The Philippines' superhero comic book universe

[blackruzsa]

BAYAN KNIGHTS, kinda like our country's version of the Justice League, or more closely, the Avengers.

Bayan means country, so it's the knights of the country, translated.

It took me some time, but I was able to translate some of the pages (it's mostly in Tagalog, with few English bits) although if it reads awkwardly, it's half because I tried to make the translation as direct as possible and half because of Filipino humor.

Nine pages from the first issue, which was about twenty five to twenty seven pages in total. Bayan Knights #1.

It starts off with a funeral:






So for those who don't get it, (it took me a few reads to get it myself :P) there was a large battle in the Manila area, which is the main metropolitan area, the 'big city' in this part of the country, over a FACILITY.

Basically, all caps FACILITY was commissioned to be built by secret powerful and probably evil people that was taken on by Sarhento Sagrado when they raided it. He was the only one that survived, so in light of the evil that's going on, he's calling for a super team.

ENTER, CORE MEMBERS.




He goes on to say that he has some information about her mother, who by the way, she's searching for. He promises to contact her later, at which point the scene changes to....



Yes. A cockroach themed superhero and this irate loner hero dude. Ta-dah. Boy Ipis tries to make friends with (annoy the hell out of) Claw, tries to convince him to join the team too, and the latter runs off while claiming "I WORK ALONE." Yes, it's that sort.

Moving on....



For further explanation, look up the "moriones festival" for this rich armor guy's shtick. 

We go back to Sarhento, who continues to recruit. He also happens to find the sort-of-ward of one of this old friends from the force.

Manila Man.



Yes, you read right, he's go the BANDANNA OF JUSTICE.

Colonel Magno Aganto is the older police man who apparently led Manila Man to go from delinquent to hero. Manila Man, whose temper is his greatest flaw, lashes out at Sarhento for "letting 'the boss' die". Sarhento promptly pulls a knife on him and says he's not being forced--he can choose what he wants to do. As such, the BANDANNA OF JUSTICE shows Sarhento's true intentions, so....

Anyways, now that recruiting core members is half way done, Sarhento checks out the rest of the facility and finds something interesting.

Or someone.




This is Council. Don't ask me why he's called that, I don't know. Basically, he's the mysterious dude who helps Sarhento form a team (A GINORMOUS TEAM, BY THE WAY) and who regularly speaks English, only switches to Tagalog when he's agitated. Sarhento tries to grab him, but he can also teleport.

So, with claims that he is 'just a fan', Council goes off, leaving Sarhento intrigued.


And just for the giggles:






He also tries this with another Bayan Knights team mate later on, attempting to get him to wear a specially made shirt which responds to thought. The guy turns the shirt flesh, so it still pretty much looks like he's shirtless, sans nipples.

Hah hah.

Anyways, Salakay is another character who is part of the BK, who I'm still not entirely clear on. His name means "attack" or "conquer".

After this, the first adventure begins properly, and has to do with giant mythological beasts, interdimensional demons, a few dozen new characters every issue, and a jeep.

I can tell you honestly I CANNOT help you with those for a while, since I'm still wrapping my head around the continuations in other comics, the Tagalog, and all the new characters.

But I can say that BK is a fun read, so very much what you expect from a superhero comic. Even with the little hiccups, I adore this :)

I posted this to make people more aware of how awesome comics can be ;) So BE AWARE.

Coming up next, scans from the lovely "Filipino Heroes League" and the AMAZING, EPIC, AND UNMATCHED "Skyworld: Apocrypha" and its sequel, "Skyworld: Testament"







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Comments

[jelly_ace]

I'll have to say, the art is pretty good. I never got into the Pinoy superhero scene--except for Zaturnnah, of course. I dunno...maybe superhero stories can be a bit too...what, depressing? if it strikes closer to home. I.e. the whole if your such good superheroes, then what are you doing about corruption poverty. etc.

[blackruzsa]

Oh yes, going to that is pretty depressing. That's why I usually stick with mythological fiction for Filipino comics.

Trese and Skyworld being cases in point. At least with them, there's no fear of being cliche or connecting them to politics.

[lieut_kettch]

Or Arnold Arre's Mythology Class.

Anyone planning on showcasing the classics? Mars Ravelo and/or Carlo J. "National Artist" *snicker* Caparas?

[blackruzsa]

Mythology class, I'll try. I've got a copy but it'll take a while to scan.

SADLY, I don't have any of the latter two's works. It's so hard to find them around these days D:

[tropicsbear]

Arre's After Eden is good, too.

