Comics: Walang Laman Ang Kahon

Illustration and Story by: Chocnut-san
(5/5 ★★★★★)

"Bago pa makarating sa akin ang balita, nakahanda na ang lahat.

Ang mga papeles, pamasahe, ang dormitoryong tutuluyan ko, at ang trabahong papasukan ko.

 Ako nalang daw ang kulang."

The Good:

The cover was well made. It gave that eerie feeling that this might turn out to be a suspense or horror story. It gives the vibe that something could be coming out of the box like the ones that was done in the movies The Ring and The Grudge.

The story revolves around Dino who leaves Tacloban in order to work in Manila. An emotional departure scene was shown in the airport similar to how our OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) leave our country.

The plot appears to touch on the loneliness that resides within Dina that could be a familiar feeling to anyone who had to leave their family for work.

The Bad:

It could have been a bit better if a few more details could have been explored on in order to know the condition Gina is experiencing. It would be nice if it at least it was hinted if what she is experiencing are just hallucinations due to stress, anxiety and even possibly trauma, due to the fact that she resides in Tacloban which suffered the most when Typhoon Haiyan struck, or if it was a paranormal thing.

The Verdict:

Walang Laman Ang Kahon presents itself to be a mystery suspense story about Dina's thoughts and feelings. She is aware that nothing is inside that box but with all the emotions that she had accumulated, it led her to believe it was her way back home.

This beautiful and creepy one-shot comic is an excellent horror story.

More of the illustrator's works can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Chocnut-san"
Instagram: @chocnut_san

Comics: Ang Laptop

Story by: Francis "Kong" Martelino
Illustrated by: Chocnut-san
(3/5 ★★★☆☆)

"a young man gets in trouble with the employees of a computer repair shop after asking for a refund."

The Good:

The story resonated how anime has been usually told. Most especially the fight scenes, wherein, a very intense match is being geared up with the use of simple weapons such as a box cutter and a long stapler. It was really funny to see the stats and short description for each item being wielded as a weapon.

The story was told in a way that humor and drama mixed well together that is really entertaining. An example is the setting the battle took place. It appears to be huge where in fact it's just a small store. The illustrator did a wonderful job of telling the script the writer had made.

The Bad:

The cover of this comic isn't that attractive for anyone to easily pick this up. The plot written at the back doesn't help either.

The Verdict:

A comic based on true events is one you might not believe is true for this comic. The story has been adjusted really good by its creators to poke fun at a very alarming news.

This one-shot comic is sure to be a stress reliever as it would remind you of the memories anime has. It is nice to read on your pastime.

More of the writer's works can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "The Hotdog Prince"
Instagram: @kongratss

More of the illustrator's works can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Chocnut-san"
Instagram: @chocnut_san

 

Comics: I Grew Up, I Guess

Comic Adaptation of the Poem "What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up" by Jamie McGhee
Illustrated by: Chocnut-san
Genre: Slice of Life

(5/5 ★★★★★)

"A comic adaptation of the poem, "What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up" by Jamie McGhee that portrays the realities of being a young professional while chasing an indefinite dream."

The Good:

Let's start first with the cover. Who wouldn't stop to take a look at the beautiful cover of this comic. Aside from the beautiful drawing, the use and blending of colors strikes the eyes for an individual to be drawn towards it. It enhances the cover really well for anyone to pause and take a closer look at it.

The illustrations inside neatly matched the poem made by Jamie McGhee. The illustrations were neat and clean to look at.

The Bad:

I only wish that the entire comic book is colored. It might have been really amazing just by judging the use of colors in the cover.

The Verdict:

The dreams that one had before venturing out into the "real world" was nicely portrayed. The truthful reality of how the current world operates was depicted extremely well.

This comic book adaptation will surely hit the hearts of a lot of readers who back then had big dreams of conquering the world only to be held back by the reality that things work out a bit different than we had imagined it to be.

She can be seen on:

Facebook Page: "Chocnut-san"