Every Legend Hides A Lie. That's the tagline for Mervin Ignacio and Ian Sta. Maria's SKYWORLD. A book that aims to twist legend and history to reveal an unknown truth.
Let's start with Book 1. APOCRYPHA feels like prologue, an introduction to the SKYWORLD universe. Here we are introduced to a tikbalang named Makabo and his quest to avenge his father by slaying the asuang named Rianka. We are also introduced to the SkyLord named Kaptan, a god who by the end of the book has fallen. Though we get to see the bloody battle, we don't exactly see its outcome and how this SkyLord fell and survived.
Cover of Skyworld: Testament (art by Ian Sta. Maria)
The second book entitled TESTAMENT starts with a history lesson pertaining to the battle of Mactan. They say that Antonio Pigafetta wrote two versions of history, the one we know now and the one that tells the truth. This second installment reads better. Not only does most of the story take place in the present with Rianka summoning a great beast, there is also a huge battle sequence that not only involves Makabo but also guest stars Alexandra Trese and the Kambal.
So if you're like me and enjoy reading new takes on existing mythology and history, you have to get this one. My only reservation (small one, really) about this book is the art. Although it's one of the better drawn comic books out there, the pages look too plain for my taste. And after seeing what Ian Sta. Maria can do on UNDERPASS, I feel that this book would be much better if it was in full color.
Next on this KOMIKON review list is Summit Media's UNDERPASS. This graphic anthology actually compiles four horror stories.
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The first one called SIM is written and drawn by renowned komikero Gerry Alanguilan. It's about a man who finds a lost SIM card and then gets a mysterious call from its previous owner. I thought I knew how this one ends. I was wrong.
The second tale called JUDAS KISS is drawn by Oliver Pulumbarit from a story by David Hontiveros. It's a twisted tale that involves sex, betrayal and murder. You might want to keep this one away from the young kids.
The third story is written by David Hontiveros and drawn by Ian Sta. Maria. It's called KATUMBAS and showcases Kadasig, an immortal warrior whose job is to send evil spirits to the underworld(?) like some sort of reaper. This tale is my favorite art-wise. Ian Sta. Maria's action sequences and photo-manipulated backgrounds form one hell of a combination. Eye Candy!
The last tale is my favorite of the four. It's called THE CLINIC and it's from the powerhouse duo of Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo. Yep, the guys who gave us TRESE. The story is about an up-and-coming actress who just found out that she's pregnant. And since this is Budjette and Kajo were talking about, of course there's going to be a twist. And a shout out to one of TRESE's cases!
And there you have it. Four brilliant horror stories from four brilliant creative teams. Go get a copy now!
Ooh, Ooh-oooh, Ooh-oooh / Everybody's tellin' all / Baring their souls / Just go on the Ricky Lake Show / Shoo-bi-doop-doop, why? / Last night I turned the TV on / You were booed off stage / Singing your famous love song / Why? / And tell me who makes the rules / Shoulda been born on the Milky Way / Don't wanna belong to the world today / Oh, life's a bitch and then you die / Shoulda been born on the Milky Way / I can't believe what I heard today / Oh yeah, life's a bitch and then you die / Shoo-bi-doop-bam / And meanwhile I got the magazines / Telling me, selling me lies / On how I could be the perfect 10 / Shoo-bi-doop-doop, why? / And my boyfriend left just the other day / He's all messed up / Is he straight or is he gay / Shoo-bi-doop-doop, why? / So tell me who makes the rules? / Shoulda been born on the Milky Way / Don't wanna belong to the world today / Oh, life's a bitch and then you die / Shoulda been born on the Milky Way / I can't believe what I heard today / Oh yeah, life's a bitch and then you die / And if I fall... / If I fall... oh-oh / Shoulda been born on the Milky Way / Don't wanna belong to the world today / Oh, life's a bitch and then you die / Shoulda been born on the Milky Way / I can't believe what I heard today / Oh yeah, life's a bitch and then you die / Shoulda been born on the Milky Way / Don't wanna belong to the world today / Oh, life's a bitch and then you die / Shoulda been born on the Milky Way / I can't believe what I heard today / Oh yeah, life's a bitch and then you die / Shoulda been born on the Milky Way / Don't wanna belong to the world today / Oh, life's a bitch and then you die / Shoulda been born on the Milky Way / I can't believe what I heard today
THE PREMISE: Action figures Superman, Batman and Spider-Man meet in a bar. And in comedic fashion, talk about the successes and failures of their respective movie franchises. Action figure Wolverine is also there, he blames the Man Of Steel for taking away the director of the X-Men movies. But nothing is what it seems. Somewhere, the super villains of both universes are plotting against them. Can our heroes finally work together and save the day?
