Story by: Budjette Tan
Illustration by: Kajo Baldisimo
Alamat Comics
Visprint, Inc.
(4.25/5 ★★★★☆)
"When the sun sets in the city of Manila,
don't you dare make a wrong turn
and end up in that dimly-lit side of the metro,
where aswang run the most-wanted kidnapping rings,
where kapre are the kingpins of crime,
and engkantos slip through the cracks
and steal your most precious possessions,
When crime takes a turn for the weird,
the police call Alexandra Trese."
The Good:
Trese is a great masterpiece done by an excellent writer and an incredible artist.
Who knew that our Filipino creatures would also adapt with the changing times. The best example among them is the Nuno sa Manhole.
There's a lot of great elements here but the best story, or case, would be the 4th case. Tan gave a wonderful homage to a well known Filipino superhero. The last panels of that case poetically ends with so much love and care.
The Bad:
No matter how incredible the story and art seems to be, it is a disservice to see how the layout was done. A reader cannot fully appreciate Kajo's illustrations. It is because some details of his art were at the edge of the panels which in turn were seen to be near the spine of the book.
The spell done on the 1st case, which was written in Baybayin like characters, could have been better if it was an actual word written in Baybayin.
A typo can also be seen on Case 3, in the scene where Oriol is in the bathtub.
The Verdict:
This comic is a gem that stands among the great number of komiks the Philippines has produced. The "Trese universe" presents to us fresh eyes of what our Philippine mythology creatures could be doing in our present time. An investigation of the paranormal world is unleashed in this cases.
Tan and Kajo paints the Philippine society as a society that has not changed despite the advancement in technology. Despite our history being slightly touched, such as the Bukidnon Massacre and the Great Binondo Fire, the same injustices and inequalities remains the same to this day.
This comic book is heading towards a great future. Trese shines brightly like the first star that you would see at night.
"But these aswang are the blood thirsty and stupid kind."
More information about the Trese comic can be seen at:
* Breakdown of Rating:
★☆☆☆☆ -
★★☆☆☆ -
★★★☆☆ -
★★★★☆ - Case 1, Case 2, Case 3
★★★★★ - Case 4
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