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Trese #1
Trese Vol 1: Murder on Balete Drive
Award-winning Filipino comic book and soon to be Netflix anime series!
When the sun sets in the city of Manila, don’t you dare make a wrong turn and end up in that dimly- lit side of the metro, where blood-sucking aswang run the most-wanted kidnapping rings, where gigantic kapre are the kingpins of crime, and magical engkantos slip through the cracks and steal your most precious possessions. When crime takes a turn for the weird, the police call Alexandra Trese.
Trese Vol 1 "Murder on Balete Drive" features all new, redrawn artwork throughout, and includes a substantial bonus section with behind-the-scenes sketches, info and details on the making of the book and further insight into the world of Trese, as told by its creators Budjette Tan and KaJo Baldisimo!
When the sun sets in the city of Manila, don’t you dare make a wrong turn and end up in that dimly- lit side of the metro, where blood-sucking aswang run the most-wanted kidnapping rings, where gigantic kapre are the kingpins of crime, and magical engkantos slip through the cracks and steal your most precious possessions. When crime takes a turn for the weird, the police call Alexandra Trese.
Trese Vol 1 "Murder on Balete Drive" features all new, redrawn artwork throughout, and includes a substantial bonus section with behind-the-scenes sketches, info and details on the making of the book and further insight into the world of Trese, as told by its creators Budjette Tan and KaJo Baldisimo!
136 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
106 people are currently reading
3258 people want to read
About the author
Budjette Tan
55 books385 followersBudjette Tan is the writer of the award-winning comic book TRESE, which he co-created with his partner/illustrator Kajo Baldisimo.
TRESE has been adapted into an anime series by Netflix.
He was a founding member of ALAMAT COMICS in the 1990s.
He's also the writer and co-creator of THE DEMON DUNGEON / DARK COLONY books, which he made with Bow Guerrero and JB Tapia.
He was also the co-editor of the KWENTILLION scifi/fantasy comics magazine (published by Summit), the UNDERPASS horror anthology (Summit), and SOUND: A Comic Anthology (published by Difference Engine).
TRESE has been adapted into an anime series by Netflix.
He was a founding member of ALAMAT COMICS in the 1990s.
He's also the writer and co-creator of THE DEMON DUNGEON / DARK COLONY books, which he made with Bow Guerrero and JB Tapia.
He was also the co-editor of the KWENTILLION scifi/fantasy comics magazine (published by Summit), the UNDERPASS horror anthology (Summit), and SOUND: A Comic Anthology (published by Difference Engine).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 359 reviews
March 3, 2024
Wow.
When a woman who was encircled by salt is hit and killed by a car, then found to have already died years beforehand, the officer in charge calls in Alexandra Trese.
Because it's not every day someone kills a ghost.
Who is Alexandra Trese?
Well, you're not going to find out a lot of her backstory in this volume.
Each issue is one case involving something supernatural, and each issue reveals a teeny-tiny bit more about who she is and what her family has done for generations. Mostly, you're going to discover Flipino monsters and folklore. And that was actually a huge draw for me. I love that this is a comic by a Filipino writer and illustrated by a Filipino artist who grew up with these tales, and not just someone who researched them.
Not that I think it's a bad idea to try to pull things from other cultures, I just really enjoyed the authentic vibe I got from this.
Kajo Baldisimo hits it out of the park with these gorgeous panels of art. For once in my life, I'm going to say that I'm in love with a black and white comic. I don't think color could have added anything to what Baldisimo created here and the black and white really sold the menace of some of these creatures for me.
Each issue was great but my advice would be to not go into it thinking you're going to get a big overreaching story arc. I'm personally looking forward to reading more and have already downloaded the next volume.
As far as the Netflix anime? It looked like generic Netflix anime, the characters sounded wooden, couldn't make it through the first episode. The book was definitely better for me.
Now, they did seem to be trying to explain more of Alexandra's background right away, so your mileage may vary.
Anyway. This was a pleasant surprise and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Recommended.
When a woman who was encircled by salt is hit and killed by a car, then found to have already died years beforehand, the officer in charge calls in Alexandra Trese.
Because it's not every day someone kills a ghost.
Who is Alexandra Trese?
Well, you're not going to find out a lot of her backstory in this volume.
Each issue is one case involving something supernatural, and each issue reveals a teeny-tiny bit more about who she is and what her family has done for generations. Mostly, you're going to discover Flipino monsters and folklore. And that was actually a huge draw for me. I love that this is a comic by a Filipino writer and illustrated by a Filipino artist who grew up with these tales, and not just someone who researched them.
Not that I think it's a bad idea to try to pull things from other cultures, I just really enjoyed the authentic vibe I got from this.
