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The Mythology Class
The Mythology Class centers on University of the Philippines anthropology student Nicole Lacson, a girl who holds a passionate love for Filipino myths passed down from her grandfather. Together with a motley assortment of companions, she meets the mysterious Mrs. Enkanta and races to recapture the escaped enkantos (or supernatural creatures) in the human world. The story also invokes historical and mythological Filipino heroes like Kubin, Sulayman and Lam-ang.
Originally published by the author in four issues in 1999, the series won a Manila Critics Circle National Book Award on September 11, 2000
Originally published by the author in four issues in 1999, the series won a Manila Critics Circle National Book Award on September 11, 2000
350 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
64 people are currently reading
1398 people want to read
About the author
Arnold Arre
39 books167 followersArnold Arre (born September 2, 1971 in Metro Manila, Philippines) is a Filipino comic book writer, artist and self-taught animator best known for his graphic novels The Mythology Class (1999) and Ang Mundo ni Andong Agimat (2006).
Arnold Arre has won National Book Awards from the Manila Critics Circle for his graphic novels The Mythology Class (1999), a four-part action-adventure miniseries and Trip to Tagaytay (2000), a one-shot future fiction short story. The Mythology Class, which has been described as "genre-breaking", has the distinction of being the first graphic novel to win in the Manila Critics Circle National Book Awards Comic Books category.
Arre's other titles include the romantic comedy After Eden (2002), Ang Mundo ni Andong Agimat (2006), and "Martial Law Babies" (2008).
Aside from his comics work, Arre did numerous design and illustration jobs for various clients such as the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts and Sony BMG Music Entertainment Philippines. He also took part in local and international group exhibits and has had a one-man fantasy-themed show, Mythos in 2000.
In 2007, producer Tony Gloria of Unitel Productions optioned the film rights to Arre's novel Ang Mundo ni Andong Agimat. Arre has mentioned in an April 2014 interview that the project is still under development.
In 2011, Arre studied the art of animation and made a 4-minute short film titled Andong Agimat: Kanya ang Kalye based on the main character in his book Ang Mundo ni Andong Agimat. In November 2011 he was commissioned by Gang Badoy of Rock Ed Philippines and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to make an animated music video for Kaninong Anino in celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Filipino hero Jose Rizal. The following year, he was commissioned by Rock Ed Philippines and the NHCP to make an animated music video for Lupang Hinirang, the Philippine National Anthem which was broadcast on national television on June 12, 2012, Independence Day (Philippines).[9] In September 2012, he did a series of educational animated videos titled Tandaan. Kalayaan. Alagaan. to mark the 40th anniversary of the Philippines' freedom from Martial Law. The series was commissioned by Rock Ed Philippines and the National Youth Commission (Philippines).
In July 2013, Arre finished his first 20-minute animated short film titled Milkyboy. The film went on to win awards at the 25th Gawad CCP Para Sa Alternatibong Pelikula in November 2013, the 7th Animahenasyon (Philippine Animation Festival) in November 2013, and the 30th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF) in May 2014 where Arre was awarded the Linda Mabalot New Directors/New Visions Award, presented to a short film that demonstrates innovative and original use of cinematic language and vision.
Arre is based in Quezon City and is married to graphic designer Cynthia Bauzon.
(from http://wikipedia.com)
Arnold Arre has won National Book Awards from the Manila Critics Circle for his graphic novels The Mythology Class (1999), a four-part action-adventure miniseries and Trip to Tagaytay (2000), a one-shot future fiction short story. The Mythology Class, which has been described as "genre-breaking", has the distinction of being the first graphic novel to win in the Manila Critics Circle National Book Awards Comic Books category.
Arre's other titles include the romantic comedy After Eden (2002), Ang Mundo ni Andong Agimat (2006), and "Martial Law Babies" (2008).
Aside from his comics work, Arre did numerous design and illustration jobs for various clients such as the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts and Sony BMG Music Entertainment Philippines. He also took part in local and international group exhibits and has had a one-man fantasy-themed show, Mythos in 2000.
In 2007, producer Tony Gloria of Unitel Productions optioned the film rights to Arre's novel Ang Mundo ni Andong Agimat. Arre has mentioned in an April 2014 interview that the project is still under development.
In 2011, Arre studied the art of animation and made a 4-minute short film titled Andong Agimat: Kanya ang Kalye based on the main character in his book Ang Mundo ni Andong Agimat. In November 2011 he was commissioned by Gang Badoy of Rock Ed Philippines and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to make an animated music video for Kaninong Anino in celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Filipino hero Jose Rizal. The following year, he was commissioned by Rock Ed Philippines and the NHCP to make an animated music video for Lupang Hinirang, the Philippine National Anthem which was broadcast on national television on June 12, 2012, Independence Day (Philippines).[9] In September 2012, he did a series of educational animated videos titled Tandaan. Kalayaan. Alagaan. to mark the 40th anniversary of the Philippines' freedom from Martial Law. The series was commissioned by Rock Ed Philippines and the National Youth Commission (Philippines).
In July 2013, Arre finished his first 20-minute animated short film titled Milkyboy. The film went on to win awards at the 25th Gawad CCP Para Sa Alternatibong Pelikula in November 2013, the 7th Animahenasyon (Philippine Animation Festival) in November 2013, and the 30th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF) in May 2014 where Arre was awarded the Linda Mabalot New Directors/New Visions Award, presented to a short film that demonstrates innovative and original use of cinematic language and vision.
Arre is based in Quezon City and is married to graphic designer Cynthia Bauzon.
(from http://wikipedia.com)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
October 23, 2024
The recent Komikon, its tenth iteration and appropriately named Komikon X, saw the one of the most important book launches in recent years. It returned to print arguably the most important modern Philippine graphic novel. For its fifteenth anniversary, Chamber Shell Publishing, through its Nautilus Comics imprint brought back The Mythology Class by Arnold Arre.
I heard the hype and the legend behind this book. I figured to be the judge of that with my purchase of this phonebook-like tome from the Arre himself. I thought I prepared myself but this book made it so easy to be impressed.
This was Arre's first graphic novel but he exhibited such a tremendous mastery of the craft. His storytelling showed that he was ahead of the field almost two decades ago. Easy to see how he romped away with the first ever National Book Award for Graphic Novel in 2000.
I thought he had too large a cast but every had a role to fill and he wasted none. True, there were some room for improvement. I could cite the hand lettering but that would be nitpicking. What I do want to see is a colored edition. I've seen recent Arre work and he could do wonder with computer coloring. I would also want to see it as a hardback.
I heard the hype and the legend behind this book. I figured to be the judge of that with my purchase of this phonebook-like tome from the Arre himself. I thought I prepared myself but this book made it so easy to be impressed.
This was Arre's first graphic novel but he exhibited such a tremendous mastery of the craft. His storytelling showed that he was ahead of the field almost two decades ago. Easy to see how he romped away with the first ever National Book Award for Graphic Novel in 2000.
I thought he had too large a cast but every had a role to fill and he wasted none. True, there were some room for improvement. I could cite the hand lettering but that would be nitpicking. What I do want to see is a colored edition. I've seen recent Arre work and he could do wonder with computer coloring. I would also want to see it as a hardback.
November 16, 2014
I heard about this from my book club friends around two years ago, but it was already out of print so I knew my only chances of reading this was borrowing it from someone. Of course, that plan never materialized because it wasn't such a high priority book for me. Come Komikon 2014, I saw some friends carrying copies of the new editions of The Mythology Class during the book discussions so I made a mental note to get it afterwards. So I did (and was pleasantly surprised that Arnold Arre was there and he drew me when I asked him to sign my copy :D), and told myself I'd read it perhaps during the long December vacation.
