Fat Not-very-fit superheroes who eat too much ensaymadas, out saving the world on a pedicab/padyak. If you think the Filipino Heroes League can't get any more Pinoy than that -- honey, that's just page 22.

But what I love about it is that it's so incredibly Pinoy without trying too hard: you'll find yourself lighting up in delight at the recognition of all these references to Filipino pop culture, recent history, not-so-subtle snipes at politicians, and the occasional dip into the showbiz waters. All delivered with such tongue-in-cheek humor that had me snickering throughout the whole thing.

Overseas Filipino Heroes

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This comic book also tapped into a hero metaphor that has been sitting right under our noses all this dollar-remitting time: Overseas Filipino Heroes. Brilliant.

Faced with the problem of needing more muscle, they contemplate on calling on the other members of the Filipino Heroes League -- but find that they're all working abroad: Inferno is making steel in India, Zapper is lighting Paris, while Crush is working in a diamond mine in South Africa.

(Check out other up and coming Filipino Artists here!)

Book Two in the works!

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I'm not much of a comic person (understatement: the only comics I've read are of the Archie variant, the last one I picked up was back when I was in Grade 4...) -- but I honestly thoroughly loved every page of this.

It's a fun, light and quick read, and the ending will leave you anticipating the next installment -- which thankfully, is already in the works! Visit the blog of the author, Paolo "Vis*" Fabregas, to be updated on its developments!

You can get a copy of The Filipino Heroes League, Book One: Sticks and Stones from any National Bookstore or Fully Booked branch. Warning: It's currently in the bestsellers list of National Bookstore -- I actually had to troll 5 different branches to get mine! The hunt was worth it, though ;)

(Check out other bookstores in the Metro here!)

Preview pages from the official FHL blog (read the first 50 pages there!)
*Inside joke. One that you'll get once you read the book! ;)

Juice Recommends:

Juice Kultura
Juice Buhay Pinoy
Mabini Art Project