The New DI-13 | Mysteries Unsolved

05.23.2019 – It has been a while since the follow-up to the debut issue of “The New DI-13” was released with the challenges of delay almost caught up with the writer and artist team of Ian Velasquez and Rico Rival. This is due to something more good news when the New Year had started to come together to celebrate Tony Velasquez’s Kenkoy Komiks the 90th Anniversary that sees a series of events happening. But more with “The New DI-13” taking a slow process on the narrative as it takes form on its own. Ian has his hands full not only to continue his Grandfather’s Legacy but also help promote his Grand Uncle’s creation that is also hitting a milestone. There’s so much moving parts that keep things a mystery for “The New DI-13” and Ian is keeping things to the chest as the character’s journey kicks off the second issue trying to find his missing grandfather and what is the connection of its major big bad, The Black Dragon to all of this as one of the major players that might be connected to a string of narratives that gives you the “who dun it” kind of vibe. Plus! A Kenkoy backstory which is a reprint of the original comic strip from ninety years ago that defines Tony Velasquez as the Grandfather of Filipino Komiks...

Published: April 2019
Content: PG-13
Language: Filipino (Tagalog)

This sophomore issue is definitely a labor of love making new stories based on the original series. Rico Rival continues to keep producing impressive retro style pages that transport his readers to the golden and silver age eras of Filipino Komiks. The fine detail on the rough art is on point with the throwback to local publications.

Ian admits that he’s still learning as he writes his stories and is not afraid to take up the challenges as a ‘newbie’ author. He appreciates the feedback positive or negative to improve his craft and the way things are there are still room for improvements as he builds a new world for “The New DI-13” series that has given him inspiration to keep his grandfather’s legacy alive, which is a pair of large shoes to fill unlike making an original concept for a new series that has more challenges.

Retro Style with New Perspectives

Rico Rival has taken up the workload more than Ian himself with producing pages in crafting the visuals for “The New DI-13” series as his art is more ‘old school’ the way it resonates with old publications from the late 1980s to early 1990s it feels like this incarnation of the follow-up adventures of Agent 13 has never left its identity to the classic series that 2019 is still 1989.

The New Agent 13 in search of his grandfather, the OG 13 seems like he didn’t disappear with the visual concept still stuck to that era. But what makes it profoundly interesting is how it carries a connection to its past heritage. It would be interesting if Mr. Rival would change up a little with adding modern aesthetics to his much-respected styling with Ian’s approval, of course.

There’s always room for improvement for the next issue as a local convention honoring past legacies in a particular scene was quite a nice touch and tributes to remind readers that local comics didn’t go away they get better the way Rico Rival has painstakingly made sure this second issue delivers a lot of bang and punches.

Narratives that are Out of its Wheel House

The second issue immediately gives away who might be the baddie, but Ian is not giving out too much that leaves his readers room to speculate what happened to the original Agent 13. I’d probably suggest changing things up and giving his readers something to talk about regarding interesting twist besides keeping with tradition.

There’s always an opportunity to change course and bring something new to the “DI-13” mythology that his grandfather might say “why didn’t I think of that” kind of idea that few writers have ventured. Cloak and Dagger adventures are challenges and keeping up a legacy is an added pressure that is either will stump you or will teach you something new as always it is a challenge that the author will face early in this series that I’m sure going to keep an eye out.

Overall Evaluation

The New DI-13 lived up the interest on its maiden issue, sustaining the narrative on the second one was challenging. There’s always room for improvement with feedback from regular readers and followers of the series. It helps to know there are interested readers out there and personally this second issue had enough action and mystery behind the missing OG Agent 13 and the connection of the Black Dragon.

Shall we say, To Be Continued?

“The New DI-13” #2 is a self-published work written by Damy "Ian" Velasquez III and an timeless artwork by Rico Rival with cover price of ₱150.00 pesos ($3.95 AUD) now available at Comic Odyssey.

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