Jim Fernandez
Encyclopedia
Jim M. Fernandez is a Filipino
comic book artist
best known for his works on Aztec and Aliwan Komiks. He also popularized the fictional character
, Zuma
in his novels. Apart from being an editor, illustrator, cartoonist, and writer for Philippine comics, Fernandez was also a certified public accountant
in the Philippines
.
Commerce Silver Jubillee Book.
character by Edgar Rice Burroughs
. In 1953, he was mentored by Tony S. Velasquez, a Filipino illustrator for the Velasquez Advertising Agency.
's Mariposa, Dalaginding na si Tessie ("Tessie is Now a Young Woman"), Darna
at ang Impakta, Darna at ang Babaing Tuod, Captain Barbel, Haydee, Elepanta, and Flash Bomba; Rico Bello Omagap's Ang Nobya Kong Igorota ("My Igorot
Girlfriend"); Tony Tenorio's Sor Matilde; and Tony Velasquez
's Lupang Ginto ("Gold Land"), Ulilang Christmas Tree ("Orphaned Christmas Tree"), and Ang Mahal Kong Bungal ("My Incomplete-Toothed Loved One").
Fight Komix. During the same year, Fernandez established the Real Publications, the publisher of Bolniks Komiks and Lindelmel Komiks. In 1965, Fernandez went back to the Roces Publications, the publisher of Pilipino Komiks, Hiwaga Komiks, Espesyal Komiks, and Tagalog Klasiks.
In 1967, Fernandez studied at the Famous Artist School. It was during this period when Fernandez's black-and-white rendition of Darna at ang Impakta was given an "A-rating" by B.Th. Closset, together with the comment "very good handling of pen and ink". Also in 1967, Fernandez created the cartoon Feathers for the Manila Times
newspaper.
; his The Astronaut and Mission: Jupiter were drawn by Mar. T. Santana; his Aztec was illustrated by Elmer Esquivias.
After working for Atlas Publications, Fernandez started illustrating for Graphic Arts Service, Inc. (GASI) in March 1976, where his novels Anak ni Zuma (Aliwan Komiks), The Gorgon, Astrobal, The Cannibal, Jeric-the Boy from Mars, Polaris, Virga, Borbo, and Angkan ni Zuma ("Clan of Zuma") appeared in print. Fernandez also authored the novels Kambal sa Uma (Kislap Magazine), Anak ni Kro (Affiliated Publications), Karpetina (Affiliated Publications), and Mulawina (Affiliated Publications), Uso pa ba ang Birhen (Liwayway
), Tiza (Liwayway), Touchdown (Liwayway), and Anak ni Touchdown ("Touchdown's Child") (Liwayway), and Nazka (Rex Publications).
for Anak ni Zuma when it was adapted for the cinemas.
. Fernandez's illustrations for Mars Ravelo's Darna at ang Impakta garnered him the Award for Excellence in Illustration from the Society of Philippine Illustrators and Cartoonists (SPIC).
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
comic book artist
Comic Book Artist
Comic Book Artist was an American magazine founded by Jon B. Cooke devoted to anecdotal histories of American comic books, with emphasis on comics published since the 1960s...
best known for his works on Aztec and Aliwan Komiks. He also popularized the fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, Zuma
Zuma (comics)
Zuma is a Filipino comic book character created by Jim Fernandez that has a two headed snake that rests on his shoulders....
in his novels. Apart from being an editor, illustrator, cartoonist, and writer for Philippine comics, Fernandez was also a certified public accountant
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Career
During college, Fernandez was the editor of The Commerce Journal, The English Journal, and The USTUniversity of Santo Tomas
The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines , is a private Roman Catholic university run by the Order of Preachers in Manila. Founded on April 28, 1611 by archbishop of Manila Miguel de Benavides, it has the oldest extant university charter in the...
Commerce Silver Jubillee Book.
Influences
As an illustrator, Fernandez was influenced by the TarzanTarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
character by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
. In 1953, he was mentored by Tony S. Velasquez, a Filipino illustrator for the Velasquez Advertising Agency.
Career
Fernandez started his formal career as an illustrator by accepting the project to create drawings for the short story Batas ni Sumakwel published by Marte Publications. After this first assignment, Fernandez illustrated for Mabuhay Komiks and Extra Komiks. Afterwards, he illustrated for Gemiliano Pineda's novel Mga Haragan; Mars RaveloMars Ravelo
Mars Ravelo was a Filipino graphic novelist who created the characters Darna, Dyesebel, Captain Barbell, Lastikman, Bondying, Varga, Wanted: Perfect Mother, Hiwaga, Maruja, Mariposa, Roberta, Rita, Buhay Pilipino, Jack and Jill, Flash Bomba, Tiny Tony, and Dragonna among others.-Biography:Mars...
