Komikon 2010

The Komikon 2010 at UP Diliman was a success! Komikon is always a success though! Maybe this time it was for a more personal reason- My graphic novel sold out!
"The Curfew" was bookbounded and had 88 pages with a glossy, colored cover. I sold each copy for 50 pesos only! A lot of people asked why I was selling at such a low low price. Some even had to scan through the book to make sure about the art quality. I think they can't question the art anymore than they can question the price!
The price and the quality?
Most of the time Indie comics go from 32 to 40 pages, black and white (including cover), photocopied and stapled at the middle. They sell them at 50 php. An artist would spend about 30-40 php to make each copy. So an artist is only worth 10 php for all the damn effort! Then if we look at it from an audience's point of view, he's got lots to say about the poor artwork or rushed out pages and that it was hardly worth his money. even if he liked the artwork, how about the price? If he has no complaints- he's probably some rich collector.
This is a very sad truth. All the major publishers are gone and illustrators have no means to publish their works. And because they have to spend more for limited copies, the price takes its toll on the consumers. Sometimes, even the art quality suffers and that's the worst thing! Any self-respecting artist knows his responsibility to deliver only the best for his audience. We have the obligation to revive a dying industry and the last thing we need is a disgruntled public.
We got to bring the price of comics down!
I know it is possible. I'm sorry for the artists who may feel offended that they have to sell their blood, sweat and tears at a lower price, but I want to point out one very important question: Who's reading your comicbooks? I have stories and artworks I wanted to share to as many people as possible. I have total confidence in my art. If you look at the people who buy books at comic conventions you'll notice they come from above average to well-to-do families. Wouldn't you feel bad if a story you always thought would touch some people's hearts can only be afforded by some rich kid who has no better things to spend his money on? Then you go home, you realize that your neighbors don't even know that you're an artist! You don't see anyone reading your book except for the ones you gave a free copy to. Nobody is actually talking about your art! The rich kid may not have even read the damn thing he bought from you at the komikon!
I want to campaign for more affordable, quality comicbooks that everyone can start enjoying again. I know it is possible!