Surreal Subtleties
Manix Abrera carves his own path in combining his comics, storytelling, and painting in art exhibitions.
Words Portia Placino
Coronal Manananggal," 11 x 8.5 inches each, pen and ink on board.
The last time I interviewed Manix Abrera, it was for the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Encyclopedia of Philippine Art. We talked about his decade of practice in artmaking, starting as a student, pitching his comics to the Philippine Daily Inquirer while hiding his identity, and going into print publication of his books and experimental silent comics. He now delves into creating superhero characters – a dream for many comic book artists – through Nextcomicart. He moved from publishing his books through Visprint to self-publishing, and through the years, exhibited in more solo art shows—following the route of notable comic book artists in traversing the realm of fine arts.
Kikomachine Komix is still by far the most popular and definitive of Manix’s works. First published as a daily comic in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manix started publishing compilations with Visprint in 2005, and then with Avenida in 2019. With over two decades of being part of Filipinos’ daily lives, the comic series experienced Manix’s and the country’s transformation. Even as Manix describes some of his early works as “cringe,” the simple and relatable characters still resonate with its audience, from university students to now working and professional adults.
Stemming from Kikomachine Komix’s memorable characters are Bertong Badtrip and Terror Prof, as they became the subject of their own books. Bertong Badtrip (2019) is a more political series, spilling from the discontent of the time, and Lil’ Bertong Badtrip (2021), inspired by Manix’s child, whom he said looked angry during his early years—brought hu- mor out of the frustrations and anger felt by the populace. Though rare in direct sociopolitical commentary, Manix’s subtle critiques are most deeply felt through the Badtrip series, and he shares that we are bound to see more of it in the future. Looking back, Manix spent years with the Philippine Collegian during his time at the University of the Philippines, dealing with cutting and direct political commentary through his artworks. Though at present, he is more subtle with his politics, the Bertong Badtrip series is an understated exception. For Manix, the art of subtlety would render his message effective even twenty years down the line, without discounting the value in more direct statements when needed.
Another character to make it into her own series and book is Terror Prof, published in “The Terror Prof Book 1” in 2022. Much like Kikomachine Komix, the character resonates with the University of the Philippines community. It is no secret that Manix takes inspiration from the peo- ple he meets every day, and Terror Prof is no exception. Unlike the cool professor in Kikomachine Komix – who was mostly inspired by Roselle Pineda, a story that was an urban legend for a while before Manix confirmed it – Terror Prof is an amalgamation of many teachers and professors, starting from a scary one Manix encountered during grade school. He then takes his and other shared stories of people in academia, with obvious exaggerations, and turns them into stories we find in Terror Prof. Manix shares that his mother, his partner, himself, his friends, and even I have shared stories of life in academia, and these are all starting points and possibilities in the narrative. Most Filipino students encountered a Terror Prof at one point in their lives, which makes the series both hilarious and familiar.
Manix Abrera "Field Trip, Paradiso” (8 x 8 inches) Acrylic on Canvas
Manix Abrera "Field Trip, Inferno” (8 x 8 inches) Acrylic on Canvas
All the newer publications, especially those published during the pandemic, were sold online and were packed and prepared by Manix and his family. This is another new trajectory he explored alongside self-publishing. Manix shared that he consulted with friends he made in Visprint on how he could go about self-publishing. It proved to be rewarding, despite all the challenges. I shared how, as a reader, I found it difficult to buy one of his books during the pandemic. He would release 50 copies at a scheduled time and followers would pick them right up. Manix apologized for this, but there is no need, as it only proved the popularity and resonance of his work with his audience. Packing the books themselves is not feasible now, especially as projects and events have started to pile up, creating a busy schedule. But for that moment, Manix was handling even the most mundane of the business side himself, giving him a familiar relationship with his readers.