[blackruzsa]

Haven't read it yet. My brother had a copy, but he gave it away. Same as our Trese vol 1.

I'll try getting one of those, I think they're still being sold around.

[tropicsbear]

I see copies of After Eden mostly at National Bookstore and Powerbooks, if that helps.

[jelly_ace]

I was planning to scan this, but decided against it. Although I love After Eden, for the art and Greg, I...dunno. It's too cliche, I guess. And I kinda get pretentious vibes off it.

[blackruzsa]

Aw, well, I'll try looking into it myself before I say anything about it.

[tropicsbear]

Now that you mention it, it kind of does.

[q99]

This looks pretty interesting.

[icon_uk]

Reminds me of some of the indie team books that came out in the 1980's, but that's not a bad thing. It's a little generic, but that's fine, most hero teams are, and the art isn't bad at all.

[nezchan]

Now that you mention it, I'm getting the same vibe. I used to get U.N. Squadron, Faze One Fazers, D.N.Agents, and a couple of others, back in the day. That was a good, fun time for comics, with a lot of experimentation going on.

[blake_reitz]

I was thinking Elementals, but yeah.

[ormardu.blogspot.com]

U.N. Squadron?

I enjoyed those books!

[nezchan]

I can't seem to find anything about the books online. Which is a pity, given it was a fun book.

[tsunamiwombat]

I find the scene where the Catwona.Huntress Expy strips and he doesn't even bat an eye, "married", amusing.

I bet this would be more interesting if I got the references.

[blackruzsa]

Which references? I can explain em to you if they confuzzle :)

[silicone_soul]

I have to second jelly_ace about the art. Pretty, pretty.

[blackruzsa]

I know right?
Say what you will about the story, but the art will keep me coming back.

[turtlefu]

I like this, though not a lot.
I really, really, appreciate that you put in the effort to translate from Tagalog to English. Thanks a lot!, it must have been hard.

[blackruzsa]

Same feeling I got from reading it, but it's way good fun :)

[majingojira]

Very interesting. My interest in international heroics/heroes from other nations is piqued.

[aelflar]

The art is very pretty! I love international heroes, they truly enrich the often stuffy superhero scene.

[freezer]

So this is "what if Randall Flagg, Catwoman, Spider-Man, buffed-up Wolverine, Daredevil and the Phantom Stranger formed The Avengers in Manila?"

I can get with that.

[freezer]

And that should say "Rick Flag", not "Randall Flagg"...

[lieut_kettch]

Although Randall Flagg as the founder/mentor of a group of superheroes would be much more interesting.

[blackruzsa]

HM.
Something like that, although with a LOT more people :0

[stolisomancer]

That chick is going to wind up with the worst wedgie in fictional history.

[blackruzsa]

Which is where her tabloid name, the "Panty Cat" came from :P

[psychopathicus_rex]

So how exactly will that outfit make the other heroes LESS likely to be distracted by her? The only real difference is that her arms and legs are covered, and she's, eh, wearing panties outside her pants. Personally, I'd say that latter detail would distract me MORE than just plain scantily-cladness - I'd be thinking 'what the hell? Why is she wearing it like that?'
Always interesting to read stuff from the international comics scene. Thanks!

[blackruzsa]

Hahah xD Well earlier, when she was jumping around, there was always this random censor over her crotch (lollipop being held by a kid, in her origin story) which means that although she wore panties, the skirt showed much.

Thanks :D

[psychopathicus_rex]

Well, OK, so there was a reason for a costume change - still, panties over pants is a weird damn thing to do. She can make cracks about how 'Superman does it' all she wants - Superman wears TRUNKS; they're not his actual underwear.

[tropicsbear]

I would so molest Manila Man. Barong Tagalog UNF. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for this at the next Komikon.

[blackruzsa]

...... 8D
I'm more on Boy Ipis myself... I'll try getting some scans of his face up--that guy's the HOTNESS.

Heheh xD You could buy them online too.

[tropicsbear]

Ooooooh where? Amazon? I've never bought anything online before but if I can't find them during Komikon I'll have to resort to online shopping.

[blackruzsa]

Their blogspot has details on how to buy their issues. Just look up Bayan Knights and it'll be the first to come up.

[tropicsbear]

Thanks!

[darkblade]

I finally figured out the other thing Boy Ipis reminds me of. While his attitude is Spider-Man his costume and "Ipis Kick" are pure Kamen Rider

[blackruzsa]

Heheh xD I DID see the resemblance.