Manix Abrera is set to have his work go global as he was revealed to be the illustrator behind the cover of a new Batman comic.
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If you are a fan of the local comics scene, then the name Manix Abrera should be familiar to you. He is the creator of the Kikomachine Comix, which is published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer from Monday to Saturday. The award-winning writer and artist is also responsible for other works like Bartong Badtrip, News Hardcore, and the graphic novels 12 and 14. It’s safe to say that he is a bit of a star in the Filipino komik scene. But Manix just recently achieved one of his biggest career goals to date when it was revealed that he will be working with DC Comics.
MANIX ABRERA X BATMAN
On December 28, it was announced that Manix Abrera illustrated the cover for the upcoming comic from the cape crusader, Batman. Titled Batman The Knight #1, this partnership makes it the first time that Manix worked on a comic for DC. The comic was written by Chip Zdarsky and illustrated by Carmine Di Giandeomenico.
The comic details the origin of the Dark Knight with its official plot as follows: “The origin of Batman and his never-ending fight against crime in Gotham City is modern mythology-but what of the story in between? How did an angry-damaged young man grow into the most accomplished detective and crime-fighter the world has ever known? How did the Dark Knight…begin? Superstar writer Chip Zdarsky (Daredevil) and acclaimed artist Carmine Di Giandomenico (The Flash) will take Bruce Wayne on a fraught journey-making allies and enemies-on his training to become Batman in this definitive new series!”
According to Manix, he described the cover as being “inspired by alchemy’s ‘philosopher’s stone’ -the transmutation of base metals into gold, wherein enlightenment is reached in distinct processes. Young Bruce undergoes the different stages of grief (written on his path to the temple) to be fully transformed into Batman. The temple symbolizes the bat cave (forming a Batman symbol on the chest of Batman silhouette)’ while Lady Justice and his parents’ Graves serve as a reminder for his ultimate purpose in life.” Revealed by Sanctum Sanctorum Comics, the exclusive variant cover is set for a release date of January 18, 2022 with pre-orders currently open on their site was well as Comic Odyssey.
PINOY KOMIK CREATORS ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE
Manix Abrera joins a growing list of Pinoys writers and artists who have worked on comics for Marvel and DC. Some of those artists include Leinil Francis Yu and Mico Suayan, who both worked on Marvel’s first Pinoy hero, Wave, and legends like Tony De Zuniga, Nestor Redondo, Alfredo Alcala, Romeo Tanghal, and Whilce Portracio. Manix’s achievement is also the latest in Pinoy komik creators and their work getting their due attention. Most notably in the past year, Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo saw their Trese komik series turn into a hit animated Netflix series that became one of the most talked about shows in the country this year.
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