A new generation of comic book writers and artists who grew up reading American comic books probably caused the noticeable change in Pinoy komiks in the early 1990s. There was a great desire to draw like their American idols and this was clearly seen in their art style and stories. Still, in the late 90s, yet a newer batch of creators emerged, and this time, this generation grew up heavily influenced by Japanese manga and anime.
In the past ten years, we’ve seen a healthy mix of comic book creators influenced by comic books from America, Japan, Europe, as well as komiks made during the industry’s Golden Age. As far as comic strips go, new and original artists also emerged as they draw inspiration from everyday things that make us Filipino.
It was difficult choosing “the best” characters, especially since everyone has their favorites. Some of these characters have been around for 20 years and show no signs of stopping, while others are fairly new, but have already grown a fanbase of loyal readers. Then there are those acclaimed by the National Book Awards who have also won the hearts of their readers. These characters were chosen because they can all be classified as groundbreaking work—ones that made us see Pinoy komiks in a new light.
Meet the "new school" of local comics. Click for more.
See SPOT.ph's Top 10 Classic Pinoy Komiks Characters here
Illustrations by Carlo Vergara, Pol Medina Jr., Manix Abrera, Lyndon Gregorio, Arnold Arre, Gerry Alanguilan, Kajo Baldisimo, Gio Paredes, Ian Sta Maria