But I couldn't wait, so I read it today.
Halfway through reading, I didn't want it to end.
A few hours later, I was done, and now I understand why my friends were raving about this. The Mythology Class is so, so good. I loved all the characters and their quirkiness. I love the idea of a group of kids called on a quest that brings them into the world of Philippine myth and folklore. I loved everything about this, and I felt good chills and part sadness when I reached the end because I really didn't want this to end.
It's so, so, good. :)
Don't forget the stories I've told you. Can you do that for Lolo? For who knows, maybe someday you might find yourself in one of them.
But I couldn't wait, so I read it today.
Halfway through reading, I didn't want it to end.
A few hours later, I was done, and now I understand why my friends were raving about this. The Mythology Class is so, so good. I loved all the characters and their quirkiness. I love the idea of a group of kids called on a quest that brings them into the world of Philippine myth and folklore. I loved everything about this, and I felt good chills and part sadness when I reached the end because I really didn't want this to end.
It's so, so, good. :)
Don't forget the stories I've told you. Can you do that for Lolo? For who knows, maybe someday you might find yourself in one of them.
November 23, 2024
I think we as a Filipino society have been sleeping on this masterpiece for far too long. I don't even think this gets nearly as much praise and attention as Tan and Baldisimo's Trese when it deserves paralleled adulation. Mythology Class is incredibly rich in story, with flawed and funny characters you can't help but root for, and runs at a breakneck pace that will have you turning page after page despite being dialogue-heavy. The artwork is astounding too—blending a nostalgic classic style with a more modern approach when it comes to the fantastical elements. I mean, wow, reading this was like watching a movie!! Highly, highly recommended!
September 24, 2018
The Mythology Class is a testament of two things: it shows the potential of good-quality Filipino graphic literature and the richness of Philippine mythology and folklore. It is a well-researched and fully realized work of Arnold Arre, one of the top-caliber writer/artists here in the Philippines.
This thick volume tells the story of a group of youngsters in their quest to capture all the mythical beasts that are released into this world. Guided by some ancient epic characters, this "class" must fight their way to save the world from a looming dark invasion.
The plot may have been the world's most used superhero/fantasy trope you have ever seen. It felt like Scooby-doo meets Fantastic Beasts meets Ghostbusters. But this is not my biggest gripe with The Mythology Class. It's that the characters are some of the most underdeveloped, cut-out, generic characters I have ever read. Their stories are so uninsipired and uninteresting that I wished the book could have gone back to its beast-capturing moments. I feel really so bad saying this, but it's a matter of personal opinion.
Mythology Class, like most of Arre's works is written in English, which takes away a bit of sincerity in dialogue since we are not really native speakers of the language. But the good thing is that it can be appeciated by a wider audience.
Readers who are interested with Philippine mythology and what it has to offer (believe me, our mythology is vast and so rich) must have this graphic novel on their reading list. You may start googling terms like "tikbalang", "kapre", "Lam-Ang" and "Manunggul". You may even fancy writing words using our own "Baybayin" characters. If what you found out makes you at least curious, then grab a copy of this book.
This thick volume tells the story of a group of youngsters in their quest to capture all the mythical beasts that are released into this world. Guided by some ancient epic characters, this "class" must fight their way to save the world from a looming dark invasion.
The plot may have been the world's most used superhero/fantasy trope you have ever seen. It felt like Scooby-doo meets Fantastic Beasts meets Ghostbusters. But this is not my biggest gripe with The Mythology Class. It's that the characters are some of the most underdeveloped, cut-out, generic characters I have ever read. Their stories are so uninsipired and uninteresting that I wished the book could have gone back to its beast-capturing moments. I feel really so bad saying this, but it's a matter of personal opinion.
Mythology Class, like most of Arre's works is written in English, which takes away a bit of sincerity in dialogue since we are not really native speakers of the language. But the good thing is that it can be appeciated by a wider audience.
Readers who are interested with Philippine mythology and what it has to offer (believe me, our mythology is vast and so rich) must have this graphic novel on their reading list. You may start googling terms like "tikbalang", "kapre", "Lam-Ang" and "Manunggul". You may even fancy writing words using our own "Baybayin" characters. If what you found out makes you at least curious, then grab a copy of this book.
November 17, 2014
GUYS DROP THOSE BORING BOOKS AND READ THIS. NOW! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.
I REPEAT - YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED
Forgive me, I am on high~♥
I REPEAT - YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED
Forgive me, I am on high~♥
April 26, 2009
"But if there is one thing missing from this age... it's magic. The world has changed so much that we started creating our own magic."
The story centers on UP anthropology student Nicole Lacson, a girl who holds a passionate love for Filipino myths passed down from her grandfather. Together with a motley assortment of companions, she meets the mysterious Mrs. Enkanta and races to recapture the escaped enkantos (or supernatural creatures) in the human world. The story also invokes historical and mythological Filipino heroes like Kubin, Sulayman and Lam-ang.
Kudos to Arre, who instead of alluding to overused characters of Western lore, he draws from the deep wells of our very own Philippine mythology and has come up with the utterly fantastical "The Mythology Class". It is a local contribution to the local comic book world not to be missed. It has sought to combine Filipino myths and legends with modern humor, action and sensibility and indeed, it has suceeded in more ways than one.
Book Details:
Title The Mythology Class
Author Arnold Arre
Reviewed By Purplycookie
The story centers on UP anthropology student Nicole Lacson, a girl who holds a passionate love for Filipino myths passed down from her grandfather. Together with a motley assortment of companions, she meets the mysterious Mrs. Enkanta and races to recapture the escaped enkantos (or supernatural creatures) in the human world. The story also invokes historical and mythological Filipino heroes like Kubin, Sulayman and Lam-ang.
Kudos to Arre, who instead of alluding to overused characters of Western lore, he draws from the deep wells of our very own Philippine mythology and has come up with the utterly fantastical "The Mythology Class". It is a local contribution to the local comic book world not to be missed. It has sought to combine Filipino myths and legends with modern humor, action and sensibility and indeed, it has suceeded in more ways than one.
Book Details:
Title The Mythology Class
Author Arnold Arre
Reviewed By Purplycookie
July 22, 2014
Seriously? Slow clap and standing ovation, you guys.
I am so disappointed I've only read this now. ANG GALING MO, ARNOLD ARRE. ANG GANDA NITO SOBRA.
This book is crafted to relive the now gone and buried mythological stories of our country. I've enjoyed this sobra! I can read this over and over again. It's action-packed, rich in Filipino culture and mythology, the hilarious sense of humor, and amazing art!
I am so disappointed I've only read this now. ANG GALING MO, ARNOLD ARRE. ANG GANDA NITO SOBRA.
This book is crafted to relive the now gone and buried mythological stories of our country. I've enjoyed this sobra! I can read this over and over again. It's action-packed, rich in Filipino culture and mythology, the hilarious sense of humor, and amazing art!
April 28, 2020
3.5 stars! I’ve never read a graphic novel quite like this one before, but I really enjoyed it. The plot set-up, the characters, and the integration of Filipino lore and history — all of it was so fun to read. Would have liked to see the characters and lore developed more, but can see why this format limited that!
June 27, 2011
As usual, Arnold Arre does not disappoint.
I will always, always remember with a smile the quirky name of this book, "Mythology Class", mostly because it's true. Even though there are interestingly awe-inspiring, incredibly dramatic, definitely heart-pounding events in this book, at the heart of it all we find a band of "students" who learn more about the mythological world of the Philippines.
Read this book, if only to reorient yourself in the Filipino tales of old. Read this book, if only to behold the awesomeness of Filipino lore and ancient history. Read this book, if only to be carried by a love that... that... Oh, it just brings tears in my eyes to remember that love.