's Mariposa, Dalaginding na si Tessie ("Tessie is Now a Young Woman"), Darna
Darna
Darna is a fictional character and Filipino comics superheroine created by writer Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo. In her more popular incarnations, she is a deceased warrior from another planet manifesting herself through a girl from Earth, named Narda...
at ang Impakta, Darna at ang Babaing Tuod, Captain Barbel, Haydee, Elepanta, and Flash Bomba; Rico Bello Omagap's Ang Nobya Kong Igorota ("My Igorot
Igorot
Cordillerans are the people of the Cordillera region, in the Philippines island of Luzon. The word, Igorot is a misnomer term invented by the Spaniards in mockery against the Nortnern Luzon tribes. The word ‘Igorot’ also as coined and applied by the Spaniards means a savage, head-hunting and...
Girlfriend"); Tony Tenorio's Sor Matilde; and Tony Velasquez
Tony Velasquez
Antonio "Tony" Velasquez is a Filipino illustrator regarded as the Father of Tagalog comics and as the pioneer and founding father of the Philippine comics industry. He was the creator of Kenkoy, an “iconic Philippine comic strip character”.-Family background:Velasquez was born in Ulilang...
's Lupang Ginto ("Gold Land"), Ulilang Christmas Tree ("Orphaned Christmas Tree"), and Ang Mahal Kong Bungal ("My Incomplete-Toothed Loved One").
1960s
In 1963, Fernandez became the co-founder of CRAF Publications, the publisher of Redondo Komix and AlcalaAlfredo Alcala
Alfredo P. Alcala was a Filipino comic book artist, born in Talisay, Negros Occidental in the Philippines. Alcala was an established illustrator whose works appeared in the Alcala Komix Magazine. His 1963 creation Voltar introduced him to an international audience, particularly in the United...
Fight Komix. During the same year, Fernandez established the Real Publications, the publisher of Bolniks Komiks and Lindelmel Komiks. In 1965, Fernandez went back to the Roces Publications, the publisher of Pilipino Komiks, Hiwaga Komiks, Espesyal Komiks, and Tagalog Klasiks.
In 1967, Fernandez studied at the Famous Artist School. It was during this period when Fernandez's black-and-white rendition of Darna at ang Impakta was given an "A-rating" by B.Th. Closset, together with the comment "very good handling of pen and ink". Also in 1967, Fernandez created the cartoon Feathers for the Manila Times
Manila Times
The Manila Times is the oldest existing English language newspaper in the Philippines. It is published daily by The Manila Times Publishing Corp. with editorial and administrative offices at 371 A...
newspaper.
1970s
During the end of the 1970s, Fernandez started writing and illustrating his own novels. His first novel was The Fighting Priest in Hiwaga Komiks. His other novels were Farida, The Dormitory, The Grandmaster, Nunal sa Balikat ("Mole on the Shoulders"), and Starex. In 1973, Fernandez focused more on writing instead of drawing. Fernandez's novels Halik sa Hangin ("Kiss in the Wind") and Titang were illustrated by Hal SantiagoHal Santiago
Harold "Hal" Santiago is an award-winning Filipino illustrator and writer in the field of Philippine comics . He has been recognized in the comic book profession in the Philippines for his “artistic visualizations of various novels”. Santiago was described by Filipino writer Jim M...
; his The Astronaut and Mission: Jupiter were drawn by Mar. T. Santana; his Aztec was illustrated by Elmer Esquivias.
After working for Atlas Publications, Fernandez started illustrating for Graphic Arts Service, Inc. (GASI) in March 1976, where his novels Anak ni Zuma (Aliwan Komiks), The Gorgon, Astrobal, The Cannibal, Jeric-the Boy from Mars, Polaris, Virga, Borbo, and Angkan ni Zuma ("Clan of Zuma") appeared in print. Fernandez also authored the novels Kambal sa Uma (Kislap Magazine), Anak ni Kro (Affiliated Publications), Karpetina (Affiliated Publications), and Mulawina (Affiliated Publications), Uso pa ba ang Birhen (Liwayway
Liwayway
Liwayway is a leading Tagalog weekly magazine published in the Philippines since 1922. It contains Tagalog serialized novels, short stories, poetry, serialized comics, essays, news features, entertainment news and articles, and many others. In fact, it is the oldest Tagalog magazine in the...
), Tiza (Liwayway), Touchdown (Liwayway), and Anak ni Touchdown ("Touchdown's Child") (Liwayway), and Nazka (Rex Publications).
Film adaptation
A number of Fernandez’s novels were adapted into film. Among them were his Nunal sa Balikat, Farida, The Dormitory, Life Everlasting, Kingpin, Brutus, Kambal sa Uma, and Anak ni Zuma. Fernandez received the amount of 100,000 pesosPhilippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
for Anak ni Zuma when it was adapted for the cinemas.
Awards
In college, Fernandez won the gold medal during a student's debate competition at the University of Santo TomasUniversity of Santo Tomas
The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines , is a private Roman Catholic university run by the Order of Preachers in Manila. Founded on April 28, 1611 by archbishop of Manila Miguel de Benavides, it has the oldest extant university charter in the...
. Fernandez's illustrations for Mars Ravelo's Darna at ang Impakta garnered him the Award for Excellence in Illustration from the Society of Philippine Illustrators and Cartoonists (SPIC).