REVIEW: ‘Bakokak’ – OUR PHILIPPINES’ GOJIRA… sort of

Veteran comics creator Gerry Alanguilan and highly talented upstart Kevin Ray Valentino combine their artistic geniuses in expanding yet again our rich Philippine mythology in homage of our love to anything kaiju… BAKOKAK!

The plot is very straightforward: BAKOKAK SMASHES MANILA! But don’t let this tale of mayhem turn off readers. Gerry is actually at his best to write a simple yet entertaining and heartwarming tale. Just read Elmer and even Wasted as evidences of this assertion. Yes, Bakokak is akin to Gojira/Godzilla, a product of nuclear phenomenon gone so wrong. But originality is passe. What’s important here is to tell a great, engaging, and entertaining narrative. Gerry’s monstrous radioactive-powered frog and the human characters involved read so much like watching virtually all Godzilla movies: thrilling, suspense, dreadful, sheer mayhem. And most importantly, BAKOKAK itself dominates the story. Don’t be surprised one day this will be adapted to film version.

Valentino’s superb artwork makes one agrees with Gerry that Kevin would definitely “bound for greater things”. First, the artist’s highly detailed illustrations in virtually every panel prove his dedication to the craft itself. BAKOKAK destroys Manila City Hall, excellent art, faithful to the source itself. The faces of terror-filled citizens, even the top military echelons and the president herself, demonstrate Valentino’s passion of illustrating and articulating the artistic human representation of emotion, especially fear. The black-and-white coloring and shading are done exceptionally well. They contribute to the overall dread and suspense to this surprisingly well-balanced story. This is evident in the destructive aftermath BAKOKAK did in Metro Manila, as if hope is already lost. And, there are lots of Pinoy Easter eggs sprinkle around if readers care to deconstruct further the panels Kevin draws. It’s worth the time!

If there’s one very minor critique I could pinpoint, the lack of the major characters’ origins, particularly the Commander and the Doctor. They know each other well, but perhaps, finger-cross, a prequel is paramount.

BAKOKAK proves yet again that great and astonishing artistry of the sage and the young bring zests to the continuing evolution of Pinoy comics as a whole. Fans of the kaiju genre will definitely like this one, even so with believers of the power of Pinoy comics can do to our exciting lives right now.

P.S. Don’t expect BAKOKAK to win over the god of all monsters. Don’t.

Reviewed by Paul Ramos