Si Janus Sílang at ang Tiyanak ng Tábon

Janus Sílang

by Edgar Calabia Samar, Carljoe Javier (Adaptation), Natasha Ringor (Illustrator)

Ang akala ni Janus, pangkaraniwang laro lang ang TALA Online. Sunod-sunod ang pagbabago sa buhay niya matapos ang kahindik-hindik na pangyayari sa RPG tournament sa sinalihan niya. Pero nang matuklasan niya ang tunay na kaugnayan ng larong ito sa alamat ng Tiyanak ng Tabon, wala na siyang magawa kundi ipagpatuloy ang paglalaro!

Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Horror, Mythology, Fiction, Comics, Young Adult

123 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2015

About the author

Edgar Calabia Samar is a multi-awarded poet and novelist from the Philippines. His first novel, Walong Diwata ng Pagkahulog, received the NCCA Writer’s Prize in 2005, and its English translation as Eight Muses of the Fall was longlisted in the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2009. In 2013, he received two Philippine National Book Awards––one for his second novel, Sa Kasunod ng 909 (Best Novel), and another for his book on the creative process, Halos Isang Buhay: Ang Manananggal sa Pagsusulat ng Nobela (Best Book of Criticism). Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon, the first book in his YA series Janus Silang, also received the Philippine National Book Award for Best Novel in 2015 and the Philippine National Children’s Book Award for Best 2014-2015 Read in 2016. He has also received prizes for his poetry and fiction from the Palanca and the PBBY-Salanga Writer’s Prize. His other books include Pag-aabang sa Kundiman: Isang Tulambuhay, a poetry collection, and 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang, a children's encyclopedia of Philippine fantastic creatures. In 2010, he was invited as writer-in-residence to the International Writing Program of the University of Iowa.

Reviews

[Neil Franz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinikilabutan pa rin ako. HOMAYGAD!

[Ronie Padao · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hindi ako fan ng manga style. Sorry na. Ayaw ko sana gumawa ng review pero sige na nga! Nabasa ko ang dalawang libro. Kaya alam ko ang kasuluksulukan neto. hehe Halatang pinilit pagkasyahin ang isang libro sa isang komiks. May mga hinanap ako at maliliit na detalying hindi akma sa libro. Chos!

[Jedi JC Daquis · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book of Janus Silang was a blast. It truly embodied folklore with today's social media culture, resulting to a story which is definitely relatable to young Filipinos. Now there's a graphic novel version of it, so why not?

Unfortunately, Ang Tiyanak ng Tabon graphic novel fails fundamentally in the style it has been drawn: manga. Now I do not, in any way hate the style itself, but to use it in Janus Silang takes away so much heart from the story. The manga-fied human characters felt so distant and the folklore creatures uninspired.

Read Edgar Samar's 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Now, the illustrations there are the ones that should have been in Ang Tiyanak ng Tabon! I feel disappointed with Anino comics with how they have handled the project. Sixty-six has a heart, Piko felt like a how it should be felt and Light is a short yet magical experience. This Janus Silang comics is a big letdown.

In other elements, the pacing was just right. Some of the monologues and long expositions were due to the original material. The missed details and emotions are forgiveable, but again these should go unnoticed if the artwork enhanced the reader experience (Take Malonzo's Ang Subersibo as an example). Oh, there's the speech bubbles too. Why do they have to be unnecessarily big?

Unless some improvement is done, I recommend to stick with the original material (JS2 is alreadu out as of the time of writing this review) and pass on this graphic novel version of Janus Silang.

[Justine from Novels and Panda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nakakakilabot. Huhuhu. Aking binasa mag-isa sa akin silid, mas lalo na sa parte na Kung saan ipinaliliwanag ang Tala, iba talaga. Excited na ako mabasa ang karugtong nito.

[Mac Dubista Keso The Bibliobibuli v(=∩_∩=) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maganda ang pagkakasulat at pagkakaguhit ng mga karakter sa librong ito. Kapana-panabik ang mga susunod na pangyayari .. Sobrang nabitin ako .. Ano kaya ang gagawin ni Janus sa susunod na libro? Wala na bang sikretong dapat malaman? Maraming katanungan .. Eksayted na akong malaman ang mga kasagutan ..

[Jayvie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinilabutan pa rin ako sa mga eksenang makapanindig-balahibo. Pero marami pa ring mga detalyeng hinahanap-hanap.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mas maganda at mas intense talaga sa comics! Sana lahat ng books magkaron. Nakaka adik to!

[Maria Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's kind of nice to refer to the manga to refresh yourself with the events happened on the first book. Some may say that it was fast-paced that it turned anti-climactic, because some of the parts were illustrated in mere 4 pages. But you cannot help to be amazed on how the artist made the sketches to get yourself into the mood of reading through the action / suspense scenes.

(More thoughts to follow)

[Mark Alpheus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maganda ang ilustrasyon sa libro, pero hindi ko tanggap ang haba. Masyadong maikli ang adaptasyong ito! Hindi nito nakuha ang ilan sa mga importanteng eksena mula sa unang libro ng Janus Silang.

