Tyler Durden Returns

Chuck Palahniuk shares a preview on the return of Tyler Durden via his twitter feed. It will be published by Dark Horse Comics this year. It's been a great year so far for (comic) book nerds.

Some imaginary friends never left...

Tabi Po Isyu 2 ni Mervin Malonzo

Ito ay karugtong ng naunang isyu kung saan ipinakilala ang kasaysayan ni Elias bilang isang aswang (kasama ng kanyang mga kauri) noong panahon ng mga Kastila. Hindi ako nanghinayang sa pagpunta kanina sa AKLATAN (kauna-unahang "All-Filipino Book Fair" sa bansa) sa Bayanihan Center para sa ikalawang isyu na ito dahil sulit hanggang sa huling sentimo. Wala pang hassle sa pagpila sa libreng pirma at kumustahan sa may akda dahil wala naman talagang pila pero tingin ko'y ibang istorya ang magaganap bukas sa Komikon dahil siguradong dadagsain ang book signing nito.

Salamat sa may akda at sa mga tumulong sa kanya para ituloy ang kuwento. Sadyang mahusay ang pagkakagawa. Kung meron man hindi na ako makahintay sa posibleng pagkikita ni Elias kay Ibarra sa mga susunod na isyu.

Kategorya: Horror, Historical Dark Fantasy, Mature Reading, Komiks
Marka: 4.5 tasa ng mainit-init na Salabat

TRESE 5: Midnight Tribunal

It's really a delight to read this given the same format as the third book (TRESE 3: Mass Murders). Personally, I prefer this "one long story in one book" for TRESE than a "collection of short stories in one book" format. Because this long story arc can easily provide a prolonged anticipation for the climax, and the cliffhanger if needed.

It's also cool to see another Trese sibling working as a professor of Anthropology and Sociology in UP. That one specific shot in the Sunken Garden kicked a fuel blast for my mind to soar, reviewing a lot of recent and ancient memories.  Allusions to Mars Ravelo's mythology of Captain Barbell (and Panday) is a big surprise, and I never saw it coming, especially when knowing the arch-enemy of Alexandra Trese.  

Thanks to this dynamic duo of Budjette and KaJo, the TRESE legend is starting to establish its roots in the Filipino psyche. I hope those who started following the series will be ready for the next book.


Genre: Philippine Urban Fantasy
Rating: 4 cups of black coffee

img source

*Beinte kuwatro boss?

I enjoyed Pugad Baboy 23 last year, even if I saw a lot of disappointed PB fans ranting about the quality of stories and jokes. Now, I’m looking forward to this latest release, there’s a story arc that we love to follow for a Pugad Baboy comic book ever since Book 1. PMJR's redemption time is here!

*translation: "Boss, do you want a twenty four?"
images © Pol Medina JR and Pandayan Book Shop

Fresh Off The [Digital] Press

The long wait is over, Sci Fi readers! Philippine Speculative Fiction Vol.7 is officially available for download via Flipside. Raving about this anthology is the least I can do since I could not make it for the official launch yesterday. This cover art by Les Banzuelo and Adam David looks like the anthology is created as a graphic novel, but it isn't.

cover image © Flipside Publishing

Diablo III: The Order by Nate Kenyon

Since 1996, loyal gamers of the Diablo franchise knew that the horror aspect of the game is the most important and distinctive trait compared to other games in the list of the all-time best desktop RPG of history. The fantasy writer Richard Knaak is actually the first writer to explore the Diablo mythos into a series of novels but now that we are facing a new era of the gaming franchise (via Blizzard) and as the official release of the third Diablo game on May 15 is already scheduled, why not delight yourselves to a dark adventure of Deckard Cain's search for his long-lost Horadrim brothers?

I always believe that a good story will make a good game and I hope that Nate Kenyon's credentials as a writer of The Reach (which is a finalist for Bram Stoker Award---the award guild for horror fiction works) and StarCraft Ghost: Spectres are enough to carry on that mythos.

"Deckard Cain is the last of the Horadrim, the sole surviving member of a mysterious and legendary order. Assembled by the archangel Tyrael, the Horadrim were charged with the sacred duty of seeking out and vanquishing the three Prime Evils: Diablo (the Lord of Terror), Mephisto (the Lord of Hatred), and Baal (the Lord of Destruction). But that was many years ago. As the decades passed, the Horadrim’s strength diminished, and they fell into obscurity. Now all of their collected history, tactics, and wisdom lie within the aged hands of one man. A man who is growing concerned.

