MAILEEN HAMTO Reviews
The Mythology Class: Where Philippine Legends Become Reality, graphic novel by Arnold Arre
(Tuttle Publishing, 2022)
The Philippines has always had vibrant storytelling and art traditions. As a medium for folklore to take hold within a new generation, the graphic novel offers an approachable way to tap beliefs and ways of knowing grounded in culture and tradition. Tuttle Publishing’s release of Arnold Arre’s The Mythology Class brings the classic Philippine graphic novel to a global audience. The story follows the adventures of college student Nicole Lacson and her friends in a quest to hold off an ancient evil. As they learn more about the looming threat, they encounter mythological beings of tribal lore. Each confrontation brings Nicole closer to the sinister menace, testing her spirit and will, causing her to engage head-on with her past.
This is the graphic novel I wish I had while growing up in 1980s Manila. Every family had excellent storytellers who relayed the terror that lurks in dense forests and lonely alleyways. We had serial “komiks” written and illustrated by Filipino creators. However, few “komiks” series and short stories focused on our people’s vibrant and expansive pantheon of magical, mystical, and scary creatures. At that time, there was more interest in creating the Filipino equivalent of American superheroes.
In my journey of decolonization, contemporary literary pieces like “The Mythology Class” help to solidify pride in one’s identity and heritage. Arre succeeds in bringing to life indigenous Philippine folklore in contemporary settings. It was delightful and gratifying to read the international release. The long-form graphic novel is an excellent vehicle for relaying a complex and action-filled story. Knowing that my people’s mythology was finally being seen and understood by a broader audience. This book introduces Philippine belief systems and interpersonal values for readers unfamiliar with Philippine folk stories. Readers understand Filipino mythology through Arre’s narrative and experience Filipino culture through the values Nicole and her friends displayed: loyalty, respect for elders, and mutual cooperation.
“The Mythology Class” offers a much-needed respite from the ordinariness of life in America, often devoid of ancient magic and mystery. Beyond escapism, stories of dangerous adventures and death-defying quests are electrifying because everybody benefits from a touch of nostalgia and fearless spirit as inspiration. The excitement of going on purposeful adventures with trusted friends is even more important for a middle-aged GenXer mentally weighed down by the stresses of everyday adulting.
*****
Maileen Hamto grew up in Sampaloc, Manila, in the 1980s. While she relished her loud and busy extended family with younger cousins, uncles, and aunts, she also appreciated quiet time reading poetry books in English and komiks that featured her father’s stories and illustrations. Her father, Angelito Hamto, was among the handful of komiks writers who apprenticed for the late great Mars Ravelo. Maileen’s “Papa” wrote fantasy and horror short stories and serials in various komiks produced by Ace and Atlas Publishing from the late 1970s until 1991, when the Hamto family relocated to the United States.
Maileen has fond memories of reading komiks scripts stacked beside her Papa’s manual typewriter. A cherished childhood memory was having hot cocoa and pan de sal with liver spread with the family as a midnight snack and listening to her parents discuss story ideas and plots, always laden with a tragic twist.
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