Illustration and Story by: Kevin Eric Raymundo
Komiket Inc.
(5/5 ★★★★★)
"Nagkagulo sa bakuna, nag-agawan ng itlog, nagkanaw ng dalgona, nagmahalan ang mga baboy, naghabulan ng jetski, nagtulungan sa mga pantry, at tumindig para sa bayan. Ito ang koleksyon ng mga komiks ni Tarantadong Kalbo sa unang parte ng 2021, ang sequel sa pinakamasagwang taon nating lahat."
The Good:
An update of the current sociopolitical events of the Philippines is presented in this 2nd book of Tarantadong Kalbo. Government response against the COVID-19 pandemic are best illustrated in the strips Distancing, 'La Pa, Variant, and Dance Shield Revolution. Even the public's perception of living with this virus are potrayed in Quick Group Pic and Conyo Mask [with Conyo Wings].
Trese's adaptation as a Netflix series was celebrated in several strips here such as Represent and Santelmo and Outta Nowhere.
The best editorial cartoons in this compilation is Saglit. This four panel strip will really knock at your heart.
The Bad:
This only captures half of the events that occurred in the year 2021. A 2nd book of 2021 compilation is expected to appear in the 3rd volume.
The Verdict:
Tarantadong Kalbo's comic strips show the Filipino life through the usage of 90s pop culture references to depict the drama in our everyday local politics.
An addition of quick news bites through Balitangero was amazing. On the other hand, Inuman Sessions: Historical Distortion provides us an educational material that discusses historical distortion and historical revisionism.
Tarantadong Kalbo Volume 2's best and most tearjerker work so far is the four panel Saglit that reflects the pandemic situation of the Philippines during the COVID-19 Delta Variant surge.
He can be seen at:
Facebook Page: Tarantadong Kalbo
Twitter: @KevinKalbo
