Friends of Jalila - AK Comics - Middle East Heroes

OK - so the mention of Darna seems to have been well-received - in fact some people have said they didn't even know there WAS a comic book industry in the Philippines - how wrong can you be. So okay, let's spend one more day looking at what's available.

One of my favourites is Rene Manaquis, who produces a Diabolik-type character called Masquaredo - here's his website:

http://www.geocities.com/capsulezone/main.html

His best work, however, is Manila 1913 - part of a series of stories on the Philippines quest for independence.

And then there's Bobby Villagazia's Merza, who could easily be a friend of Jalila. An article on her can be found here:

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/m/merza.htm

They even have a comics art museum (yay!) in San Pablo. It has some amazing artwork. Look at this:

http://www.komikero.com/museum/

Look at the detail and vitality in Nestor Redondo's work:

http://www.komikero.com/museum/diwani.html and here:
http://www.komikero.com/museum/quovadis.html

And from the same golden age period of the early 1950s, Tony deZuniga:

http://www.komikero.com/museum/dezuniga4.html

And the beautiful women of Fred Alcantara from the same age:

http://www.komikero.com/museum/dezuniga4.html

And the crisp styling of Jesse Santos

http://www.komikero.com/museum/dezuniga4.html

Wow! Such talent - and it lends further strength, I believe, to my campaign for a comic art museum in the UK too.