Kajo Baldisimo hits it out of the park with these gorgeous panels of art. For once in my life, I'm going to say that I'm in love with a black and white comic. I don't think color could have added anything to what Baldisimo created here and the black and white really sold the menace of some of these creatures for me.
Each issue was great but my advice would be to not go into it thinking you're going to get a big overreaching story arc. I'm personally looking forward to reading more and have already downloaded the next volume.
As far as the Netflix anime? It looked like generic Netflix anime, the characters sounded wooden, couldn't make it through the first episode. The book was definitely better for me.
Now, they did seem to be trying to explain more of Alexandra's background right away, so your mileage may vary.
Anyway. This was a pleasant surprise and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Recommended.
September 3, 2011
Balete Drive was a street in Manila where there used to be a ghostly white lady showing herself to drunk drivers in the wee hours of the morning. Right after the drivers saw her, they lost the control of their cars, hit the big balete tree and died. No matter how loud and long those poor drivers shouted for help, the people in the neighborhood would only find the dead drivers and the totally wrecked cars when the sun was up and they were about to do their daily runs or on their way to buy their morning freshly-baked breads.
To stop the persistence of this urban legend, that street has long been renamed and the residents in the area put so many lights along the stretch of that street so that drunk Filipino drivers would stop hallucinating seeing a beautiful lady in white while they were under the influence of alcohol. I always suspected that those drivers drank before going home because they hated their wives who were not as beautiful as when they marched wearing their white wedding dresses during their wedding days. So, does the Balete Drive deserve to be continuously immortalized in literature to bring fright to the Filipinos? It's really up to you. I can't control what you want to think of it.
Budjette Tan is one of those who still thought of making a cash cow out of this tale. Judging from the positive turnout of this trilogy (yes, this is just the first book), he made the right decision. Filipinos still buy the tale. Maybe there are still many unhappy husbands who can't accept that nothing is permanent in this world including the appearance of their wives. I would advise that they should look at their inner beauty rather than holding on the delusion that the twentyish sex siren who they proposed marriage to will remain forever.
I am with his thousands of fans who applaud for this book, however. Anything that celebrates our very own Filipino mythology will never get less than 3 stars (meaning: I liked it!) from me. Balete Drive is just the first story and there are other stories in this book and they are all okay. However, my favorite is the last one that Tan dedicated to my favorite childhood komiks author, Mars Ravelo since he, Ravelo, was the one who created this fictional character. I will not tell you who that character is since that would be too much of a spoiler.
I also thought that it would have been better if the back story of the main protagonist Alexandra Trese was made known in this first book. Why does she have all those powers? What's the story behind Kambal? Who was her grandfather? How come she can summon many different allies depending on the given situation? How come she still needs to operate a pub if she is already powerful? I hope these will be answered in the succeeding books.
Overall, it is a fun easy read. Fun not because it is an easy read but because we Filipinos need to appreciate and support our local artists especially when they make use of our indigenous materials. Well done, Budjette Tan!
Thank you, Jzhun for lending me this book!
To stop the persistence of this urban legend, that street has long been renamed and the residents in the area put so many lights along the stretch of that street so that drunk Filipino drivers would stop hallucinating seeing a beautiful lady in white while they were under the influence of alcohol. I always suspected that those drivers drank before going home because they hated their wives who were not as beautiful as when they marched wearing their white wedding dresses during their wedding days. So, does the Balete Drive deserve to be continuously immortalized in literature to bring fright to the Filipinos? It's really up to you. I can't control what you want to think of it.
Budjette Tan is one of those who still thought of making a cash cow out of this tale. Judging from the positive turnout of this trilogy (yes, this is just the first book), he made the right decision. Filipinos still buy the tale. Maybe there are still many unhappy husbands who can't accept that nothing is permanent in this world including the appearance of their wives. I would advise that they should look at their inner beauty rather than holding on the delusion that the twentyish sex siren who they proposed marriage to will remain forever.
I am with his thousands of fans who applaud for this book, however. Anything that celebrates our very own Filipino mythology will never get less than 3 stars (meaning: I liked it!) from me. Balete Drive is just the first story and there are other stories in this book and they are all okay. However, my favorite is the last one that Tan dedicated to my favorite childhood komiks author, Mars Ravelo since he, Ravelo, was the one who created this fictional character. I will not tell you who that character is since that would be too much of a spoiler.
I also thought that it would have been better if the back story of the main protagonist Alexandra Trese was made known in this first book. Why does she have all those powers? What's the story behind Kambal? Who was her grandfather? How come she can summon many different allies depending on the given situation? How come she still needs to operate a pub if she is already powerful? I hope these will be answered in the succeeding books.
