Welcome to the Callous Blog!

This is my personal blog!  Here I talk about many things pop culture, including (but not limited to) comics, webcomics, movies, TV, and music!  And of course, I'll talk about Callous!

To join a discussion, just click on the title of the blog post that interests you then you'll be directed to that post's page where comments and replies to that entry reside.

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Review: Torchlight Lullaby by Ryan Fisher

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Sunday, August 7, 2016,
Torchlight LullabyTorchlight Lullaby by Ryan Fisher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As a webcomic artist, I've known the author for quite a long time and have enjoyed his previous forays into comic strips. But having made the transition into writing comic books myself, I can say that Ryan Fisher's accomplishment with Torchlight Lullaby is gargantuan.

It's a thoroughly enjoyable all-ages read with tight pacing and a lovable lead character. There's a sense of urgency from the get-go which makes it a page-turner, but the...
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BABYMETAL - One Year Later

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Saturday, August 1, 2015,


BABYMETAL with Babybones circa 2012 (from tvqc.com)

    Around March 2014, I first heard of the "metal" musical group known as BABYMETAL.  I immediately dismissed it as something I'd probably never get into.  If other people were into it, good for them, but I certainly wouldn't be.  The premise just sounded like something that could not work.  Even the name sounded ridiculous.

    Then around a year ago, in July 2014, I chanced upon the music video for Doki Doki Morning through my Facebook time...

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The Movie (and Music) that Changed My Life

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Sunday, January 4, 2015,
    We hear it often: "That was a life-changing experience!"  In 1991, while the verbal exclamation was not expressed, I thought the same after watching a certain movie.
    Not many people remember it but 1991 was a GREAT year for movies. Look at what came out: The Silence of the Lambs, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Beauty and the Beast, Hook, The Addams Family, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Boyz n the Hood, Thelma & Louise, JFK, City Slickers, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (my perso...
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Reign Fall - Upcoming Fantasy / Adventure Storyline

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Monday, January 13, 2014,

The White Queen concept art by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD

    It's been a while since we last saw Dr. Rianne Nicah as the Black Queen.  To be honest, I thought "Heartstring Pizzicato" would be the last of the fantasy stories in Callous.  With Callous appearing in the newspaper, I had to focus on producing gag-a-day strips.
    But when inspiration strikes it is hard to ignore!  The tale of the rage-filled White Queen began to form in my head and I just had to bring this story to life.  But there w...

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Anime Review: Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) Season 1

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Sunday, September 29, 2013,
Shingeki no Kyojin - Attack on Titan    I'm not a big anime follower.  The only ones I ever got truly invested in were few and reasonably far between (Dragon Ball Z, Super Dimensional Fortress: Macross, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Macross Frontier, and Blade of the Immortal).  I would hear about One Piece, Bleach, Naruto, and whanot but I just couldn't seem to get myself to give them a chance.
    For several months, the same was true about Attack on Titan.  It took a lot of pushing and clamor from comic convention attendees passin...

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Callous' 17th Birthday - Open for Guest Comics / Art!

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Tuesday, July 9, 2013,


    As many of you know, August 7th is the day the first-ever Callous comic strip was published way back in 1996.  That makes August 7, 2013 the 17th anniversary of the series!

    This past year in particular, with its ups and downs, was the most significant of the comic's history.  First, I made the jump across the seas to join the artist alley of a convention outside my own country at STGCC 2012, the Singapore Toy, Game, and Comic Convention (Facebook Page)!  It was a great experience and o...

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Coming Up: Singapore Toy, Game, and Comic Convention 2012

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Thursday, August 23, 2012,

Callous Comics
ARTIST ALLEY - BOOTH F48

    Yes, you read it right!  Callous Comics is going to Singapore!
    This is the first time I'll be appearing outside my own country in a convention, so I'm really excited!  I have no idea what to expect as I haven't even attended STGCC before.  Braving the world, indeed!
    It's also quite heartening to discover that many of my friends from the Philippine comic community will be there as well.  So be sure to pass by my booth (F48) and that of the incred...

