Comics: Tonio Tikbalang ~ Volume 2

BIC0075
Illustration and Story by: Jake Vicente

Black Ink Comics

(5/5 ★★★★★)

"Ano sa tingin mo ang mga

problemang hinaharap ng mga

enkanto na nagpapanggap na

tao at ano ang dahilan kung

bakit nila ito ginagawa?

Sundan ang buhay-estudyante

ni Tonio, na isang batang

tikbalang, sa mundo ng mga

tao kasama ang kanyang

kaibigang kapre na si Kanto.

Isang babae ang nakasalubong

nila sa loob ng paaralan pero

iba ang pakiramdam ni Tonio sa

babaeng ito. Isa rin kaya siyang

enkanto?

Sa dami ng mga tao sa loob

ng paaralan, sino-sino kaya

ang mga enkantong

nagpapanggap lang na tao?"

The Plot:

The second volume of Tonio Tikbalang compiles chapters 4-6. The chapters are titled "Itanong mo sa Barbero", "Girl Next Classroom" and "Urband Legend" for chapters 4, 5 and 6 respectively. Chapters 4 and 5 deals with fun facts on our mythological creatures (kapres and sirenas). But in the end, all three chapters continues its job of giving stories that teaches on obedience and to not believe in a gossip unless it is proven to be true.

  

The Good:

Volume 2 of Tonio Tikbalang has an impressive look as a Filipino manga. The illustrations have improved in comparison to volume 1. Every space was adequately utilized.

Jake Vicente continues his great job in this 2nd volume of Tonio Tikbalang. The stories continue to impart good character to its readers while teaching some fun facts on our kapres and sirenas.

The Bad:

The cover looks more of a draft compared to the art inside. Both the front and back cover could use more of the art style done inside the comic book.

The Verdict:

Tonio Tikbalang's volume 2 shows how a Filipino manga would look like if it is bombarded with our locals (kapres and sirenas).

A few more of this volumes and Jake Vicente would have already given to us his own version of Doraemon stories. Instead of a bullied kid that has a cat, from the future, help him in everyday situations as they learn the basic lessons of life, Tonio Tikbalang differs in such that the Philippine mythological creatures are the ones who teaches us life's lessons on how to be a human who cares and shows respect to everyone.

A must read especially to school aged kids.

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

Facebook Page: "Estranger"

More of Black Ink Comics can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Black Ink Comics"

Twitter: @BlackInkComics

Comics: Tonio Tikbalang ~ Volume 1

BIC0069
Illustration and Story by: Jake Vicente

Black Ink Comics
(3/5 ★★★☆☆)

"Naniniwala ka ba sa mga enkanto,

tikbalang, kapre, sirena, duwende,

at iba pang mga lamang-lupa?

Paano kung totoo sila?

Paano kung namumuhay

sila sa ating mundo?

Paano kung ang inaaway at

inaasar natin sa eskuwelahan

ay isa palang enkanto na

nagpapanggap lang na tao?

Ano sa tingin mo ang mga

problemang hinaharap ng mga

enkanto na nagpapanggap na tao

at ano ang dahilan kung bakit

ginagawa nila ito?"

Tonio Tikbalang is a new series from Black Ink Comics. Created by Jake Vicente who is also an artist for Ink Jinks, we are given a story that revolves around the life of the offsprings of supernatural creatures that are part of our Philippine folklore. This volume contains 3 chapters. They are titled; "Hiwaga ng Kasaysayan", "Bigat ng Kamay, Tibay ng Loob" and "May Kaibigan Ka".

The main character of the story is Antonio "Tonio" who is a tikbalang. His bestfriend is Kanto a kapre, whom he usually hangs out with in their school. The other characters are Karissa "Issa" and Alyanna "Anya".

The first story is mainly about history. The pages of life that we should always look back from time to time in order to help us deal with our current problems. Crazy and funny lines were said by the characters in this chapter. It is seen mostly on page 10 wherein Tonio's father explains why tikbalangs should not fall in love with a human.

