‘The Mask of Haliya’ Review: Much More Than Just A Comic

This is the official synopsis for The Mask of Haliya, the first release from the all-female/ all-Asian run Kwento Comics . The comic itself, however, is so much more.

The wonderful team put together on this first issue has created an excellent set up that leaves the door wide open to explore more than just the wonderful and confusing world of Philippine Mythologies.  For me, the star of the show is artist Renoida Renovilla whose work makes each page turn an absolute joy! Although the art would not be so meaningful without the incredibly engaging story written by Kaitlyn Fajilan. 

The Mask of Haliya is not just a story about a female heroine being thrust into the world of Philippine Mythologies, it is also a metaphor for the discovery of identity.  Cebu (through Mari’s eyes) is a caricature of the complex lifelines and layers of the city.  This is tough ground for the writer (Fajilan) to navigate.  While it could be easy to focus on the very Filipino-American side of what constitutes the Filipino condition, she chooses subtle expressions and opinion to accentuate the differences of a common culture separated by the Pacific Ocean.  This was a very important set-up.  If it didn’t work, the violent awakening in the last few panels would not have been so impactful.

Read the whole article here: https://www.aswangproject.com/haliya-review/