The art is great, as usual. The book is a very informative guide to Filipino legendary mythological creatures. The story is really quite gripping, with its action, humor, drama and suspense. (I think I did quite shed a tear in the end.) There's an array of characters, from the smart and simple to the extremely haughty. The storytelling- simply superb.
This book is just truly a gem, and an overall wonderful read.
[I gave my copy to a friend, so this review is made from memory. It's one of the best books I've ever read, so I'd like to think that I've reviewed this right :)]
I will always, always remember with a smile the quirky name of this book, "Mythology Class", mostly because it's true. Even though there are interestingly awe-inspiring, incredibly dramatic, definitely heart-pounding events in this book, at the heart of it all we find a band of "students" who learn more about the mythological world of the Philippines.
Read this book, if only to reorient yourself in the Filipino tales of old. Read this book, if only to behold the awesomeness of Filipino lore and ancient history. Read this book, if only to be carried by a love that... that... Oh, it just brings tears in my eyes to remember that love.
The art is great, as usual. The book is a very informative guide to Filipino legendary mythological creatures. The story is really quite gripping, with its action, humor, drama and suspense. (I think I did quite shed a tear in the end.) There's an array of characters, from the smart and simple to the extremely haughty. The storytelling- simply superb.
This book is just truly a gem, and an overall wonderful read.
[I gave my copy to a friend, so this review is made from memory. It's one of the best books I've ever read, so I'd like to think that I've reviewed this right :)]
August 2, 2018
I find it tricky to track down Arre’s graphic novels, so I was excited to discover a reprint of one of his earlier works at Fully Booked a couple months back! Though Martial Law Babies remains my favorite of his graphic novels, I quickly got lost in Arre’s story that blends Philippine myth and folklore with a modern-day Manila.
There is not enough modern literature out there that plays with the tales of tikbalangs and aswangs and heroes like Sulayman. I’m still waiting for a young, bright Filipino or Filipina author to write riveting young adults books delving into the rich folklore of this country. Unlike the mythology of many countries, this spirit world is still very much alive in the Philippines and the material is vast with the surface barely scratched. I hope aspiring writers follow in Arre’s footsteps and bring these tales to life!
There is not enough modern literature out there that plays with the tales of tikbalangs and aswangs and heroes like Sulayman. I’m still waiting for a young, bright Filipino or Filipina author to write riveting young adults books delving into the rich folklore of this country. Unlike the mythology of many countries, this spirit world is still very much alive in the Philippines and the material is vast with the surface barely scratched. I hope aspiring writers follow in Arre’s footsteps and bring these tales to life!
June 15, 2017
Friend loaned me this book.
It's interesting for some background into Filipino mythology.
I begin to think something may be wrong with me + graphic novels, but I ... I just don't like them that much.
I felt this one had too many one-dimensional characters, the plot seemed to be all over the place, I didn't have much investment in ... well, anything in the book.
I guess some interesting art/ideas but ideas that seemed like I should be able to fill in the details or know why this point in the story was important: which I couldn't/didn't.
It's interesting for some background into Filipino mythology.
I begin to think something may be wrong with me + graphic novels, but I ... I just don't like them that much.
I felt this one had too many one-dimensional characters, the plot seemed to be all over the place, I didn't have much investment in ... well, anything in the book.
I guess some interesting art/ideas but ideas that seemed like I should be able to fill in the details or know why this point in the story was important: which I couldn't/didn't.
August 4, 2017
"Anyone who loves Philippine folklore would enjoy Arre’s fantastical and visually mesmerizing story about a motley crew of university students with unique skills and talents who gets caught up in an ancient quest to capture all sorts of magical creatures in urban Metro Manila. Aside from the fantasy elements, there’s also comedy, a whole lot of action and even romance! (Oh, the romance!)" Continue reading our review here.
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Please note: We don't use ratings but for this purpose, we tag books with three stars by default.
Would like to be a reviewer/contributor to Bookbed? Sign up here!
We also accept review requests. More info here.
May 5, 2024
Hmmm...where to start?...Gritty, shadowy world, part steampunk, with a real 80s style, busy, lively panels crammed with life and activity. These dark and murky shenanigins soon got the better of me with overcrowded panels and there were just too many characters to keep track of and I really struggled to keep up with it and by the end I was glad to get the adventure over with.
April 5, 2013
i had a dream. a ghost lady was calling me and told me i was needed. i, along with a few others had dreamt of the same ghost and were called to attend a particular class. this was the class that helped me get away from it all. the best class i’ve attended yet. short-lived, yet enchanting.
so there i was at crack of dawn, roused by the ghost lady’s visit in my dream, found a flyer directing me to the location of this particular class, took a quick shower and went straight to krus na ligas–the venue of our class. there i met my would-be friends who happened to be visited by the same ghost lady (named Tala) while they were sleeping and found the same flyer directing them to krus na ligas. (turned out that the flyers were imaginary. only those people called were able to see and read it.)
from there, we were welcomed by our professor, Mrs.Enkanta and were told of our mission: to save the world from mythological creatures presently roaming our land, lest we want some ass-looking dog-forming aswang rule our land (so very happening, ain’t it?). these creatures do not belong to our world, and they need to be returned to theirs. and there i was, together with my extraordinary classmates and Rajah Sulayman, now gray-haired, texted the dawn away, while trying to catch a clan of kapres, hideous manananggals and a kewl concert-attending, stoned, untamed tikbalang.
A Tikbalang is a half-horse and half-man creature. Its head is the horse part, and its body is of human form.
A Manananggal is a sorceress who has the power to divide her body into two.
The Kapre, which is a tall and dark giant, are known to inhabit forests. Kapres tend to smoke tobacco leaves, that is why some superstitious Filipinos living in rural areas are very sensitive about tobacco smell.
And that was my Mythology Class.
——————————————–
magical/entrancing/lingering. words to describe my latest read, arnold arre’s graphic novel The Mythology Class. finished in one seating, before sunrise. i was entertained, so yes, it was worth the P525 i shelled for this novel–P25 higher when i first saw it (di ko pa kasi binili nun eh!).
excellent graphics and visuals. nice dialogue. superb characters–each stood out and displayed their individual talents and gifts. magical setting. beautiful story. (words coming from someone not fond of comic books).
for a while i forgot where exactly i was, what exactly is going on. although the setting was never really far from reality (in the novel, the evil’s lair was located at asia’s largest mall–the plaza of the gods, which reminded me so much of henry sy’s pride–the mall of asia), i was taken to the world of people i only hear when i was still in old school: Sulayman, Lam-ang, Maria Makiling, Bathala, even Pedro Penduko. enjoyed every minute, every page.
I never realized that Philippine mythology is so rich, the book made me want to learn more about it. Mr.Arre, you rock pare, i will/can never see the noypi folklore the same way again.
All of you who want to escape, grab a copy now! Had enough of dog-forming, ass-kissing aswangs? You’ll see more of ‘em in the book. Only, you’ll see how they’re put in their proper place here. Now, that’s rakenrol. (review June 22, 2006).
so there i was at crack of dawn, roused by the ghost lady’s visit in my dream, found a flyer directing me to the location of this particular class, took a quick shower and went straight to krus na ligas–the venue of our class. there i met my would-be friends who happened to be visited by the same ghost lady (named Tala) while they were sleeping and found the same flyer directing them to krus na ligas. (turned out that the flyers were imaginary. only those people called were able to see and read it.)
from there, we were welcomed by our professor, Mrs.Enkanta and were told of our mission: to save the world from mythological creatures presently roaming our land, lest we want some ass-looking dog-forming aswang rule our land (so very happening, ain’t it?). these creatures do not belong to our world, and they need to be returned to theirs. and there i was, together with my extraordinary classmates and Rajah Sulayman, now gray-haired, texted the dawn away, while trying to catch a clan of kapres, hideous manananggals and a kewl concert-attending, stoned, untamed tikbalang.
