A Pleasant Surprise: Bumping Into Arnold Arre and Consequently, to Martial Law Babies

Bakit ngayon ka laang… (Photo from Arnold’s Facebook) 

Almost a week ago, Leanna and I were in Trinoma, walking around, trying to digest an excellent Filipino lunch over at Abe’s restaurant, located within the mall’s premises. I just finished a hefty amount of serving of their oxtail kare-kare which meat’s tenderness I can only compare to a baby’s tummy. Well, not that I eat babies but somehow, I cannot find a description more perfect.

 Anyway, I had so much of the stuff; I had to doggy bag the rest of the Lamb Adobo we ordered. The damned dish didn’t last five minutes after I got home later that evening! Yum, yum!

 We had to move around soon after the heavy meal. We didn’t get too far though as we found ourselves browsing for reading materials at the nearby PowerBooks Store.

It was about 2:30 PM when I saw a copy of Andong Agimat. I picked it up to show Leanna, and then I noticed the rest of Arnold Arre’s graphic novels were in display on the same table. I’m talking After Eden, The Mythology Class and Martial Law Babies here, friends. Plus, there was this new komiks called Private Iris, penned by Jaime Bautista and art drawn by Arnold as well, I think it’s now running on its fifth issue.

I was really eyeing the white, trade paperback graphic novel with bold letters on it, when a woman approached me and said that the books are made by a Filipino artist named Arnold Arre –and he’s going to be here for a short talk and book signing later at 3:00 PM! It was only then that I notice around seven tables set in the area, all made up for the Arre event. In my head I thought, how the hell did I miss that?!

Also playing on an LCD screen was the following video (I know the event’s done and over with, but it shows Arnold doing some wicked sketches, so it’s definitely still worth watching):

I casually replied to the lady, really? That’s great! In my most coñotic tone, and then grabbed the book, Martial Law Babies, hurriedly paid it over the cashier, as soon as she turned her back on me.

Needless to say I waited for the event. Arnold was a little bit late, but I forgive him. He was looking good. Better than the last time I saw him I think on a Komikon. He told some stories behind his latest novel, which copy I held tight in my hand and proceeded to answer some questions afterwards. The event went on smoothly. I even bumped into Wilson Tortosa and his friend amongst the crowd.

Based on the book’s title and on his previous work, Andong Agimat; my first guess on what Matial Law Babies was about was: it’s a story about people and the supposed “hardships” during the Marcos regime. Human rights violations, abuse, and suppression. But now that I’m done reading it, I find out this notion to be really, really stupid.

It is about nostalgia, just as Arnold discussed well in his talk. And he used a group of friends to cleverly portray it. I won’t tell you more because the graphic novel just won my quest for the first ever book that I will truly review. One of these days it’ll just pop in here. In how many weeks? –I don’t know just yet.

But what I do know is this: Martial Law Babies is one of the best stories that I read from a Filipino komiks creator, regardless of what timeline: the new guns or the classics, this book is easily among the greatest. Go and get your copy now! Do it as support to the local pinoy komiks artists and industry; and also for your very own enjoyment! It beats the crap out of Luna Mystika anytime.

This is one book you’d want to own and be proud of.

Martial Law = Imelda Marcos = Footwear

The Martial Law Babies website (this rocks!)

http://arnold-arre.com/