Another Filipino superhero and bits of traditional horror

[blackruzsa]

Courtesy of the awesome Budjette Tan, half the creative team of TRESE.

I went exploring round his dA and found some gems. I'm sure you're already sick of me and my Filipino posts, but I'm not stopping anytime soon ;)

Can we get a tag for KOMIKS, anyone? So I'll have somewhere to put Filipino comics under?



Anyways, there's apparently a new (to me) title Budjette's putting out, and I'm planning to get it when I can. Some deep mystery superhero fantasy plot called TALIS.



If you know Filipino popular media, then you know the repeated theme of rocks falling from the sky/from space and people swallowing said rocks to gain power.

As far as I know, it was done with the superheroes Darna and spoofed by Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, though I'm not sure about the rest.

That has its roots, according to a really old book I borrowed from the library, in a belief that when an earthquake happens, jumping out of your house's window and swallowing a small pebble as soon as you land on the ground will protect you. At least I assume it does.

Anyways, Budjette posted a part of the first issue about the superhero Minakawa, a flying superhero popular with the people. You can read about it HERE.

The scene is, Minakawa saves a bunch of people, shows her prowess, gets home.





Mysterious guy....

Well anyways, he asks her to retrieve something.





So to summarize, she takes it, is attacked, the thing falls out, she makes a dive for it, almost gets it, then



Don'cha just hate it when that happens?




Bad. Ass.

Anyways,














I love her costume. Seriously. The subtle Filipino element in her wings and the way she looks in it just work.

Talis is mysterious but it still works with the special calling trope, and I can't wait to get my hands on that trade.

On a side note, here are two pages from a horror story upcoming:

THE FEAST:


 

If you know enough about Filipino monsters, or even a teensy bit (it's a very popular monster) then you'll know exactly what bad stuff's about to happen.

I'm definitely excited for these releases.

Comments

[turtlefu]

I really like the superhero story, it hooks you in and Minakawa seems like a cool character.

My knowledge of Filipino monsters is limited to the Manananggal and the Tikbalang, and the info I have on them is probably wrong, so I don't know what is going to happen in the horror story.

Anyways, your series of posts made me think: A lot of the most popular and best artists in mainstream American comics are Filipino or Filipino-Canadian, such as Whilce Portacio and Francis Manapul. How about doing a series on the famous mainstream Filipino artists. I could help.

[blackruzsa]

I'll try gathering some art now :) Maybe you could message me some suggestions?
Also, of the two monsters you just mentioned, one is the key to the story.

[heckfiresinferno.blogspot.com]

She does look pretty cool...where can you find this comic, anyway?

This reminds me...you mentioned looking around deviantArt, so I was wondering if you'd ever seen a group called the Bayan Knights? I see them popping up pretty regularly on my watch list, and they seemed right up your alley: http://bayanknights.deviantart.com/

[blackruzsa]

I posted about Bayan Knights a while back ;) I know about them VERY well, and they promised me a cameo of my character in their latter comics. I'm still in the process of joining the dA group though XD

[mullon]

But does it have to be such a pointy rock?

[blackruzsa]

Well you can't control how it falls from the sky.
That's gonna be hard to swallow O_o ouch.

[divi_d]

Talis looks amazing ^_^.

As for the horror comic, I'm afraid I know jack diddly about Filipino myths, but I do have to say that it's peeked my curiosity...

[blackruzsa]

Well look up manananggal on wiki and it shall be made clear to you ;)

[joasakura]

I am absolutely NOT tired of the Filipino comic posts- CARRY ON!! *_*

[flidgetjerome]

The art on the first one is gorgeous. I really love the high-contrast style.

The second one I find interesting because, man, if that was a story in a American superhero comic it'd probably be done by Mark Miller phoning-in some shock value and it'd generate a tidal wave of irate commentary. In a Filipino comic it's more "Well, what else did you expect it to eat?".

[blackruzsa]

It is of old legend, it's not like it could just go for boring old blood ;P

[majingojira]

That super hero comic makes me want to do entries in "My own little world" for her and other Philippine heroes. I've been putting it off for a bit now (I already had Darna lined up), but now I want to fast track it.

As for the Horror Story, I'm reminded of a scene from "Mystics in Bali" where a Pennangalan attacks a pregnant woman's unborn child.

Cinemascre's review has the scene. ( http://www.cinemassacre.com/2010/10/18/mystics-in-bali/ )

Since the Mannangalan and the Pennangalan are cultural variations of the same story, it is a likely possibility.

[greenmask]

My favourite monster!

[blackruzsa]

Trudat.
Does the Pennangalan have a proboscis tongue too, and does it split in half? Just wanted to know the variance between the two.

DARNA

[peur-evol.blogspot.com]

I find it kinda hard to believe nobody else has posted any Darna yet.

[whitesycamore]

If you know Filipino popular media, then you know the repeated theme of rocks falling from the sky/from space and people swallowing said rocks to gain power.

I'm actually really pleased that you mentioned this. I love finding out about narrative themes from different cultures.

[greenmask]

Co-signed!

[sianmink]

Love Minakawa's costume design, would love to see the colors. Sort of a more-ninja'd Gachaman ninjabird vibe, which is always a good thing.

I don't know about you, but I'm not eating a rock that pointy. Got something a little more round?

[blackruzsa]

Darna's was round, Zsa Zsa's was round-ish, this one looks painful XD I have noooo idea who's gonna be willing to eat that.

[greenmask]

Not sick at all. Keep it up, if you please!

[strannik01.livejournal.com]

Can we get a tag for KOMIKS, anyone? So I'll have somewhere to put Filipino comics under?

I don't see why you can't make the tag yourself. I've been able to make brand-new tags in my Jon Juan posts.

strannik01

[blackruzsa]

Ohhhh...
I didn't know that....

All righty, time to go back to my previous posts!

[psychopathicus_rex]

I know everyone's already said this, but Minakawa looks pretty awesome, all right. The costume design is great - very distinctive. (What does 'Minakawa' mean, anyway?)
I have to ask, though - do all Filipino comics draw on mythology this much? I mean, it's not that I mind or anything - I like mythology just fine - but almost of your posts have involved, at the least, some sort of mythological beastie showing up. It seems to be very much of a theme there.

[blackruzsa]

It's a very popular theme among Filipino comics, but not all of them are mythological. I just follow the myth themed ones, and most of the good ones are either superheroes or myths stories ;)

Minakawa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minokawa

Enormous dragon bird with sharp wings. :)

[kamino_neko]

If you know enough about Filipino monsters, or even a teensy bit (it's a very popular monster) then you'll know exactly what bad stuff's about to happen.

Sadly, I do not know much (well, anything) about Filipino monsters...but I can pretty much guess where this is going.

Do the mangos happen to have anything to do with anything, or is that just a random detail about this particular monster-person?

[blackruzsa]

The mangoes are just a random detail ;P

[tsunamiwombat]

I love Minakawa's costume, it strikes a nice balance between being showy eyecandy, and being practical.

Minakawa sounds like an Asian name to me, is there a strong asian influence in the phillipines? I r clueless whiteboi here.

Also, that thing about rocks falling from the sky and giving powers, that is awesome. I'll have to tuck that narrative device away into my bag.

[blackruzsa]

Minakawa is actually Minokawa in Filipino folklore.
It's this dragon-bird with razor sharp wings :) I enjoy informing people of useless facts about our mythology XDDDD

[schmevil]

I like this art. Very clean.

[morgana006]

Oh, the art's nice and Minakawa does have a very nice costume.