A Tikbalang is a half-horse and half-man creature. Its head is the horse part, and its body is of human form.
A Manananggal is a sorceress who has the power to divide her body into two.
The Kapre, which is a tall and dark giant, are known to inhabit forests. Kapres tend to smoke tobacco leaves, that is why some superstitious Filipinos living in rural areas are very sensitive about tobacco smell.
And that was my Mythology Class.
——————————————–
magical/entrancing/lingering. words to describe my latest read, arnold arre’s graphic novel The Mythology Class. finished in one seating, before sunrise. i was entertained, so yes, it was worth the P525 i shelled for this novel–P25 higher when i first saw it (di ko pa kasi binili nun eh!).
excellent graphics and visuals. nice dialogue. superb characters–each stood out and displayed their individual talents and gifts. magical setting. beautiful story. (words coming from someone not fond of comic books).
for a while i forgot where exactly i was, what exactly is going on. although the setting was never really far from reality (in the novel, the evil’s lair was located at asia’s largest mall–the plaza of the gods, which reminded me so much of henry sy’s pride–the mall of asia), i was taken to the world of people i only hear when i was still in old school: Sulayman, Lam-ang, Maria Makiling, Bathala, even Pedro Penduko. enjoyed every minute, every page.
I never realized that Philippine mythology is so rich, the book made me want to learn more about it. Mr.Arre, you rock pare, i will/can never see the noypi folklore the same way again.
All of you who want to escape, grab a copy now! Had enough of dog-forming, ass-kissing aswangs? You’ll see more of ‘em in the book. Only, you’ll see how they’re put in their proper place here. Now, that’s rakenrol. (review June 22, 2006).
October 16, 2022
"A man merely has to look up into the heavens to known how small and helpless he is compared to the one true 'Eternal'".
The Mythology Class is a graphic novel deeply inspired by Filipino mythology, and it is a masterpiece of Filipino comics. Set in modern day circa early 2000s Manila, a ragtag group of university students from all different paths of life suddenly find themselves having strange dreams and even stranger experiences until they have been brought together by legends as old as time in order to capture and banish the creatures that continue to populate the human world. Think of The Avengers meets Ghostbusters, as that is how I would describe it.
I don't really often read a lot of graphic novels, but this one captured my interest because it was a modern take on Filipino mythology and the book itself has already garnered a lot of praise and awards - and it very much deserved it. I was unable to put the book down because not only was the artwork gorgeous, but the story itself was so compelling and even educational! Even though I'm not that all familiar with all the myths of my country, the author was able to supplement the story with both very popular personalities and stories (such as Rajah Sulayman) and minor tales and folklore. I also didn't even expect to secretly harbor a new fictional crush on a graphic novel character lol.
Even though I liked that this book was written in English with a few mixes of Tagalog and Baybayin, I feel like I would have enjoyed this a whole lot more if it was purely written in Filipino. There are just some ideas that don't fit well when it's translated in English.
This graphic novel is a new favorite of mine, and I would have loved to have read this book back in my younger years. I didn't expect that the copy I received was a reprint and modernized version, since this book was first published back in 1999! It just proves that the story still works for its readers even after all these years. I highly recommend and encourage everyone to read this - not just to Filipino readers.
The Mythology Class is a graphic novel deeply inspired by Filipino mythology, and it is a masterpiece of Filipino comics. Set in modern day circa early 2000s Manila, a ragtag group of university students from all different paths of life suddenly find themselves having strange dreams and even stranger experiences until they have been brought together by legends as old as time in order to capture and banish the creatures that continue to populate the human world. Think of The Avengers meets Ghostbusters, as that is how I would describe it.
I don't really often read a lot of graphic novels, but this one captured my interest because it was a modern take on Filipino mythology and the book itself has already garnered a lot of praise and awards - and it very much deserved it. I was unable to put the book down because not only was the artwork gorgeous, but the story itself was so compelling and even educational! Even though I'm not that all familiar with all the myths of my country, the author was able to supplement the story with both very popular personalities and stories (such as Rajah Sulayman) and minor tales and folklore. I also didn't even expect to secretly harbor a new fictional crush on a graphic novel character lol.
Even though I liked that this book was written in English with a few mixes of Tagalog and Baybayin, I feel like I would have enjoyed this a whole lot more if it was purely written in Filipino. There are just some ideas that don't fit well when it's translated in English.
This graphic novel is a new favorite of mine, and I would have loved to have read this book back in my younger years. I didn't expect that the copy I received was a reprint and modernized version, since this book was first published back in 1999! It just proves that the story still works for its readers even after all these years. I highly recommend and encourage everyone to read this - not just to Filipino readers.
September 2, 2018
A cast of college students, old aged teachers and a familiar yet a new and extraordinary view of the local mythology, the story introduces us once again to those familiar tales. A time before the battle of Mactan took place. The era where the gods of nature took reign and the enkantos were still believed to be true by many.
Mrs. Enkanta, Nicole and the rest of the group will truly be a memorable adventure that Arre has luckily invited us to join.
A story written more than a decade ago, the class always feels new and old. It's an adventure that Bathala calls all of us to accept.
More of my review at:
http://onemantra.blogspot.com/2016/02...
Mrs. Enkanta, Nicole and the rest of the group will truly be a memorable adventure that Arre has luckily invited us to join.
A story written more than a decade ago, the class always feels new and old. It's an adventure that Bathala calls all of us to accept.
More of my review at:
http://onemantra.blogspot.com/2016/02...
August 25, 2025
August 2025
Third time reading and the story is still magical.
November 2024
2nd time reading and the story is still as great when I read it the first time. There is something magical and fascinating in how Arnold Arre tells a story through his illustrations and art.
Third time reading and the story is still magical.
November 2024
2nd time reading and the story is still as great when I read it the first time. There is something magical and fascinating in how Arnold Arre tells a story through his illustrations and art.
Read
February 29, 2024disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
• graphic novel of college students on a quest
• first published as four different volumes in 1999
• based in Filipino mythology, legend & folklore
• tales of tikbalangs, aswangs & heroes like Sulayman
• set in real world Manila with fantastical, magical elements
• reminiscent of many other comic book plots & undertones
• themes of youth, friendship, magic, imagination and dreaming
• Tala, Nicole, Rey, Misha, Kubin, Gina & the rest of the characters are a bit underdeveloped (but this is a pretty quick read) but are still incredibly fun to get to know through this limited collection!
• these college students pick up the torch & must capture all the mythical beasts that are released into the world
• some of the English may feel “lost in translation” but I found the humor & energy to be so delightful
First of all, the illustrations are INCREDIBLE🤩 let’s just get that out of the way haha
Second of all, this was a fun rollercoaster ride! I would love to see this come to life as a tv series or even with other Filipino authors picking up the torch to continue the story, whether that’s in graphic novel or novel form!
• graphic novel of college students on a quest
• first published as four different volumes in 1999
• based in Filipino mythology, legend & folklore
• tales of tikbalangs, aswangs & heroes like Sulayman
• set in real world Manila with fantastical, magical elements
• reminiscent of many other comic book plots & undertones
• themes of youth, friendship, magic, imagination and dreaming
• Tala, Nicole, Rey, Misha, Kubin, Gina & the rest of the characters are a bit underdeveloped (but this is a pretty quick read) but are still incredibly fun to get to know through this limited collection!
