Sunday, January 30, 2011

Studio 4 is now a crime scene

a dead body is found

a spell is cast

a kambal comes out to play

TRESE: Masquerade (complete story)








TRESE: MASQUERADE
Story by Budjette Tan
Art & Letters by Mark Torres

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Forbidden Planet reviews TRESE


Trese – dark mysteries on the streets of Manilla
a review by Richard Bruton

Trese is a supernatural series starring a female investigator who steps in to protect the streets of Manilla when the police can’t deal with the supernatural weirdness that appears. Produced by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, this Filipino book does so much right it’s practically scandalous we haven’t heard more about it here in the UK.

...Trese is definitely from the same mold as Hellblazer, just as it’s writer Budjette Tan is channelling equal parts Jamie Delano and Warren Ellis and artist Kajo Baldisimo does some impressive black and white work somewhere on a scale of Frank Miller and Eduardo Risso. But there’s a lot of other influences in there as well – is it just my prejudices or can I see Alan Davis as well?

But the most important thing is that it’s a very impressive take on the whole mysterious magical investigator. Its’ a very original take on an old genre idea. A hugely entertaining series of 13 stories across the 3 volumes.

READ THE COMPLETE REVIEW AT:
http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/2011/trese-dark-mysteries-on-the-streets-of-manilla/

Sunday, January 02, 2011

Grand Plans and Sidetrips

We had a grand plan for 2010. We planned to release Trese Book 4 and 5. Along the way, we distracted ourselves with other things and thought we were supermen and could juggle all these worlds simultaneously and still deliver the books on time. We were not as super as we thought.

So, while working on Book 4, we also tried to start TALIS, a new Pinoy superhero title and got to finish one issue.

Then I wrote that Trese Valentine’s Day story “I Carry Your Heart” where we revealed the secret of the bangungot.


We also worked on the script and storyboard for a Trese short film (which is now officially on hold and not so sure how soon this will get the green light again).

And then I collaborated with Brandie for his RE:VISION exhibit piece,which was a six-panel Trese story that you switch around and revise and it will still tell you a story.


Towards the end of the year, Erwin Romulo and the crazy crew of UNO lured us into, what he promised to be, “a whole lot of fun”. Well, he did deliver on the “fun” part and we cooked up THE FEAST (It's an 8-page, full color, all original story from me, Kajo, and Alex Arellano.) Read it in the least issue of UNO. You can't miss it. It's the one with Iza Calzado on the cover.


So, we didn’t exactly slack off and that’s why we missed our deadlines. We just kept ourselves busy. Too busy.

During the Metro Comic Con, we released TRESE: Cadena de Amor.

During the Komikon, Kajo released the first pin-up for the Trese: Night Gallery. Expect more of these pin-ups this year.

Oh, and TRESE: MASS MURDERS won Best Graphic Literature of the Year in the National Book Awards. Thank you very much!


So, what’s the grand plan this year?

To finish Book 4 (and maybe Book 5)!!!

As of this writing, Kajo is finishing the pages of case#2. If all goes well, then Book 4 should be ready by the Summer Komikon and Metro Comic Con.

New Year's Resolution: DO NOT PISS OFF TRESE!

Well try to avoid getting distracted and finished what we promised we’d finish.

And maybe we’ll get more TALIS done, with a little help from our friends.

Talking about our friends, here’s sneak preview of what you’ll see in the third and last issue of SKYWORLD by Mevin Ignacio and Ian Sta Maria



Also coming out this year is Paolo Fabregas’ FILIPINO HEROES LEAGUE

And then there’s the third issue of BATHALA: APOKALYPSIS by David Hontiveros and Ace Enriquez


As you can see, it’s going to be a great new year filled with great new stories! Thank you for sticking around and liking the stories we tell!