The second story deals mostly on fighting. It teaches us that fighting is wrong. If anyone challenges us into a duel, one should keep in mind that there is always a more nobler way to deal with it.

The third story is a nice closure for this volume as it shows that every man or creature is always in need of a company. One way to break off one's loneliness is to change your status from being unapproachable and replace it into being a friendly face to others.

This is a nice deviation from Jake Vicente's usually rated OT stories. I can say that despite the humor that has two interpretations on page 10, this could actually be a nice material to teach values to a kid. Each story combined with the nice and light atmosphered illustrations makes this book worth buying. Add in the humor that the creator has written. It gives the right formula if your looking for a nice relaxing story.

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

Facebook Page: "Estranger"

More of Black Ink Comics can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Black Ink Comics"

Twitter: @BlackInkComics

 

Comics: Purifying Element ~ Issue 2: Dark Lady 2

Illustration and Story by: Jake Vicente

Rated: OT / Older Teens Ages 16 +

Ink Jinks Comics
(4/5 ★★★★☆)

"The aswang dark lady still roams the street.

Preying on street children to feed on.

It's now up to Sean Razor and Kevin Wolf to hunt down this creature and end it's feast."

The story continues after the death of Al due to an aswang. This leaves his brother, Jeff, saved from nearly being killed.

Sean and Kevin finishes off the aswang that has been feeding upon the citizens of the town. In this issue, the writer had placed an interesting twist regarding the identity of the aswang. The story ends with the creature being killed. Sean and Kevin, then moves on to a new town after receiving a call that entails the need for them.

This has been a nice conclusion to the Dark Lady episode of Purifying Element, well that's what I think. The art is quite fine, but the most striking thing in this comic is the surprising twist in the identity of the aswang. It's a surprise as to how it has shielded itself from being suspected as an aswang. The creator of this comic is good in coming up with this kind of twists and this story is just one of those from Ink Jinks that are quite noticeable.

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

Facebook Page: "Estranger"

www.tyrfryt.deviantart.com

More of Ink Jinks Comics can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Ink Jinks Comics"

Twitter: @inkjinks

www.inkjinks.deviantart.com

Comics: Purifying Element ~ Hunt 1: Dark Lady 1

Illustration and Story by: Jake Vicente

Rated: OT / Older Teen Ages 16 +

Ink Jinks Comics
(4/5 ★★★★☆)

"The streets was never been safe. Cars, buses and trucks hail in the morning. But at night, comes the hunter of the dark, the Aswang.

A creature that feeds on the flesh and sips the blood of it's victims.

Now with the creature wrecking havoc in town, it's up to Sean Razor and Kevin Wolf to stop the creature of darkness."

The strange title caught my attention which eventually led me into buying this comic. Although the cover art might not be that attractive, its title will get the attention and make a reader wonder what the story of this comic might be. Even though the cover art of the comic already gives a hint of the subject matter and what we should be expecting from the story.

The art of the comic is good. However, there are still some things that needs to be improved on such as getting the right proportions for the face of the characters at the different angles being focused. There's also the minor detail of being consistent in drawing the characters that must be carried out all throughout the comic. This is seen through the character of the owner of the bar "Tourniquet". I just noticed that in the lower leftmost panel of page 6, the character is drawn without any facial hair that is contrary to the ones drawn on pages 6 and 7. In the editing of the comic's text, I guess there were minor errors that might have escaped the eyes of the creator. These are seen in the synopsis written at the back cover of the comic, wherein few grammatical errors can be seen.

The story starts and ends with a victim of a creature famous in Filipino folklore due to its habit of eating an individual's internal organs, the Aswang. The story revolves around Kevin and Sean, who are now musicians after leaving their dark history of previously being involved in credit card fraud. After seeing the remains of a man with his guts ripped out of his body, they had an idea of what is happening in the town. They had thought of the creature to be an aswang, in which they say it usually nests in the north but somewhat has found its way into living into town and preying upon its citizens. From there, they conjured up a plan on how they would be able to capture the said creature.

