Guides: Reviewing One Mantra's 2015: Top 5 Komiks

We've been busy last year checking out both new and old komiks. Before starting out a fresh batch of comic reviews this year, we made a list of our Top 5 Komiks among those we had reviewed last year, 2015.

5th: Mythspace: Lift Off ~ Part 3 by Paolo Chikiamco and Koi Carreon (Mythspace)

In an era where Marvel wows us with the adventures of Guardians of the Galaxy, Chikiamco and Carreon challenges it with our own take of the galaxy with Mythspace. Better leave it to the kapre, tikbalang and a mananangal to be our protectors. Hey! They might be our best defenders against creatures from a galaxy far, far away.





4th: Feed No 1 & 2 by Vince Torres, Sid Santos and Geonard Yleana (Pelikomiks Studios)

The creators behind the series Zombinoy has made another post-apocalyptic series. In time with the global warming that we are currently experiencing, Pelikomiks cooks a fresh meal of what it would look like if we live in a world where famine is the new norm. As far as the story goes, we might just appreciate a zombie apocalypse rather than a period where food is really scarce. This event would really trigger total chaos. The people left after that chaos would be deemed to be extremely dangerous. Even Omar, a character from the Feed series, has said, "The truly innocent are long dead. Anyone who has managed to survive two years of famine is guilty of something."

3rd: Skyworld ~ Volume 2 by Mervin Ignacio and Ian Sta. Maria (Alamat Comics; National Book Store, Inc.)

This has got to be one of the best Filipino comics available at the book store. This comic book never fails to amaze and surprise us. From the very detailed illustrations up to the amazing historical fiction, our money is well spent on this work.

A story about the new conquerors of Manila presents itself as different parts of the metro is attacked by creatures we had only known as part of our childhood stories. Creatures who were used to scare us as a means to prevent us from playing out at night.

Our hero? Well he seems to be nobody special. He is just a simple son of a skygod.

2nd: Light by Rob Cham (Anino Comics)

This work won us over as the creator dares us to read his own silent comics, amidst the presence of works by a rock star Filipino comic book artist.

Each page literally stands out as the colors try to escape each time we flip a new one.

It's a simple story of restoring color back to the world. But it is the illuminating colorful journey that makes its distinctive mark on our eyes.

The creator breaks it down to us that by playing mostly with colors, he could already give us a wonderful comic book.

1st: Love In The Dog Pound ~ Part 1 by Lara Antonio and Che Bantayan

Surrounded with works made by veteran comic book creators, this comic book made by Antonio and Bantayan stood out on this list.

A product born out of the 1st Comic Book Creator's Workshop (Komiket University), Love In The Dog Pound when looked upon is just a simple story. However, the manner the story was laid out really engages a reader inside a dog's mind and heart. The art adds more dept as each panel gives us a beautiful memory of love and friendship.

This heartwarming and tearjerker comic book from the 1st batch of Komiket University was a great start for a series full of love.

Haven't found your forever yet? Well this comic book may make you realize that another forever, who will love you unconditionally, is just beside you, guarding your home. Another life whose love will always be present, even if the affection that you show has lessened.

One Mantra will continue to give our thoughts to our local comic books, especially on the indies, as your guide on whether they may suite your taste or not.

Haven't read any of these komiks yet? Be sure to try out these 5 titles as part of your 2016 Reading Book Challenge!

Filipino Friday: 5 Ways I Can Support Filipino Authors / Books

A number of new Filipino authored books are growing each year. This is evidently seen among the big bookstores who now devote additional shelves for these type of books. Several movie adaptations were also made from them. But, amidst these developments, are we really showing our support to our Filipino authors and their books?

One Mantra made a list of the 5 Ways I Can Support Filipino Authors / Books

1. Buy! Buy! BUY!

This has got to be the very first and easiest way to show one's support. That 150 paged book that's priced at around Php. 200, took some time before it became the book that you are reading now.

The author spent a lot of time and energy to come up with another best selling work for us to enjoy. (Money included, remember that authors are still human beings that also have basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and access to a fast internet service.)

2. Spread the Word

This is another essential that every book must be able to achieve. The great tool to use of course would be the social media. Some publishers tend to tirelessly shout on our social media timelines about a new book that will soon be released by an author. Sometimes it will be released on a book launch. Other times it won't be.

Fans of the author would always be the best tool to promote these new books. Devoted fans are the best promoters, who usually does all of this for free. Countdowns until the books are delivered to the bookstores are even seen in some. Even the mere book sightings of it across the metro will always be worthy enough for them to tell everyone about it on their different social media accounts.

Nevertheless, spreading the word about the status of the book is still essential for some readers might miss the announcements made by the publishers and authors

A simple share or tag could do just the trick.

3. Reviews!

Another aspect that isn't usually done locally is by writing down those reviews. It could manifest in the form of a one sentence Facebook post, a short paragraph on goodreads or even a lengthy discussion on WordPress. Regardless of the medium and length of review, it serves as a gauge, both to the author and to the other readers. It guides the author on any adjustments that might be needed on his/her future works. For a reader, it helps them decide on whether they should continue to buy the book based on his/her knowledge of the author's writing ingenuity, appeal from the book's cover and the number of stars that you had given.

Some reviews are harsh. But eventually there would be those inspirational ones that continues to motivate the author in his/her pursuit for excellence.