Overall, it is a fun easy read. Fun not because it is an easy read but because we Filipinos need to appreciate and support our local artists especially when they make use of our indigenous materials. Well done, Budjette Tan!
Thank you, Jzhun for lending me this book!
March 16, 2021
This slim volume truly surprised me. It's a Filipino comic that wouldn’t be out of place in a Vertigo Comics solicitation. Normally, I’d stay clear of locally produced comics, unless it’s Pol Medina’s Pugad Baboy or Lyndon Gregorio’s Beerkada. It’s probably my bad experience with Filipino superhero comics. I already read more than enough overproduced American material from DC and Marvel.
But I admit Trese rocks! It’s an anthology of stories created by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo featuring Alexandra Trese, bar owner and occult investigator. The local police in the stories make it a habit to call Trese when the case get even a hint of the supernatural. In this volume, she faces up aswangs, elementals and tikbalangs. Good things she’s got the Kambal backing her up.
Tan provides the story with Baldisimo providing ample support with his art. The art gets better with every chapter. It starts loose and gritty but tightens as it progresses. I’ve seen the second volume and the art does get better.
Tan mines local urban legends, tales of provincial monsters and tabloid headlines for his stories, creating an underworld with a hierarchy and elemental kingdoms and clans. This is the world that Trese polices, acting as the first and final option for any ghoul, were horse that doesn’t toe the line.
My favorite story of the first volume has got to be the fourth chapter, “Our Secret Constellation.” It’s a tribute to Filipino super heroine. I’m not saying who but she swallows a stone. It has an Alan Moore vibe to it, think Kid Miracleman, the murdering grown up sidekick.
Its one of my few graphic novel purchases this year that was worth every centavo.
I created a Goodreads entry for this book just so I can review it.
March 16, 2021
Trese has a fervent fanbase of mostly Filipino readers excited for the upcoming Netflix anime. Here's a primer on the character and the graphic novel series.
But I admit Trese rocks! It’s an anthology of stories created by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo featuring Alexandra Trese, bar owner and occult investigator. The local police in the stories make it a habit to call Trese when the case get even a hint of the supernatural. In this volume, she faces up aswangs, elementals and tikbalangs. Good things she’s got the Kambal backing her up.
Tan provides the story with Baldisimo providing ample support with his art. The art gets better with every chapter. It starts loose and gritty but tightens as it progresses. I’ve seen the second volume and the art does get better.
Tan mines local urban legends, tales of provincial monsters and tabloid headlines for his stories, creating an underworld with a hierarchy and elemental kingdoms and clans. This is the world that Trese polices, acting as the first and final option for any ghoul, were horse that doesn’t toe the line.
My favorite story of the first volume has got to be the fourth chapter, “Our Secret Constellation.” It’s a tribute to Filipino super heroine. I’m not saying who but she swallows a stone. It has an Alan Moore vibe to it, think Kid Miracleman, the murdering grown up sidekick.
Its one of my few graphic novel purchases this year that was worth every centavo.
I created a Goodreads entry for this book just so I can review it.
March 16, 2021
Trese has a fervent fanbase of mostly Filipino readers excited for the upcoming Netflix anime. Here's a primer on the character and the graphic novel series.
August 28, 2020
This was a pleasant surprise. Basically, the main character is a female John Constantine assisting the police in the Philippines. I like how the creative team incorporated Filipino supernatural lore into their stories. It was a great look into Filipino comics. Even though I was familiar with a bunch of Filipino artists who have worked for American comics, I hadn't read any indie comics from the Philippines itself. These were originally created as ashcans (xeroxed copies). The art looks surprisingly good given its bare bones beginnings. This is soon to come out as a Netflix anime series.
Received a review copy from Ablaze and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy from Ablaze and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
September 30, 2021
Quando ho visto il fumetto di Trese in fumetteria non mi pareva vero, la serie animata su Netflix mi era piaciuta abbastanza, un originale mix a metà tra Hellblazer e C.S.I., con una protagonista tostissima che è praticamente la versione urban fantasy del Maggiore Kusanagi di Ghost in the Shell, alcuni episodi a tinte horror piuttosto notevoli, e l'ambientazione di una Manila da incubo che attinge a piene mani da folklore popolare e mitologia delle Filippine, paese a cui sono particolarmente legato essendovi andato in vacanza per tre anni di fila, ospite di colei che alla fine è diventata la mia dolce consorte, e della sua meravigliosa famiglia.
Probabilmente avrei fatto meglio a guardare il prezzo prima di andare alla cassa a pagare, perché 8 euro e 90, nove se prendete l'edizione limitata con sopracopertina, manco fosse rilegata in pelle umana, sinceramente mi sembrano davvero eccessive per un albo di questo formato.
La storia comunque si legge che è un piacere, l'edizione è curata bene, e non ho notato strafalcioni o refusi troppo gravi, anche se mia moglie è inorridita per quel "ding" utilizzato a detta del traduttore per dire fratellino o sorellina quando invece il termine corretto in tagalog è ading.
Ottimo il materiale extra, con le schede relative alle creature soprannaturali incontrate da Alexandra Trese nel corso delle sue investigazioni, e le interviste accluse, che sono state un bonus più che gradito.
Non male davvero per un fumetto indie autoprodotto in proprio, che gli autori fotocopiavano e vendevano alle fiere del fumetto locali per pochi spiccioli.
Peccato davvero per quel prezzo, ma con gli ultimi rincari in generale, il fumetto in Italia sta diventando ormai un bene di lusso, riservato sempre più a ricchi collezionisti e nostalgici.
E adesso, quasi quasi, voglio proprio rivedermi la serie animata su Netflix.
August 27, 2021
This is a series of short stories about crimes involving supurnatural beings, linked by the investigator, a somewhat mysterious woman with supernatural servants of her own, who helps the police with these incidents outside their training.
November 11, 2021
This is a review of the build of the Italian edition of Trese volume 1, "Omicidio in Balete Drive", limited edition version. My prior review of the Visprint edition still stands true, "Trese rocks".
This version has a smaller trim than the Avenida one, much less the standard comic book size trim of the Ablaze international edition. Probably because it is marketed as manga, and is in the A5 trim of a manga tankobon. Here's a video where I do a more in depth comparison of this version with the Avenida edition.
This smaller trim results in the publisher cutting the page size and the art, but it does not impact in any meaningful way the storytelling; it still reads as it always does, you just don't get more of Kajo's art.
The main draw is the foil and embossed dust cover. It is magnificent. I started collecting comics in the heady decade of the 90s, and any cover gimmick captures my attention, especially, the shiny ones.
I ended up buying this book for essentially its dust cover, but I have no regrets, and it stands out in my Trese collection.
This version has a smaller trim than the Avenida one, much less the standard comic book size trim of the Ablaze international edition. Probably because it is marketed as manga, and is in the A5 trim of a manga tankobon. Here's a video where I do a more in depth comparison of this version with the Avenida edition.
This smaller trim results in the publisher cutting the page size and the art, but it does not impact in any meaningful way the storytelling; it still reads as it always does, you just don't get more of Kajo's art.
The main draw is the foil and embossed dust cover. It is magnificent. I started collecting comics in the heady decade of the 90s, and any cover gimmick captures my attention, especially, the shiny ones.
I ended up buying this book for essentially its dust cover, but I have no regrets, and it stands out in my Trese collection.
May 3, 2022
This Sandman-crossed-with-Agents of Dreamland-esque graphic novel is one of those books that show up for me at work despite my having zero recollection of why I wanted to read it, and those often end up being a toss-up. This felt much thinner than its description; it looks very cool and I enjoyed all of the folklore, but I think I would have been more compelled if one of the vignettes had been sacrificed for more about Trese.
August 27, 2022
This is my first time reading this well-beloved Filipino comic and I am impressed beyond words! The art style is captivating all throughout, the mysteries are compelling, and the overall feel captures the heart of Metro Manila. Looking forward to reading the rest!
September 16, 2019
It has similarities on concepts with the comics Fables by Bill Willingham (Vertigo) but I prefer Trese for obvious reasons.
October 22, 2011
Kept seeing this at National Bookstore then and admittedly when another author spoke extensively about this did I try picking it up and loved it!
Combining urban fantasy and Philippine folklore, this graphic novel is a series of stories about Alexandra Trese, our Philippine equivalent, to Kolchak and Fox Mulder. But the cool thing about her is that she's got two magical twins as her right hand men and doesn't bat an eyelash at the different magical creatures and circumstances that she gets herself involved in whenever the police call in on her for help on things, paranormal.
So far Book 4 has been released and it's no surprise why I already have Book 2 on stanby for my weekend reading.
Celebrate our being Filipino. Remember our own folklore and mythology and read this. :)
Combining urban fantasy and Philippine folklore, this graphic novel is a series of stories about Alexandra Trese, our Philippine equivalent, to Kolchak and Fox Mulder. But the cool thing about her is that she's got two magical twins as her right hand men and doesn't bat an eyelash at the different magical creatures and circumstances that she gets herself involved in whenever the police call in on her for help on things, paranormal.
