| 11.15.2019 – “Bagong Buwan” (New Moon) is a collection of three stories compiled into a single graphic novel anthology featuring Hulyen (Creator of UGH.), Julius Villanueva (Ella Arcanghel), and Mervin Malonzo (Tabi Po). It was considered an experimental project for all three authors of the book as stated by Mervin.
It would be considered a ‘sleeper’ graphic novel that basically flew under the radar for majority of local readers that followed indie komiks in Manila. Bagong Buwan was released in Summer Komikon 2019 and it is quite an interesting title. Entirely all three stories are in Filipino (Tagalog) language and it actually works in this dialect due to how deep the stories are connected to Philippine culture. The cover is a simple image of a moon with two ‘Xs’ making them a pair of eyes for the lunar planet that’s crying as the second ‘X’ is dripping with paint. But then when you flip through the very page that moon was actually smiling back. The moons is actually sort of symbol for the Haliya Publishing that Hulyen, Julius, and Mervin has formed to further cement their collaboration under this banner. |
There are three stories and each one show the highlight on how the authors tell a different story from the usual series they work on and they are:
● Ang Patimpalak (The Contest)
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● Sawa ka na ba? (Have you given up?)
● Ang Patimpalak (The Contest)
The premise is about a Grandpa living in hardship trying to impress his daughter by giving his granddaughter a doll. But out of frustration his daughter has thrown that particular toy to the bin. The old man had failed as a father to his daughter due to his vices although he was trying so hard to prove that he can make up to them. Unknown also to the man are the mysterious anthropomorphic mushrooms.
The scene stealing anthropomorphic Mushrooms with a diverse personalities were the 'heroes' of this tale. In some ways these Mushroom tribe-like creatures keeps an eye on the old man that was kept rejected by his only daughter. Their innocence and penchant for wanting to take part in the fiesta was the perfect timing under the difficult circumstances the old man is facing in his life.
Due to being rejected and tried to drown himself in his sorrows with a bottle of hard drink he died of a heart attack. But things started to be intense when the Mushroom creatures took over his body and tried to join the local fiesta’s contest. Interesting narrative by Julius on how things unravelled for the old man and his daughter’s family. It was a triumphant redemption at the same time a sad tale how it wrapped up that is both humorous and tragic.
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Hulyen’s take about an ordinary day in the life of her nameless character going about the normal day to day struggles at the same time trying to live at those simple things. It is set a couple days before the change of the calendar year hence the title of this story. There’s not much about the narrative but the character in deep thought and the only story that is in English language.
Like any normal person the character was about to be done with her job heading home and in-between the short journey is the thoughts she says about her life struggling to avoid the drama what most people have at the same time the visuals tell you about this character going to the grocery buying food and going home preparing it for her meal.
What make it thought provoking are the thoughts that run through the character as she takes her daily routine until she goes to bed. It might be impressive but it shows how most people deal with struggles in life and how they have to face it the next day.
● Sawa ka na ba? (Have you given up?)
Of all the stories in this anthology Mervin Malonzo certainly cuts a narrative that is either supernatural or based on science fiction with a dash of dark comedy. Like all of his works there’s the photorealistic aesthetics to the characters he has illustrated and it is expressive seeing those facial expressions.
The story about an overworked single individual dealing with office issues wanting to get away from it all at the same time has found someone he can share all this struggles in his daily life. The story is set in a far future that explains how advance the technology is presented here. What’s interesting is how Mervin leads you to the intense part of the story where the main characters have found themselves deciding to leave the company they have worked for so long.
But the end part will not be spoiled here although rather best for you to be surprised when you get this book. It is something different for Mervin to take a different approach on the storytelling that made this one of his best works that’s not titled “Tabi Po” and it would be great if he puts together horror science fiction stories of the same level of intensity.
Overall all three authors have their own unique way of telling a story and it depends on which one do you ranked them. But the entirety of this book was to share short stories that doesn’t define an ark only how you view them not only being entertained at the same time giving you the reason to appreciate their original stories.
“Bagong Buwan” is published under the Haliya Publishing featuring Julius Villanueva, Hulyen, and Mervin Malonzo now available at Comic Odyssey and Filbar’s. You can also get your copies via Haliya Publishing and for more details follow via Social Media on Facebook and Instagram!
RATING: 8.0
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