Comics: The Woods ~ Issue 3

Story by: James Tynion IV

Illustrated by: Michael Dialynas

BOOM! Studios
(5/5 ★★★★★)

(Cover A by Ramon K. Perez)

The Plot:

Adrian's group encounters a green gigantic monster bear dinosaur in the woods. Stranger things occur as the insect bite in Calder's arm begins to emit pheromones which had led the monster to them in the first place. Crazy bugs soon emerge from the inflammation and emitted more pheromone gasses to the group. The issue ends with the group seeing an Aztec temple.

The Good:

This issue gave us a lot of crazy stuff. Pheromone releasing bugs that are almost the same size as a cat? That is really intense. Imagine if that was a mosquito ready to suck on your blood. It sure does beat going to the hospital and having a blood donation.

Aside from the strange creatures, a lot of scenes also took place at Bay Point Preparatory High School. The struggle for control and order has emerge, which is seen through the disassemble of the student body.

This ensuing tension was greatly given to us by the creators of The Woods.

The Bad:

One can't just wait to get hold of the next issue in order to know what happens next to the group.

The Verdict:

The 3rd issue of The Woods reveals to us that even after being abducted by aliens, the evil nature of man shows. As Bay Point Preparatory High faces dictatorship and the group in the woods struggle for survival, the instinct to live surpasses among other things.

The Woods just gets more exciting as we ponder for the connection of the Aztec temple in all of this.

More of BOOM! Studios can be seen at:

http://www.boom-studios.com

Comics: Trip To Tagaytay

Illustration and Story by: Arnold Arre

Nautilus Comics
(4/5 ★★★★☆)

"In this futuristic dystopian view of Manila, the streets are

tittered with high-tech junk, Aga Mulach is the aging

President, and the Eraserheads are playing in a reunion

concert on the moon. In the midst of it all is a

young man making his way to the Grand Liwayway

Terminal while relaying thoughts to his beloved

far away in an orbital space station."

The Good:

Arnold Arre's vision of the future Philippines is outstanding. Wrist watch smart phones! It doesn't look so futuristic today, but knowing that this comic was done in the early 2000s, we would have really applauded for Arnold's correct guess on that technology.

Speculations on what the future may look like in Metro Manila is presented in this comic. The Philippines loosing Mindanao, thus the creation of the United Mindanao nation; destructive calamities, such as Taal Volcano's eruption, the Dignan 291 tsunami, the monster hurricane Osang and the molecular acid storm Luha ng Diyos to mention some of the events that could happen. The future is frightening as Arre envisions it in this comic.

The illustrations really are a sight to see, as familiar logos lay scattered all throughout the city. This unfamiliar future was made cozy knowing that this is what our motherland may look like in the future.

A nice addition in this 2014 release under Nautilus Comics is the addition of A Trip In the Making by Arre and reviews, such as Fly Me To The Moon by Luis Joaquin M. Katigbak and What A "Trip" by Ruel S. De Vera, at the end of the comics.

The Bad:

There's not much story here. It's just a man declaring his thoughts to his loved one as he takes us to see the new Metro Manila.

The Verdict:

It was great to hold a copy of this, due to Nautilus Comics reprinting this work of Arnold Arre.

Arnold Arre takes us to a futuristic Metro Manila, through the eyes of a young boy telling his loved one the changes that happened to our nation. The visuals are a feast to the eyes as Arre uses well known brands and scatter them around the metropolis.

Who knew which things here will Arre get it right regarding our future.

"Dream! That's all you need to do."

More of Trip To Tagaytay can be seen at:

http://www.arnold-arre.com/trip

*Trip To Tagaytay was first published in 2000 by Tala Studios

Comics: The Daily Dose ~ Issue 1

Illustrated and Story by: Carma

Bulletpaper Comix
(5/5 ★★★★★)

The Plot:

Dr. Michael D. Aguila (or Dr. Eagle for nurse Julie) is a consultant on infectious diseases, who is on his first day as a medical officer at Odeon Medical Center (OMC). Surrounded by nurses who are certified and authorized to do some of the doctor's job, work does seem easier for the doctors here in this hospital.

The Good:

The illustrations were drawn really great. All those emotions that could be seen in the characters' faces are a treat to the eyes as they help in telling the story.

The story of Dr. Aguila's first day at OMC, is nicely written. It holds a pretty interesting case full of quick facts. A fast and short lecture about the two types of rabies are nicely written and presented in the patient's case.

There's a couple of great inserts in this comic. These are the Word of the Day section and a page dedicated to the definition of the medical terms used in the story. These trivia items are nice and helpful for those who are not in the medical field. The two one-page cases at the end of the story were also great and funny to read.

