UST College of Fine Arts and Design Regent Fr. Edgardo Alaurin, O.P. launches his new comic book titled 'Cargasus' on Saturday, Sept. 7, during the Super Manila Comic Con at One Ayala in Makati. (Photo by Alexis Paul P. Alibogha/ The Varsitarian)

COLLEGE of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) Regent Rev. Fr. Edgardo D. Alaurin, O.P. launched the comic adaptation of his graphic novel ‘Cargasus’ during the SuperManila Comic Con on Sept. 7. 

The graphic novel, which was first launched in 2020, tells the story of a flying carabao who helps the book’s characters overcome evil through unwavering faith. 

“The ‘Cargasus’ book was launched during the pandemic year, 2020. So it was launched na online lang. And I really had the idea [of] coming up with a comic book because the storyline is like comics to me,” Alaurin told the Varsitarian

The comic book was illustrated by award-winning artist Randy Valiente, whom Alaurin said was “God-sent.” 

“I’ve been looking for somebody to illustrate the graphic novel, and he (Valiente) was sent to me by one of my friends–actually, two friends of mine, and then he came to UST and then we talked about it,” Alaurin added. 

For Alaurin, illustrations in graphic novels have more impact and can tell a hundred stories in just one image. 

“Illustrations speak for the story itself without reading the language, different versions, different languages. But the mere fact that there are images, so pictures or image illustrations speak of a hundred stories,” he said.

Mas madali siyang intindihin. Because of all the visual sights. ‘Yung mga young readers na tamad magbasa ng mahabang text. Medyo makakarelate sa visual fun ng comics,” he added.

The name “Cargasus,” according to him, is a combination of carabao and pegasus, depicting the physical description of the main character who has the body of a carabao and wings of a pegasus. 

When asked about the book’s art style, Valiente said he wanted to emulate the comic books of the 1940s and 1950s, going back to his roots in classic comic illustration. 

Gusto niya (Alaurin) kasi ‘yung traditional. Ayaw niya ng mga medyo modern comic books. Gusto niya mga 1940s 1950s na look. Ako, nag-adjust ako. So, binalikan ko ‘yung mga lumang comics,” he told the Varsitarian.The “Cargasus” comic book is available at the UST Publishing House. John Kobe S. Balod

 

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