Filipino Komiks pictures a nation rising to meet challenges. Each generation brings some clash to build the comic culture. From finding inspiration, mixing cultures together, to the lengths creators go to stay relevant. Some comics like The Filipino Heroes League might go along with the joke that the Philippines are a third-world country. But each series from this archipelago have its people’s drive for survival.
The Early Filipino Komiks
Like most comics, the Filipino Komiks begin as an extension of free speech. Pinoy national hero Jose Rizal was inspired by picture books from his travels in Europe. His illustrated version of Filipino fable The Turtle and The Monkey is… technically the Philippines’ first comic…
At the very least, sharing space with Hans Christian Anderson classics keep the censors away. This story about outsmarting a powerful opponent reflects the country’s comics too. As much as it relates to the Philippines trying to get around Spanish colonists with their tools.
During the 1890s, satirical magazine styles from the US and Britain show up with the colonists. This helps kickstart comic strips on newspapers, with Romulo Ramos and Tony Velasques’ The Misadventures of Kenkoy leading the trend. Kenkoy was a huge relief for his time by using the lifestyle of a Filipino man to satirize the Philippines adapting its identity to the US. Because that sure beats the Velasques’ The Kalipapi Family that embraced Imperial Japan.
The Komik Golden Age
With Imperial Japan’s defeat in WWII, the Philippines find American comics. With characters like Superman inspiring them, the Pinoys decide to translate and distribute the stories through magazines. Along with some Filipino folklore in magazines like National Children’s Classics. Eventually both materials run out, so the Filipino identity and Superheroes combine into new epics. The most notable among them is Darna.
Darna is a Philippino Komiks character inspired by everything before. Mars Revelo originally created her as Varga to recapture Superman’s heroism. All while dressing Varga in the Philippines’ flag. But what really defines Darna is how she speaks against mandate. After Revelo ends business with his editor he retools Varga into Darna. What better way to say these characters are different other than channeling the Shazam (Captain Marvel) vs. Superman debate? Which despite not adding to the case, the franchise encounters its own problems in the 70s.
The Modern Struggles
As dictatorships go, President Ferdinand Marcos prevented free speech including comics. At least before a local Comics Code comes into play which prevents Martial Law from censoring Pinoy series. Even if more mature series don’t come out. But who wants to go through the propaganda scandals again? Some Komiks creators like Tony Velasquez meanwhile flee the country. Some of them got lucky enough in the US with their write-offs to the US Market. How many fans know that DC’s classic cowboy Jonah Hex was co-created by Tony DeZuniga?
Not that things were looking so great for comic artists in the Philippines. Sure Ferdinand was kicked out and democracy came back, but Filipino Komiks barely have an audience. With manga and Western comic imports filling the void, publishers didn’t want to risk their money. Unless they were newspaper strips like Pugad Baboy. Even names like Darna rely more on TV and cinema than Komiks. Yet the Filipino creatives don’t take this lying down.
Filipino Komiks Culture Resurgence
With comic fans starting young, these creative minds begin start movements. Such as, the Komikero Artist Group forms the Philippines first Comic-Con. Its success leads to years of annual events throughout the country. With renewed interest in komiks come movements to enrich the industry. The Komiks Caravan eventually works with organizations like the NCCA to preserve Komiks. Because the National Commission for Culture and Arts recognizes the medium as a part of their culture. All so new generations of creatives could have better support including scriptwriting and storyboarding.
It looks like it worked with Komikon around for these people to mingle. At least until the Covid-19 pandemic threatened everything. Plus with the death of important figures like Gerry Alanguin and Danry Ocampo, things were looking bleak.
Community Over Industry
A dedicated community definitely manages to turn it around. Because of how much endorsement and support their peers get, some series like Trese get acclaim. This got the point with Netflix’s first adaptation of a komik and getting international publishing. Not bad considering its humble beginnings with photocopy distribution.
More series like the Mythspace and Filipino Heroes League franchises also rise. Thanks in no small part to displaying the series on the internet. From webcomics to ebooks, the people celebrate every new creation on CNN. All of which display how the Pinoy folklore and heroes are always close.
What’s Next?
As of now, only time can tell what comes next for Filipino Komiks. But with events like the Covid-19 pandemic getting in people’s way, expanding is certainly on the list. Only a few komiks go beyond the borders, but that’s okay as long as some people leave some pointers for others. With the amount of Pinoy comic artists in companies like Marvel and DC, this may change. I mean the classic Filipino superheroes have an app game and more modern ones inspire a movie franchise. Enough to advertise komiks through webtoons and go viral in South Asia. So the next time you think komiks are another set from a third world country; try to recognize the struggles these fans and creatives go through to rebuild themselves.
Thanks for coming to the end and as always, remember to look between the panels.