Cartooning the Politics of Everyday

Manuel Luis “Manix” Abrera is a celebrated visual artist and a trailblazer in the Filipino comic book industry, dedicating over 25 years to mastering the art of storytelling through comics. As the creator of Kikomachine Komix, a long-running daily strip in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and News Hardcore, a widely followed webcomic on GMA News Online, he has captivated readers with his distinctive art style, witty plot twists, and deeply relatable stories.

Manix honed his craft at the University of the Philippines Diliman, earning a Fine Arts degree, majoring in Visual Communication. During his college years, he served as the graphic editor of The Philippine Collegian, where his editorial cartoons and comic strips first appeared. His ability to convey compelling narratives through visuals has been recognized with three National Book Awards for 14 (2015), News Hardcore: Hukbong Sandatahan ng Kahaggardan (2016), and Kikomachine Komix Volume 14: Alaala ng Kinabukasan (2019), with several other works named as finalists. His wordless graphic novels, 12 and 14, have also received international acclaim, leading to their publication by the US-based publisher Ablaze.

Beyond his publications, Manix’s influence extends to collaborations with authors, museums, universities, and various organizations—both local and international—on projects ranging from comic art and book illustrations to murals and ad campaigns. His contributions to literature, culture, and the arts have been recognized through prestigious accolades, including The Outstanding Young Men Award in 2022 and the IP Citation at the 2024 IPOPHL Gawad Yamang Isip Awards.

To date, Manix has produced 19 volumes of Kikomachine Komix, News Hardcore Volume 1, Bertong Badtrip, The Terror Prof, and several other comic compilations, immortalizing the meaningful day-to-day stories of the Filipino people. His work continues to inspire aspiring artists and storytellers, proving that comics are a powerful medium for both entertainment and cultural expression.

Dione Kong is an illustrator and comics creator based in Metro Manila. Graduated with a degree in animation, she loves visual storytelling and has illustrated several children’s books like Kokak!, written by Maloi Malibiran-Salumbides and published by Room to Read; Dad’s Cab, written by Joseph DeGuzman and published by Scholastic Inc..; and Kazumph!, written by Danny Obillo and published by A Tree in Bani. She is also the author and illustrator of My Ghost, Where’d You Go?, her first graphic literature, published by Anino Comics. She aims to capture beauty and emotions through her drawings and resonate with the readers through her stories.