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A review by chingwan7
Shadow Witness by Budjette Tan
4.5
Average Rating: 4.92/5.0
SPOILER FILLED!
“If you’re craving for the urban supernatural, you must read Trese”
Trese is a Filipino comic series created by Budjette Tan and KaJo Baldisimo. It follows detective Alexandra Trese dealing with cases of supernatural origin. Through Trese’s lens, readers are able to explore a fusion between contemporary Metro Manila and traditional Filipino folklore. This mingling is further enhanced by its anthological style, allowing more creative stories (or cases) to reinvent familiar Filipino and pop culture tropes. Readers would see college students suffering from a paranormal, padres exorcising demons, and even a national Pinoy boxer annually fighting against the underworld. However, Trese also has continuous plot threads that fantastically intensify the stakes and slowly tease the main threat of the series. To summarize, Trese is a phenomenal read
#1 Murder on Balete Drive- 5.0/5.0
The first volume was a great start. In my opinion, this volume probably has the best artistic direction in the entire series. The dark, rough and hatching lines, the white space, balanced paneling, etc. were masterfully used to depict the urban fantasy of Metro Manila. It feels more noir-like than the rest of the volumes.
Favorite cases: All of it.
#2 Unreported Murders- 5.0/5.0
Although this book felt weaker compared to the first, it was still entertaining. Like the first, I enjoyed seeing the source material of the Netflix adaptation.
Favorite cases: The Outpost of Kalayaan Street & The Association Dues of Livewell Village
#3 Mass Murders- 5.0/5.0
This book is arguably the best volume of the series. This is because it is more narrative focused and high stakes unlike the usual. We delve deeper into the history of Alexandra Trese and the Kambal (Basilio and Crispin). We finally learn how Trese became the Babaylan-Mandirigma—the warrior-healer mediating the supernatural and natural. It was amazing to seeTrese and the Kambal started from enemies to allies, with the moral lesson of acceptance and forgiveness. Alongside character exposition, there is tense use of buildup towards the ancient antagonist as it worries readers about how Trese will beat it.
#4 Last Seen After Midnight- 5.0/5.0
Following the seriousness of Mass Murders, we take a breather by returning to the detective case format of Trese. Again we see the portrayal of contemporary Filipino culture with supernatural twists.
Favorite cases: Wanted:Bedspacer & Fight of the Year
#5 Midnight Tribunal- 5.0/5.0
Switching back to narrative-focused format, this volume engages the reader with more action and stakes. Additionally, it tackles themes of vigilantism and justice that challenge Trese and readers alike.
This volume also introduces us to who is probably the most intriguing and dangerous antagonist of the series: The Madame.
#6 High Tide at Midnight- 5.0/5.0
I really love this volume and it ties with Mass Murders as the best volume of the series. It is full of new and charming characters and an engaging conflict that will keep you wide-eyed.
Moreover, it shows more of The Madame. If you don’t know, The Madame is an allusion to a real Filipino political figureI (whom I will not name). The co-creators portrayed The Madame without being heavy-handed or blunt and reflected the political figure’s characteristics in her persona. The Madame’s noble appearance is only a facade to her manipulative and utilitarian nature. For this reason she serves as an amazing opposition to Alexandra Trese in regards to maintaining peace between two worlds.
#7 Shadow Witness- 4.5/5.0
This is the most recently published and is, personally, the weakest of the series. One positive I would give for this volume is the other siblings of Alexandra Trese have their own stories.
To explain why this volume is not rated as 5.0 like its predecessors, there is a particular case that I thought was misleading. Albeit the premise of the case was shown, it transitions to a different story entirely. The case tried justifying this transition as a routine, but I thought it was unnecessary.
Favorite cases: The 13 Stations, The Exorcism of Linda Blasco, and The Madrid Gig
Average Rating: 4.92/5.0
SPOILER FILLED!
“If you’re craving for the urban supernatural, you must read Trese”
Trese is a Filipino comic series created by Budjette Tan and KaJo Baldisimo. It follows detective Alexandra Trese dealing with cases of supernatural origin. Through Trese’s lens, readers are able to explore a fusion between contemporary Metro Manila and traditional Filipino folklore. This mingling is further enhanced by its anthological style, allowing more creative stories (or cases) to reinvent familiar Filipino and pop culture tropes. Readers would see college students suffering from a paranormal, padres exorcising demons, and even a national Pinoy boxer annually fighting against the underworld. However, Trese also has continuous plot threads that fantastically intensify the stakes and slowly tease the main threat of the series. To summarize, Trese is a phenomenal read
#1 Murder on Balete Drive- 5.0/5.0
The first volume was a great start. In my opinion, this volume probably has the best artistic direction in the entire series. The dark, rough and hatching lines, the white space, balanced paneling, etc. were masterfully used to depict the urban fantasy of Metro Manila. It feels more noir-like than the rest of the volumes.
Favorite cases: All of it.
#2 Unreported Murders- 5.0/5.0
Although this book felt weaker compared to the first, it was still entertaining. Like the first, I enjoyed seeing the source material of the Netflix adaptation.
Favorite cases: The Outpost of Kalayaan Street & The Association Dues of Livewell Village
#3 Mass Murders- 5.0/5.0
This book is arguably the best volume of the series. This is because it is more narrative focused and high stakes unlike the usual. We delve deeper into the history of Alexandra Trese and the Kambal (Basilio and Crispin). We finally learn how Trese became the Babaylan-Mandirigma—the warrior-healer mediating the supernatural and natural. It was amazing to seeTrese and the Kambal started from enemies to allies, with the moral lesson of acceptance and forgiveness. Alongside character exposition, there is tense use of buildup towards the ancient antagonist as it worries readers about how Trese will beat it.
#4 Last Seen After Midnight- 5.0/5.0
Following the seriousness of Mass Murders, we take a breather by returning to the detective case format of Trese. Again we see the portrayal of contemporary Filipino culture with supernatural twists.
Favorite cases: Wanted:Bedspacer & Fight of the Year
#5 Midnight Tribunal- 5.0/5.0
Switching back to narrative-focused format, this volume engages the reader with more action and stakes. Additionally, it tackles themes of vigilantism and justice that challenge Trese and readers alike.
This volume also introduces us to who is probably the most intriguing and dangerous antagonist of the series: The Madame.
#6 High Tide at Midnight- 5.0/5.0
I really love this volume and it ties with Mass Murders as the best volume of the series. It is full of new and charming characters and an engaging conflict that will keep you wide-eyed.
Moreover, it shows more of The Madame. If you don’t know, The Madame is an allusion to a real Filipino political figureI (whom I will not name). The co-creators portrayed The Madame without being heavy-handed or blunt and reflected the political figure’s characteristics in her persona. The Madame’s noble appearance is only a facade to her manipulative and utilitarian nature. For this reason she serves as an amazing opposition to Alexandra Trese in regards to maintaining peace between two worlds.
#7 Shadow Witness- 4.5/5.0
This is the most recently published and is, personally, the weakest of the series. One positive I would give for this volume is the other siblings of Alexandra Trese have their own stories.
To explain why this volume is not rated as 5.0 like its predecessors, there is a particular case that I thought was misleading. Albeit the premise of the case was shown, it transitions to a different story entirely. The case tried justifying this transition as a routine, but I thought it was unnecessary.
Favorite cases: The 13 Stations, The Exorcism of Linda Blasco, and The Madrid Gig
Average Rating: 4.92/5.0