4. Attendance on Book Launches

An author meeting his/her readers (most especially the hardcore fans) would be the best satisfaction that one could experience. Not only do fans get the chance to go fanboying/fangirling on them, some authors enter that moment of realization of his/her impact to a reader due to the love that they are showing. Of course the norm would be to bring only one of the author's books, usually it is the new book being launched at the book signing event. But I think we would be sending bigger smiles if you had managed to bring all of the author's works.

A book launch gives the opportunity for a reader to ask questions and clarifications about the book. It also serves as a direct way to give your feedback to the author.

An author tired from an extended time of book signing (other authors continue on with the book signing even while he/she is on a "yosi" break) due to the overwhelming number of fans with their abundant number of books, would always be left feeling good. (Or perhaps this was the reason why the 2 books only policy are being implemented on some book signings.)

5. Pass It On

Read a great book that you would want everyone around you to also read and enjoy? Or the book that you had just finished reading turned out to be the one you're not fond of? Whatever book you have in mind for each of these two questions, the best way to know what other people would think of them would be to pass this book on.

Each one of us have our own genres that we tend to lean on whenever we include a book on our to-read-list. A book that might be awful to us, could be an amazing one to others. There are books that might not really be the ones for us since their targeted audience might have been a different demographic altogether.

Whatever your stand on a book may be, try having others read it. The author might have lost one support from you, but with your help, he/she could have earned a new fan through the person whom you had given that book out.

There are a lot of ways that we could show our support to our Filipino authors and their books. Make your own additions to the five ways enumerated above by writing it down at the comments section below. :)

Guides: Reviewing One Mantra's 2014: Top 5 Filipino Comics

2014 was proven to be an exciting year for the local comic industry. As local publishers slowly have their eyes on the potential of comics and the readership for it. One Mantra tried to review some of the local comics out there whether they were published or "indies".

This is a look back at our reviews for 2014 as we list our top 5 recommendations amongst those who deserve to be part of our readings this 2015.

5th: Precinto 13 ~ Calling The Parents Of A Little Girl In A Blue Dress by Budjette Tan and Atan (Alamat Comics)

In anticipation for the release of the 6th book of the Trese series, Budjette Tan gave us a nice appetizer with a Precinto 13 story. This short story deals with a nice lesson aimed much more to parents than their kids. This is a nice snack as we waited for our Christmas gift from the creators of Trese. Those who went to Summer Komikon 2014 were lucky enough to be able to get copies of this nice treat.

4th: Dark Side ~ Book 1 by Ron Mendoza and Erwin Arroza (Black Ink Comics)

One way to catch a Filipino's attention is a nice mystery story. Add some elements of detective work and paranormal activities and you are bound to have an audience listening to you. I guess you're thinking of a black and white Visprint comic book, but I'm actually referring to a book from Black Ink Comics. The Dark Side is a nice deviation to a girl babaylan warrior that Visprint made us accustomed to. In contrast to the babaylan warrior, the cast in this story are three NBI agents who are known as the Shadowcatchers. They are an interesting group as they solve a missing person's case that involves a love affair with a vampire in this book. A little more creative world development from Ron Mendoza could be the start of a following for this series if it was continued to be done excellently.

3rd: School Run ~ Parts 6 & 7 by Macoy

This is a story of a group of students stuck in the middle of the road with zombies and time as their enemy. At first, it already sounds boring since it looks like a typical zombie story. However, School Run differs a bit from the zombie transformation by adding a critical element to it. This is by becoming a zombie if he/she fails to take the anti-zombie medicine regularly. It's just like your daily dose of vitamins. However, its goodbye to your zombie virus controlled free body once you miss a pill. In these 2 latest issues of School Run, it has left a lot of its readers in sadness as one main character is given a head shot while another one is awaiting a similar fate. The simplicity of the illustrations of this series makes it safe to be read by younger kids and at the same time give adults a reason to be hooked to it.

2nd: 12 Silent Comics by Manix Abrera (Visprint)

There's always an assurance that we'll have a good time reading a graphic novel imprinted with a Rak en Rol! Quality sign. An artist that lives up to a challenge, Manix Abrera gives us this comics that doesn't have any dialogues in it. Despite its absence, these 12 stories can still make any reader feel a lot of emotions especially with the last story that could make a tear shed from the eye. This ambitious project of Manix nonetheless lands a good spot on our list.

1st: Zombinoy ~ Issue 1 by Geonard Yleana (Pelikomiks Studios)

Getting tired of the zombie genre? How about holding off that thought of skipping this comic. Even though the zombie apocalypse never ceases to be around in all sorts of medium these days, Zombinoy gives you an enjoyable ride. Have the story to take place in the Philippines. Now, add in the twist that it is in the early days of the zombie apocalypse and it is confined to the Luzon island of the country. Then pitch in the good use of each panels, the well thought dialogues and the great character development. All of those makes this 1st issue of Zombinoy on our top list. The creative team behind this series had remarkably stood up to the challenge of creating a comic with that cinematic feel. Eating with a popcorn in hand while reading this Pelikomiks Studios' comic works fine as you are brought in to a future Manila populated with zombies.

2014 was a good year of making reviews for One Mantra. We look forward to bring more insights on our local comics this 2015.