after lambana a graphic novel myth and magic in manila

The story revolves around the Conrad and his magical heart ailment told in the backdrop of the fall of the magical realm Lambana and the oppression of its survivors by mundane human society. Readers of his work would now that his opus, Tabi Po, is an ongoing series. This is also a first for Malonzo his first complete story in a single volume. In the afterword, the artist revealed that writer Eliza Victoria approached him to collaborate on her first graphic novel. In this case, this reader needed the after to decompress after visiting four realms of different hues and tones of a 24 hour story done in 196 pages. The afterword is written by the artist, Mervin Malonzo, who has made it a point to include an afterword and bonus conceptual sketches to help the reader cool down after an engaging read. The tone of the story is definitely reminiscent of Murakami's After Dark, added with tiny bits of plot elements from Harry Potter, X-men and Gaiman's Sandman.Īfter Lambana is a definite must-read by all those who are seeking for high-quality Filipino comics.Īfter finishing this book, I went to the afterword, which I am wont to after enjoying a satisfying volume. The story may not be After Lambana's strongest weapon, but just being there with Ignacio and Conrad as the truth unfolds is very satisfying. The clever use of color contrast makes After Lambana a unique visual treat. Eliza Victoria definitely has to write a sequel!

The end part I think was a bit rushed (considering that the first two acts were perfectly paced) that I ended reading it with some thoughts in my mind left unexplained. I just wished that there is more exposition about what has really happened between the diwata and the humans. I'm really impressed how she seamlessly interspersed traditional folklore in the modern setting, sprinkling the world with diwata (fairies) dust, magic, and fairy wings.

This is my first time reading a work written by Eliza Victoria. His art can be best described as immersive, where readers are being brought in to the story itself, be it the Spanish era of Tabi Po and Ang Subersibo or the phosphorescent city nightlife in After Lambana. His art work in Tabi Po, Ang Subersibo and now After Lambana are always high in quality, and IMHO one of the best contemporary local Filipino comic artists. I always hold a high regard for Mervin Malonzo's work ever since Tabi Po.

After lambana a graphic novel myth and magic in manila