PHILIPPINES – JULY 2011 – Filipino comic book writer and artist Gerry Alanguilan’s latest work ELMER was awarded the 5th Prix Asie-ACBD 2011 by the French organization ABCD (Association of Comic Book Critics and Journalists) at the Japan Expo Awards on June 30.
The Prix Asie-ACBD is awarded to a work originally from Asia that is translated into French. Other nominees were Shotaro Ishinomori’s Le Voyage de Ryu, Kazuo Kamimura’s La Plaine du Kanto, Sanpei Shirato’s Kamui Den, and Makoto Yukimura’s Vinland Saga.
ELMER, which is about chickens with human intelligence, is the first Filipino graphic novel to be translated into French. The French edition is published by Editions Ca Et La and translated into French by Sidonie Van Dries.
"I was so ecstatic when I heard about it last night that I couldn’t sleep. I think I will celebrate today with a Zinger sandwich at KFC," wrote Alanguilan on his blog.
According to Alanguilan over 1500 comic book titles from Asia are published in French every year.
A licensed architect, Alanguilan remains one of the biggest names in Philippine comics. Has worked for comics giants DC and Marvel aside from writing and drawing original Filipino characters and works.
