(SPOT.ph) Pinoy graphic novels hit different. Mangas, comics, and the like all have their own unique vein of storytelling, so it makes sense that nothing hits closer to home than seeing our own stories laid out in graphic-novel style, particularly if you were (or are) obsessed with works from folks like Arnold Arre, Russell Molina, and more recently, Paolo Chikiamco. Well, better take note because there's a chance to relive the magic for that last one: Chikiamco's Mythspace is getting an international release! And this time, in full color.
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Pinoy graphic novel Mythspace slated for an international release:
Chikiamco is working with Portland-based publisher Ablaze for this re-release. A Kickstarter was launched for the project on March 22; they have already surpassed their goal of U.S. $6,000 dollars as of writing—but there's definitely still time to help out before pledges end on April 21.
With the international release, "The stories will be in full color for the first time ever, and some of the stories will have remastered artwork. "Lift Off", the main story, is being almost completely redrawn," shares Chikiamco with SPOT.ph.
Mythspace all began when artist Koi Carreon—the one who helped bring "Lift Off" to life—approached Chikiamco. "He told me that a group of his friends wanted to work on a science fiction anthology, and he wanted me to introduce him to writers they could collaborate with. After seeing what the team was capable of, naturally I wanted to keep them all to myself, and I pitched a shared universe for all the six stories." Their work then grew into an epic space opera of six diverse stories with Filipino folklore as its backbone. Now, years later they've revisited their works. "It was definitely fun going back to Mythspace after years of not being able to work on it. What’s been amusing to me is seeing the choices I made and the shortcuts I resorted to for the stuff I was having a hard time drawing at the time. Now I have a chance to do better," Carreon shares.
"Being able to put the book out internationally allows us to reach more readers, particularly those in the Filipino diaspora and those interested in seeing more diverse representation in genres such as space opera," adds Chikiamco. "Our hope is that readers who are unfamiliar with Philippine folklore are intrigued by it, and those who are familiar with it will enjoy seeing familiar faces in new forms."
Mythspace's first full volume came out under Visprint, Inc. in 2014, nearly a decade ago. The writer and the artists have continued telling stories in this medium but, as Chikiamco shares, "Few Philippine creators can make a living solely from comics… but the more successful Philippine comics there are, particularly on the global stage, the higher the likelihood that more of us can do this as our sole vocation."
Check out the Kickstarter page for the Mythspace international release.
Keep updated via the Mythspace Facebook page.