• these college students pick up the torch & must capture all the mythical beasts that are released into the world
• some of the English may feel “lost in translation” but I found the humor & energy to be so delightful
First of all, the illustrations are INCREDIBLE🤩 let’s just get that out of the way haha
Second of all, this was a fun rollercoaster ride! I would love to see this come to life as a tv series or even with other Filipino authors picking up the torch to continue the story, whether that’s in graphic novel or novel form!
May 25, 2025
*4.5 stars*
My dad bought my sister and I this book when the Trese animated series went out. He told me I should read it but I unfortunately never picked it up - until now.
I decided to read it initially bc i felt bad about never picking it up, but now... damn it's really good. I remember being young and wishing the Philippines could have a book like the Percy Jackson Series (although right now I think we have Janus Silang? I do plan to read it), and honestly I think The Mythology Class does it for me (even if this is a graphic novel and not a written novel).
I not only enjoyed reading about engkantos and aswangs, but also really loved how I knew the places illustrated. Seeing a some places illustrated (esp UP Diliman!) and getting that feeling of "damn... I've been there" made me feel like the story actually happened, like it was real.
Love the adventure, love the characters. I will definitely be reading the next two graphic novels in this series.
P.S.
When Kubin wielded that kris sword
.... Nicole, I get you gurlie.
My dad bought my sister and I this book when the Trese animated series went out. He told me I should read it but I unfortunately never picked it up - until now.
I decided to read it initially bc i felt bad about never picking it up, but now... damn it's really good. I remember being young and wishing the Philippines could have a book like the Percy Jackson Series (although right now I think we have Janus Silang? I do plan to read it), and honestly I think The Mythology Class does it for me (even if this is a graphic novel and not a written novel).
I not only enjoyed reading about engkantos and aswangs, but also really loved how I knew the places illustrated. Seeing a some places illustrated (esp UP Diliman!) and getting that feeling of "damn... I've been there" made me feel like the story actually happened, like it was real.
Love the adventure, love the characters. I will definitely be reading the next two graphic novels in this series.
P.S.
When Kubin wielded that kris sword
.... Nicole, I get you gurlie.
August 30, 2025
from all of the filipino graphic novel and komiks i’ve been reading, i cannot express how much these gems are being slept on!
the mythology class is an action-packed + fast-paced story that centers UP anthropology student nicole lacson & her companions as they race to recapture enkantos who have escaped & are wreaking havoc in the human world.
i loved how this gave me such a nostalgic feeling from revisiting the myths + folklore i grew up hearing about. seeing these stories reimagined & brought to life in such a vivid + modern way felt like such a treat. arre’s illustrations felt incredibly alive and added so much depth to the adventure.
i also loved how the humor balanced out the darker, more intense moments. the ending had that classic filipino sense of humor, and it was such a satisfying way to wrap the story up.
the mythology class is an action-packed + fast-paced story that centers UP anthropology student nicole lacson & her companions as they race to recapture enkantos who have escaped & are wreaking havoc in the human world.
i loved how this gave me such a nostalgic feeling from revisiting the myths + folklore i grew up hearing about. seeing these stories reimagined & brought to life in such a vivid + modern way felt like such a treat. arre’s illustrations felt incredibly alive and added so much depth to the adventure.
i also loved how the humor balanced out the darker, more intense moments. the ending had that classic filipino sense of humor, and it was such a satisfying way to wrap the story up.
October 16, 2018
“The Mythology Class” by Arnold Arre tackles Philippine Mythology, but it is also about how stories stay with us and how we often remember those who we love through the same stories that they narrate to us. There are various characters in here that are worth remembering, and the world that the author has built inside of these pages is a magical one, even nostalgic at times, despite not having the same experiences as the main character and also regardless of one’s belief of whether or not such creatures exist.
My actual rating for this is 4.25/5 stars.
My actual rating for this is 4.25/5 stars.
April 22, 2025
In Summary
The Mythology Class is an award-winning Filipino graphic novel from the 1990s about 11 college students chosen by the gods to defend the modern age from rogue mythic creatures. Their action-packed adventure is reminiscent of American comics, but the story requires a degree of familiarity with Filipino culture and folklore to fully appreciate. Tuttle Publishing’s release does not provide any translation or cultural notes, but if you’re willing to do some Google searches as you read, you can follow along on this Filipino fantasy quest.
The Review
Mysterious dreams and a strange class pamphlet bring eleven college students to a building far from university grounds. But instead of a professor, four figures from Philippine legend appear before them. And instead of a curriculum, they present the students with a quest: capture enkantos, mythical beings that have invaded the human world.
As you might guess from the Where Philippine Legends Become Reality subtitle, this is a Filipino fantasy story. It is set in the Philippines, has a Filipino cast, and draws heavily from Filipino legend and folklore. It was also created by a Filipino artist for a Filipino audience.
Because the text is in English, non-Filipino audiences can read the story. However, the graphic novel provides no translation or cultural notes, and it assumes readers have a certain familiarity with Filipino culture. For instance, one character speaks exclusively in Tagalog, and you can’t tell from the context what he says. Also, there is a joke toward the end that only makes sense if you know “asusena” means “dog meat.” Several times when the ancient interacts with the modern, dialogue is written in Babayin (also untranslated), and the nuance of using that pre-colonial Filipino script will be lost on those unfamiliar with it. Readers are also expected to know what kapres and aswangs are, the way Western fantasy readers are expected to know what elves and dwarves are.
If the artwork looks old-school, that’s because it is. According to the foreword, The Mythology Class was originally released as a four-volume series in 1999. At the time, its metropolitan Manila backdrop with its gargantuan Plaza of the Gods shopping mall was probably intended to reflect a near future setting, but it will probably come off as retro because of its clunky desktop computers, flip phones, and lack of Bluetooth.
Also retro are the illustrations themselves. Everything is hand-drawn and hand-lettered. In dialogue bubbles, you can see places where guidelines weren’t completely erased and where the artist’s pen started running out of ink. Moreover, there are no screen tones. All crosshatching, shading, and other effects are created with pen and ink. Although drawings may not look as sophisticated or sleek as more recent works, the visual impacts are impressive given the constraints of the media.
The book has a comic book format similar to American titles and is read left to right. However, the content is entirely black-and-white. The book is also dense. Not only is it over 300 pages, most pages are crammed with dialogue bubbles, narration blocks, and panels. With very few exceptions, each page takes a while to read. This is not a work someone can skim through. In particular, the opening is slow due to the immense world-building info dump that takes place up front.
This is due in part to the enormous cast. The main ensemble consists of no less than eleven college students and their four heroes-of-old guides. These 15 individuals are introduced in the first 36 pages, which gives you an idea of how much information each page must carry.
The college students are an ensemble cast that honestly could’ve been smaller. They are too numerous to fully flesh out so they mainly play the stereotypes of warriors, techies, psychic, and annoying idiot. The only ones that get a character arc are Nicole, the anthropology student with a lifelong obsession with Philippine mythology, and, to a smaller extent, Gina, the abused drudge of an escaped enkanto.
Calling them to and guiding them on this quest are the four time-traveling heroes. The narrative spends scant time explaining who Datimbang, Kubin, Aili, and Sulayman are; it expects you to know who them the way Western books assume familiarity with Hercules or King Arthur. It also doesn’t spend much time on the gathering process; the time-travelers simply summon those particular students because they been specially chosen by the gods.
Once the group is formed, the story dives into action, mainly their adventures capturing the creatures that have invaded the human world. Each creature has different qualities, so the team must devise new strategies for each target. Because ancients are working with modern folks, they utilize a mix of magic, traditional weapons, and circa 1990s technology. By the way, the time-travelers provide their protégés with knowledge and equipment, but they don’t grant them supernatural powers. Thus, all our college students are ordinary people, with the exception of Lane, who had psychic powers before the adventure began.