I was just checking out the "I'm a Marvel... I'm a DC" parody by ItsJustSomeRandomGuy when I accidentally discovered this webseries in his YouTube channel. What started out as Marvel and DC action figures talking crap about each other ended up being one of the best Marvel/DC team-up story I have ever seen. And even though this story is both unofficial and out of continuity, the sheer pleasure you'll get from the heroes "comic awareness" (ala Deadpool) is worth the time and effort. And while this is performed using Marvel and DC action figures, the voice acting is superb. ItsJustSomeRandomGuy and JustSomeRandomGal does a great job of providing each character with their own unique voice. What amazes me most though, is that Harley and Joker sounds exactly like their animated DCU voices. Now that's impressive. Go check it out!
Just finished reading ANG ASTIGING BOY IPIS #1. Isa lang masasabi ko - ASTIG! Released through Bayan Knights publisher Sacred Mountain, the issue is beautifully drawn by Sarge himself, Mr. Gilbert Monsanto. And he ain't kidding when he said that he enjoyed working on this book. It shows in the panels, the facial exressions and the attention to detail. It was also nice to see him draw Boy Ipis out of costume and deal with the other side of super-heroing.
But the real gem of the issue is the story brought to us by Boy Ipis creator Paul Michael Ignacio which has a great balance of both plot and character development. Not only does this episode give us Boy Ipis's first(?) solo adventure, it also as previously mentioned, gives us a glimpse of his life and struggles out of costume. Although I was a bit surprised with most of the characters delivering their lines in heavy tag-lish, I was quite impressed -- specially when the female lead self-refenced it in one of her thought balloons. I also liked the fact that Mike made it a point to give nods to the other superheroes in the BK universe such as Kalayaan and Unstoppable. It gives the shared universe more credibility.
Let me see, I may be forgetting something. Oh, there are a lot of jokes -- funny, silly and some naughty -- splattered across the 32 page story. There's also a sort of back-up feature/epilogue featuring Amy Vidal's Phantom Cat illustrated by Redg Vicente. The book promises to integrate her into the main storyline in issue 2 (can't wait!) and teases an appearance of a familiar silhouette. What else? Ah. I forgot to mention the villains in the story whose names I find really amusing. They are introduced and dispatched a bit quickly for my taste but I hope that this is not the last time we get to see them -- especially Android the Giant. That guy is just too cute and creepy at the same time.
A really great read. Thinking about the wait for the next installment is just too painful. Make this a monthly book already! And with sponsors biting that Boy Ipis powered advert at the back, it could happen.
1... 2... 3... 4 / Shha... shha... shha / I probably shouldn't say this / But at times I get so scared / When I think about the previous / Relationship we shared / It was awesome but we lost it / It's not possible for me not to care / And now we're standing in the rain / But nothing's ever gonna change / Until you hear, my dear / The 7 things I hate about you / The 7 things I hate about you, oh you / You're vain, your games, you're insecure / You love me, you like her / You make me laugh, you make me cry / I don't know which side to buy / Your friends, they're jerks / When you act like them just know it hurts / I wanna be with the one I know / And the 7th thing I hate the most that you do / You make me love you / It's awkward and silent / As I wait for you to say / What I need to hear now / Your sincere apology / When you mean it, I'll believe it / If you text it, I'll delete it, let's be clear / Oh, I'm not coming back / You're taking 7 steps here / The 7 things I hate about you / You're vain, your games, you're insecure / You love me, you like her / You make me laugh, you make me cry / I don't know which side to buy / Your friends, they're jerks / When you act like them just know it hurts / I wanna be with the one I know / And the 7th thing I hate the most that you do / You make me love you / And compared to all the great things / That would take too long to write / I probably should mention the 7 that I like / The 7 things I like about you / Your hair, your eyes, your old Levi's / When we kiss I'm hypnotized / You make me laugh, you make me cry / But I guess that's both I'll have to buy / Your hands in mine / When we're intertwined, everything's alright / I wanna be with the one I know / And the 7th thing I like the most that you do, oh / You make me love you / Shha... Shha / You do, oh / Ooh oooh ooh oooh ooh oooh ooh ooh / Lalala / Ooh oooh ooh oooh ooh oooh ooh ooh
Ever wondered what would happen if Edward Cullen met Buffy Summers? The clip is from YouTuber Jonathan McIntosh. "In this remixed narrative, Edward Cullen from the Twilight Series meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's an example of transformative storytelling serving as a pro-feminist visual critique of Edward's character and generally creepy behavior. Seen through Buffy's eyes, some of the more sexist gender roles and patriarchal Hollywood themes embedded in the Twilight saga are exposed - in hilarious ways. Ultimately this remix is about more than a decisive showdown between the slayer and the sparkly vampire. It also doubles as a metaphor for the ongoing battle between two opposing visions of gender roles in the 21st century."
