The Supernatural Thrilla from Manila: How Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo's "Trese" Took Filipino Komiks, Comic Arts, and Culture Global

Abstract

Originating as a relatively niche work in Filipino “komiks”, Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo’s supernatural noir series Trese received international acclaim, and in 2021 an animated adaptation on Netflix. Uniquely positioned on the fringes of southeast Asia, east Asia, and the Pacific—and culturally between East and West—the Philippines has a rich graphic tradition reflective of its diverse peoples and history. With deep roots in Filipino cultural mythology and representations of current ongoing issues in its pulsing urban setting of Manila, Tan and Baldisimo’s Trese serves as a fantastic model for the speculative exploration of Filipino society, traditions, and comic arts, and one that is more than capable of exporting that exploration to both Filipino and non-Filipino audiences abroad. Using the series as a case study, I explore the success and reach of Trese as a potential benchmark for opening the door to representation of more works from the Philippines and other regions of the world with under-discussed comics traditions.