MANILA – Few Filipino comics creators can generate buzz with new releases like Arnold Arre can. The veteran writer/artist has been a fixture in the local comics scene even before Komikons and Komikets became widespread. Thus, when word spread via social media that Arre would have something in store this summer, excitement quickly spread among patrons of Filipino graphic novels and Arre’s work.
The image was seven panels from Arre’s After Eden that was first published in 2003. It was shared from the Facebook page of Nautilus Comics, the local publisher that is responsible for relaunching previous Arre work that had previously gone out of print. Since 2014, Nautilus has brought back into the market such popular Arre titles as The Mythology Class, Trip to Tagaytay, and Martial Law Babies. In last year’s Komiket held last October, Nautilus also launched Arre’s Halina Filipina, a graphic novel more than 15 years in the making.
After Eden was written with the story of Adam and Eve as a backdrop. This is, after all, the world’s very first “love story.” It tackles serious relationship issues like trust, morals, and sexual intimacy, and reintroduces the concept of friendship between two people.
Out of print for the past few years, After Eden makes a triumphant return at Summer Komikon this April 23, 2016 at the Bayanihan Center in Pasig. Until then, however, Arre’s previous work will be available at Komiket, the Filipino komiks, book, and art market this Saturday, February 20, from 9:00am – 7:00pm. Over 300 local komiks artists will be on hand to meet and greet fans at Centris Elements, and other publications from Nautilus Comics will be sold there.