The Bad:

It will be quite challenging to market this comic to others due to the theme of the story. It might take awhile to get non-health care related comic readers to get hooked on this type of story.

The Verdict:

I must say that this is a great random indie comic pick for me last Komikon 2014. It was the cover of this comic that got my attention into looking for it in the indie komiks tiangge.

As part of the medical profession, it really surpassed my expectations for this comic. I had never expected a nice case to be neatly written out in this type of medium. I guess this is because of the things that I expected from Callous comics were better shown here in The Daily Dose. However, I still think Callous comics has good stories, it just bears a different approach in comparison to this.

Well I'm in for The Daily Dose. I just wished I had been the one to make this so I could have published it in our medical school paper.

"Could it be fate that brought me here?

Must it be my call?"

Comics: Stray Ghost

BIC0073
Story by: Diana Lam

Illustrated by: Crisca Jallorina

Black Ink Comics
(3/5 ★★★☆☆)

"Isang matatakutin na bata...

Si Eddy ay isang batang

may kakayahang makakita

ng mga multo. At isa iyong

sumpa para sa kanya. Ngunit

nakilala niya si Rowan, isang

multo na tumulong sa kanya

nang may magtangkang

sumanib sa katawan niya.

Isang madaldal na multo...

Nais ni Rowan na hingan ng tulong

si Eddy kapalit ng pagligtas niya rito.

Ngunit tumanggi si Eddy. Kasabay

n'on ay ang sunod-sunod na suicide

attempt na nagaganap sa eskuwelahan

ni Eddy. At muli ay may gustong sumanib

sa katawan nito."

The Good:

Good story and illustrations are seen in this comic. The artist had done a good job in using each panels in telling the story.

This is an interesting tale of paranormal case, wherein a ghost is willingly, well mostly he's the one who initiates, in the investigation of the case.

The Bad:

This contains the type of layout that I don't like in a comic book.

The Verdict:

This is still a noteworthy comic from Black Ink Comics. The ending of this standalone has given way for the possibility of having another book to continue the story.

Stray Ghost gives us a good paranormal investigation type of story. A nice scare scene is found in one of the panels that involves a trash can. That sure is scary if you'll incorporate that idea with the Japanese movie "The Grudge".

More of Black Ink Comics can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Black Ink Comics"

Twitter: @BlackInkComics

Comics: Skyworld ~ Volume 1

Story by: Mervin Ignacio

Illustrated by: Ian Sta. Maria

Edited by: Budjette Tan

Rated: For Mature Readers

Alamat Comics

National Bookstore Inc.

(4/5 ★★★★☆)

"Every legend hides a lie

A murdered Skygod

re-emerges in modern-day Manila.

A Tikbalang prince plots vengeance

for the death of his father.

And the Queen of the Asuang

unleashes the mythical Bakunawa

upon the street of the city.

Caught in their age-old struggle is Andoy,

a crippled orphan that discovers

he is the fulfillment of a prophecy

dating back to Lapu-lapu himself."

The Good:

The illustrations and the story are great. Skyworld takes us to the story of the Skygod Kaptan as his rise and fall was shown to have affected our history. The battle of Mactan was depicted to have another version, which was written by Antonio Pigafetta himself. However, that version was quickly destroyed and the battle that took place that was accepted was the one we had come to know today.

It was nice seeing the Trese universe mixed in this story. The Diabolical was first presented before Trese and the kambal appeared on the panels. References to the Soulbook, Agimat, Underpass, Alamat ni Maria, and Bayan Knights were nicely hidden on a bookshelf on some panels.

The Bad:

Despite all the good things that was read and seen in the story, it still posses the layout which I don't like. It contain pages that have texts that are hard to read since they are almost near to the binding of the book. That is one of the biggest things that I don't like in a comic book.

The Verdict:

The two books, Apocrypha and Testament, compiled in volume 1 of Skyworld were greatly told. This is a story that mixes both our Philippine mythology and history to give us a wonderful reading experience. Social commentaries, such as regarding the governance of our former President, was inserted with wit.

Skyworld is one among the Philippine comics that was done right in delivering a story of substance. One that deserves to be read by the current generation. This 1st volume can definitely rock Manila as asuangs take over the capital city of the country.

"You don't see us, but we can see you."

More of Skyworld can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Skyworld"

The illustrator can be seen on:

http://iantoy.deviantart.com

 

Events: Free Comic Book Day 2015

We are nearing once again to that annual event participated by comic book lovers. It is none other than the annual Free Comic Book Day (FCBD).