Kriss. Claws. Bats.

"This is another fine mess you've gotten us into, Logan!"

"Don't call me Robin."

A year or so ago, I asked Kajo if he was ever going to make a new portfolio to show to DC and Marvel editors. He said he wanted to do a story where Trese teams-up with Batman and Wolverine and all the action will happen in Manila. So, in one of my notebooks is an outline for that very short story, but we got busy with our dayjobs and finishing Book4, and I forgot all about it.

Today, Kajo sent me these sketches based on a story he's never read and yet he drew one of the scenes that was in my head. (But, as usual, Kajo comes up with an even better idea and he dressed up Wolverine in a barong tagalog!) 

So, here's a sneak preview to that unwritten story.

Happy Friday the 13th!

Thank You 2011

the sun has set on 2011

we are a week into 2012

we take a cautious look at what we’ve left behind

to make sure there’s no one following us

to see the mysteries that have baffled us and we have solved

to check on the mysteries still left unsolved

to review the clues that we have and hope to figure it all out in the next twelve months

and where we give thanks to the people who helped us along the way

Thanks to the Komikon Krew who never fail to invite us to their great events

Thanks to the National Bookstore Super Team for organizing the best Trese launch ever!

Special thanks to Mike Carey, Paul Levitz, and Neil Gaiman for taking the time to email and give feedback about the book.

Thanks to Nida and Visprint, who remain to be our willing accomplice

Thanks to the diabolical denizens of the Trese Facebook page! LIKE! I am amazed and amused at how active our readers can be in this page. They never stop asking questions about Trese, they've deciphered our plans for the Trese covers, and they never stop asking for more Trese stories, which just pressures us (in a good way) to keep on writing and keep on drawing.

Thanks to the bloggers, news reporters, and book reviewers who helped promote Trese.

Thanks to all my fellow comic book creators -- your work continues to inspire me and urges me to improve my work and tell better stories

And to all our readers who made this possible

my Trese Christmas Gift

It's been quite awhile since my brother Brandie has drawn an art piece like this. The last time he did something that came close to a comic book was something he did for their RE:VISION exhibit in 2010.

The very first comic book collaboration we ever did was the story PAYASO, which we did back in 1994!

So it was great to get this original artwork from him this Christmas :-)

Hoping to see him draw more in the new year!

Trese in Inquirer's TOP 10 Books for 2011

“Trese Vol. 4: Last Seen After Midnight” by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo (Visprint)
The newest installment of the wildly successful “Trese” comic-book series carries its trademark spooky inventiveness proudly as Alexandra Trese and her bodyguards, the Kambal, look into the truth behind comatose dorm mates, missing monsters, and even a certain world-famous prizefighter. Tan writes and Baldisimo illustrates with poise and polish. Like the best of its earlier incarnations, “Last Seen Before Midnight” lures readers into looking at their surroundings and finding the weird as well as the amazing. (from  Our Top 10 books for 2011 by Ruel S. De Vera Philippine Daily Inquirer, December 19th, 2011)

Trese climbs National Bookstore Bestseller List

Thank you very much to all our readers who made this possible! From ninth place, TRESE: LAST SEEN AFTER MIDNIGHT has now climbed to the number two selling Philippine Publication.

And it's also great to see a fellow Visprint author on the list. Congrats to Manix Abrera! Kikomachine Komix Blg 7 is now No. 10 on the list.

Trese wins in 2011 Komikon Awards

Thank you very much for everyone who voted for us! Thank you very much to all our readers, to everyone's who's every drawn Trese-fan art and shared it with the world, to everyone's who's ever written a review about Trese, tweeted about us, or clicked LIKE on the Trese Facebook page. Thank you for all the support and love and magic!

Best Comic Creators Award : BUDJETTE TAN and KAJO BALDISIMO

Best Cover Award : TRESE: MASS MURDERS 

Santelmo

A teen-aged Trese unleashes three Santelmo towards some aswang or enkanto who will probably regret crossing paths with Alexndra.

"Santelmo" is the third Trese Night Gallery print by Kajo Baldisimo.

This will be made available at the 2011 Komikon, November 19, at the Bayanihan Center, Pioneer Street, Ortigas. More info at : http://www.komikon.org/map-to-bayanihan-center/

Take a look at the other Night Gallery Prints:

HANNAH AND AMMIE
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2011/04/hannie-and-ammie.html

MALIKSI
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/11/trese-night-gallery-limited-edition.html