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Insert Smiley Face Here: My Indieket 2012 Report

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Monday, July 16, 2012,

Rock on! (Photo by Kit Perez)

    I've mentioned before how brilliant the Indieket was as a proposed event.  After the fact I realized how much of an understatement that was!
    Within the independent komiks community, the Indieket (short for Komikon's Grand Independent Komiks Market) was one big contest of sorts.  Most of the participants were vying for the limited free spots in the independent comics area of Komikon's main comic conventions.  The top ten highest-earning comic groups would ge...

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Coming Up: The First Komikon Indieket 2012

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Wednesday, July 11, 2012,


    Callous Comics is part of another first and an exciting one at that!  This Saturday, July 14, 2012, the first-ever Komikon Indieket will take place in the Bayanihan Center in Pasig City.
    You can find Callous Comics at table I15 along with Komikon 2011 Webcomic Readers' Choice awardee Work in Progress (WIPComics) and the incredible folks of Happy Lockjaw who bring with them their book, Drop Dead Dangerous!



    I've talked about my thoughts on this epic event before so I'll jump straight ...

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Komikon Annnounces the INDIEKET: My Thoughts

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Friday, June 8, 2012, In : News, Announcements, Events 


    Just this week, the good folks that bring us Komikon announced a new event that's, surprisingly, coming up really really fast!  That event is the First Komikon Grand Independent Komiks Market, or "Indieket", for short.  It'll be on July 14, 2012 in Hall A of the Bayanihan Center, Unilab Center, in Pasig City from 10am – 7pm.  For more information about the event, check out the announcement at the Komikon website!
    Much has been said regarding the role of the independent comic scene in...
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Coming Up: Summer Komikon 2012

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, In : News, Announcements, Events 


Hey everyone!

    It's summertime once again here in the Philippines and the premier comic event of the season is just around the corner!  On May 26, 2012, all roads of fantasy, adventure, humor, and superheroic excitement lead to the Bayanihan Center in Pasig City!  Here comes Summer Komikon 2012!

    Once again, Callous Comics will be at the independent comics area, known in Komikon events as the Indie Komiks Tiangge (see the other indie comic creators in the area)!  Here's what's in store fo...

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My Komikon 2011 Report: WOW!

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Sunday, November 20, 2011, In : News, Announcements, Events 


    Nothing.  Nothing could have prepared me for the visceral Komikon crowd.  Even after going through the insanity that was Komikon 2010 as an attendee, I was absolutely astounded by the awesomeness of Komikon 2011 from behind the table!


Still early. People setting up their tables.

    I arrived in my usual early time for the ingress.  I was already quite excited due to my fond memories of Summer Komikon 2011.  Once I had my table all set up, I roamed around the convention hall before the even...

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"On Lighter Dreams" Updates

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Sunday, September 18, 2011, In : Callous 


    Storylines, it seems, are never finished, they escape!  Featuring the "On Lighter Dreams" Special Edition!
    You may have noticed that the "On Lighter Dreams" storyline recently ended a bit abruptly.  Unfortunately, time and daily energy demands are not on the side of Callous Comics recently, and I had to decrease my comic output per week from seven to three (and then two towards the end of September 2011).  I did not want to do this while in mid-storyline, so I heavily edited the latter...

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First Baguio City Comic Convention (FB3C): My report

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Sunday, July 17, 2011, In : Callous 

    Last Saturday, July 16, 2011, Baguio City held its first ever Comic Convention (at least to my knowledge) and Callous Comics and I were more than happy to participate!
    The whole event was spearheaded by Gerald "Majic" Asbucan, a local Cordilleran artist who recently made waves in the Filipino independent comic scene with his work on Big Fat Ben.  He has hopes of reinvigorating the interest in comic books in pretty much the whole mountain province and several artists, myself included, ...

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Let's Celebrate 15 Years of Callous Comics!