Dark whisperings have begun to fill the air, tales of ancient evil stirring, rumblings of a demonic invasion set to tear the land apart.

Amid the mounting dread, Deckard Cain uncovers startling new information that could bring about the salvation—or ruin—of the mortal world: other remnants of the Horadrim still exist. He must unravel where they have been and why they are hiding from one of their own.

As Cain searches for the lost members of his order, he is thrust into an alliance with an unlikely ally: Leah, an eight-year-old girl feared by many to carry a diabolical curse. What is her secret? How is it tied to the prophesied End of Days? And if there are other living Horadrim, will they be able to stand against oblivion? These are the questions Deckard Cain must answer . . . before it is too late. "

The Book of Cain

After unearthing the secret of Archbishop Lazarus in 1996, loyal and fanatic players of this seminal hack-n-slash RPG genre of Diablo were unanimous in looking at the series as one of the best story-driven PC game of the decade. If you're a noob in the Diablo lore and mythology, better prepare yourself with the whole mythology straight from the world of Sanctuary as Blizzard finally released The Book of Cain this month.

You can now see the truth as compiled and narrated by the last surviving member of the Horadrim, Deckard Cain himself.

video by FSG

book img source

Alternative Alamat

If you love stories about Philippine Mythology this one looks delicious. Published today by Rocket Kapre Books in digital format, this is an anthology of new and old, known and unknown, fiction and non-fiction work of writers, artists, and historians involved in the fascination and study of our country's diverse mythology.

cover art by Mervin Malonzo for Rocket Kapre Books

CONTENTS:

“Ana’s Little Pawnshop on Makiling St.” by Eliza Victoria 

“Harinuo’s Love Song” by Rochita Loenen-Ruiz 

“The Last Full Show” by Budjette Tan 

“The Alipin’s Tale” by Raymond G. Falgui 

“Keeper of My Sky” by Timothy James Dimacali 

“Conquering Makiling” by Mo Francisco 

“The Sorceress Queen” by Raissa Rivera Falgui 

“Beneath The Acacia” by Celestine Trinidad 

“Offerings to Aman Sinaya” by Andrei Tupaz 

“Balat, Buwan, Ngalan” by David Hontiveros 

“A Door Opens: The Beginning of the Fall of the Ispancialo-in-Hinirang” by Dean Alfar 

Appendix A: A Few Notable Philippine Deities 

Appendix B: Interview with Professor Herminia Meñez Coben 

Appendix C: Interview with Professor Fernando N. Zialcita 

Appendix D: On Researching Philippine Mythology 

Cover and interior artwork by Mervin Malonzo

ELMER: Re-Launching!

Midnight Toast

On this eve of the official book launching and after reading my copy, I commend Budjette for writing quality stories beyond my expectations. Of the four, this latest book is my favorite. Any Pacquiao fan would surely like the mythology Budjette created here. And for the rest of the stories in this 4th collection, they all provided depth and additional dimensions to the overall progress of the ongoing Alexandra Trese story, the World of Trese that we readers like to follow.

I never imagined of a plant elemental before since I always refer to an "elemental" as representative of the traditional, worldly and fundamental "elements" like air, water, fire, lightning, and earth but the writer used the term to represent plant-like creatures and spirits but it's okay, it never hindered me in following the story and enjoy it just the same.  

What I would love to see in the future is to perceive the Trese story and legend through the eyes of Captain Guerrero. Though I wish KaJo drew him to look more Filipino than just a physical derivative of Batman's Commissioner Gordon and I would like to see him slightly knowledgeable already with the world of the unknown from all the strange cases he encountered and solved with the help of Trese and her Kambal escorts.  

But for the moment, I raise my bottle of fruit-flavored vodka to Budjette and KaJo tonight.

Good work!

Rating: 4 glasses of orange juice
Genre: Urban Fantasy & Horror

TRESE 4: Book Launch

OCTOBER 8, 2011 

4th Floor ROBINSON'S GALLERIA, ORTIGAS

BACK COVER

FRONT

A Ball-busting Detour on August 19

Strictly for mature readers only!
PUP Sta Mesa - August 19, 2011