Reread:

Para sa Janus Silang Readathon. Bumping up to 4 ⭐

[Gab of Green Gables · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ang ganda ng pagkakasalin ng Janus Silang Book 1 sa komiks. Nag-flashback sa akin mga naramdaman ko nung unang beses ko matapos ang libro.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oo nga't may mga eksena na pinaikli para sumakto sa istilo ng manga, pero dama ko pa rin yung takot nang magtagpo si Janus at ang tiyanak, at ang bitin na ending. Parang manhwa style ang art ni Tasha at na-appreciate ko yun. Magandang companion ito sa Janus Silang book 1 para magkaroon ng visual element itong napakahusay na akda. Sa tingin ko nagawan naman ng hustisya ang pag-adapt ng kwento sa manga; yun pa rin yung kilabot na dinulot ng bersyon ng libro. Nararapat lang na basahin ng mga fans ng series na ito.

[Archgab Nuds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mapapamura ka na lang habang nakikita mo yung scenes grabe ang bigat nito teh

[John Adrian Adiaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bagamat maikli dahil ginawang manga style, masasabi kong buo pa rin ang istorya dahil na rin sa tulong ng ilustrasiyon.

[Sha Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 stars

Better pacing but lacking essential details in some parts

[Jireh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saan ka pa makakakita ng bagani, tanong ng daluyang diwa ko.

[Caryssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dalawang beses ko na nabasa yung nobelang Si Janus Sílang at ang Tiyanak ng Tábon, pero parehas pa rin ang epekto sa akin habang binabasa ko nito. Nakakatakot, nakakakilabot. Lalo na yung pagkikita ni Renzo at ng Tiyanak habang bagyo tapos sinabi ng Tiyanak na taga-Montalban siya, kasi taga-doon ako, mehn. Pati yung mga ngiti ni Juno!

Excited na akong basahin ang Si Janus Sílang at ang Labanang Manananggal-Mambabarang.

[Marty · Rating 5 out of 5]

JANUS SILANG AT ANG TIYANAK NG TABON by Edgar Calabria Samar adapted to comics by Carljoe Javier.
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Can’t get enough Filipino mythology adventures? Come pick this one. The twisty plot and light storytelling would fly you through pages in a few minutes. Leaving you craving for more from this story.
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Contrary to popular opinion that this is like a Ready Player One rip-off, it is of its own magnificence. It is not at all like Ready Player One. The game element here is more like a tool to unleash monstrous potentials of the hero, Janus. This story has a lot of potential to be a great epic. Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series.
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Will definitely try the original novel version after finishing the graphic novels.
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The plot twists always catch me off guard, which makes my plot-driven reader self so indulged. 5/5 for this epic first book.
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[Edward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decided to read the graphic novel to refresh my mind on the plot, and because my copy's missing.

Tiyanak ng Tábon gave the series a good start. Janus, after getting that shounen protagonist element, is now off for Tala searching.

The graphic novel presentend a quicker pacing for the story and a lot of the panels can make good reaction pictures or memes.

Will anticipate the following novels.

[chimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing illustrations. Nakakakilabot pa rin ang mga eksena, lalo na sa mga mahahalagang bahagi ng kuwento.

Nakulangan lang ako sa mga detalye; kung hindi ko nabasa ang nobela ay baka hindi ko masyadong naintindihan itong manga version. Detalye tulad ng pagbanggit mismo sa Tábon, wala. May iba ring detalye na bahagyang binago, marahil ay para maging swak sa manga style.

Para sa akin, hindi siguro ito magandang basahin nang sabay sa nobela. Malilito ka lang.

[Hazel Tan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fan ako ng manga style, pero, medyo disappointing dahil parang masyado bang umiksi ang istorya nung gawing komiks. Natapos ko basahin ng wala pang isang oras. Bilang fan ng series, gusto ko sanang makita ang mga maliliit na detalye na sinabi sa libro. Para bang, summary lang ang iginuhit at dumiretso na sa plot para tapos na agad.

[Abel Mallari · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the black and white artwork is beautiful, the adapted storyline felt rushed. It could be due to thr limited frames allowed in the book. There were points in the story that could be lost to the reader if they haven't first read the source book — like how it didn't tackle what a púsong is. All in all, a good visualization of the first JS installment, IF you've read the first installment.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

i am: shookt

[camille.andherbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

😲 Really interesting! I'm considering breaking my book buying ban for the rest of this series.

[Shaine CCH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nagulumihaman ngunit nangilabot sa huling pahina.

[َyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

:|

[Ailla Magcamit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5

[Emmzxiee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kung ano yung naramdaman kong Thrill sa una kong pagbasa nito, ganun pa din sa Graphic novel. Makapigil Hininga talaga ang mga tagpo. Ugh!

[marg · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The full-length book is so much better than the graphic novel. I honestly think this was a little bit forced.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maganda ang kwento at ang ilustrasyon. Balak kong basahin ang mga kasunod na libro pero mas maganda siguro kung nauna kong basahin ang mismong nobela para mas naintindihan ko, dahil meron pa akong mga katanungan, posibleng may mga importanteng detalye ang hindi naisama dito na mas makakapagpa-intindi sakin sa ilang mga detalye ng istorya.