Artist and Image Comics co-founder Whilce Portacio is returning to his roots with the launch of a comics studio in his native Philippines.

Portacio, who turns 50 this year, announced on his Facebook fan page that he's conducting a talent search for artists to work alongside him in a "new kind of art studio" in Manila. The veteran artist, who's worked in comics since 1984, is offering salaried positions for pencilers, inkers and colorists.

As of yet the studio has no name, but Portacio has a strong track record of establishing studios and helping to foster new talent: He co-founded Homage Studios in the early 1990s with Jim Lee, Scott Williams and Joe Chiodo, during their time working on Marvel's X-Men books. The San Diego studio was the site of many of the talks that led to the 1992 founding of Image, which saw Marc Silvestri also begin working at Homage. Following Image's debut, Portacio moved back to the Phillipines to be closer to family, and launched a studio that fostered the talents of Leinil Francis Yu and others.

Artists interested in submitting to the talent search for Portacio's new studio can drop off submissions at three locations in Manila -- IAcademy, Philippine Women's University and Comic Odyssey -- or email whilcestudio@gmail.com.