MANILA, Philippines?Alex Niño, the famous Pinoy comic book artist best known for his work in American publications DC and Marvel Comics, was in town recently to meet with local comic book art enthusiasts at the Laurel House in Mandaluyong City.

?I see hope in the works of some of our young artists,? Niño, 68, and speaking in Filipino, told Inquirer. ?Being unique is the key to getting people to notice your work. There?s nothing wrong with copying the works of other artists. Use them as your guide until you?re finally able to stand on your own.?

A legend

With Niño during the get-together hosted by Creative Media and Film Society of the Philippines (CreaM) was Hans Bacher, Disney creative director for animated movies ?Mulan? and ?Lion King.? CreaM is headed by former Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos.

?I?m not sure how to describe how I felt when I [came face to face with] a legend,? Bacher said of meeting Niño during the production of animated movie ?Mulan,? where the Filipino artist did some designs. ?I already knew of his work then. I had this incredible respect for him because I had seen so many of his comic strips. He proved to be the most down-to-earth person I had ever met.?

Marcos said the meet-and-greet with Niño was ?purely coincidental.? The artist, who has been living in the US since 1974, visited the country only to attend a relative?s wedding.

Art director Melvin Calingo, who attended the art session with James Palabay, studio director of the newly formed Digital Arts Chefs, described Niño?s style as ?diverse.? ?Iba ang hagod,? said Calingo. ?His story-telling style is unique, his layout is very dynamic. He?s really ahead of his time. A lot of artists in then US consider him as their inspiration, too.?

First job

A native of Tarlac and a son of a professional photographer, Niño landed his first job as an artist at Bulaklak Publications at 17. ?I worked there for almost seven years,? he said. ?My experience there taught me to become more persistent. I got rejected a lot of times. Others took pity on me and gave me breaks.?

After studying under artist Jess Jodloman, he collaborated with Clodualdo del Mundo to create ?Kilabot ng Persia? for Pilipino Komiks in 1965. This paved the way for a series of projects with other comics novelists.

While working for local publications, Niño would send letters and samples of his works to publications in the States. ?I tried my luck for two whole years,? he said. ?I thought, iba pa rin ?pag sikat ka because you?d earn a lot. Ako, isang kahig, isang tuka. DC Comics never wrote back to me. Instead, the American comic book company put up an office here. I was finally given projects, alongside Nestor Redondo and Alfredo Alcala. Things went well for us starting then.?

E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph