History of the Philippine Comic Market and “pinoy Komiks
Japanese manga, anime, and other content industries are extremely popular in Southeast Asian countries. Recently, Asia POP Comicon Manila 2018, one of the largest pop culture events in Manila, was held in 2018 and became very popular.
In the Philippines today, Western comics (American comics) such as DC and Marvel and Japanese manga are loved by young people, and the comics market is expected to grow in the future.
There are major factors contributing to this expansion of the comics market in the Philippines.
This is due to the fact that Filipinos have been familiar with creative works expressing pictures and stories since before American comics and manga were circulated, and this soil is believed to support the current popularity of foreign comics.
The “pinoy komiks” (Filipino comics are strongly influenced by American comics and are written as “komiks” instead of “comics”), a comic strip originating in the Philippines, is said to have its origins in the work of Jose Rizal, an independence activist.
The “pinoy komiks” became popular when Antonio S. Velasquez, considered the “father of Filipino comics,” introduced elements of American comics, leading to a golden age in the 1980s when 47 weekly comics were published.
Since the 1990s, however, the popularity of comics has declined rapidly due to the spread of television and other factors.
Furthermore, Ramon Roces, who dominated the comics publishing world at the time, passed away and his family withdrew from the publishing business. As a result, there were no more people to carry on the “pinoy komiks” culture.
Filipino creators are currently participating in local comic conventions and,
They participate in events similar to Japan’s comic markets, selling books at their own expense and posting them on the Internet.
Some of these creators have produced works that strongly reflect the influence of Japanese manga, and there are high expectations for their future cultural development.

See also: (Folktale “The Life of the Monkey and the Tortoise” by Jose Rizal)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43979479
class of readers
Readership of Japanese manga and American comics in the Philippines seems to be limited mainly to middle-class and affluent children and adolescents.
Although “pinoy komiks” were relatively inexpensive and accessible to the common man, import taxes on American and Japanese comics have made it difficult for Japanese boys to read them as if they were purchasing a weekly magazine.
In addition, the people who purchase foreign manga are limited to a small number of enthusiasts, locally known as “otaku,” or people who satisfy their intellectual need to learn about a foreign culture.
On the other hand, “pinoy komiks,” which were relatively inexpensive to obtain, are now poorly distributed, and young people are preoccupied with different pastimes such as Internet video streaming and social networking, and “pinoy komiks” seem to have spread only within a limited local community.
Furthermore, bookstores do not give enough space to “pinoy komiks,” and it is no exaggeration to say that they are being pushed aside by foreign comics.

Japanese anime and manga are extremely popular in the Philippines. A symbolic example is the “Voltes V Incident.
The Japanese robot animation “Voltes V (Five)” was broadcast in the Philippines in 1978 and is said to have recorded the highest rating of 58%.
It was popular with many children at the time, but was banned by President Ferdinand Marcos shortly before its final episode. It is said that protests were held in response to this event.
Similarly, cartoon works broadcast on TV in the Philippines are very popular, and when the topic is broached with local youth, the response is always positive.
This suggests that Japanese manga is accepted by Filipinos through anime, and that young people who have watched anime grow up and encounter it again in the form of manga.
Popular Cartoons in the Philippines
Dana.”

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20270854
Dana is a Filipino comic artist drawn by Mars Ravelo and Nestor Drendo, who have called her the “King of Filipino Comics.
She is one of the most famous superheroes in the Philippines and is also known as the “Philippine Wonder Woman”. She has been made into animated cartoons and movies in the Philippines and is recognized by a wide generation.
Her story is about a village girl, Narda, who drinks a meteorite that falls from outer space, enabling her to transform into Dana, a space warrior, and protect the earth from evil forces.
Interestingly, this setting is coincidentally similar to the Japanese “magical girl” mono, and comparisons are often made.
Tresse.”

See: https://gamerant.com/trese-adaptation-comics-differences/
Tresse is a horror-suspense film in which detective Alexandra Tresse confronts a supernatural crime.
This work was published as a series in 2005 by Buget Tan and Kajo Baldissimo and is relatively new compared to other well-known “pinoy komiks.”
In 2021, Netflix produced the animated film “The Otherworldly Detective Tresse,” which became the first animated film in the Philippines.
It is also said that the popularity of this work is due to the characterization of the main character, Alexandra Trese, and it has the potential to expand its popularity as character content in the future.
Mythspace.
Mythspace is a graphic novel co-created by Paolo Chiquiamco and a group of well-known illustrators.
This is a relatively new “pinoy komiks” published in 2015, which combines old Filipino legends and myths into a science fiction work set in space.
The work strongly reflects representations of American comics and Japanese manga, and has been praised as a new experiment.
Mythspace” is highly regarded not only as entertainment but also as art, and has been named as a prime candidate for future animation in “pinoy komiks.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54971127
Rusticman” is a superhero film by Mars Ravelo, the same director as “Dana.”
Rusticman” is based on characters from DC Comics’ “Plastic Man” and Marvel’s “Fantastic Four,” and has the special ability of “elasticity,” allowing him to bend and stretch his own body at will.
The main character, “Rusticman,” is depicted as an alien, but also as a human who has been given special powers by a rubber tree.
The setting is similar to that of Japan’s “One Piece,” but “Rusticman” appeared first. Filipinos may remember “Rusticman” when they watch the “One Piece” anime.
Captain Barbell.”

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Barbell
Captain Barbell” was inspired by the American comic book “Captain America.
It was also created by Mars Ravelo, who is also one of the Philippines’ leading superheroes.
It is a simple story about a boy who was originally bullied and transformed into a superhero when he gets a magic barbell.
The film was first published in 1963 and has been adapted five times to date.
Popular Japanese Manga in the Philippines
Dragon Ball
It is a legendary manga that is well known. This extremely popular work created by Akira Toriyama is also very popular in the Philippines.
The popularity of the series exploded in the 1990s when an anime series was broadcast in Japan. The work has been around for a long time, and with content still being developed today, it is not likely to lose its popularity in the Philippines.
In the Philippines, T-shirts and other items with Dragon Ball illustrations are also sold, and are popular as Japanese doujinshi goods.
ONE PIECE
This is another popular work representing Japan. The main character’s ability to stretch like rubber seems similar to “Mystic Man,” but how do Filipinos feel about it?
A particularly popular character is the chopper, which is favored by women as well as men.
Chopper straps are popular in Japan, and they are equally popular in the Philippines.
One Piece also collaborated with the Philippine fashion brand OXYGEN, and collaborative goods were sold for a limited time.
The popularity of One Piece in the Philippines is unquestionable due to its ongoing collaboration with local companies.
Naruto.”
Naruto is considered extremely popular throughout Southeast Asia, and its popularity has not diminished in the Philippines.
The popularity of the series has grown especially since the anime was broadcast, and the theme of “ninja,” a uniquely Japanese culture, has made it particularly popular among men.
They also collaborated with “OXYGEN” on this work and sold goods for a limited time.
Slam Dunk.
A particularly popular work in the Philippines is “Slam Dunk.
The reason for this is that this work is about basketball.
Basketball is considered the most popular sport in the Philippines. Due to this influence, “Slam Dunk” has received a lot of support not only from men but also from women.
An animated cartoon has also been translated into Tagalog and broadcast, and is popular among a wide range of people.
Yūyū Hakusho.
In the Philippines, the “YuYu Hakusho” anime broadcast in the 1990s was particularly popular and continues to be loved to this day.
In the Philippines, the show is broadcast under the title “Ghost Fighter,” and there is tremendous support for the characters and storyline.
Although this work is already old in Japan, it is still popular in the Philippines.
summary
The Philippine manga market is expected to continue to grow, especially with the widespread acceptance of Japanese manga.
The “pinoy komiks,” or cartoons originating in the Philippines, were influenced by American comics in the past and succeeded in creating national heroes in the 1980s, but now appear to be in decline due to a limited readership in the market.
However, a new generation of “pinoy komiks” has emerged, such as “Otherworldly Detective Trese” and “Mythspace,” which are expected to lead the Philippine manga industry by incorporating unique Filipino elements while drawing influences from American comics and Japanese manga. The “Mythspace” is a manga that is a unique and original take on the Philippine manga industry.
Japanese manga works also have strong popularity in the Philippines, and even older works may become revival hits.
Popular works in the Philippines include “Dragon Ball” and “One Piece. These works have a broad fan base in the Philippines and have been loved for a long time.
In addition, “Naruto” and “Slam Dunk” are also highly popular in the Philippines. These works are based on Japanese culture and sports themes, and have elements that Filipino readers can easily relate to.
Goods and items related to these works are also popular in the Philippines. Character goods and clothing, in particular, are widely available and familiar to fans.
Japanese manga is a fascinating form of entertainment for young Filipinos, and its popularity has been further spread by being adapted into anime and movies, which continue to draw people’s attention.
The Philippine manga market is diverse and expected to grow, and not only domestic works but also Japanese manga are attracting attention. It is expected that new works and talent will continue to emerge and the Philippine manga industry will continue to grow.