Through its stories, epics, legends, and other works, Philippine mythology symbolizes our origins and lays the foundation for our folk religions in the Philippines.

Today, Ablaze Publishing is aiming to preserve our local folklore in a creative, comic manner in order to illustrate how Philippine folklore contributes to Philippine literature.

MYTHSPACE: IGNITION is a graphic novel collection of six stories that tour a universe where old tales of monsters and folklore creatures like Tikbalangs, Kapres, and Mananaggals will take readers on an adventure!

Edited and co-created by Paolo Chikiamco, and featuring stories by Filipino illustrators Koi Carreon, C.R. Chua, Borg Sinaban, Jules Gregorio, Paul Quiroga, and Mico Dimagiba, MYTHSPACE: IGNITION proves that our tale monsters and creatures are still relevant today.

1. Mythspace: Lift Off with Koi Carreon

Mythspace: Lift Off, with art by Koi Carreon and a story by Paolo Chikiamco, is about a character named Ambrosio Magkalas who believes that monsters are myths and aliens are fiction. When her lola was dead, Ambrosio was about to learn that his lola’s stories about robot-riding Nuno and Kapres from space didn’t sound crazy at all.

2. Mythspace: Black Mark with Paul Quiroga

A story which aims the readers to have a glimpse into the fractious society of the crafty Nuno where political zealots have the government in a persistent state of gridlock, Mythspace: Black Mark is art by Paul Quiroga and story by Paolo Chikiamco that also revolves around the legendary Black and Helmless Mang, a pariah on his home planet, who will find out that the Black are both more powerful and more terrible than that the stories would have you believe.

3. Mythspace: Devourers of Light with Jules Gregorio

Hatred between the Kapre and the Laho unfolds in this tale. With art by Jules Gregorio and a story by Paolo Chikiamco, the reasons behind the centuries-long battlefield of Kapre and Laho will be told, with disastrous consequences for the Kapre race.

4. Mythspace: Uncommon Ground with Mico Dimagiba

A detective on a planet of shapeshifters, Inquest Haskra’s life takes a turn for the worse when he’s hired by a Laho to find a missing jewel to prevent the onset of civil war. With art by Mico Dimagiba and a story by Paolo Chikiamco, Mythspace: Uncommon Ground will blow your mind about the character’s decision on whether he’ll help a member of a race that destroyed his home planet or not.

5. Mythspace: Humanity with C.R. Chua

With art by Cristina Chua and a story by Paolo Chikiamco, they will take you to a galaxy where humans have no rights. Two characters named Danny and Marta work as slaves in the mines of the Kataw. In the end, they must decide what freedom means to each of them and how much they are willing to pay for it after being miraculously rescued by something from legend.

6. Mythspace: Unfurling of Wings with Borg Sinaban

Living in the slums of an aging space station, Ri-En, Books, and Zu are under the protection of Ka-Ang, their mentor. When they became desperate to save him because of his declining health, they decided to hatch a plan that would place one of them on a collision course with the station’s worst criminal gang, as well as one of the dreaded and immortal “Sixth.” Mythspace: Unfurling of Wings is art by Borh Sinaban and a story by Paolo Chikiamco.

“We always wanted to see ourselves represented in the kind of stories we enjoyed when we were growing up – heck, which we still enjoy now,” says MYTHSPACE creator, Paolo Chikiamco.

“The Philippines has a vibrant graphic novel scene that is primed for wider exposure to a substantial and eager global fanbase,” says Rich Young, Co-founder of ABLAZE. “MYTHSPACE: IGNITION unites some of the country’s most talented writers, and artists for a potent collection that sets a new benchmark for this burgeoning community of creators. We look forward to launching the crowdfunding campaign to bring this work to a new range of readers.”

Visit ABLAZE’s website for previews and updates on upcoming titles at https://www.ablaze.net.

Source: https://www.ablaze.net/mythspace_kickstarter_press_03_16_2022.html?fbclid=IwAR0Q-bYjF61J29YS3AahlSn2R2o5TROAK5iMTu_Gc1D3wXXFuKl89JFykPU