Marvel’s talent scout visits Manila in search for the next big name in comics!

I’d love to come back! A part of that will depend on how successful the artists I short-listed are and if they’re able to take advantage of the opportunity they’ll get working for Marvel. If one or two really hit, and if Marvel, together with National Book Store, have any kind of success with this nationwide contest, then there’s no reason why I think there shouldn’t be a second wave of talent scouting.

We’re keeping our fingers crossed for that. What about those artists who didn’t make the cut? Any advice you have for them?

You can’t give up. Sure, you can be disappointed but it’s just a bump on the road. It’s not that you’re a bad artist or I didn’t like what I saw in your portfolio, it’s that you didn’t exactly have what Marvel was looking for at this time. Times change and there are more books and opportunities. If Avengers Vs. X-men hits, then there will be more books that will need artists, and the Philippines will be one of the first places we’ll come and look.

If there’s one person from Marvel who should go to the Philippines, who would you recommend us to?

That’s a good question. I’m trying to think of a guy who would enjoy the experience the most and I know many people would. I’ve talked to Mark Brooks (artist of Ultimate SpiderMan Annual) about coming and he’d be a great fit here. Brian Bendis (writer of Avengers and Ultimate Spider-man) I think will really enjoy it here. I’m not sure he’d eat balut though. (Laughs)

We would love to have Bendis come over!

Yeah. I also think someone like Joe Quesada (former editor in chief and current chief creative officer of Marvel) or Axel Alonso (current editor in chief of Marvel). I do a lot of traveling and people at Marvel see the world through my eye. I’ve traveled a little bit with Joe and he was just amazed at being part of the experience and seeing how much Marvel was embraced outside of the United States. We’ve been together in Europe and next step for Joe would be to come and see the other side of the world here. I think he’d really enjoy it and I think he’ll get a lot out of it.

*** Follow CB Cebulksi on twitter: @cbcebulski. Which comic book creator would you want to visit the Philippines? Send us your thoughts over at jiggyandjonty@gmail.com.