The encounters with these supernatural targets are the meat of the graphic novel. Despite the creator’s tendency to be overly wordy, these clashes deliver the action and thrills of a summer blockbuster. They also come with the comic dialogue common to action movies. Most of these exchanges are funny, but the squabbles between uber-annoying Misha and her ex-boyfriend Rey get old fast, as do the jokes with Misha as the butt.
In terms of the conclusion, the enkantos quest wraps up tidily, and Nicole’s character and romance arcs get a satisfying end. Not so satisfying are two other relationship arcs. Rey and Misha were pretty screaming insults at each other 90 percent of the book, so their abrupt reconciliation at the end felt like cheating. Also lacking was Gina’s abrupt reconciliation with the enkanto Nuno. Nuno had a history of being physically and verbally abusive to Gina, and the scene on page 167 where he blames Gina for his violence toward her could be triggering for some.
This graphic novel contains violence, swearing, and smoking. There is no sex, but the creator gets fan-servicey in a couple of places with his female characters.
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
The Mythology Class is an award-winning Filipino graphic novel from the 1990s about 11 college students chosen by the gods to defend the modern age from rogue mythic creatures. Their action-packed adventure is reminiscent of American comics, but the story requires a degree of familiarity with Filipino culture and folklore to fully appreciate. Tuttle Publishing’s release does not provide any translation or cultural notes, but if you’re willing to do some Google searches as you read, you can follow along on this Filipino fantasy quest.
The Review
Mysterious dreams and a strange class pamphlet bring eleven college students to a building far from university grounds. But instead of a professor, four figures from Philippine legend appear before them. And instead of a curriculum, they present the students with a quest: capture enkantos, mythical beings that have invaded the human world.
As you might guess from the Where Philippine Legends Become Reality subtitle, this is a Filipino fantasy story. It is set in the Philippines, has a Filipino cast, and draws heavily from Filipino legend and folklore. It was also created by a Filipino artist for a Filipino audience.
Because the text is in English, non-Filipino audiences can read the story. However, the graphic novel provides no translation or cultural notes, and it assumes readers have a certain familiarity with Filipino culture. For instance, one character speaks exclusively in Tagalog, and you can’t tell from the context what he says. Also, there is a joke toward the end that only makes sense if you know “asusena” means “dog meat.” Several times when the ancient interacts with the modern, dialogue is written in Babayin (also untranslated), and the nuance of using that pre-colonial Filipino script will be lost on those unfamiliar with it. Readers are also expected to know what kapres and aswangs are, the way Western fantasy readers are expected to know what elves and dwarves are.
If the artwork looks old-school, that’s because it is. According to the foreword, The Mythology Class was originally released as a four-volume series in 1999. At the time, its metropolitan Manila backdrop with its gargantuan Plaza of the Gods shopping mall was probably intended to reflect a near future setting, but it will probably come off as retro because of its clunky desktop computers, flip phones, and lack of Bluetooth.
Also retro are the illustrations themselves. Everything is hand-drawn and hand-lettered. In dialogue bubbles, you can see places where guidelines weren’t completely erased and where the artist’s pen started running out of ink. Moreover, there are no screen tones. All crosshatching, shading, and other effects are created with pen and ink. Although drawings may not look as sophisticated or sleek as more recent works, the visual impacts are impressive given the constraints of the media.
The book has a comic book format similar to American titles and is read left to right. However, the content is entirely black-and-white. The book is also dense. Not only is it over 300 pages, most pages are crammed with dialogue bubbles, narration blocks, and panels. With very few exceptions, each page takes a while to read. This is not a work someone can skim through. In particular, the opening is slow due to the immense world-building info dump that takes place up front.
This is due in part to the enormous cast. The main ensemble consists of no less than eleven college students and their four heroes-of-old guides. These 15 individuals are introduced in the first 36 pages, which gives you an idea of how much information each page must carry.
The college students are an ensemble cast that honestly could’ve been smaller. They are too numerous to fully flesh out so they mainly play the stereotypes of warriors, techies, psychic, and annoying idiot. The only ones that get a character arc are Nicole, the anthropology student with a lifelong obsession with Philippine mythology, and, to a smaller extent, Gina, the abused drudge of an escaped enkanto.
Calling them to and guiding them on this quest are the four time-traveling heroes. The narrative spends scant time explaining who Datimbang, Kubin, Aili, and Sulayman are; it expects you to know who them the way Western books assume familiarity with Hercules or King Arthur. It also doesn’t spend much time on the gathering process; the time-travelers simply summon those particular students because they been specially chosen by the gods.
Once the group is formed, the story dives into action, mainly their adventures capturing the creatures that have invaded the human world. Each creature has different qualities, so the team must devise new strategies for each target. Because ancients are working with modern folks, they utilize a mix of magic, traditional weapons, and circa 1990s technology. By the way, the time-travelers provide their protégés with knowledge and equipment, but they don’t grant them supernatural powers. Thus, all our college students are ordinary people, with the exception of Lane, who had psychic powers before the adventure began.
The encounters with these supernatural targets are the meat of the graphic novel. Despite the creator’s tendency to be overly wordy, these clashes deliver the action and thrills of a summer blockbuster. They also come with the comic dialogue common to action movies. Most of these exchanges are funny, but the squabbles between uber-annoying Misha and her ex-boyfriend Rey get old fast, as do the jokes with Misha as the butt.
In terms of the conclusion, the enkantos quest wraps up tidily, and Nicole’s character and romance arcs get a satisfying end. Not so satisfying are two other relationship arcs. Rey and Misha were pretty screaming insults at each other 90 percent of the book, so their abrupt reconciliation at the end felt like cheating. Also lacking was Gina’s abrupt reconciliation with the enkanto Nuno. Nuno had a history of being physically and verbally abusive to Gina, and the scene on page 167 where he blames Gina for his violence toward her could be triggering for some.
This graphic novel contains violence, swearing, and smoking. There is no sex, but the creator gets fan-servicey in a couple of places with his female characters.
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2014
Out of all the Goodreads reviews, am I the only one who gave it 3 stars? I don't know, if I probably read it before reading After Eden, or before Trese or Mythspace came, I'll probably rate it higher, but reading it right now - the concept really doesn't feel fresh to me. Or maybe I was just too emotionally invested with Arre's other work, After Eden, and was expecting the same feels. Don't get me wrong though, I'm bummed out every time I had to close the book for I while from reading it during my morning and evening commute. It was that interesting.
October 11, 2015
This was a very engrossing read that I would highly recommend to anyone. It's easy to see how this book helped usher in the current comic scene we're enjoying right now, because it's definitely inspiring, and serves as an eye opener on how you can infuse our rich local mythology and update it to contemporary times. This is required reading, IMO.
January 31, 2021
i think i expected too much from this, especially because i read a review about how aa is very detailed with the illustrations. i guess i was expecting junji ito level of details whatsoever. also, the climax or is it even the climax, wasn't serving me enough to get me there, you know? almost like, im fine with not finishing the book.
March 1, 2021
Interesting ! Could have been better if drawn by a good illustrator.
The artwork is poor
The artwork is poor
July 17, 2025
A book about Filipino mythology, it has nice characters and the plot was good
November 5, 2019
A very good and interesting read but I would have loved to read it in Filipino/tagalog.
The story was unique, but you would need to have knowledge about Filipino myths to relate to it and enjoy it more.
more criticism and spoilers follow...
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I have a lot of questions, though... in tagalog though...
- bakit iisang tao lang ang nagtatagalog?
mas maganda sana kung tagalog siya singce philippine myth, pero okay lang naman in english, pero bakit may isang nagtatagalog, at ang character pa nya ay tipong boy sa kanto na kaya nagtatagalog ay dahil `di sya marunong mag-inggles.