If you're a 90's kid like me, you would've probably seen MASKMAN on IBC13. You probably remember the famous scene where Takeru (Red Mask) was shouting "Rio..." while Princess Ial (Mio) is being sucked into the ground. She in turn calls for him, "Michael Joe..." Let's take a look back, shall we.
When the Underground Empire Tube, a once peaceful royal empire, tried to turn the world into a cold and dark planet, five young men and women are taught in the ways of the mystical aura power energy by a scientist and sage to fight as the Hikari Sentai Maskman.
Takeru aka RED MASK (played by Ryousuke Kaizu)
Quick Info: The leader of the group. He is a specialist in Karate and a Formula One driver. He was spotted by Commander Sugata, the founder of the Maskman team, a year prior to the beginning of the series while Takeru was rescuing a woman and her child. When he was challenged by Sugata, Takeru did not back down and Sugata offered him a spot on the Maskman team. His love for Mio and desire to find her is his motivation. His meditation gesture is Zai (open hands with index finger and thumb together), which means control over natural forces.
Kenta aka BLACK MASK (played by Kouichi Kusakari)
Quick Info: The second-in-command of the team. He specializes in Kobudo. He is shy around women but can be a playboy at times. He is lighthearted but strong and dependable. He worked as an engineer/mechanic for the Sugata Racing Team. His meditation gesture is Jin (all fingers enlaced in a fist), which means the guessing of others' thoughts and intentions.
Akira aka BLUE MASK (played by Issei Hirota)
Quick Info: He is the youngest Maskman. He is a Chinese boxer and a straight sword expert. His father died while he was only child. He left his mother back home and to moved to Tokyo in order to perfect his martial arts ability. Always cheerful, he loves apples and the idol Youko Minamino. His meditation gesture is Retsu (two fists together with index finger from right hand sticking out), which means dominion over time and space.
Haruka aka YELLOW MASK (played by Yuki Nagata)
Quick Info: She was raised by a family of ninjas. Forced by her father to abandon all things "girly" to focus on her training, she appears tomboyish and is a fierce fighter and is highly intelligent. She loves dancing and tutors a young girl who is unable to afford dance lessons. Her meditation gesture is Tou (all fingers together in a fist except ring and pinkie), which means the harmony with the Universe.
Momoko aka PINK MASK (played by Kanako Maeda)
Quick Info: She is an expert in T'ai chi ch'uan. A young woman with a pure heart, she often teaches T`ai chi to young people. Strong and dedicated, she once, by chance, met Ial and Igam's mother who gave her the saintly flower known as Carollove. Her meditation gesture is Sha (all fingers together in a fist except index fingers), which means self-healing.
Ryoh Asuka aka X1 MASK
(played by Yutaka Hirose)
Quick Info: He was the prototype Maskman, also having trained with Commander Sugata. However, when his lover was killed by the Underground Empire Tube, he lost confidence in his abilities and gave up everything. He later returned to help the other members, losing his powers in the process. After his final fight, he decided to travel and teach martial arts. He transformed with the phrase "Change Power"
Commander Sanjuurou Sugata
Quick Info: A scientist and martial artist who founded the team. Sugata is a wise man who excels in mental reinforcements and every martial art. He had discovered the existence of the Underground Empire Tube and its desire for world conquest. He is the owner of Sugata Racing, a motoring team where Takeru is a driver and Kenta once worked as an engineer.
The videos below are the show's opening and ending theme "Hikari Sentai Maskman" and "Ai no Soldier". What's special about it? It was the first sentai series I've seen with its OP/ED songs translated into Filipino -- which was cool because I could sing along with it. It was sung by Norman Caraan. And yes, the lyrics are purely from memory.
