REVIEW: Let’s settle down with ‘Pugad Baboy 28′

Pugad Baboy creator Pol Medina Jr. returns to his usual self of lampooning those who deserve to be ridiculed, criticizing the ills and stupidities our society committed, and self-loathing his own corny jokes in Pugad Baboy 28. Unlike the two previous volumes, the creator becomes more confident in crafting and imagining his brand of humor from downright sarcasm, sardonic wit, parodying that range from plain to stomach-ache humor.

Just like the last book, Pol has a lengthy story arc that is more humorous, politically incorrect, and pure Pugad Baboy comedic twist. This story, THE GIRL FROM PERSIA, may be sounded a bit anachronistic but that what lies Pol’s innate ability to produce good laughs while the seriousness of the plot is present. Furthermore, the creator does the uncanny feat, the unthinkable in the annals of the Pugad Baboy storytelling by having one of the remaining healthy bachelors hitch down in the most unusual and unpredictable way possible. Henceforth, this volume is a milestone in the expansion of this series’ status quo, its characters’ development, and the improvement of quality and content in the creator’s narrative tropes.

However, the previous sins from the last two books are still present nonetheless. There are repetitive strips that could have been minimized further by just itemized the possible “punch lines”, instead of repeating which is tedious to read, if not a bit irritating to follow, especially when the same strips run the third time before the punch line. The same goes with the drawings that are noticeably the same even the “punch line” moment. In addition, the old-style of printing cartoony strips affect significantly to the overall quality of the book, particularly the inks that result of smugness and sometimes, to the letters, making reading a little difficult. In addition, sensitive readers who cannot take a joke or two better stay away from this book because Pol is definitely unhinged and obviously, more politically incorrect than before. And that’s the true beauty of this current Pugad Baboy!

Nevertheless, Pugad Baboy 28 is definitely a better, if not a superior collection. I hope Pol can do two or more stories in future compilations.