Comics: K ~ Issue 1

Story by: James Bernardo
Illustrated by: Brian Balondo
Rated: For Mature Readers
Pelikomiks Studios
(2/5 ★★☆☆☆)

"A serial killer is systematically assassinating politicians, policemen, and government officials. A veteran detective is on a mission to stop this wave of murders before time runs out."

The Good:

The cover was captivating enough for a passerby to take a look for a moment. Rarely will you see a politician, a Philippine politician to be exact due to the barong that was seen worn by the man, as he expresses fear of what could be a murder about to happen.

The plot looks promising. The illustrations also complimented really well with the manner the story was told.

The Bad:

As much as it wants to get the audience be excited for it, this story didn't deliver well for a first issue. The only thing that might get some curious enough to continue reading it is due to the deaths linked to a symbol. A symbol and nothing else.

Another thing that I can't seem to understand is the moment wherein a person from the crowd watching a crime scene tells others to be quiet because someone is "naglalaba" or doing the laundry.

The last thing is the title. Although it's still the first issue, at least we could have gotten a slight idea on why it was called K. K for killer or kill?

For a first issue, it failed to deliver in getting readers to put this series as a must sought out comic during conventions.

The Verdict:

Despite the premise and illustration, K failed to deliver a striking "wow" in order to get readers be interested in this series.

Hope the next issue gets published soon or we might see this series be killed a bit too early.

More of K can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Pelikomiks"

Comics: Higante ~ Episode 1: A Monster Grows From the Wasteland

Illustration and Story by: Geonard Yleana
Rated: For Mature Readers

Pelikomiks Studios

(3/5 ★★★☆☆)

(Cover by Sid Santos)

"Two brother scavengers discover

a mysterious and powerful source

of energy.

Now, they're going to teach

society a lesson."

The Good:

The first episode of Higante shows the different ironies that are present in our society. Such as seeing a pile of garbage underneath a "no throwing of garbage" sign. Also piles of junk serves as a playground for kids leading them to compare it to Disneyland.

The Bad:

It is not easy to identify if this story is an origin story for a superhero story or not.

The illustration of the cover didn't do much for it to be an eye-catcher. Mostly the line "from the creators of "Zombinoy"" did it.

The Verdict:

This is another title from Pelikomiks Studios. However, this story didn't make a striking first impression compared to the other titles.

An energy drink, which makes the person who drinks it become a giant, was accidentally ingested by a young scavenger in a city. A place where society is not in an apocalyptic mood, may make the reader wonder as to how the the boys would teach society a lesson. Especially with a giant roaming the city, it may just send out the police enforcers, if they have the capability, to try to neutralize the giant.

"Tires. Drums. Steal cages

Your place is like Disneyland." - Toti

More of Higante can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Higante"

Comics: Antingeros ~ Issue 1: Power Strugle

Story by: James Bernardo

Illustrated by: Geonard Yleana and Carlo Cruz

Rated: For Mature Readers

Pelikomiks Studios

(5/5 ★★★★★)

"What would you do if you possessed amazing powers?

The most common answer is, of course, to save the world.

But power is and has always been a deceptive beast.

Innocent and idealistic at first but when left unchecked, bares its vicious teeth and devours everything.

It is probably why we are so fascinated by it, why we are drawn to it. It's a flickering light in the distance that grows brighter the closer we get. And, it reveals itself as a shining amulet we desire to wear around our necks.

Our history is filled with stories and legends of individuals wielding enchanted relics of power. Some were heroes who defended our freedom and saved lives. Some were not.

Their stories power this one.

This is a story of four childhood friends who all once dreamed of saving the world.

What would they do if they possessed amazing powers?"

The Good:

Opening to a robbery conducted by individuals with super power really beefs up the opening of the story. It provides an insight to one of the probable sources of the anting-anting's powers. The legend of the lightning's fang seems like one of those old stories that everyone in the province knew and we were lucky enough to hear it.

The Bad:

The cover wasn't that appealing. The poor quality, due to photocopying, had lost some of the interesting things that could fascinate a reader such as the small details on the anting-anting.

The Verdict:

Away with post-apocalyptic themed stories. Pelikomiks Studios presents a new series that looks like a superhero story. A group whose super powers came from the anting-anting that they possess.

Antingeros' first issue has a promising start that focuses on a magical amulet. It opens us to a new legend about the gods of thunder and lightning. One could only imagine it to be similar to those young adult a.k.a YA novels that engages the reader to see another aspect of the world that we are living in. Antingeros and the Lightning's Fang might be the title of the book if this was created as a YA novel instead.

More of Antingeros can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Pelikomiks Studios - Zombinoy"

Comics: Feed ~ No. 2

Story by: Vince Torres

Illustrations by: Sid Santos

Letterer: Geonard Yleana

Rated: For Mature Readers

Pelikomiks Studios
(5/5 ★★★★★)

"It's the second year of famine.

The metropolis continues to starve.

You are hungry for justice.

You are hungry for revenge.

But most of the time, you're just hungry.

Will you join the gangs of flesh-eaters roaming the dark eskinitas?

Or will you sign up for the Anti-Cannibalism Division for better rations?

Your call.

Just make up your mind before you end up as lunch.

This is the world of FEED.

Dig in."

The Plot:

The Central's Plainclothes Unit is still searching for Tom, said to be responsible for the disappearances of several children. They do their search while carrying out Emergency Ordinance 028 as part of their mandate of being on ACD (Anti-Cannibalism Division).

