The Merchant of Oltrarno | Mysterious Wine

02.14.2019 – Fairytales do tell wonderful stories without the need to use what most people are familiar with namely comic book style layouts. It’s rare nowadays that attract a lot of people to this concept because more have gravitated to the idea as a current trend. Most would be turned off to this old-style concept reading words while the illustration is just the other side of the page. Recent graphic novels that have found success in their first stories find the challenge to find the same organic narrative in their works that it takes years even decades to find the same groove. They say ‘you can’t rush art’ is truly an understatement and it still holds true to most talented creators out there. But for first-time authors it is a challenge to present them with new material for people to ‘get the hook’ and find inspiration, not in the usual graphic novel format is something more than just taking it to the next level. It’s about telling their own stories the way they envisioned their work for the very first time. With Jay Ignacio’s latest book “The Merchant of Oltrarno” his very first work that he authored wasn’t that kind of grand announcement to the local comic book community. However, it was the power of ‘word of mouth’ and social media that had everyone found the curiosity of this book. For those who haven’t heard of Jay Ignacio, there’s an air of mystery for this gentleman with the passion for artistry in the Philippine scene. If you heard the name that sound familiar he’s been an artist in a different type of medium namely in the music scene.

Published: December 2018
Content: For Mature Readers
Language: English

But individually speaking Jay Ignacio is an artist at heart with his passion for photography and doing documentaries that speak volumes few would appreciate. But writing is something of new territory for the guy who has a lot of passion to share. “The Merchant of Oltrarno” is one of his passion projects that didn’t happen overnight it was a labor of adoration and tireless promotion behind the scenes through his closest friends and acquaintances. This was no solo act it was like in a band and its lead vocalist was Jay with his lead guitar in the artwork was Alex Nino.

Who’s Alex Nino? Did I hear that name before? Yes, of course I’ve heard his name I’ve became an instant fan the moment a friend US-based sent me this sketch of three Transformers characters back in 2007 that was sort of a jam art by three people that if you mention their names they’re considered legends of the Philippine comic book community. Two of those legends (Ernie Chan and Tony DeZuniga) have left this world back in 2012, and that one lone guy that still around was Alex Nino.

One of the Pages from "The Merchant of Oltrarno" with calligraphy by Leigh Reyes & art by Alex Nino.  

Alex Nino was the artist behind Jay Ignacio’s “The Merchant of Oltrarno” and it was immaculate to see those familiar strokes, lines, and edges that made him known in the industry. I haven’t seen this art style in more than a decade and now here it is in Jay’s latest book. Then Leigh Reyes is also in the credit line for her outstanding calligraphy work on Jay’s words that’s remarkable and distinct to most that have done this art form. These three people certainly have their individual talents in the industry and you put them together it’s like forming a giant robot when you talk about metaphor.

Browsing the pages for the first time I’ve seen this book gives me nostalgia feels although there are bigger Alex Nino fans out there than me who owns a lot of his works there’s nothing worth seeing than his art on “The Merchant of Oltrarno.”

Jay shares there’s more of that art where it came from just you wait, he shares. But right now a simple straightforward narrative about a mysterious wine is enough for indulgence given that I’ve come to appreciate having a few sips or two for real. This one was just quite a simple tale that’s like any fine wine to define Alex Nino’s latest work with Leigh Reyes’ decorative handwriting is enough inspiration to appreciate those simple things in little indulgences through these pages was like that mystery wine.