So far Book 4 has been released and it's no surprise why I already have Book 2 on stanby for my weekend reading.
Celebrate our being Filipino. Remember our own folklore and mythology and read this. :)
January 17, 2022
Not exactly my type of thing, but I'm rounding up because it is very well done. These are short stories about a detective solving cases involving creatures from folklore of the Philippines. I think they would benefit from being a little longer than 20 pages each. But, these guys were working on their own, in their free time, outside any studio, and distributing the comics via photocopies, so 20 pages per month is quite a commitment, and the quality is quite high.
October 1, 2011
One of the highly recommended Filipino books that was mentioned during the Filipino Fridays meme for ReaderCon was the Trese series. At first I hesitated in buying the books because they didn’t seem like my kind of thing, but several people attested to its greatness so I just went ahead and bought them.
Now let me first say that I am not well-versed in Philippine Mythology – sure, I’ve heard of aswang, tikbalang, kapre and the like, but I never really tried to find out what they were exactly. Perhaps it is because I am a scaredy-cat, so I preferred to not know about that kind of thing. Understandably, I was quite apprehensive to start reading the first book. I suppose maybe I should have waited until daytime to start reading it, instead of at 2:00 in the morning.:) But anyway, my fears were unfounded, because even though the book included some paranormal creatures, I didn’t get that creeped out by them.
I really liked Alexandra Trese. She came across like a Filipino version of Kate Daniels – a kickass female with some kind of supernatural powers. Not much was revealed about her – just a few mentions of her father and grandfather here and there – so I am eager to learn more about Trese in the next installments.
As for the artwork, I really can’t say much since I don’t consider myself to be a good judge of art. For me, anyone who has the ability to draw is to be admired.:) So it goes without saying that I was impressed by the illustrations. At first I thought it would have been nicer if it was in full color, but I think having it in black and white kind of gave a darker feel to it.
Overall, a fast and enjoyable read and a book that I hope more people will pick up.
Now let me first say that I am not well-versed in Philippine Mythology – sure, I’ve heard of aswang, tikbalang, kapre and the like, but I never really tried to find out what they were exactly. Perhaps it is because I am a scaredy-cat, so I preferred to not know about that kind of thing. Understandably, I was quite apprehensive to start reading the first book. I suppose maybe I should have waited until daytime to start reading it, instead of at 2:00 in the morning.:) But anyway, my fears were unfounded, because even though the book included some paranormal creatures, I didn’t get that creeped out by them.
I really liked Alexandra Trese. She came across like a Filipino version of Kate Daniels – a kickass female with some kind of supernatural powers. Not much was revealed about her – just a few mentions of her father and grandfather here and there – so I am eager to learn more about Trese in the next installments.
As for the artwork, I really can’t say much since I don’t consider myself to be a good judge of art. For me, anyone who has the ability to draw is to be admired.:) So it goes without saying that I was impressed by the illustrations. At first I thought it would have been nicer if it was in full color, but I think having it in black and white kind of gave a darker feel to it.
Overall, a fast and enjoyable read and a book that I hope more people will pick up.
October 6, 2021
Filipino comics created by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo featuring Alexandra Trese, bar owner and occult investigator, set in Manila. Four case stories, all of them involving supernatural forces/characters derived from Filipino mythology: aswang, tikbalangs, all involved in criminal activities. Beautifully drawn, and violent, with this intriguing and strong main character, who reminds me a bit of Monstress, or The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Cool, tough, sleek characters. I heard this was originally "published" as many comics are around the world, photo-copied, stapled, sold in comics shops? But good for them, they got a publisher and an international audience. The quality is (for me) surprisingly high, so now I won't be so surprised when I read on.
December 30, 2020
Compelling, but at the end of the day all cops are bastards. Sorry, Alexandra. I do hope that Budjette and Kajo will move towards creating Pinoy mythical stories that support local mass movements, especially at a period when there is intensified crackdown on community organizers and citizens by the police, whom, sadly, the protagonist in this comic book series lends her expertise to.
October 20, 2022
What do you get when you cross Kolchak: The Night Stalker, The X-Files and Filipino mythology? You get Trese! A mysterious girl who works with the police trying to keep a 'pact' with all the supernatural beings that lurk in the shadows. Intelligent and fast paced; this original series will keep you guessing!
February 5, 2023
I burned through the netflix show and did the same with this. I love my horror with a solid folkloric backdrop, not just senseless violence, and this was awesome. Part PI story/supernatural procedural, part creature feature, wholly satisfying. Moving right on to volume 2.
October 11, 2022
Dios ko, I love how unapologetically Filipino everything in here is.
