MAGIC MAN

Magic Man was a mainstay of Pilipino Superheroes Pocketkomiks (published weekly by Adventures Illustrated Magazines, Inc.) from 1985 to 1988. This metamorphic manhunter was created by writer Vic J. Poblete and artist Mar T. Santana (who, along with Mars Ravelo, co-created that other shape-shifting superhero Lastikman).

THE HERO FORMERLY KNOWN AS

TRANSFORMER MAN

Despite his name, Magic Man's powers aren't actually magical in nature. In fact, that wasn't even his original name. When he debuted in the then-titled Superheroes Pocketkomiks #1 (November 28, 1985), he was initially known as Transformer Man.

It should be plainly obvious where the creators drew their inspiration from. As the character's former name indicates, he has the ability to transform into any object he wishes (vehicles, animals, other people, anything).

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When Superheroes Pocketkomiks changed its name to Pilipino Superheroes with its 13th issue (February 21, 1986, just before the original EDSA Revolution), the strip was likewise re-titled as Magic Man, though the hero himself wasn't called by that name until issue 15 (March 6, 1986). There was no in-story explanation for the name change, they just carried on as though he had always been known by that name.

Personally, I always liked the name Transformer Man better. It just made more sense to me, I guess.

ORIGIN:

Mann was an extra-terrestrial police officer from the planet Altera. In pursuit of the Alteran criminal Kil-Ar, Mann chases his quarry into a black hole that leads them to our galaxy.

Crash landing on the planet Earth, Mann and Kil-Ar continue their struggle, which takes them to the surface of an exploding volcano. As volcanic tremors cause the ground below them to crack open, Kil-Ar falls to his apparent death (or so it seemed)...

... While Mann manages to escape the erupting volcano.

Stranded on Earth, Mann decides to make himself at home. Using his natural shape-shifting abilities in the fight for justice, he assumes the dual identities of police detective Elmer Manzano and the convertible costumed crimefighter Magic Man.

FRIENDS:

OBET

Streetwise kid, Magic Man's pal and Detective Manzano's informant.

JENNY SERRANO

A schoolteacher who falls in love with Magic Man after he rescues her from a hostage-taker. She's not too crazy about his alter-ego, though.

"HEPE" (CHIEF)

The chief of police, he suspects that his top detective Elmer and Magic Man are one and the same.

FOES:

SORCERO THE SORCERER

A renowned illusionist and hypnotist who has an amorous obsession towards Ms. Jenny Serrano.

('Throw your hands in the air!')

THE COP KILLER

A mysterious serial murderer with a vendetta against police officers.

KIL-AR

As it turns out, Kil-Ar had indeed survived their previous encounter, but had suffered from amnesia for a number of years. Possessing the same powers that Magic Man does, he disguises himself as his arch-nemesis in order to discredit him.

('It's like looking in a mirror, only not.')

And besides, evil twin plots never get old. And neither do alien invasion plots...

BODY-SNATCHING ALIEN INVADERS

A spaceship-full of freaky-looking aliens try to take over the Earth by taking over the bodies of an entire army platoon.

('Look, up in the sky!')

MONDE

The leader of a Satanic cult and kidnapping ring.

COVERS: