Comics: Si Janus Silang at Ang Tiyanak ng Tabon

Adapted by: Carljoe Javier

Illustration by: Natasha Ringor

Anino Comics

(2/5 ★★☆☆☆)

"Ang akala ni Janus,

pangkaraniwang laro lang

ang TALA Online.

Sunod-sunod ang pagbabago sa buhay niya

matapos ang kahindik-hindik na pangyayari

sa RPG tournament na sinalihan niya.

Pero nang matuklasan niya

ang tunay na kaugnayan ng larong ito

sa alamat ng Tiyanak ng Tabon,

wala na siyang magawa

kundi ipagpatuloy ang paglalaro!"

The Good:

The cover of the book was wonderful. The layout was also neat. The smooth illustrations of the main story in contrast from the TALA online game was nice to be seen visualized in this book.

The Bad:

The story was poorly adapted from the source material. Several details have been omitted to give space due to the illustrations and restriction of the number of pages. An example was the huge trust that Janus immediately gives to a stranger he has just met online. It was also strange for Renzo to speak about the same experience of almost being taken away by a Tiyanak like creature just like what happened to Janus' father. It was peculiar since Janus never disclosed that information prior to Renzo's recounting of his experience.

The news report was also inconsistent. Initially it was reported that the deaths at the Malakas internet cafe shop was an addition to the total number of deaths of children who died after playing an online game. This is in contrast to Mang Joey's narrative to Janus as he tells him that the deaths that occurred at the Malakas internet cafe shop was not the first case since earlier cases were overshadowed by bigger news reports.

Further improvements to the illustrations are suggested. It would have been better to have 2 different art styles whenever the story focuses on the present and whenever it shifts back to the olden stories regarding the tales of Tiyanak and Tala.

The background also needs refinement. The sharpness of the edge of the corners of the house or the cabinet as an example doesn't quite work to be pleasant to the eyes. Also, the bird's eye view of a character looking up needs to be polished. The eyes of the character was drawn looking to be cross-eyed (exotropia) on page 46.

In some panels, the story and art does not convey the same message. Such is the moment wherein Janus is playing TALA  at home while Mang Joey and Renzo faces a Do-ol. The message of Mang Joey from the speech balloon doesn't match with what appears on Janus' cellphone. It also gives a misconception that Mang Joey has telepathy in contrast to cyberkinesis or technopathy that was explained in the novel.

The Verdict:

Janus Silang is a great young adult series created by Edgar Samar. However, this comic book adaptation does not seem to be at par with the novel.

It does not give enough hype for new readers to pick up the source material or the next book in the series if this is the starting book.

It's best to recommend the first novel to the new reader of the series before introducing them to this comic book adaptation.

Book News: Janus Silang Book 5 Launch

Edgar posts a photo on his social media, as he finishes proofreading the last book of the Janus Silang series.

The first book, Janus Silang at Ang Tiyanak ng Tabon, was first published in the year 2014.

Created by Edgar Calabia Samar, Janus Silang first saw the light of Santinakpan in 2014 under the roof of Adarna House. After 4 novels and 2 comic book adaptations, the final book of this series is waiting to tell the conclusion to the curse that first started at the Tabon cave.

The final book is expected to be released this November 2021.

The secrets of the Santinakpan will be revealed to us soon.

Comics: Si Janus Silang at Ang Labanang Manananggal-Mambabarang

Story by: Edgar Calabia Samar

Illustration by: Mervin Malonzo

Anino Comics
Haliya Publishing

(4/5 ★★★★☆)

The Plot:

Apat na buwan na si Janus sa mansiyon nina Manong Joey pero naroon pa rin ang sakit ng dilang-karayom ng manananggal sa puso niya dahil sa pagkawala ng mga mahal niya sa buhay at sapilitang paglayo kay Mica.

Simula ng Christmas break nang mawasak ang proteksiyon ng mansiyon laban sa Tiyanak at sa mga kampon nito. Hindi pa ito nangyayari kailan man. Matinding barang ba ito? Sa kabila nito, may mabuting balita naman si Renzo kay Janus na nagpapahiwatig na maaaring buhay pa ang Papa niya!

The Good:

The cover was a nice variation of the novel's cover. It pays homage to the original novel wherein the teenage Bagani twins were part of the cover.

The world building was amazing to be seen adapted to comic form for the 2nd chapter of this series. The illustration of creation of the world lifted from "Ang Saysay ng Matatandang Daigdig" makes one wish for the creation of that book.

The illustrations were great with some that were very memorable. The first is the two page spread showing Kuya Renzo, Mira, Janus and Miro enjoying the Christmas season. The second is the one where most readers where excited to see done by Malonzo. It is the home page of the TALA game. It was very great to look at and makes one wonder if this game could be really made. The concept feels at home due to the characters used in the game.

A couple of comics from Haliya Publishing and Anino Comics were neatly placed in the back ground as easter eggs in one scene.

The Bad:

Some parts of the book could have been omitted from this adaptation. Like the painting scene made by Mang Isyo. The transition of the story feels weird from the last scene of Mang Isyo leaving in search for Janus' father which then proceeds to show a page of Janus' diary at ESISA (Espejo School of Integrated Sciences and Arts) before ending with the painting scene to close the chapter 2 of the story.