I had seen the series from Netflix and reading this, it is definitely another story. I believe this is the 4th comic or sequenced art I have read from the local community. And at every aspect herein is brought joy to my heart. Totally recommend it.
I had seen the series from Netflix and reading this, it is definitely another story. I believe this is the 4th comic or sequenced art I have read from the local community. And at every aspect herein is brought joy to my heart. Totally recommend it.
June 20, 2011
Full post at One More Page
Trese is a comic book series about Alexandra Trese, a bar owner who also works as a paranormal detective helping the Manila police in solving the weirder crimes that happen in the metro. Each book has a series of shorter stories inside, where we see Trese find the criminal through her contacts in the paranormal world. As it's set in the Philippines, Trese's paranormal contacts are all from the Philippine mythology -- aswang, duwende, tikblang, etc.
I remember reading the first book last year and being impressed -- it was very nice to read about something I know and grew up with given a different twist. Trese was likeable despite her very cold demeanor, and she immediately joins the strong female leads that I have read about in other books. I do find her a little bit too perfect in this though -- perfect in the sense that she knows everything and she does everything right. I would've wanted her to mess up a bit, but that may be too much for me to ask in the first book.
The cases were interesting, and they tread carefully between the line of paranormal and horror (is there a line there? Not sure). I liked how it related to what I know as a Filipino, but not in the classic, dated sense. I liked that the story was set in places in Manila and how they were updated to the current times. No deep dark forests or remote provinces were the creatures normally lurk here, for sure. It's fun, and thankfully not scary enough for me to really freak out, you know?
Yeah, I know, I'm a big chicken. :P
On the international front, I think Trese would be able to hold its own with a bit of limitation. I don't think it's very hard to understand, but I think the mythology would take some time to get used to and would need more research for a non-Filipino reader to understand. It's easy for me to wrap my head around the creepiness of Balete Drive because I live here, but for someone in another country, I'm not sure if the creepiness factor would be the same. Still, I'd like to see how non-Filipino readers would view Trese .
Trese is a comic book series about Alexandra Trese, a bar owner who also works as a paranormal detective helping the Manila police in solving the weirder crimes that happen in the metro. Each book has a series of shorter stories inside, where we see Trese find the criminal through her contacts in the paranormal world. As it's set in the Philippines, Trese's paranormal contacts are all from the Philippine mythology -- aswang, duwende, tikblang, etc.
I remember reading the first book last year and being impressed -- it was very nice to read about something I know and grew up with given a different twist. Trese was likeable despite her very cold demeanor, and she immediately joins the strong female leads that I have read about in other books. I do find her a little bit too perfect in this though -- perfect in the sense that she knows everything and she does everything right. I would've wanted her to mess up a bit, but that may be too much for me to ask in the first book.
The cases were interesting, and they tread carefully between the line of paranormal and horror (is there a line there? Not sure). I liked how it related to what I know as a Filipino, but not in the classic, dated sense. I liked that the story was set in places in Manila and how they were updated to the current times. No deep dark forests or remote provinces were the creatures normally lurk here, for sure. It's fun, and thankfully not scary enough for me to really freak out, you know?
Yeah, I know, I'm a big chicken. :P
On the international front, I think Trese would be able to hold its own with a bit of limitation. I don't think it's very hard to understand, but I think the mythology would take some time to get used to and would need more research for a non-Filipino reader to understand. It's easy for me to wrap my head around the creepiness of Balete Drive because I live here, but for someone in another country, I'm not sure if the creepiness factor would be the same. Still, I'd like to see how non-Filipino readers would view Trese .
June 17, 2021
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I don't remember when I read Trese the first time, but I do remember adoring it so much. This re-read is brought by the amazing Netflix adaptation (which I've yet to finish!)
Amazing comic book series that has stood the test of time. It features myths, culture, legends, and traditions that are purely and unapologetically Filipino.
Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, gore, death
I don't remember when I read Trese the first time, but I do remember adoring it so much. This re-read is brought by the amazing Netflix adaptation (which I've yet to finish!)
Amazing comic book series that has stood the test of time. It features myths, culture, legends, and traditions that are purely and unapologetically Filipino.
Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, gore, death
May 28, 2021
I'm mentally kicking myself for not reading this sooner!
I absolutely loved the creators' spin on Filipino mythology/folklore. Crime/detective/police stories mixed with supernatural elements is something that I always enjoy watching/reading about.
I also really liked the illustrations. The art style perfectly complements the tone of the stories being told.
So excited to read more! And I'm now even more hyped up for the Netflix adaptation!
I absolutely loved the creators' spin on Filipino mythology/folklore. Crime/detective/police stories mixed with supernatural elements is something that I always enjoy watching/reading about.