In this first issue, there's just a small detail that I can't grasp. That's if Sean and Kevin are experienced in doing this "Aswang Hunting" or are they going to do it for the first time after seeing the remains of a victim it has preyed upon. In their conversations in a diner, it is a bit vague if they only know the normal whereabouts and biology of an aswang or they also had a first hand experience and dealt with it in the past. In general, this comic looks a bit interesting, I just wonder how the story would go in the next issue.

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

Facebook Page: "Estranger"

www.tyrfryt.deviantart.com

More of Ink Jinks Comics can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Ink Jinks Comics"

www.inkjinks.deviantart.com

Comics: Horror Asylum ~ Issue 2: Black Magic Woman

Illustration and Story by: Jake Vicente

Ink Jinks Comics
(3/5 ★★★☆☆)

"A married couple have been happily living near the woods for three years. Until the husband shoot his wife in head. For what reason did he murder his wife for and how will this story end."

Black Magic Woman is the second issue of the Horror Asylum series. The story was good enough. But I'd say the first issue was still better. The art from this 20 page story was also good. The creator had gotten good at drawing characters at a certain angle which I find it better compared from the first issue. However, there are still some parts that needs minor improvement such as in drawing the body of the character. Nonetheless, the art was nice. Overall, the second issue was a bit okay but I would say that I liked the first issue over this one better. But still, I'm going to wait and see for the third issue. Who knows, it might give us an eerie twist like the first issue.

Note: Some of the images were taken from the net, while the others were just a photo from my copy since I couldn't find them uploaded on the internet.

He can be seen at:

www.tyrfryt.deviantart.com

The group can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "inkjinks"

www.inkjinks.deviantart.com

Comics: Horror Asylum ~ Issue 1: Sweet Child of Mine

Illustration and Story by: Jake Vicente

Ink Jinks Comics
(5/5 ★★★★★)

Ink Jinks Comics, a new group that I had stumbled upon last Summer Komikon 2013. It's the title and the cover of Horror Asylum which drew my attention to their table. As I checked their facebook account, I sensed that their group offer stories of a wide variety. However, they intend I think of having their art drawn in manga style. Well as long as the story and the art fits with each other I have no problem in that kind of comic book.

"Two fugitives ventured out in the dark woods to escape from the prison watch dogs. Exhausted, the two fugutives went deeper and found a hut, but what would they expect from someone living in the middle of the forest??"

Horror Asylum is an interesting series that the group published. At first I thought it would be something like the movies Saw or Hostel only it was comic book form, but of course I was wrong. I just got the impression due to the title and its creepy cover. Well, before anything else, I'd say I love the paper and the printer these guys used in printing their comics. These are actually the kind of paper that I've been always looking for to use in photocopying handouts and other stuffs. I can say they've been using a good kind of paper and also a nice printer for publishing these comics. Now with the story, I'd say the first issue was a good start for this series. It was not that scary but still its fine. On page 3 though of the comic on of the panels there, I found the inclusion of the usual "corny" Filipino joke of using lyrics in a song as a joke in order to steer for a slight second the topic, which usually happens inf the conversation was a serious one, to be not fitting. Then on the 20th page, o wait there's none, or at least on my copy. I wish though it would have been a good ending to the story to have on the last page (page 20) to have the scene like zooming out of the nipa hut while screams continue. Well that's just my opinion. Now with the illustration I'd say it was good except for some panels, i guess the artist just needs to improve drawing the characters when they are facing a different angle. But so far as with the rest of the art, I'd say it was good. I also liked the concept on the cover of their comic book with the front and the back changing as to signify the changing of a character in the story.

So far, I could still say that Horror Asylum is an interesting series from Ink Jink Comics. Hope it continues to deliver good short 20 pages stories and a little improvement on drawing the characters on certain angles.

Note: Some of the images were taken from the net, while the others were just a photo from my copy since I couldn't find them uploaded on the internet.

He can be seen at:

www.tyrfryt.deviantart.com

The group can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "inkjinks"

www.inkjinks.deviantart.com