Short Stories: Si Kaitlin at ang Game Machine

(Kaitlin and the Game Machine)

Story by: Ferdinand Pisigan Jarin

Illustrated by: Manix Abrera

English Translation by: Ina Alleco Silverio

Vibal Group

(4/5 ★★★★☆)

"Laging nakakulong sa kaniyang kuwarto si Kaitlin. Hirap siyang tawagin ng kaniyang mga magulang tuwing kainan. Hindi na rin naeehersisyo nang sapat ang kaniyang katawan. Lahat ng iyan dahil sa pagkababad niya sa paglalaro sa computer o tablet.

Ngunit nagbago ang lahat nang kaniyang nakilala ang isang makinang nakapagsasalita at nagdala sa kaniya sa isang lugar na hindi niya makalilimutan." 

The Good:

The story was a nice reflection of the current manner on how kids act out the word "playing".

There were several nods to famous games such as Temple Run and Flappy Bird.

The illustrations were great, as one could expect from Manix Abrera.

The Bad:

It is sad to learn at the end of the story that the other kids in Kaitlin's neighborhood are also obsessed with playing on the computer and/or tablet. It just made me think of the hard time she will be having in order to convince the other kids in her neighborhood to come out and play.

The Verdict:

Playing games that were famous before the era of smartphones and app based games was a nice lesson told in this story.

It highlights the advantages of playing those street games that some children do not even know the name or how to play it nowadays.

Si Kaitlin at ang Game Machine tells the importance of being well rounded in playing games that does not rely on technology. It shares that these are one of the best ways to make new friends and to bond with each other.

Comics: Intruder In The Forest

Illustration and Story by: Anabelle "Lau"

(5/5 ★★★★★)

The Plot:

Two forest fairies find themselves in trouble when an inquisitive human follows them home.

The Good:

The illustrations were simple but neat to look at. What really got me hooked was the story. It was an impressive story of how the loss of sense of sight has helped the human got home safely after his encounter with the forest fairies.

The Bad:

The cover might not draw some interest to some comic con goer. The cover art and title might be the basis for it to be ignored.

The Verdict:

Lau had created a beautiful story. This short story appears like one of those children stories told to us by our elders in order to warn or to scare us from going into the forests to play at night.

However, this story focuses more on how one's disability does not hinder an individual from functioning. The body's adaptation to one's disability is seen by heightening the sensitivity of the other senses.

Truly, not all the things that we see, should be believed upon.

Comics: Space Quest 2015: Quest In Space

Illustration and Story by: Cy Vendivil

(3/5 ★★★☆☆)

The Good:

This story is simple enough to follow. It has an amazing twist at the end which was inspired by a highly successful anime.

The Bad:

One may sometimes have to read the story all over again because the characters are a bit confusing to differentiate from one another. Personally, I thought one character often removes his/her glasses while inspecting a machine.

A lot of things were left unanswered, such as; what was the purpose of retrieving the data? What happened to that ship that they had gone to? And what are the food monsters that they had encountered?

The Verdict:

It was an interesting story that was brought to life by Studio Salimbal's 24 Hour Comic Book Challenge.

This story could be the starting point of a space themed comic book series. Given the proper character introduction and identification to begin with, an interesting series could come out of this.

Free Digital Copy:

Gumroad: Space Quest
Storylark.ph: Space Quest 2015 #1: Quest In Space

He can be seen on:

http://www.flavors.me/cyanroll

Comics: Bench

Illustration and Story by: Mel Casipit

(4/5 ★★★★☆)

The Good:

This simple and wordless comic book was neatly drawn. It has easily conveyed the story even if these story was devoid of any speech balloons.

The Bad:

The last page (back cover) was a bit confusing if the objects drawn on the sky are real or cloud formations. It can leave some small questions regarding the realness of the events that took place.

The Verdict:

Casipit's work from Studio Salimabal's 24 Hour Comic Book Challenge was a great one.

The story told by an artist and her pen was astonishing as she takes you to a short but wonderful adventure. Enjoying a place similar to Wonka's Chocolate Factory and battling evil guys with the use of Dragonball Z techniques. It was an entertaining story that can be easily enjoyed by anyone.