So, ang dating, puro english speaking lang ang mga tao sa paligid niya?
O gustong ipalabas na ang mga nag-i-inggles ay supposed to be speaking in tagalog -- pero translated version `to kaya english sila, at ang nag-iisang tagalog ang salita ay supposed to be speaking in different filipino language -- like bisaya?
- sana may small translations para sa mga baybayin words <3
- si Lam-Ang lumabas sa tubig at nanguha ng damit sa basura, pero nagka-taga sya (o kung ano man tawag doon) tapos sa malayo ang nakasabit sa hip nya (a right side) ay mukhang itak lang (iba ang dulo)
sorry, small details, I know XD
- ang explanation, ang mga enkanto, galing sa ibang mundo at hinuhuli nila ang mga ito para ibalik sa mundong iyon.
pero bakit may isang storage room sila na puno ng wall-to-wall pots na puro encanto ang laman? Ba't di pa nila ibalik agad?
O baka sa pagbalik nila Sulayman, saka rin nila dadalin ang mga `yun? (well, nasa gitna pa lang naman ako, eh)
- ang sabi rin, hindi sila kukulangin sa pots dahil bawat isang enkantong pinanganak ay meron nito. Nakasulat daw sa mga pots ang pangalan ng mga ito.
so, meaning, may pots na pala na nakalaan para sa kanila? Eh, bakit ng naiwan yung pot ng tianak, nagamit pa rin nila yung isang spare?
- also, may mga terms and abbreviations na hindi mo maiintindihan kung `di ka taga-UP. Kasama rito ang mga building at lugar. Pero ok lang naman since college life ang dating ng storya, pero ika nga ng mga kapatid ko, may mga parang 'inside jokes' dito na mga taga UP lang ang makaka-gets.
Well, yan pa lang ang mga napansin ko, sa iba naman, puros tungkol na lang sa difference of beliefs.
Iba-iba naman talaga ang paniniwala, depende sa lugar, like for example...
- ang nuno nakasuot ng lumang damit ng mga katutubo, hindi barong tagalog.
- ang tikbalang kailangan mong makuha ang gintong buhok para ma-tame, hindi lang yung sasakyan mo hanggang mapagod.
- pinagpipilitan din ng iba na hinding-hindi papayag ang tikbaang na masakyan sila (although `di ako naininiwala dito)
- docile ang kapre. hindi ito nananakit.
hindi ako naniniwala dito, dahil may kapitbahay kaming kinuha ng kapre. kinalaban siya ng pinaka sikat na albularyo sa amin, pero matanda na yung albularyo kaya kahit pa natalo nya yung kapre, namatay naman siya.
- hindi lahat ng aswang salbahe, saka mga tao rin sila.
- ang aswang na nag-aanyong aso ay walang buntot, mas mataas din ang hips/hind legs nila na parang tapong nakatuwad.
Pero, tulad ng sinabi ko, IBA-IBA talaga ang mga paniniwala, at marami ring uri ng aswang, pati, matagal na rin mula ng ginawa ang book na `to.
All in all, maganda siya, nakakatuwa, exciting ang storya, (oc lang ako at masyadong nag co-compare ng notes XD)
May parating nga raw na kasunod ang Mythology class, will look forward to seeing that when it comes out :D
The story was unique, but you would need to have knowledge about Filipino myths to relate to it and enjoy it more.
more criticism and spoilers follow...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I have a lot of questions, though... in tagalog though...
- bakit iisang tao lang ang nagtatagalog?
mas maganda sana kung tagalog siya singce philippine myth, pero okay lang naman in english, pero bakit may isang nagtatagalog, at ang character pa nya ay tipong boy sa kanto na kaya nagtatagalog ay dahil `di sya marunong mag-inggles.
So, ang dating, puro english speaking lang ang mga tao sa paligid niya?
O gustong ipalabas na ang mga nag-i-inggles ay supposed to be speaking in tagalog -- pero translated version `to kaya english sila, at ang nag-iisang tagalog ang salita ay supposed to be speaking in different filipino language -- like bisaya?
- sana may small translations para sa mga baybayin words <3
- si Lam-Ang lumabas sa tubig at nanguha ng damit sa basura, pero nagka-taga sya (o kung ano man tawag doon) tapos sa malayo ang nakasabit sa hip nya (a right side) ay mukhang itak lang (iba ang dulo)
sorry, small details, I know XD
- ang explanation, ang mga enkanto, galing sa ibang mundo at hinuhuli nila ang mga ito para ibalik sa mundong iyon.
pero bakit may isang storage room sila na puno ng wall-to-wall pots na puro encanto ang laman? Ba't di pa nila ibalik agad?
O baka sa pagbalik nila Sulayman, saka rin nila dadalin ang mga `yun? (well, nasa gitna pa lang naman ako, eh)
- ang sabi rin, hindi sila kukulangin sa pots dahil bawat isang enkantong pinanganak ay meron nito. Nakasulat daw sa mga pots ang pangalan ng mga ito.
so, meaning, may pots na pala na nakalaan para sa kanila? Eh, bakit ng naiwan yung pot ng tianak, nagamit pa rin nila yung isang spare?
- also, may mga terms and abbreviations na hindi mo maiintindihan kung `di ka taga-UP. Kasama rito ang mga building at lugar. Pero ok lang naman since college life ang dating ng storya, pero ika nga ng mga kapatid ko, may mga parang 'inside jokes' dito na mga taga UP lang ang makaka-gets.
Well, yan pa lang ang mga napansin ko, sa iba naman, puros tungkol na lang sa difference of beliefs.
Iba-iba naman talaga ang paniniwala, depende sa lugar, like for example...
- ang nuno nakasuot ng lumang damit ng mga katutubo, hindi barong tagalog.
- ang tikbalang kailangan mong makuha ang gintong buhok para ma-tame, hindi lang yung sasakyan mo hanggang mapagod.
- pinagpipilitan din ng iba na hinding-hindi papayag ang tikbaang na masakyan sila (although `di ako naininiwala dito)
- docile ang kapre. hindi ito nananakit.
hindi ako naniniwala dito, dahil may kapitbahay kaming kinuha ng kapre. kinalaban siya ng pinaka sikat na albularyo sa amin, pero matanda na yung albularyo kaya kahit pa natalo nya yung kapre, namatay naman siya.
- hindi lahat ng aswang salbahe, saka mga tao rin sila.
- ang aswang na nag-aanyong aso ay walang buntot, mas mataas din ang hips/hind legs nila na parang tapong nakatuwad.
Pero, tulad ng sinabi ko, IBA-IBA talaga ang mga paniniwala, at marami ring uri ng aswang, pati, matagal na rin mula ng ginawa ang book na `to.
All in all, maganda siya, nakakatuwa, exciting ang storya, (oc lang ako at masyadong nag co-compare ng notes XD)
May parating nga raw na kasunod ang Mythology class, will look forward to seeing that when it comes out :D
October 13, 2025
The Mythology Class is a graphic novel written and illustrated by Arnold Arre first published as a four-part serial in 2000. Since then, it has been republished as a single book collecting the four parts; the latest edition is by Tuttle in 2022. It’s often described to be a trademark work that prompted the surge of Filipino urban fantasy graphic novels.
Essentially, The Mythology Class is about a group of college students invited through dreams and visions to enroll in a certain class on Mythology in UP Diliman. The central character of the wide cast is Nicole, an Anthropology student whose thesis on Philippine mythology just got rejected, mainly because of it having a flimsy basis on her grandfather’s bedtime stories. Turns out the stories were true and the group soon learn that they are actually recruited to help in a war across the timeline against enkantos. Their job: to hunt and contain aswangs and other evil mythological creatures that spread in the country in the year 1999.
