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May

20

Underpass #1 by A.S. Vel and Nestor Redondo

Filed Under Comics Artists, Filipino Artists, Philippine Comics | 19 Comments

I’ve been remiss in updating this page with classic Pinoy komiks art. Since I have a bit of a break, I thought I’d go and scan a few pages from Tagalog Klasiks #338, cover dated June 16, 1962. As with any Filipino comic book of this era, it’s a bi-weekly anthology containing 5-6 four to five page installments of on-going serials or one shots. In this particular issue, “Underpass” by writer A.S. Vel and illustrator Nestor Redondo debuts.

Click for larger images.





One can immediately see the quality and detail of the art, and one would think that it’s a story that would carry the entire comic book. And yet, this story is tucked in the back, just one among many quality stories from the likes of Clodualdo Del Mundo and Ruben Yandoc, Pablo Gomez and Fred Carrillo, and another Nestor Redondo story with his brother Virgilio.

I chose to feature Underpass to showcase the artwork of Nestor Redondo, who did a particularly spectacular job in this story. In 1962, he was still in the process of refining and simplifying his work, and you can see extraordinarily detailed faces and backgrounds. It’s also a bit of a time machine as well, as we see the story told in the backdrop of the construction of the historical Quiapo underpass. We can see how Quiapo church and its surroundings and how they looked like in 1962. We can see what people wore, what they rode on, and other little details that shed light on popular culture at the time. I find it interesting seeing a swastika in one of the panels of page 5.

If one of the purposes of art is to give expression and representation to a country’s identity, culture and history, then this particular comics story has been successful in doing just that.

Comments

19 Responses to “Underpass #1 by A.S. Vel and Nestor Redondo”

  1. Ariel on May 20th, 2011 11:59 am

    nakakabitin yung storya. ang galing talaga ni mang nestor redondo. *two thumbs up

  2. Joanah t.c. on May 20th, 2011 12:19 pm

    Ang galing nung multo effect…di siya nalulunod sa details kahit see through siya… O.O
    Magaing talaga siya mag-plan ng layout ng scene… :0

  3. Jose Mari Lee on May 20th, 2011 12:56 pm

    In the 1960s, when the Quiapo underpass was built, it was such a big thing for Filipinos. Having an underground passage in the heart of the city was spectacular for many people and it became the talk of the town. I read old magazines and newspapers and this excitement was quite evident. Hence Tony Velasquez was inspired to invent a story about this first underpass in the country.

    Later, however, this passage became unbearable for many. In the early 1970s, it was almost neglected. Pickpockets, male prostitutes (catering to the gays) polluted the place like there was no tomorrow. The con artist sidewalk vendors (they cheated the unsuspecting, naive shoppers) acted as if they own the passage, and many people were turned off by the goings-on down there. From heavenly (when first opened to the public), to Hellish after only a decade in existence. Martial Law cleaned up the place finally, and the male prostitutes and the pickpockets went up and made the facade of FARGO DEPT. STORE their own territory to ply their trade.

    How does Quiapo underpass look like these days? It would be interesting to know. Update, anyone?
    :)

  4. richard peter david on May 20th, 2011 2:26 pm

    Amazing! Thanks for posting this:-)

  5. Kevin Nieves on May 20th, 2011 4:01 pm

    I almost thought it was the graphic novel Maus. Wow. Redondo’s art is exceptional if not the best of the Filipino comics industry. Too bad, legends die.

  6. abet on May 20th, 2011 6:10 pm

    ang ganda pinoy na pinoy…

  7. auggie on May 20th, 2011 9:23 pm

    Gerry, wala ba tayong pag-asang makita ito on a Graphic Novel form together with other Redondo short stories? NESTOR REDONDO’S GREATEST HITS, published by either Komikero Publishing or Vibal?

  8. KC Cordero on May 20th, 2011 10:47 pm

    Classic talaga. :)

  9. Jose Mari Lee on May 21st, 2011 2:48 am

    Since you mentioned the name Virgilio Redondo, I must add that VIRGILIO REDONDO was the first Philippine komiks writer who wrote for DC comics. In fact, during the so-called Golden Era of RP Komiks, no other writer from RP bothered to write for English comics.

  10. Gerard on May 21st, 2011 3:27 am

    Man, Nestor Redondo’s art is way better than some of the artists today who thrive illustrating western comic books (particularly the superhero ones). Love the complete attention to detail.

    good stuff!

  11. Gerry Alanguilan on May 21st, 2011 9:56 am

    Auggie, alam ko maraming may balak mag compile ng Redondo stories. Pero balak pa rin lang. Yung sa Coching madaling gawan ng compilation kasi yung family was very diligent in saving complete sets of Coching’s stories on loose pages (as opposed to bound). That makes it easier to scan. Sa ngayon wala pa akong nakikitang complete set ng isang Redondo story on loose pages. But it would be great ano? I don’t think Vibal would hesitate to publish something like that as long as we restored it.

  12. Gerry Alanguilan on May 21st, 2011 9:57 am

    JM! Wow, talaga? re: Virgilio Redondo. What story did he write and what issue was this published in? Magoorder ako online.

  13. Gerry Alanguilan on May 21st, 2011 9:59 am

    Auggie… anybody… which Nestor Redondo illustrated story do you think best represents the quality of his work? Perhaps we can trace it and if a complete set can be found we will try to restore it.

  14. Gerry Alanguilan on May 21st, 2011 10:01 am

    Pero pag short stories and paguusapan, I actually have several complete short stories by Redondo, but not enough for an entire book. Perhaps if put together with other complete stories from Alcala and Niño, and others, I think that would be nice. Parang sampler kung baga.

  15. Jose Mari Lee on May 21st, 2011 10:54 am

    Gerry:

    Let me dig up my basement. He-he. Baka may naliligaw pa. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, mga sampung shorts ang ginawa ni Vir Redondo sa DC.

  16. dino (laging bata) on May 21st, 2011 12:59 pm

    Ka Gerry, sana may mga kasunod ka pa na ia-upload para sa story na to…nakakatuwang basahin…nagsasalarawan sya talaga ng isang bahagi ng kultura ng pilipino..at nakakatuwa rin na sariwain hehehe…pinoy na pinoy eh…

    salamat sa pag upload Ka Gerry!!!!

  17. auggie on May 21st, 2011 1:47 pm

    Gerry,

    Which Redondo story ? Marami actually: Diwani, Anak ng Kidlat,Alyas Palos,Bakas ng Gagamba,Lupa sa Lupa, Tanikalang Apoy,Devlin,Tulisan,Panginoon.Quo Vadis,Zigzag,Handsome,Teen-age Crush,Dayukdok,etc..Pero mi ginawa siyang mini series,yung CHAMPION, tungkol sa basket -ball,kung mi makikitang kumpleto noon, pwedeng i-double header yun dito sa Under Pass, at ergo,Nestor Redondo’s Greatest Hits nga….Bibili agad ako!

  18. dennis on May 27th, 2011 6:17 am

    Hi Gerry,

    A.S. Vel is the pen name of Antonio S. Velasquez, or Tony Velasquez.

  19. auggie on May 27th, 2011 4:08 pm

    Ganoon ba Dennis? thanks for the info! BTW wala ka bang kumpletong serye diyan ni Redondo na pwedeng gawing Graphic Novel?