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Sunday, May 15, 2011, In : Callous 


On August 7, 2011, it will be fifteen years since the publishing of the first Callous comic strip!  The series has had a long and wonderful history yet, truly, it's all just beginning!

Nevertheless, fifteen years is a significant milestone and I'd like all of you to join Callous Comics in celebrating it!  Here are what I have planned:

Open for Guest Art / Comics

One of the features of the Callous Comics website is the Guest Art / Comics page.  I've been extremely blessed to receive great contrib...
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My Report: Metro Comic Con 2011

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Monday, May 9, 2011,


    My experience with Metro Comic Con in 2010 was so overwhelmingly positive that I absolutely had to take part in MCC again in 2011.  I had far more material this time for con-goers to enjoy so I was pretty excited!
    Once again, like last year, I was the first among the artists in the Indie GO! Valley to arrive.  This was the area for Independent comic creators such as myself to set up shop for the convention.  The indie tables were located this year in the venue's periphery, albeit right...

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Coming Up: Summer Komikon 2011

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Saturday, April 2, 2011, In : News, Announcements, Events 
    Summer Komikon 2011 is coming up fast!  This would only be my second comic convention appearance (behind a table, at least) and I'm thankful to say that I'm at least not as blind in my preparations as I was prior to my first 'con.  Nevertheless, my excitement has escalated quite significantly after this morning's exhibitor meeting.

    This year, the event has been given the alternative name, 2011 Komikon Summer Bayanihan.  A "bayanihan", originally, was a term given to the Filipino commun...

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Movie Review: "Battle: Los Angeles"

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Saturday, March 19, 2011, In : Review 
    It's been a while since I wrote a movie review.  But there's something intangible about Battle: Los Angeles (it's called World Invasion: Battle of Los Angeles in my country) that compelled me to write one for this movie.
    Right off the bat, I will tell you this: if you saw any trailer, poster, or TV spot for this movie and thought, "this is gonna suck so bad I gotta see it," I was right there with you.  The story didn't disappoint this assumption but hey, everything else was a nice surp...
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Comic Book Stores and Conventions

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Thursday, March 10, 2011, In : News, Announcements, Events 

Hey everyone!

Got some Callous Comics news!


Callous - The Comic Series: Chocolate Chip Wishes and Caffeine Dreams is now available in the following comic book stores:
  1. Comic Odyssey - 3rd Level, Robinson's Galleria, EDSA cor. Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
  2. Planet X Comic Shop - Level III, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati City, Philippines
And I'll be at the following comic conventions:

1) Komikon Summer Bayanihan 2011 - April 16, 2011, Bayanihan Center, Pasig City

2) Metro Co...
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Candace Flynn and Vanessa Doofenshmirtz

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Saturday, February 26, 2011, In : Art 

Candace Flynn and Vanessa Doofenshmirtz
from Phineas and Ferb

    When I first encountered the show Phineas and Ferb on the Disney Channel a few years ago, I dismissed it as another abrasive, cheap, and annoying animated series with nothing but juvenile jokes.  Then in the past year, since my son became old enough to appreciate the show, I became more exposed to it and was often "forced" to sit through it.  Much to my delight, it was far more appealing than I originally assumed it to be!  Nowad...

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Callous Comics on TGT Webcomics

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, In : Callous 
Two Guys Talking

    Callous Comics and I were featured in Episode 149 of the Two Guys Talking Webcomics podcast hosted by Kurt Sasso.  This episode also featured guest co-host Liz Staley of the mecha comic Adrastus!  You can listen to the podcast either on the episode's page on the TGT Webcomics website, through the show's page on Talkshoe, or by subscribing to the series on iTunes.
    It was a grand old time as usual on TGT! Give the episode a listen and check out the rest of the podcast's episodes and disc...
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Callous Comics on "She... Ka!"

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Tuesday, January 25, 2011,

    Needless to say, today didn't start out like any other day.  Just yesterday, I woke up and was surprised to find that I had lost my voice!  Then, while in the long process of crawling toward being 100% awake (coffee was still brewing) my celphone rang!  It was an unknown number and I contemplated for a few rings whether or not to answer it.  After all, with no voice what could I do?  But like many times I threw common sense out the window and answered the call anyway.  I took a deep breat...

