Tarantadong Kalbo

Tarantadong Kalbo #1

by Kevin Eric Raymundo

From the Foreword:

What TK manages to do wit his komiks is a balancing act of getting a message across while entertaining. His work is a brilliant commentary on Filipino society's flaws and triumphs, that is absurd, honest, and thought-provoking from one strip to the next. What is astounding to me is the way he weaves the personal and relatable with biting satire and the silly. You will see throughout this book how his wit and charm shine through.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels Comics

192 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2020

Reviews

[Fantaghiro23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, real, and frankly, a balm for my soul this 2020.

[Carol Laforteza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will remember 2020’s horrors with humor. This is wonderful.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was consciously and firmly written as a book of a specific moment in time, being that of 2020. So yes, it's going to be dated pretty quickly. In a sense, it is Mr. Raymundo's diary of that hell of a year, when a lot of shit went down, the covid pandemic just one of them. Personal stuff of course, memes certainly, but definitely so much social & political commentary of the most updated kind. I admire him for his fearlessness.

[Bambi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encapsulates what a Filipino living during the pandemic is feeling -- exasperation, incredulity, hope... a perfect time capsule to look back on when things change (for the better.)

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing talent, that wit, sarcastic humor, set during the onset of the pandemic in 2020 that is distinctly Pinoy. For me, it is very similar to Pugad Baboy series in the '90s. Kevin Raymundo has his own style and brand that made him endearing to the GenZ's. A daily dose of his strips in his social media accounts available. :)

[Honeypie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mas panalo siguro ito kung nabasa ko ito nung 2020, kasagsagan ng covid. At ng maraming epal.

Nakakalungkot maremind ng mga nangyari noon.
(Tapos parang ganun pa rin ngayon. Nye.)



(Pero nakakaexcite pa rin umuwi...)

[Zai Zai · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny, introspective look at life in the Philippines during the first waves of the pandemic. This is largely commentary on the government and I applaud Kevin for being brave. Proud of people like him.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many, I had become acquainted with TK's work over the course of the pandemic as his timely comics practically documented the ups and downs of local community quarantines. It wasn't until I had read this first compilation of his work that I had fully appreciated how much he had created over this period. Sure, he already had some interesting strips before the lockdowns really came down, but he really managed to strike a chord during the pandemic - and this has evolved in a larger ability to speak to our political situation.

This book is a comical but very truthful and relatable glimpse into our recent history, one that makes a lot more sense if you had gone through the experience of hearing of such headlines and news pieces as they happened. There's something emotionally evocative about the way he approaches his work that speaks to so many and really has the potential to deliver very important messages to many, many people.

Great book. And I hope TK continues to speak truth to power in his own clever way for as long as possible. We need more creative voices like his in the world.

[Kev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin: TTK = TaranTadong Kalbo

  Tarantado hindi dahil sa walang kahihiyan ngunit dahil sa walang takot niyang pagsisiwalat ng mga katarantaduhang kanyang napupuna sa kanyang kapaligiran.

  Kalbo hindi dahil sa pagpapanirang-puri ngunit marahil nakalbo siya sa konsumisyon gawa ng mga katarantaduhang nagaganap lalo na noong 2020.

Kev: TTK = Tunay na Taym Kapsul (ng taong 2020)

  Isang makulay na aklat para sa makulay na 2020 - tunay ngang taym kapsul. "Tarantadong" Kudos!

PS. Tumindig Tayo Kababayan!

(image credits: Kevin Eric Raymundo and Spot.ph)

[Kohi · Rating 4 out of 5]

TK is the artist of our generation. It gives me a little courage and hope whenever I see his work. Hindi nananahimik, hindi natatakot. I like that his work is something that I can relate to — 90’s kid memories and politics.

I like his art, it’s not heavy on the eyes. Consistent na throughout the book, I was thinking if font na ba ang text o talagang sinusulat niya. I guess it is more of the latter because I had my book signed.

Looking forward to buy the next book. :)

[Pturingan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of all the Tarantadong Kalbo strips previously posted online during that year from hell known as 2020. TK's online strips are essentially the editorial cartoons of this era, reacting hilariously to whatever the government, society, or whoever is the internet's "main character" of the moment is. Sure, it can get dated pretty quickly as I struggled to remember some of the references here but it's still funny, and a reminder of what we all went through and how far we've come.

[Mich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alam mo, di naman talaga ako mahilig sa komiks. Piling pili lang ang visual media na nabasa ko sa tanang buhay ko. Pero may something dito sa libro ni TK na di ko matigilan magbasa. Dahil ba ang daling makarelate sa mga tema at scenario niya? Dahil ba sa art style? Dahil ba ang easygoing sa mata ng komiks? Dahil ang ganda ng kulay? O dahil hindi lang nakakatawa, kundi tagos sa puso 'yung mga kwento niya?

I think all of the above?

[Beatrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unapologetic. Witty. Humorous.

I love it and I am glad to meet Sir Kevin during Manila International Book Fair and got my book signed. Looking forward to read his upcoming works. .

Proud na tuminding 🥰💗

[Alex Simeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

disclaimer: i read the Nosebleed Edition but its not on goodreads so this is more like a placeholder for now

"Social media platforms play a huge part in spreading disinformation because they are driven by clicks and views."

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

May hugot parati ang mga dibuho ni TK. Kuhang kuha ang emosyon sa iilang panel ng komiks. Mahusay!

[Arra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and wonderful comic book that awakens the soul of A Filipino reader. An instrument to remind us to be vigilant, to discern, to think, and to care. An eye opener and a must-read for all!

[Komiks Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the komiks in Tarantadong Kalbo 1 is like answering board exam questions. Some are easy to get, taking only a second to answer. Some require deeper, critical thinking, and prior knowledge of current events or the lastest thing in social media. But all these komiks are told within a few panels, and drawn in simple, consistent, sure lines, akin to reading newspaper editorials but definitely funnier. And there lies the genius of its writer and illustrator, Kevin Eric Raymundo.

The guy is witty, observant, and empathic, able to convey the anger and frustations of Filipino readers within the confines of a single drawing, with a dash of satire and a sprinkling of laughter. This is probably best exemplified by his drawing of a dog on top of a roof of a flood-submerged house with the caption “Nakakapagod nang maging resilient”

This guy is fearless. He laughs in the face of angry reacts, and death threats but his komiks do not resort to ad-hominem attacks. He is not afraid of telling the truth, and even offers a helping hand or a dose of hope in his komiks. This guy has guts and I admire him for it.
Now that we’re going into another “not lockdown”, this book has become more relevant than ever. It is a record of 2020: “the ups, the downs, the raging against the dying of the light”, as Rob Cham succinctly puts it in his introduction, and it is one of the most important komiks out there today that deserves to be read.

Best time to read: today or tomorrow when the “not lockdown” starts again, and in real-time at the Tarantadong Kalbo Instagram and Facebook pages, whenever some big news happens in our dear country.

“Yan talaga yung pinaka-ayaw ko sa lahat... Ang mabuhay sa takot.” - Tarantadong Kalbo