Review
An e-copy of the book has been provided by the publisher, Diamond Book Distributors, in exchange for an honest review.
‘Trese Vol 2: Unreported Murders’ is an episodical comic series that follows four stories of, you guessed it right, murder that involves creatures from the Philippine mythology. The stories are not directly interrelated with one another but there are recurring characters aside from our main character [Alexandra Trese] that gives texture to the story.
Seamless in giving details about the world and characters, it extends a well-rounded storytelling and world-building. It doesn’t offer a complicated world as it is has an urban fantasy setting—the possibility of magical realms could be highly likely though have yet to be introduced. A variety of characters are present but not everyone has a concrete background to them. This, I believe, is also a strong point for the book as it gives a sense of curiosity and intrigue. It pulls the readers in. Feeding their hunger but providing them just enough to come back for more. On the other hand, there are panels that were weird and confusing [definitely something personal] but the overall sequencing was effortless and simple. It gave a structure that is easy to follow and isn’t tiring to read.
For a comic that is made in a more modern era, this book exudes a nostalgic feeling with how the art style is done. The gritty, dark, and crisp work is highly reminiscent of those comic strips that we [Filipinos] are so used to reading in newspapers. It doesn’t only tug the heartstrings in bringing those wonderful moments, it also didn’t fail to provide us with an extraordinary story.
If you’re looking for something to introduce you to Philippine mythological beings, the ‘Trese’ franchise is undeniably a brilliant book that will satiate that hunger.
About the Author
Budjette is a founding member of Alamat Comics. He has since written comic-book stories like Batch72, The Flying Phantom, and Payaso. His most recent work is Trese, co-created with artist KaJo Baldisimo. Like any typical superhero, he keeps a secret identity and works as the Deputy Executive Creative Director in the ad agency Harrison Communications.