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Guest Art by Andrew Villar

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, In : Art 

Whoa! What a surprise!
The fantastic Andrew Villar who does the comic strip Ambush sent me this brilliant drawing of his titular character bloodied and bruised with doctors Rianne Nicah and Aimee Queens tending to her wounds, seemingly in mid-battle too!

Ambush is published in the Manila Bulletin, the Philippines' largest broadsheet newspaper by circulation.  You can follow Andrew on Twitter as @ambush007!

Thanks Sir Andrew! You rock!

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Guest Comic / Art!

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Saturday, January 15, 2011, In : News, Announcements, Events 


Celebrate the big FIFTEEN: One of the features of the Callous Comics website is the Guest Art/Comics page.  I've been extremely blessed to receive great entries from some of the most fantastic comic creators and artists!

I usually put out the call for guest work when I'm expecting down time from producing comics but this year is different.  As you might know, Callous Comics is celebrating it's fifteenth anniversary on August 7, 2011!  To help celebrate this grand occasion, I'll be opening the ...

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Callous Comics at "Feeding the Doves" Exhibit

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Wednesday, January 12, 2011, In : News, Announcements, Events 

"Feeding the Doves" exhibit poster (left) and Callous: Chocolate Chip Wishes and Caffeine Dreams cover (right)

On January 17, 2011, there will be an exhibit in the Philippine Heart Center lobby where Dr. Orestes Monzon will be showing his fantastic photographs next to painted interpretations/reimaginations of them by the amazing Angelito "Jo" Fernando.  It's sure to be an exciting and interesting display of different expressions of the same subject.

Furthermore, I'll be there to sign and sell c...

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Ambush

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Thursday, December 16, 2010, In : Art 
I made this sketch last September because I had hoped to offer it to Ambush's creator in person.  However, such an opportunity hasn't arrived so I figured I'd post it here. :)

Anyways, this is a drawing of mine featuring Amber, the heroine of a popular local comic strip series called Ambush.  I stylized her a bit, giving her different sunglasses and all.  I don't draw guns very often hence the ridiculous looking pistol.  Still, the comic is a fun romp through various action-filled adventures a...
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Coco Komodo and a Reformed Muscovy Duck

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Tuesday, September 7, 2010, In : Callous 

I was faced with the task of redesigning Muscovy Duck after the events of The Land of the Guardians.  Will I bring his old spikey hair back or keep his DBZ-style 'do?  In the end, I supposed it would have been more feasible to have his last-seen features intact, including the clawed feet.  I did, however, give him his flowered Guardian Duck T-shirt back.  He's still in his green robe, only it is open and sans belt.  I'm currently writing his return in a new storyline which includes bringing b...
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'Callous' on Calvin Innes' Blog

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Sunday, February 21, 2010, In : News, Announcements, Events 

The Chanceborough News reports Callous-related news, announcements, and events!


Calvin Innes, the artist and animator who co-wrote the Callous comic strip, "Woodchuck Philosophy", gave a nice feature for the series in his blog!  Check it out here!
http://www.calvininnes.com/blog/?p=808

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February 2010 Music Video

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Sunday, February 14, 2010, In : Callous 

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Go Down Emmanuel Road

Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Wednesday, January 20, 2010, In : Callous 

The Chanceborough News reports Callous-related news, announcements, and events!

The January 2010 music video is up in the fan page on Facebook!  This month features another fun song from Dan Zanes and Friends, "Go Down Emmanuel Road"!


Join the Fan Page on Facebook for more exclusive content!

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About the Author


Carlo Jose Caz is a practicing licensed physician, professional voice actor/talent, writer, and cartoonist. He has been working on the Callous comic strip since 1996, winning several of The LaSallian's Silver Quill awards for his work. He has written several published short stories. He currently lives in the Philippines with his wife and two children.

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