| 09.27.2019 – There locally self-published original comicbooks out there and then there’s Trese that started out being produced in photocopied pages made into ashcans that were stapled together and that was more than a decade ago.
Fast forward from today it is considered as one of the very few and rare success stories that broke the mold and has accumulated a huge cult following that continues to multiply with each success of the book's releases. The steady hands of co-creator Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo has produced one of the best partnerships in comicbook fandom in the Philippines not only presented their original series for the local scene, but also gained a following in the international community that has a diverse culture for its original creations. You can argue that their ideas are not original as anyone thought, but they put together what inspired these two masterful gentlemen into crafting one of the most interesting characters from a country that thrives in Filipino Supernatural Mythology. Alexandra Trese is her name and she’s the star of “Trese,” one of the most consistent series that has finally released its seventh volume since its last in 2014. |
Published: September 2019
Content: PG-13
Language: English
The long-awaited seventh book Trese 7: Shadow Witness was touted to be one of the book releases that highlighted the recently concluded 40th Manila International Book Fair, where Visprint Inc the publisher of the series had a record selling out the first three hundred-plus books by the first half of the day.
It bested other Visprint Inc published books like the third and final chapter of The Filipino Heroes League and Manix Abrera’s Bertong Badtrip. Early this year, it gained a huge following due to the announcement of the upcoming Trese Animated Series as one of the originals to be streamed soon by Netflix.
Now the seventh book has finally been available and had been discussed through the local official Trese forum via social media page on Facebook the fans are hungrier than ever for more of the adventures of this Filipina Heroine and her loyal Kambals. Personally, I’ve been reading the book for almost two weeks now during my daily commutes also a way to disconnect from staring at my mobile phone.
For those who have not acquired the book or has not yet finished reading it SPOILERS AHEAD in case you go through the rest of this article.
Two weeks later and after finishing the last case file on the seventh book for Trese: Shadow Witness all I can say is going through the evolution of Kajo Baldisimo’s artwork is beyond impressive. It is like having little bites of those dark chocolate flavored Tim Tams in comparison to going through every artwork and nuisances of this book is such a glorious read from cover to cover.
The breakdown of each case file is what is my personal thought of the book and what is my favorite case file among the four and where this book is going next.
Trese 7: Shadow Witness Case Files
13 Stations
The Exorcism of Linda Blasco
Table for Three
The Madrid Gig
13 Stations
Originally this case file was announced a long time ago and it was first published as short story chapter in Manila Noir back in 2013, although I have not read this particular chapter it is ironic that I was reading it while taking the LRT Line 1 train to work and back. Thirteen Stations is a fun mix of horror, crime, and fantasy.
Of course, that’s the main element why Trese is likened by the fans from Manila and other countries as the concept of the unread ferrying those who have passed on. Kajo would have revamped and dusted off this version for Shadow Witness and could have probably redrawn some of the pages and expanded it. There are interesting real-life characters based on this chapter of the book. For Filipinos who have known one politician was based on this character just have to read on and do the research who this former actor was based from.
Imagine the mysteries of the lost souls being ferried to afterlife with details about each scene in the MRT Line 3 is something worth looking through, aside from reading the context on how Alexandra had to investigate and put the puzzles together in this caper why these ghouls and demons need to be told about not abusing those traveling in these parts through the thirteen stations.
The Exorcism of Linda Blasco
If you haven’t heard of Alexandra's siblings or have read the earlier books this brings you to Fr. Matthias Trese with his esteemed companions Fr. Bronze and Fr. Alloy sure has those interesting names.
But this chapter takes some elements and inspiration from the movie “The Exorcist” and the influences had also spawned some other parodies too. But "Trese" takes a tongue and cheek take with its characters.
The narratives of these chapters are connected or have referenced the characters from the previous case file chapters. But you never saw Fr. Matthias Trese in action how he’s different from Alexandra and other siblings that expands the adventures of not only by one “Trese” but gives you the opportunity to see another one deal with the supernatural with different methods in this chapter.
Table for Three
This takes you back to Alexandra Trese and her loyal Kambal (Twins) bodyguard in action with two connecting stories in one chapter. The mix of action and humor never grows old but for someone who has read these books there’s a stiff personality in Trese that would be compared to how Brie Larson portrayed Captain Marvel in her debut cinematic film, though Trese has this quirky personality that makes her likable even though being sort of considered a Mary Sue-type character.
The Kambals are an impressive pair of loyal bodyguards that are archetypes too, but you can see how the action is drawn by Kajo and his art continues to evolve. Though one concern with the black panels with white texts is challenging to read or I many need glasses as noticed some of the pages with that type of background sometimes doesn’t work when it is printed. It may be in the copy I had or just an isolated case for some copies printed this way, but entirely the book still holds through with the stories including this chapter about lost loves and past lives.
It might not be the strongest narrative among the case files, but the visual narrative is still impressive while reading this chapter after leaving SM City Fairview on a bus bound to Cubao on a late Sunday night.
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| Mysterious Street Artist although no connection to Jimmy Trese's original design by Kajo Baldisimo. Image Credit Vector News. |
The Madrid Gig
Another Trese adventure that doesn’t feature Alexandra is something refreshing to know that the creators of this book are expanding the series. For this case file is probably a personal favorite featuring Jimmy Trese. The character’s gear and aesthetics remind me of the renowned street artist named “Banksy.”
The way Jimmy appears in the first few pages of “The Madrid Gig” immediately gave me the impression that the character's design has some vague similarities to the mysterious street artist covered bandana and cap with that silhouette appearance. But Jimmy's take is no coincidence and it is an original design by Kajo. I may not be a big fan of this book or even that particular artist, but both are synonymously impressive or either way, Jimmy Trese’s latest appearance in this book became an immediate crowd favorite how he operates and thread in the supernatural world.
Jimmy is something of a mystery too leaving the story on a cliff hanger with more questions than some solved mysteries. It might be another five years before we can see more Jimmy, Alex or even Fr. Matthias Trese with Bronze and Alloy (those names made me chuckle) as this last part made Jimmy something to expand his own spinoff series of adventures, but it is too much to ask for the creators.
Although Kajo Baldisimo gives more details about Jimmy’s gear at the back the last page of his adventure. Personally, I’m looking forward to his next “gig” in the future of this book that continues to evolve too.
Closing This Case
What I think Trese’s direction hints of what the next series could become an anthology featuring not one Trese, but the other siblings very own adventures like how Detective Comics was for Batman and other Bat-Family.
It might be one of the things I see in the future of this series as there are new readers following this book in the last five years with the announcement of the Netflix series putting the creators and Trese in the map is something a rare feat that only Gerry Alanguilan has done with his book “Elmer.”
Overall it is worth noting that reading this at a very slow pace gives you a renewed interest in the series. There are diverse Trese fans out there passionate to the rabid ones hoping to see the next book soon. But taking a quote from that line “You can’t rush art” and the wait has been quite overwhelming for some. My advice to the creators to take it at their own pace there’s more stories where that came from.
I’ve been fortunate and thankful to know both Budj and Kajo personally during those early days of the series and looking forward to reading more stories about Trese and her family or anything in general that they have created until the next Trese, of course.
“Trese 7: Shadow Witness” is published formerly by Visprint Inc, and currently with Avenida Publication in the Philippines. Trese is Co-Created by Budjette Tan (Writer) and Kajo Baldisimo (Illustrator) with cover price of ₱225.00 pesos ($6.41 AUD | $4.33 USD).
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