Neil Raymundo - World Comic Book Review

Bleach: The Almighty Has Fallen (review)

July 11, 2017September 13, 2016 by Neil Raymundo

Bleach (review)
Author: Tite Kubo
(Shueisha, 2001-2016)

In August 2016, manga author Tite Kubo’s long-running shonen manga “Bleach” published its last chapter. The end of the series is controversial: there were initial comments from the author months prior that were vague, yet hinted that “Bleach” would go on for a few more years (when the author compared the length of the last story arc to an earlier arc that lasted a good few years). Weeks later however was another announcement that the series would only last a few more chapters, shortening the timeframe from fans’ assumption of years to a mere couple of months.

REVIEW: All-New Wolverine Annual #1 (2016)

October 21, 2016September 9, 2016 by Neil Raymundo

All-New Wolverine Annual #1 (2016) (review)
Marvel Comics, August 31, 2016
Writer: Tom Taylor

“All-New Wolverine” Annual #1 features a crossover between two Marvel superheroes, Spider-Woman and Wolverine, who are at the forefront of the American publisher’s All-New, All Different (ANAD) creative initiative. The ANAD initiative refreshes many properties by introducing replacements and variations of existing characters. In this case, the role of Marvel Comics’ iconic antihero Wolverine is assumed by a female clone of the character named Laura Kinney, and one of Marvel Comics’ most famous characters, Spider-Man, is replaced by a former love interest named Gwen Stacey, who happens to be from an alternate reality and has superpowers.

Forged from the Heavens: Ang Panday

July 11, 2017September 5, 2016 by Neil Raymundo

Ang Panday
Atlas Publishing, March 13, 1979
Writer: Carlo J. Caparas

“Ang Panday” (lit. “The Blacksmith”), which first appeared as one of the serials in the Filipino weekly comic book anthology “Pilipino Komiks” in 1979, is the definitive Filipino comic book hero. The property has become a household name among Filipinos – even those who have not read the original comic – owing to a series of film adaptations that starred the late Fernando Poe Jr. (Mr Poe Jr was an influential actor whose popularity was enough to almost win the 2004 Philippines Presidential elections.)

Gods and Monsters: Feng Shen Ji (review)

September 5, 2016August 30, 2016 by Neil Raymundo

Feng Shen Ji
Bookone Creative LTD, Aug 24, 2015 – Apr 11, 2016
Writer: Zheng Jian He

A common thread running across different mythologies from different cultures, particularly those rooted in polytheism, is the concept of deities that are no less prone to corruption, indolence, and egotism as the mortals they seek to govern. The Chinese martial arts fantasy manhua “Feng Shen Ji”, written by Zheng Jian He, works under the same premise – that the powerful gods who govern life and death have within their ranks those driven by self-interest and those who have become drunk with their power, looking only at lesser gods and mortals as mere playthings.

At the center of the story is the Black Dragon, Tian, who was the strongest of the ancient gods. Tian single-handedly drove his enemies, known as the Dark Ones, deep into the pits of Hell. Tian also killed all the other ancient gods when they chose to betray him and his lover, White Dragon, out of fear. Tian serves the purpose of the god of gods in the story, being the creator of the world, the humans, and the lesser gods (called the Great Gods). These lesser gods are themselves fashioned using the life force of ancient gods, and use primitive humans as vessels.