The level of intensity of Bino's reappearance and deception didn't show that same intensity of tension it was originally told in the novel. This story is one, among the many great story telling points made by the writer in his novel. It was told with a high level of suspense and wonder as readers ponder to the unveiling of Janus' father's wherebouts.

The worst part of this adaptation would be the death scene of Janus' mother in the hands of the tiyanak. The scene of Janus discovering the tiyanak feasting on the internal organs of his mother was a striking imagery left by the first novel. That scene was what made other readers be frightened from reading this series.

"Siyempre hindi na, 'no! That's so like precolonial age..." - Miro

The Verdict:

Malonzo's adaptation of the second book of the Janus Silang series was executed better than the comic adaptation of the first book. He gave fans of the comic a new look of the series in its comic form and makes them wonder if an animated version could soon follow for this story.

A common reason to buy this book are the details in the cover. The name of the writer and story alone deserves our money, but add that this comic adaption was made by Malonzo would instantly drive people to purchase this book. Having those facts alone you would know that you're in good hands with this book.

Edgar Samar's exceptional writing and Mervin Malonzo's exquisite illustrations were really a good tandem for this comic book. Si Janus Silang at Ang Labanang Manananggal-Mambabarang the graphic novel definitely has a spot in our recommended comic books to be read.

"Gago. Putol ang katawan, may pakpak, lumilipad, anong hindi nakakatakot dun." - Janus

*This post is part of the PH Blog Tour of Janus Silang 2 the graphic novel
**Update as of 11/22/2019. Typo was omitted after rechecking the soft copy of the book received.

Novels: Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tábon

Story by: Edgar Calabia Samar

Adarna House

(5/5 ★★★★★)

(Cover by Borg Sinaban)

"Sa tournament ng TALA Online

sa bayan ng Balanga,

namatay ang lahat ng manlalaro

maliban kay Janus.

Sunod-sunod pa ang naging kaso ng pagkamatay

ng mga kabataan sa computer shops sa iba't ibang

panig ng bansa. Kinontak si Janus ng nagpakilalang Joey,

isa rin umano sa mga nakaligtas sa paglalaro

ng TALA na gaya niya. Hindi inasahan ni Janus

ang mga matutuklasan niya mula rito na mag-uugnay

sa kaniya sa misteryo ng kinahuhumalingan

niyang RPG - at sa alamat ng Tiyanak mula sa Tábon!"

The Good:

The world building was meticulously done considering a realistic and an online world must be illustrated in order to be able to engage the readers into the world of Janus Silang.

For a young adult series written by a Filipino, the author has managed to give us a different perspective of our world, most especially about our mythological creatures. Creating an RPG (role-playing game) that has an interesting BAT (Bayani-Anito Tandem) concept to overcome different creatures ranging from a lone tiyanak of level 1 up to the diwata of the seven ponds in level 7 of the game. TALA (Terra Anima Legion of Anitos) seems to be really great if this could actually be played in real life as you fight off the legion of the soulless in every level.

This novel never runs out of surprises as some pieces of Philippine history were thrown in to the story. The biggest one was Janus discovering the true story of the Tábon cave in Palawan and the involvement of the tiyanak in all of these deaths.

The Bad:

If there's one thing that I can't understand in this novel, that would be the "dilang-karayom" of the manananggal that is frequently used. It might be an expression originally created by the author for this series but it could be something else altogether. As of the moment, nothing significant can be found in the novel or online regarding this phrase.

If you're using the book 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang, which was also written by Edgar Samar, as a reference to check all the creatures mentioned in the novel, you might want to look for another reference since the Berberoka that appears on level 4 wasn't mentioned on that book.

The Verdict:

This novel will surely drain away the happiness within you as you reach the last pages of the book. A surge of different emotions such as shock, anger, despair and sorrow will be felt as the author left us astonished by the smooth unveiling of the painful truth.

The 1st book of the Janus Silang series will really amaze you from the start up to the very end. A Filipino reader would be really pleased and be proud of having the opportunity to read this excellent work of Edgar Samar. His way of making us vulnerable to be able to also feel the emotions of Janus was astounding. What starts out to be a simple RPG themed story slowly darkens as the author slams right into our face the horrors of the truth that we didn't perceive to be out of place from the very start.

This is a novel that is highly recommended to all, especially to those who are fans of the Harry Potter series. Don't be discouraged if you think the book lack some pages. I'm sure the author is nearly done with the next volumes of this series before the tiyanak discovers what he is doing.

"Babalik ako sa panahong di mo inaasahan para kunin sa iyo ang noon ko pa gustong malaman." - Tiyanak

Book Update: Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tábon Manga Adaptation Launch Date

After launching the 2nd book of the popular young adult series, the Janus Silang series, on the 36th Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), the manga adaptation of the 1st book is currently on its way to Komikon 2015.

Book Update: Janus Silang Book 2 by Edgar Samar Launch Date

Our very own Filipino young adult series is back! Edgar Calabia Samar brings us the second book of the Janus Silang series during the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) 2015. It can be bought at the Adarna House's booth for a discounted price of Php. 150.

Janus Silang at ang Labanang Manananggal-Mambabarang continues the fight against the Tiyanak of Tabon cave. The search for Tala intensifies as Janus realizes that the online game that he plays is actually based on reality and a strong creature exists among us. Secretly using his army of dark creatures in order to find Tala as well.

The continuation of the epic battle will soon be in your hands on the 36th MIBF that will be held on September 16-20, 2015 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.