{{Short description|Filipino comic artist (1936–2022)}} '''Jim M. Fernandez''' (February 21, 1936 – June 13, 2022) was 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.<ref name="int1">{{cite book|title=Philippine studies, Volume 46, Issue 2 | publisher=Ateneo de Manila University |author=Jesuits | year=1998 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RCdwAAAAMAAJ&q=jim+fernandez+zuma}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Zuma |url=http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/z/zuma.htm |website=International Catalogue of Superheroes |access-date=7 March 2021}}</ref> Apart from being an editor, illustrator, cartoonist, and writer for Philippine comics, Fernandez was also a certified public accountant in the Philippines.<ref name=Komiklopedia>[http://komiklopedia.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/jim-m-fernandez/ Jim M. Fernandez by Komiklopedia on 2007/12/31]</ref>

==Early career== During college, Fernandez was the editor of ''The Commerce Journal'', ''The English Journal'', and ''The UST Commerce Silver Jubilee'' Book.<ref name=Komiklopedia/>

==Influences== As an illustrator, Fernandez was influenced by the ''Tarzan'' character by Edgar Rice Burroughs. In 1953, he was mentored by Tony S. Velasquez, a Filipino illustrator for the Velasquez Advertising Agency.<ref name=Komiklopedia/>

==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 Ravelo'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").<ref name=Komiklopedia/>

===1960s=== In 1963, Fernandez became the co-founder of CRAF Publications, the publisher of ''Redondo Komix'' and ''Alcala 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''.<ref name=Komiklopedia/> In 1966, he illustrated Mars Ravelo's Tiny Tony.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tiny Tony |url=http://www.philippinecomics.net/characters/TinyTony/TinyTony.htm |website=Philippine Comics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206081003/http://www.philippinecomics.net/characters/TinyTony/TinyTony.htm |access-date=20 February 2021|archive-date=2016-12-06 }}</ref> 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.<ref name=Komiklopedia/>

===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 Santiago; his ''The Astronaut'' and ''Mission: Jupiter'' were drawn by Mar. T. Santana; his ''Aztec'' was illustrated by Elmer Esquivias.<ref name=Komiklopedia/>

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).<ref name=Komiklopedia/>

==Adaptations== A number of Fernandez's novels were adapted into film.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jim Fernandez |url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/fernandez_jim.htm |website=Lambiek's Comiclopedia |access-date=7 March 2021 |date=30 April 2020}}</ref> 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 pesos for ''Anak ni Zuma'' when it was adapted for the cinemas.<ref name=Komiklopedia/> In 2009, the successful remake of Jim Fernandez' Kambal Sa Uma starring Shaina Magdayao and Melissa Ricks and the original actress who played both roles Multi-Awarded Actress Rio Locsin who played the twins in the film adaptation Locsin also gave pointers to both actresses on the role she similarly portrayed 30 years ago.

==Awards== In college, Fernandez won the gold medal during a student's debate competition at the University of Santo Tomas. 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).<ref name=Komiklopedia/>

==Family== Fernandez's brother, Rolando Fernandez, is his assistant illustrator.<ref name=Komiklopedia/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fernandez, Jim}} Category:Filipino comics artists Category:Filipino novelists Category:University of Santo Tomas alumni Category:20th-century Filipino illustrators Category:21st-century Filipino illustrators Category:Filipino comic strip cartoonists Category:Filipino magazine editors Category:Filipino comics writers Category:Filipino accountants