I also really liked the illustrations. The art style perfectly complements the tone of the stories being told.
So excited to read more! And I'm now even more hyped up for the Netflix adaptation!
May 28, 2021
Decided to get a copy of Trese to get ahead of its Netflix adaptation next month. The artwork was pretty solid but those dialogues are just so corny and uninspired. I can see potential with the localized underworld theme but these exchanges are as black and white as its pages.
December 18, 2019
This comic anthology is perfect for cold, monsoon-drenched nights when you need something out of the usual, something more immediate to get your horror fix. And personally it can't get any closer to home than this, as it features otherworldly creatures from Philippine mythology and legends through stories set in a modern and metropolitan milieu.
It's a monochromatic 21st-century occult noir that explores the bruised and broken landscape of an Asian megacity. It's a promising concept that would seem like the very devil to pull off. At that, this book did not just succeed - it well exceeded my expectations. And they were rather high to begin with - what with the news that Netflix is set to produce this as a series with no less than the director of several DC animated films at the helm.
I saw sample pages of the redrawn Balete story in the successfully-funded Indiegogo campaign for a global release of that comic, and aesthetically it was a vast improvement. The rough linework and somber inks of this volume have their own charm though, and really, it's the stories that drive this particular beast.
Speaking of stories, At the Intersection of Balete and 13th Street gave quite a jolt. It's a tale of the terrible and ruthless sacrifice a grieving woman is prepared to make for the sake of revenge. It also provided an obscure but interesting method of "killing" ghosts which comes at a terrible price.
Our Secret Constellation is a bittersweet riff on one of our local comic superheroes, about what ensues when one's legacy is used to less than noble ends. It also introduced us to the Diabolical, our trio's bar-cum-HQ which plays the framing device in one of the series' latter books, Trese: Stories from the Diabolical, Volume 1.
I'm rating it 8/10 or 4 stars out of 5.
It's a monochromatic 21st-century occult noir that explores the bruised and broken landscape of an Asian megacity. It's a promising concept that would seem like the very devil to pull off. At that, this book did not just succeed - it well exceeded my expectations. And they were rather high to begin with - what with the news that Netflix is set to produce this as a series with no less than the director of several DC animated films at the helm.
I saw sample pages of the redrawn Balete story in the successfully-funded Indiegogo campaign for a global release of that comic, and aesthetically it was a vast improvement. The rough linework and somber inks of this volume have their own charm though, and really, it's the stories that drive this particular beast.
Speaking of stories, At the Intersection of Balete and 13th Street gave quite a jolt. It's a tale of the terrible and ruthless sacrifice a grieving woman is prepared to make for the sake of revenge. It also provided an obscure but interesting method of "killing" ghosts which comes at a terrible price.
Our Secret Constellation is a bittersweet riff on one of our local comic superheroes, about what ensues when one's legacy is used to less than noble ends. It also introduced us to the Diabolical, our trio's bar-cum-HQ which plays the framing device in one of the series' latter books, Trese: Stories from the Diabolical, Volume 1.
I'm rating it 8/10 or 4 stars out of 5.
June 29, 2010
First, I wanna thank Mina for recommending TRESE to me. *Big Hug*
What can I say? It's breath of fresh air for me. I guess it's because most of the urban fantasy that I've been reading was about vampire, werewolves , fairies and wizards, TRESE talks about “our” story. It was like Buffy meets Harry Dresden with a dash of Filipino folklore. Alexandra kicks ass and I also mean it literally. A white lady, tikbalang, santelmo and even Darna was on the first book of TRESE. Hands down to Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, we should really support this brave souls for the only ammunition they've got is their talent and dream. When I was a kid, comics inspires me to read, to believe and to dream. I hope that a kid would pick this up and experience the same feeling that got me into reading.
You would definitely not be disappointed when you pick up a copy of TRESE, it would take you on a roller coaster ride. I had a BLAST! ^_^
What can I say? It's breath of fresh air for me. I guess it's because most of the urban fantasy that I've been reading was about vampire, werewolves , fairies and wizards, TRESE talks about “our” story. It was like Buffy meets Harry Dresden with a dash of Filipino folklore. Alexandra kicks ass and I also mean it literally. A white lady, tikbalang, santelmo and even Darna was on the first book of TRESE. Hands down to Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, we should really support this brave souls for the only ammunition they've got is their talent and dream. When I was a kid, comics inspires me to read, to believe and to dream. I hope that a kid would pick this up and experience the same feeling that got me into reading.