Novels: Tatlong Gabi Tatlong Araw

Story by: Eros Atalia

VISPRINT

(4/5 ★★★★☆)

(Cover by Karen Francisco)

"MULA  TABLOID HANGGANG TV NETWORK, naibibigay ni Raymundo Mojica ang hinihingi sa kaniya ng industriya. Nagsimulang horoscope writer sa isang tabloid na may pinakamalaking sirkulasyon hanggang maging kilala sa paggawa ng documentary.

Bumalik siya sa kapistahan ng Brgy. Magapok, dahil na rin sa kahilingan ng namatay niyang ina, upang ilagay ang picture frame sa altar at isaboy ang kaunting abo sa kapatagang napalapit sa puso nito. Pagdating ni Mong (kanyang palayaw) sa probinsya ng Sta. Barbara na nakakasakop sa Brgy. Magapok, tutumbukin ito ng super typhoon. Nakipag-unahan si Mong sa bagyo para makarating agad nang ligtas sa Magapok.

Napuno ng kababalaghan at karahasan ang isa sanang simpleng kasiyahan ng tatlong araw na pista ng patron na si Sta. Barbara de Bendita. Isa-isang nawala ang mga alagang hayop at tao. Nasaksihan niya kung paanong kinain ng lupa ang isang buong baka. Nakipaghilahan siya kasama ng mga taga-Magapok laban sa isang kamay na humihila-pailalim sa isang bata. Nagawa niyang mai-record sa kaniyang camera ang daan-daang kataong hindi na nagising at pati na rin ang pag-agaw ng kung anong liwanag sa mga natitirang buhay sa Magapok.

Sa dinami-dami ng kaniyang teorya, mula sa pakikipagsabwatan ng mga minero sa bandido, ng rebelde sa sundalo, ng sinkhole, ng bio-chemical warfare hanggang sa alien abduction...naging mailap ang katotohanan sa isang tulad niyang mamamahayag na tagapaghatid o tagalikha ng katotohanan."

The Good:

The story of life in Barangay Magapok was neatly told through the eyes of Mong.

It is presented in the perspective of a journalist, hence, the documentary-like vibe that one could get from reading this novel. Setting up the horrors that Barangay Magapok would have to endure besides the approaching super typhoon, Atalia has made this story appear like an investigative research.

At first glance, it might just be a simple overview of disturbances in some communities that can usually be seen on documentaries such as illegal logging, illegal mining, bandits and rebels. It also takes a look at how some news are carried out. From the simple horoscope readings up to the big announcements made by politicians, there indeed is a bigger news revolving around the news reporter.

The Bad:

If one is really strick about grammar, such reader could find a couple of those in this novel.

The Verdict:

It really deserves the Carlos Palanca Memorial Award that this novel got for such type of story telling that the author has managed to give.

Tatlong Gabi Tatlong Araw can make one wonder as to how this novel might look like if it is adapted to the big screens via found footage type of story telling. If it fails, I'm sure it would work just fine if it was turned as a documentary type of film. Because that is how amazing the narrative was written here.

Although it might be hard to interview a Malakat for this film. This is an excellent work that will bring you to tears as the news report comes to an end.

"...matutulungan po nating mamulat at mag-isip ang masa kahit paano. Na hindi totoong ang kausap lang ng matalino ay kapwa matalino." - Mong

Book News: Darna's New Look On An Upcoming Comic Book

One of the well known characters of Philippine comics will be back.

Created by Mars Ravelo and Nestor Redondo, Darna once again will appear on an upcoming comic book. The story will be written by Carljoe Javier while the illustrations will be done by Jemuel Bernaldez. It will be published by ABS-CBN Publishing.

The Filipino comics superheroine could be getting anew look based from the art that was posted on Facebook. Her story is something that must not be missed.

Who knows she might appear on one of the biggest comic conventions in Manila for her launch.

Book News: Free Comic Book Day Philippines 2016 Exclusive Freebies

Aside from the Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) sponsored comics that would be given away, there are also some FCBD giveaways that will occur locally. They, too, would be given out for free.

Some of them are:

• Dreamtime
• Story by: Carlo Pedrosa
• Illustrated by:  Lan Medina
• Published by: Anino Comics
• Available at: Comic Odyssey The Fort branch

• Araw ng Libreng Komiks ~ Number 2
• Published by: Komikon Inc. and Comic Odyssey
• Available at: Comic Odyssey The Fort branch

Be sure to come early to be able to get these goodies.