The Good:

The second issue of Feed takes us on the darker scenery of a world enveloped by famine. The way Feed was made is like you're watching an episode of the walking dead. Imagine that intro scene until the very end credits of each episode. That's what these guys give to you. The comic was made in such a way that Pelikomiks Studios really stood up for what they aim to do in telling their stories in their comics.

The Bad:

I just wished more comic stores would be selling this local title. This should really be in the hands of more people.

The Verdict:

The second issue of Feed takes us deeper to the darker possibilities of the effects of massive famine. Corporal Pena shows this by being part of ACD. A child he has just rescued from a group of cannibals had sadly killed his own father in order to settle down the growing hunger within him. Corporal Pena has been left to enforce the law and executes the child on the spot as stated in Emergency Ordinance 028.

Feed takes us to a journey that could be a scary reality bound to happen. As El Niño continues to surge the Philippines, one could only hope that Feed will remain as a story in a comic that was greatly told by its creators from Pelikomiks Studios.

"The truly innocent are long dead. Anyone who has managed to survive two years of famine is guilty of something." - Omar

More of Feed can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Zombinoy"

Comics: Feed ~ No. 1

Story by: Vince Torres

Pencils by: Geonard Yleana

Inks and Grayscale by: Sid Santos

Rated: For Mature Readers

Pelikomiks Studios
(5/5 ★★★★★)

The Plot:

The story is set in Metro Manila. It has been 2 years since the famine has struck. It depopulated the metropolis, made humans turn to their pets for food or trade a cellphone for a clump of burnt rice. Eventually the hunger takes control of the mind, in search of available resources it could feed on. Even if it includes eating fellow humans.

The Good:

The story takes us on a new problem that could arise if we live in a post-apocalyptic world enveloped by famine.

The characters were nicely drawn to be really thin in such a way that it was caused by the great hunger.

The Bad:

It is only the character of the chief that I'm not sure with the illustration. Stereotypically speaking, in normal circumstances he would be the fat boss. However, after 2 years of famine, he still possess a somehow obese to normal looking roundness of shape. It could be due to corruption of food resources but that could be a different issue.

The Verdict:

Pelikomiks Studios really wows us with another post-apocalyptic story. A future surrounded by great hunger is a scary thing to imagine. Most probably because that scenario can become a reality. The team takes us to a new world full of cannibalism which led to the creation of the Anti-Cannibalism Law.

Dig in to Feed. A Cannibal's story from the makers of Zombinoy. If you like your kids with lemon butter sauce, better watch out for the chief. He's a good chef who might turn you into a tasty sisig meal.

More of Feed can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Zombinoy"

Comics: Zombinoy ~ Issue 1 / Episode 1: Zombie Dito, Zombie Doon

Story by: Geonard Yleana
Illustrations by: Carlo Cruz, Sid Santos
Letters by: Dennies Layante

Rated: For Mature Readers

Pelikomiks Studios
(5/5 ★★★★★)

"Ano'ng gagawin mo

'pag nagka-zombie outbreak?"

Got this from winter komikon 2013. This is just one of those comics that are on my checklist after having listened to good reviews from the WIP ★ FOR IT ★ A Pinoy Komikast Podcast. I had seen this comic a couple of years back when I attended winter komikon 2012. I just didn't pay much attention to it since I was busy with other stuffs and I also had limited time. After reading this comic, I'd say I should have bought a copy of this comic years ago.

"Well, killing da already scientifically dead is not murder.

We hav a slang term por it...

Dobol dead." - Gen. Isagani Guerra

The story starts with Paulo and Clara hiking, I think somewhere in Olongapo was the setting, when the zombie apocalypse in Metro Manila started. From time to time, the scene leaves the two lovers and shifts to a scene that shows how the government of the Philippines is handling the crisis under the leadership of President Antonio "Dok" Menandro. As the government evacuates the foreign dignitaries and some survivors from Metro Manila, the national government is then transferred to Cebu. In here a cabinet meeting happens that ultimately concluded without any resolution of the action to be performed. A lot of remarkable and funny lines were said in that meeting which was mostly delivered by General Isagani "Guns" Guerra, the AFP Chief-of-Staff. He even gave an interesting meaning of T.O.D.A.S. in which for him is Totally Outrageous Demeaning And Sacrilegious. All throughout, it was really hilarious as "Guns" and Helen Jocson, the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines, debated against one another for the course of action that the government must undertake in order to solve this problem. If not addressed right away it might just end up with the other countries quarantining the Philippines and later on being nuked by America. This issue ends with the two lovers having a big argument that might end ultimately in a breakup in the very worst places or should I say worst thing to do during a zombie apocalypse while stranded in the middle of the road.

"Ip we don't act right hir and now, at pigilan ang pagkalat ng virus na ito...

magiging zombie Christian country tayo!" - Guns

Zombinoy is amazingly a good comic that should be sold in our local bookstores and not just in comic book stores. The quality of this comic is really good in which I may compare it to the works produced by big international comic industries. The cover art is just the beginning and as one flips throughout this issue, one would be really entertained both in the art and in the story. The way the story is told is indeed cinematic, like what the creators are keen on promising to make at the very beginning. Even though it presents to be a serious story, it still manages to be funny with some punchlines given by the AFP Chief-of-Staff and also some moments from the two lovers. This is a highly recommended comic to all comic book lovers, not just zombie fanatics, since I can really guarantee that this is a fuckin good great comic. Like on page 21 where fuck is mostly the word you'll ever read and say in the event you are in that scenario. Just don't forget that this book is still for mature readers.

"Run over these fuckin zombies now or I'll never have sex
with you again!" - Clara

More of Zombinoy can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Zombinoy"