CO Signing Event | Whilce Portacio

Whilce Portacio has been supportive of the local grassroots, and even set up a studio back in the mid-1990s, discovering local talents and collaborating with established ones like Gerry Alanguilan in producing some of the best comic book series around that time. After all those years, those same talented individuals have made their names in the American comic book industry. Some of them have become household names like Gerry, Leinil Yu, and Ed Tadeo. The resurgence of Filipino talent doing work in the international scene also introduced Harvey Tolibao, Mico Suayan, and Stephen Segovia in the mid-2000s.

Now, Whilce returns to have a signing event again with Comic Odyssey as he did earlier this year. Whilce’s show of support to Comic Odyssey has deep roots going back to the mid-1990s when he and Brian Haberlin launched their new character “Stone” with inks done by Gerry Alanguilan in 1997. Comic Odyssey was the store that held a launch and signing event at the former branch in Robinsons Manila.

Those were some of the highlights of Whilce's early visit to the Philippines. It doesn’t end there, as he always makes time to visit the country whenever possible. Even back in 2019, the 55 Ballete Drive reunion was one of the culminations of his achievement in making sure people don’t forget to support the local talent making their names in the international scene.

For this signing event, there’s nothing like gratitude for Whilce Portacio to come back again and do this, not once. But twice in the same year, as earlier in January, he did have a signing event also at Comic Odyssey. While he spends the Holiday season with relatives based in the Philippines, he will also make the trip to Australia by early January 2025 for Supernova Comic Con & Gaming in Melbourne and Gold Coast.

But before things get busy next year, this signing event at Comic Odyssey is sort of closing for the shop’s 2024 signing events, and it was sort of a Thanksgiving to local customers who supported the shop all these years, as well as a good time to hang out and just be part of the community.

Of course, there were the regular comic book signings and raffles where participants purchased books that Whilce has worked on in the past. There’s also a behind-the-scenes interview with him as part of a documentary that is being made by one of the locals who has supported the community.

There were also sightings of the limited print run of the original Stone graphic novels, which were offered as a Kickstarter project that were hardcover editions in limited print runs that will never see the light of day, being sold at Comic Odyssey. It’s certainly worth noting that there is still fan support for “Stone” that Whilce mentioned about a new book being in the works with both co-creators, which is another story to hear about that shows he’s a busy artist heading into the New Year.

Lastly, there’s nothing like the obligatory photos and some scenes from the signing event that include the raffle and all for those who missed out on the day. Many thanks to Comic Odyssey for supporting not just by bringing the best titles from American publishers, but also for supporting the local comics scene.

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