Abangan: The Best Philippine Komiks 2014

by Rob Cham (Editor), Adam David (Editor), Carljoe Javier (Editor)

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

216 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

Rob Cham is a freelance illustrator, designer, and comic artist who's done illustration works for notable publications and magazines like Rouge, Smile, Esquire, the Philippine Star. He has also worked with brands like McDonald's and Adidas. Cham has also worked with various government agencies, namely the Department of Social Welfare and Development as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Reviews

[Nicolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology of the best Philippine comics for 2014 is a handy reference guide; especially for those who want to sample the vibrant independent Philippine comics scene. One no longer has to hunt down those pamphlets, some of which are little more than pieces of copy paper folded in half and stapled. One could have a taste of some of the best sequential storytelling in one volume.

This is a great idea to bring these works to a larger audience because otherwise, most of these would only be exposed to fan who frequent the Komikon scene. Especially Dead Balagtas, a webcomic that gives a humorous slant of Philippine history. Seriously, it needs to be collected in print. Still, there is still a lot of room for improvement.

First, how could the editors of this book call it "The Best Philippine Komiks 2014"? Unless I am mistaken, I don't see any work from creators outside Luzon.

Second, it seems that this collection has a lot of previews of graphic novels published by Visprint, which is also the publisher of Abangan. It's like a primer for their titles only.

I could go on and nitpick but those two are my main concerns. I am confident, that the editors will rectify this in a new edition of new sequential tales. It is not bad for a first time.

[Mang Kimok · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oks lang. Pero parang misleading lang na sabihing "Best" na ang mga gawa dito. Parang ganito lang ang lebel ng pinakamaganda sa komiks scene (though 2014 pa 'to) kahit pa sandamakmak ang mas okay kaysa sa mga napasama dito. Gets ko naman disclaimer at point ng editors sa intro, pero nakakadismaya lang.

At tama ba ako na puro magkakaibigan (o at least higit sa magkakakilala lang personally) ang mga contributors dito? Tapos sila na ang best para sa editors na kaibigan din nila? Hmm.... Siguro hindi lang nagpasa sa kanila yung ibang aktibo (o kahit hindi pero magaling) sa eksena, o ayaw talagang mapasama sa kanila.

[Angela Sevilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yung intro na silent comics ni Manix, para sa akin effective na panimula. It leaves you wanting more. Also, the humor in 2014 and reading it in 2025? Ang refreshing! Naappreciate ko rin yung Trese, I have been planning to read it and having been able to read a part of it, I get why it got a lot pf praises when the series came out. The last comic, it was so relatable, I had to pause in between pages.

Ang ganda! Read it in literally one sitting. 🫶🏻

[Ailla Magcamit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was wary of the bold claim but I can say that the collection *really* is a good starting point for new komiks readers (and a good read for old fans).

Personally, walang tapon. Solid line up of creators. Sana nasundan para makapagsama ng iba pang mga komikero at magawa ang inclusivity na gustong i-aim ng editors para supposed next volume/s :(

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few of these I was already familiar with and already following, but most are new and I'm wondering now where the hell they could have been sold and how come I've never heard of?

Medyo nitpicky lang, pero may typo at grammatical errors 'yung iba. Not that I look down on people na halatang ESL--since hello, ESL din ako!--pero minsan kasi feeling ko trying hard na at medyo cringe-inducing.

May kuwento pa na sobrang idol ng bida sina Hitler at Marcos. Like, to each his own and all that jazz, pero... hindi masyadong sensitive, is it? Not sure what it wants to say, but it's really giving me some negative vibes. Ganda pa naman ng art style.

[Tays · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's be honest here, half of these titles here I know. The other half of it, I didn't know existed. And frankly that's quite a disappointment really. I could have been reading a bunch of great local comics for the past few years, think about it!

I'm off to hunt most of the titles I stumbled upon here now. Obviously, those one's which I'm not familiar of. See you.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the compilations of comics and stories that was worth every peso I spent for this book. Some of the excerpts made me want for more! Definitely a great addition to my shelf.

[Jobert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked only half of the collection. Pero ayos lang. Ang importante buhay ang Pinoy komiks. At dapat sinusuportahan natin to. So bili na! ^^

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some exceptional ones (ie. Trese, Diwata, 66 which deserve 5 stars), there were forgettable/so-so ones (which I will not name), and then there ones that have completely wasted my time.

[Denise Ladlad · Rating 4 out of 5]

great read although I couldn't understand some of the stories but great variety artwork