First off, this 400-page graphic novel is dense, in a fast-paced way. The main group of characters is composed of 11 people, each with distinct characteristics, motivations, and arcs. With them are at least five older mentor-figures, there’s a team of antagonists and a supporting cast of minor characters. The story struggled with the tough task of introducing all of them while also building an urban fantasy world that is a mix of different mythologies from across the country and where time-travel shenanigans take place.
I also have issues with the depiction of some characters. Bob, the smallest of the group, is somehow the only character speaking in Filipino in the book fully written in English. I don’t know if I’m looking too deep into it but I can’t find any valid reason as to why he’s written and drawn like he is. Female characters are either drawn in a sexualized way that sits awkwardly with the rest of the art (the 90s Western comic influence is apparent) or in a manner that makes them the target of in-text jokes and bullying. There’s also a weird fixation on STD jokes. I’m not sure if I could blame all of these to the book being a product of its time and generation.
Having said all that, I still can genuinely see why The Mythology Class became a hit to Filipino readers and comic fans at the time it was published until today. It’s an ambitious attempt at a story that encompasses the diverse sets of mythologies across the archipelago and makes it a backdrop of what is essentially a 90’s college barkada action-filled epic hero-adventure, with a hand-drawn art style reminiscent of both Japanese anime and old Filipino comics. It draws from a wide set of folklore, epics, and stories including some that may not have been as popular as they are now and rearranges them into its own world and system. It was a really engaging read and there are parts that really stood out such as really iconic “ancient creatures in the modern world” moments like a Tikbalang high on weed surfing the traffic at SLEX or the mall being an essential place for the aswangs. I continued reading the sequels and will talk about them soon; some aspects really get better.
P.S. The idea of curating a team of young Filipinos to save the entire world and most of them conveniently being from UP Diliman (not even expanding to UP's constituent units or other universities) is so funny to me considering the story draws from myths across the country.
Essentially, The Mythology Class is about a group of college students invited through dreams and visions to enroll in a certain class on Mythology in UP Diliman. The central character of the wide cast is Nicole, an Anthropology student whose thesis on Philippine mythology just got rejected, mainly because of it having a flimsy basis on her grandfather’s bedtime stories. Turns out the stories were true and the group soon learn that they are actually recruited to help in a war across the timeline against enkantos. Their job: to hunt and contain aswangs and other evil mythological creatures that spread in the country in the year 1999.
First off, this 400-page graphic novel is dense, in a fast-paced way. The main group of characters is composed of 11 people, each with distinct characteristics, motivations, and arcs. With them are at least five older mentor-figures, there’s a team of antagonists and a supporting cast of minor characters. The story struggled with the tough task of introducing all of them while also building an urban fantasy world that is a mix of different mythologies from across the country and where time-travel shenanigans take place.
I also have issues with the depiction of some characters. Bob, the smallest of the group, is somehow the only character speaking in Filipino in the book fully written in English. I don’t know if I’m looking too deep into it but I can’t find any valid reason as to why he’s written and drawn like he is. Female characters are either drawn in a sexualized way that sits awkwardly with the rest of the art (the 90s Western comic influence is apparent) or in a manner that makes them the target of in-text jokes and bullying. There’s also a weird fixation on STD jokes. I’m not sure if I could blame all of these to the book being a product of its time and generation.
Having said all that, I still can genuinely see why The Mythology Class became a hit to Filipino readers and comic fans at the time it was published until today. It’s an ambitious attempt at a story that encompasses the diverse sets of mythologies across the archipelago and makes it a backdrop of what is essentially a 90’s college barkada action-filled epic hero-adventure, with a hand-drawn art style reminiscent of both Japanese anime and old Filipino comics. It draws from a wide set of folklore, epics, and stories including some that may not have been as popular as they are now and rearranges them into its own world and system. It was a really engaging read and there are parts that really stood out such as really iconic “ancient creatures in the modern world” moments like a Tikbalang high on weed surfing the traffic at SLEX or the mall being an essential place for the aswangs. I continued reading the sequels and will talk about them soon; some aspects really get better.
P.S. The idea of curating a team of young Filipinos to save the entire world and most of them conveniently being from UP Diliman (not even expanding to UP's constituent units or other universities) is so funny to me considering the story draws from myths across the country.
December 20, 2018
I have been looking for this book for a while before my good friend, Illustrator, Don Tantiado told me that he has a copy of this graphic novel by Arnold Arre.
The Mythology Class (won the National Book Awards in 2000) is a graphic novel about a group of teens formed by Mrs. Enkanta (a hero from the past) to hinder the dark forces destined to return – to once again, spread terror and to revive their ringleader.
Well, the plot may sound mediocre but, believe me, this work by Arnold Arre could be the most influential for our comics and graphic novelists in the coming years (along with Mervin Malonzo’s “Tabi Po” series). Good artwork, rich in local culture and the setting is very interesting. The story is well written. Arnold Arre presented the perfect way to tell a story about folklore creatures in a manner that is not monotonous as the way our elders do. I mean, who does not know anything about Kapres and Engkantos? It is as common as “take a nap in the afternoon, so you will grow taller” type of parental saying. I recall my grandma, yelling “don’t play near the termite mound, or you’ll lose a finger.” from the balcony of her house. This is because some elders believe that Engkantos could be living in there.
Back to the book, I liked it. In fact, although I have already read this work by Arre, given the chance, I would still buy a copy so I can gave it to my kids four to six years from now for them to read. It is because if you’re a Filipino, you will be proud of this book. Especially if you are into fantasy or just curious about our mythological creatures.
We need more of this in local literature. Good thing that Arnold Arre will be releasing a sequel to Mythology Class. It’s about time. To push more of our artists and storytellers to follow this route. Before, I was one of many peeps who believe that comics is dying, but actually, not really. In fact, I believe storytellers and illustrators just took it to another level. Now we have Arre, along with Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo (Trese), Mervin Malonzo (Tabi Po), Manix Abrera (Kiko Machine), Dead Balagtas and of course Gerry Alanguilan of Komikero Komiks and others.
The Mythology Class (won the National Book Awards in 2000) is a graphic novel about a group of teens formed by Mrs. Enkanta (a hero from the past) to hinder the dark forces destined to return – to once again, spread terror and to revive their ringleader.
Well, the plot may sound mediocre but, believe me, this work by Arnold Arre could be the most influential for our comics and graphic novelists in the coming years (along with Mervin Malonzo’s “Tabi Po” series). Good artwork, rich in local culture and the setting is very interesting. The story is well written. Arnold Arre presented the perfect way to tell a story about folklore creatures in a manner that is not monotonous as the way our elders do. I mean, who does not know anything about Kapres and Engkantos? It is as common as “take a nap in the afternoon, so you will grow taller” type of parental saying. I recall my grandma, yelling “don’t play near the termite mound, or you’ll lose a finger.” from the balcony of her house. This is because some elders believe that Engkantos could be living in there.
Back to the book, I liked it. In fact, although I have already read this work by Arre, given the chance, I would still buy a copy so I can gave it to my kids four to six years from now for them to read. It is because if you’re a Filipino, you will be proud of this book. Especially if you are into fantasy or just curious about our mythological creatures.
We need more of this in local literature. Good thing that Arnold Arre will be releasing a sequel to Mythology Class. It’s about time. To push more of our artists and storytellers to follow this route. Before, I was one of many peeps who believe that comics is dying, but actually, not really. In fact, I believe storytellers and illustrators just took it to another level. Now we have Arre, along with Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo (Trese), Mervin Malonzo (Tabi Po), Manix Abrera (Kiko Machine), Dead Balagtas and of course Gerry Alanguilan of Komikero Komiks and others.
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