You would definitely not be disappointed when you pick up a copy of TRESE, it would take you on a roller coaster ride. I had a BLAST! ^_^
June 12, 2021
the interwoven filipino folklore into this comic series into each supernatural case that trese and her righthand men, the twins swiftly solve are easy to follow fun reads! alexandra trese my best girl, and seeing her on this journey with her father's legacy on her shoulders has been quite intriguing.
currently watching the tagalog dubbed series adaptation on netflix which i find the better way to consume this series in media. as these comics are exactly like the show with being quite short with multiple different supernatural crimes in each single volume as it is in each episode but provides more background stories.
currently watching the tagalog dubbed series adaptation on netflix which i find the better way to consume this series in media. as these comics are exactly like the show with being quite short with multiple different supernatural crimes in each single volume as it is in each episode but provides more background stories.
August 14, 2023
My vocabulary was shaped by the comic books I read as a child. So I could not believe my good fortune, the first time I chanced on the Trese comic books (graphic novels, if you will) at Fully Booked years ago. The graphics, the narrative, and the flow are all exceptional. Best of all, the content and subject matter are faithful to all those stories practically every Filipino child and adult knows by heart. And then some...Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo have added their excellent brew of of stimulants to the stories.
This first book introduces us to the lithe, gothic Alexandra Trese, who reminds me of a much younger version of DC's Phantom Stranger in dress, demeanor, and resolve. Four plots revolve around Trese's investigation of the famous white lady of Balete Drive, leading her to a clan of aswangs with a craving for newborn babies. It is this casual merging of Philippine urban legends and the supernaturally absurd that makes this comic book fly.
* Netflix released a six-episode Trese series in June 2021.
This first book introduces us to the lithe, gothic Alexandra Trese, who reminds me of a much younger version of DC's Phantom Stranger in dress, demeanor, and resolve. Four plots revolve around Trese's investigation of the famous white lady of Balete Drive, leading her to a clan of aswangs with a craving for newborn babies. It is this casual merging of Philippine urban legends and the supernaturally absurd that makes this comic book fly.
* Netflix released a six-episode Trese series in June 2021.
July 17, 2021
Fans of Vertigo's Hellblazer will definitely love this book. It compose of four mystery cases that will be solved by Alexandra Trese an occult detective and special consultant of the police. I love how they put Philippine mythology in modern setting. It also showcase Filipino culture. I remember the tv series Grimm when I first heard about this way back in 2012. Because Netflix adapted this, I found the motivation to read this. It didnt disappoint especially the art.
Trese, by far, is the best comic book series made in the Philippines.
Trese, by far, is the best comic book series made in the Philippines.
December 31, 2014
WOW. This was a lesson of sorts for me about Filipino folklore specifically the dark creatures that go bump in the dark. I never knew we had that many scary creatures.
I liked the dry humor scattered all throughout the story. I couldn't help but chuckle whenever the main character's sidekicks said 'Bossing' because it's reminiscent of those old action movies I used to watch when I was a kid. The mystery of what the main character is hooked me as well. The way she knows who to call on when crime involving them creatures suggests that she herself is one of them. Her grandfather served as a big boss of some kind too! Oh well, Ive got 4 more to read I guess more will be revealed about her in the next volumes.
I liked the dry humor scattered all throughout the story. I couldn't help but chuckle whenever the main character's sidekicks said 'Bossing' because it's reminiscent of those old action movies I used to watch when I was a kid. The mystery of what the main character is hooked me as well. The way she knows who to call on when crime involving them creatures suggests that she herself is one of them. Her grandfather served as a big boss of some kind too! Oh well, Ive got 4 more to read I guess more will be revealed about her in the next volumes.
May 15, 2021
I am late to the party but here I am! I didn’t know I was missing out on so much until I read the first volume of Trese. Now I am in the hunt for all the volumes, it is a bit difficult looking for copies and I only have myself to blame for sleeping on this amazing series.
Trese follows the story of Alexandra Trese, a detective who deals with crimes of supernatural origin. It highlights Filipino Folklore and mythical creatures incorporated in urban setting. What makes it so cool is how Tan and Baldisimo made it a point to never lose the origin and essense of these supernatural creatures I was told growing up. I am so happy to see international recognition of this masterpiece. Netflix better do it justice!!
Trese follows the story of Alexandra Trese, a detective who deals with crimes of supernatural origin. It highlights Filipino Folklore and mythical creatures incorporated in urban setting. What makes it so cool is how Tan and Baldisimo made it a point to never lose the origin and essense of these supernatural creatures I was told growing up. I am so happy to see international recognition of this masterpiece. Netflix better do it justice!!
July 13, 2021
This was very good and amazing comic
Can't wait to read other books of this series
Can't wait to read other books of this series
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