Summer Through the Cat’s Eye

After the Sumer Komikon, we (IKOS) took a bit of time off to relax and read the comics that we bought at the event. We have not finished reading every one of them, so please pardon us for not being able to review all of them.

Mark 9 verse 47 (Vol. 1)

Story by Maika Ezawa

Art by Tepai Pascual

Edited by Dragfly

     The story was about a blind man, named Visdei, searching for the gatekeeper. It was a very interesting read. The pacing was very good and exciting. Visdei’s personality was really cool; a tough guy with a good heart. He was not like other comic book heroes that we usually read about.

    

         Most comic heroes nowadays are lawful good, super powerful, mostly stronger or easily defeat the villain. We liked the concept of a flawed hero and that he needs to face difficult challenges to achieve his goals. This is really worth buying. We would buy the 2nd volume next time.

Espiritista #1: Greetings and Farewell

Story and Art by Niño Balita

      The story was about Samuel Yeye and his cute travel companion Moo Moo. It began when Samuel returned to his hometown after four years of absence. Samuel then found out that his father, Tata Enteng, was killed by an Engkanto.

      We really liked Niño’s art style and how it is improving. IKOS Ronzkie would definitely love to wear Tepok’s hat. The story was good and sound very catchy. It was exciting and filled with surprises. It has cute, believable and funny characters. There were no unnecessary panels in the story. We would like to read issue #2.

Ang Inuuod kong Puso

By Niño Balita

      The comic book was about an adolescent boy who was madly in love with a worm. We really enjoyed the story telling; especially the truthful rendition of a boy’s first love and heartache. It was a heartwarming and enjoyably funny story. This was really worth the read.

Foodcourt

By Andoyman

     This was a comic about a love that developed at a food court. The art looked so natural; it clearly evokes emotions. The pacing was clear and understandable. The creator really has a noticeable talent for storytelling.

      The reader can easily empathize and sympathize with how much the main character is in love. The initial ending kept us hanging but the real ending made us crave for more. Does “Foodcourt” have an issue #2? We will buy it. This was really a good comic book to read.

Palimos ng Kulangot

Story by Ronibats

Art by Andoyman

     The story was about a boy begging a man for his booger. The story was weird, like the title itself, but definitely interesting. Andoyman is definitely one of IKOS’s favorite artists now, because of his art style and its evolution.

     Readers could feel that every line and every panel stirs up your emotions. The dialogue was good, truthful and meaningful. The characters were amazingly real; one could really feel the amazement, doubt, enjoyment, loneliness or even the anger through the characters’ face. This comic was a great find and definitely worth the read.

Ang Sumpa: Kabanata 1 Unang Bahagi

By Andoyman

Story assist by Super Gi

     This was a mystery story about the unexpected death of the president of the Philippines. Another comic, from Andoyman, with good story telling and exciting pacing. The book has a lot of noticeable improvement from the artist. Better dialogues, better paneling and composition.

     We really enjoyed this issue’s build up and cliffhanger ending. We would read “Ang Sumpa” to its end and even buy its trade paperback version (if ever Andoyman decide to make it into one; which we certainly hope so).

Dilag ni Lam-Ang

Created by Kahit Ano Studios

      The comic was about the adventure of Ines Kannoyan and her quest to bring her beloved Lam-Ang back to life. The story was told through Ines’s point of view. It had a great storytelling and dialogues, combined with emotionally provoking pacing. Readers could easily feel how Ines felt when she faced her trials and challenges. We loved the hilarious ending.

     Though the drawing might still be developing, their style was already recognizable. We certainly liked the awesome cover drawing; maybe just a little improvement on the layout. Still, we would certainly buy more of their works.

Pahabol

By Kahit Ano Studios

     The story was about a boy and his Karma Collector. The guy was hastily trying to gain an ample amount of good deeds to balance his Karma. This was a very enjoyable book to read. It had good understandable pacing, believable dialogue and filled with funny antics.

      The art was promising. It might be a real kick-ass book if every panel was drawn and rendered like the cover page or like the 5th to last page; purely penciled with great details. We especially liked that page where the boy and the Karma Collector were on top of the roof gazing the horizon. If “Pahabol” would have an issue #2, we would certainly buy it!