desaturate, but you will lose the colors, so what do you do?  This is where you could use Layer Effects.  (Photoshop 6 has a shortcut, but I’ll be guiding you through the step-by-step process for the benefit of those using the earlier versions of the program).

                First, make a new layer, and fill it with brown.  Make sure that this adjustment layer is above your colored layer.  Then, click the dropdown menu of the Layer dialogue box (12) and choose the Hue or Color layer setting.  Change the opacity of this layer to show the colors of the layer below, and voila!  It now looks like a flashback (13)!

 

                For our next How We Draw, we’ll be talking about some of our trade secrets… James?  You’ll be doing the next How We Series?  Aw, shucks, too bad, I was gonna tell some of our secrets… What?  Mer will do the one after that? Haa…

 

Inside The Office:

                FYI: “Himala” – miracle

 

Comic Book Artist Spotlight: Marco Dimaano

FYI: “sulit” – worth the price paid

 

One Day, Isang Diwa

Story by J.L. Palabay

Art by E.A. Damaso

Color Flats by Evil Dhex

 

Chapter 7: Surge of Feelings

 

Jedd: Yesterday.

***

Jedd: It’s been eight years…

Jedd’s Dad: Keep this, son.  That has given me all the good luck all this time.  Then again, I already have everything I could ask for.

Jedd: Dad, why don’t I just put it on?

Jedd’s Dad: When the time’s right.

Jedd: But… when will that be?

Jedd’s Dad: You’ll know.

Jedd’s Mom: Aren’t you two hungry?

Jedd’s Mom: I made your favorite… Kare-kare! [translator’s note:  I don’t know how to describe this other than it being a meat and vegetable dish.  Personally, I don’t eat the stuff. =P]

Jedd: Really, Mom?

Jedd: Woohoo!!!

***

Jedd: Mom!!! Dad!!!

Jedd’s Dad: Go on, son!  Your Mom and I’ll be right behind you!

Jedd’s Mom: Jedd, listen to your father.

Jedd’s Mom: Just wait for us outside…

Jedd: But…

Jedd’s Dad: I told you to get out!!!  Don’t be stubborn!!!

Jedd’s Dad: Go on…

***

BLUB!!!

***

Jedd’s uncle: Thank you very much.  Jedd is the only living relative I have.  I’m glad to be his guardian.

Social worker: He’s been in shock for several days, but don’t hesitate to call on us for anything.

Jedd’s uncle: Heh!  Your father finally came across some bad luck, huh?

Jedd’s uncle: %#$@@%**  you brat!!!

Jedd’s uncle: I said GIN!  Not BEER!  Stupid!!!

Jedd’s uncle: Incompetent!!!

Jedd’s uncle: You little good for nothing!  You’re nothing but a burden.  I even send you to school and this is how you repay me!

Jedd’s uncle: From now on, you won’t get any allowance!  Find your own money!

***

Jedd: Two years ago…

Guy 1: Yes!!! That was great!!!

Guy 2: Idol!

Guy 3: Wow!  Did you see that?

Guy 4: P#%@!!!  He’s still the winner!!!

Guy 5: That guy couldn’t stand up to him!

Guy 6: Go home, loser!!!

Guy 7: Get outta here!!!

Guy 8: You’re something else, my friend. [translator’s note: I don’t know the actual translation of “kosa” but they say that it’s what people in prisons use to refer to their gang mates.]

Jedd: Thanks.

***

Guy 9: C’mon, miss, just a phone number?

Guy 10: Yeah, don’t be snob!

Jedd: Bitoy…

Jedd: She’s with me…

Guy 9: !

Guy 10: !

Clarissa: Th-thanks…

***

Jedd: Don’t mention it…

Clarissa: My name’s Clarissa.

Jedd: Jedd.

***

Jedd: Yesterday.

Jedd’s uncle: …I know that’s how Jedd’s trust fund is.  But times are tough.

Jedd’s uncle: How about the house?

Jedd’s uncle: Jedd needs new clothes and I’d like to increase his allowance.  I can’t do that because of my low wages.

Jedd’s uncle: Ah, wait.  I’ll call you back.

Jedd’s uncle: What’re you being smug about, kid!?  Remember that you still live under my roof!

Jedd’s uncle: Got a problem with that?!?

Jedd’s uncle: You P#N?#%@!  Say something!  Don’t look down on me!!!

FWAK!!!

Jedd: This morning…

***

Box: Sniff!  Sniff!  This issue’s so serious!  And that concludes yet another installment of One Day, Isang Jedd!  Uhm, sorry, I mean Diwa!  Come to think of it, where IS Diwa?!?  Isn’t this her title?  What ever happened to the man in the cloak? Hmmm… To be continued!

 

Anime Quest:

 

FYI: “Ah Miaka!  Ikaw lang ang mahal ko!” – Ah, Miaka!  You’re the only one I love.

 

LETTERS TO THE STAFF:

[Fragments only and those which are totally in Filipino.]

 

Michael Recto’s letter:

FYI:

“Iskolar ng Bayan” – “scholars of the country”, usually refers to people from the University of the Philippines, where, incidentally, all of the members of CCCom graduated from. =)

“Inggit lang sila” – they’re just jealous

 

Paolo Francisco D. Villanueva’s letter: [first paragraph]

                You’re still alive!!!  Thank God you’re still around!!!  I can’t imagine my life without Culture Crash!!!

 

Patrick Milanes’s letter: [last sentence]

                I hope you guys become monthly again.

 

Eden-Angeli’s letter: [fifth paragraph, and last sentence of seventh paragraph]

                Come to think of it, it’s pretty simple, but it hits hard since we know that it’s original, creative, and from the effort of our fellow Filipinos.  You get your money’s worth for Php 85.00.

                You guys are inspiring!

 

Culture Crash™, Solstice Butterfly™, One Day, Isang Diwa™, PASIG™, Cat’s Trail™ and the other names, logos and all related characters in this translation are ™ and © 2002 Culture Crash Comics/J. C. Palabay Ent., Inc. and their respective owners.