| Philippine comics | |
|---|---|
| Earliest publications | 1920s |
| Publications | Kulafu Og Darna D. I. Trece |
| Creators | Tony Velasquez Tony DeZuniga Nestor Redondo Mars Ravelo Alex Niño |
| Languages | |
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Philippine Comics (Filipino: Komiks) have been popular throughout the nation from the 1920s to the present. Comics scholar John A. Lent posited that the Philippine comics tradition has "the strongest audience appeal, best-known cartooning geniuses, and most varied comics content" in Asia after Japan and Hong Kong.[1]
The origins of Philippine comic strips trace back to the early 20th century, and Comic books gained widespread readership after World War II.[2] These early comics were deeply rooted in Western styles and formats,[3] yet they possessed a distinctive character as melodramas enjoyed by both children and adults.[4] Marked by ornate, baroque illustrations drawn in thick lines,[4][5] Philippine comics peaked in popularity as a national pastime during the 1980s. They also served as source material for movies, as well as for promoting government initiatives.[6] However, by the end of the 20th century, public interest began to wane, with alternative forms of entertainment such as television and the Internet taking precedence, leading to the decline of nationally distributed comic books. Subsequently, self-publishing and independent publishers flourished, and comics communities formed through conventions. The emergence of webcomics provided a new avenue for publishing works.
- ^ Lent 2015, No. 203/342.
- ^ Flores, Emil (August 20, 2015). "From Sidewalks to Cyberspace: A History of Komiks". panitikan.ph. University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ Reyes 1993, pp. 74–76.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
flores2008was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Fondevilla 2007, p. 444.
- ^ Lent 1998, p. 242.