HIKARI SENTAI MASKMAN (Opening Theme)
Humanda na kayo / Kampon ng kadiliman / Oras na ng pagtutuos / Kasamaan ay dapat matapos / Narito na sila / Bayaning tagapagtanggol / Sa masama'y lilipol / Maskman / Kayo lang ang pag-asa / Iligtas kami sa marahas na kadiliman / Kami'y inyong ipaglaban / Sige sige / Laban Maskman / Ipagtanggol ang kapayapaan / Sugod sugod / Laban Maskman / Pagsanggalan ninyo ang katarungan / Buong mundo'y magpupuri't magpupugay / Mabuhay / Laser Squadron / Mas-ku-man
AI NO SOLDIER (Ending Theme)
Ito ang mga bayaning magiting / Walang takot / Sa bangis ng kalaba'y di umuurong / Matatag, tagapagtanggol ng inaapi / Mga huwaran / Sa tungkuli'y tapat / Nagkahandang mag-alay ng buhay / O-Maskman / Tanod ng kapayapaan / Maskman / Laging maaasahan / Dapat nating tularan ang kagitingan / Laser Squadron / Mas-ku-man Mas-ku-man (lyrics corrected by: Lloyd V. - naks parang test paper lang)
Related Reading: Ranger Wiki, Super Sentai Time Capsule
I can't stop watching this video. Call it my viral video of the day. It's a fan-made trailer by Jaron Pitts which I grabbed from YouTube (in case it gets pulled). Hit play first. I recognized some of the clips he spliced but man it is still pretty damn cool! I only wish they cast Nathan Fillion for the real GREEN LANTERN movie but that will never happen. Damn. All together now: "In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power, Green Lantern's light!"
Bayan Knights # 2 has been out since FCBD... so get a copy. Me, I got mine last Saturday but was unable to read it until today (I was bedridden with sickness ...still am). So here goes the reviewage:
The issue continues from where we left off last time: the CORE team being attacked by the Sipakas and the appearance of the POWERHOUSE Division to give a helping hand. And that’s just the first half! The book actually has more pages on it’s second outing. The second part introduces us to the GILAS team and foreshadows the appearance of the supervillain team BANGIS. And like last issue, we also get 2-page spotlights on some of the members of the Bayan Knights.
The art is quite good -- specially the spreads. The 6-pager involving the CORE and POWERHOUSE Divisions is a good example. The details on those pages are awesome. But I’m kinda on the fence about the pages that uses a lot of tones. I feel that it lacks a certain level of black-ness. That’s not to say that the combination of blacks and tones wouldn’t be cool. Just take a look at the GILAS panel. That’s eye-candy! They also got a special guest artist to do the cover -- Lan Medina (Fables, Punisher). So when will we be able to munch on #3? The issue leaves us hanging with a bunch of new revelations and cliffhangers. None of which I will spoil.
The perfect words never crossed my mind / 'Cause there was nothing in there but you / I felt every ounce of me screaming out / But the sound was trapped deep in me / All I wanted just sped right past me / But I was rooted fast to the earth / I could be stuck here for a thousand years / Without your arms to drag me out / There you are standing right in front of me / There you are standing right in front of me / All this fear falls away, you leave me naked / Hold me close 'cause I need you to guide me to safety / No, I don't wanna wait forever / No, I don't wanna wait forever / In the confusion and the aftermath / You are my signal fire / The only resolution and the only joy / Is the faint spark of forgiveness in your eyes / There you are standing right in front of me / There you are standing right in front of me / All this fear falls away, you leave me naked / Hold me close 'cause I need you to guide me to safety / There you are, standing right in front of me / There you are, standing right in front of me / All this fear falls away, you leave me naked / Hold me close, cause I need you to guide me to safety / No, I don't wanna wait forever / No, I don't wanna wait forever / No, I don't wanna wait forever
When the road gets dark / And you can no longer see / Let my love throw a spark / And have a little faith in me / When the tears you cry / Are all you can believe / Just give these loving arms a try baby / And have a little faith, faith in me / Have a little faith in me / Have a little faith in me / And have a little faith in me / Have a little faith, faith in me / When your secret heart / Cannot speak so easily / Come here baby, from a whisper start / To have a little faith in me / And when your back's against the wall / Just turn around and you, you will see / I will catch your, I will catch your fall / Just have a little faith, faith in me / Have a little faith in me / Have a little faith in me / Have a little faith in me / Have a little faith, have faith in me / Well, I've been loving you / For such a long, long time / Expecting nothing in return / Just for you to have a little faith in me / You see time, time is our friend / 'Cause for us there is no end / All you gotta do / Is have a little faith in me / I will hold you up / I will hold you up / And your love gives me strength enough to / Have a little faith in me / Oh, hey... oh, darlin' / Have a little faith in me / Lalalalala lalala laaa / Oooh oh... oooh oh... / Lalalalala lalala laaa / Faith...
Cover of Skyworld: Testament (art by Ian Sta. Maria)
