COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Tabon Kid
WE NEVER CHANGE Tabon Kid is a six-page silent or wordless comic by indie comic creator Arvin Valenzuela. For starters, “Tabon” is located in the province of Palawan where, if you still remember your history classes ever, one of the oldest remains of the first Philippine inhabitants were found there; hence the moniker “Tabon Man” (or […]
WE NEVER CHANGE
Tabon Kid is a six-page silent or wordless comic by indie comic creator Arvin Valenzuela. For starters, “Tabon” is located in the province of Palawan where, if you still remember your history classes ever, one of the oldest remains of the first Philippine inhabitants were found there; hence the moniker “Tabon Man” (or “Tabon Woman”, depending on the history books you are dealing with).
In Arvin’s imaginative mind, he probably tries to recreate the pre-Hispanic revisionism on that historic moment. The illustrations are actually very clean, detailed, minimalist in some panels, and perhaps some of his best works so far. The main cast is unquestionably too handsome to begin with, even with the three other characters. But they are still portrayed as delicately as possible, making “Tabon Kid” the best improvements, if not illustrations, of the creator so far. Themes of bullying and isolation are briefly presented, which are actually brought up a strong message here. Yet, the surprising shock is in the end part that can be both head-scratching and ridiculous, but equally tragic just the same.
Tabon Kid is Valenzuela’s great leap of his existing artistic and imaginative repertoire yet. It should be taken lightly in regards to the veracity of historical truth, but it is undeniably true here that the creator proves he can transcend his current game to the higher level to awesomeness.
