KAMAGONG

 

 

Written by Carlo J. Caparas and illustrated by R.V. Villanueva, Kamagong ran in Super Action Pocketkomiks (published by Atlas Publishing Co., Inc.) from issues 38 to 91 (May 7, 1986 - May 12, 1987).

The title refers to both the weapons and the man who wields them.  The Arnis de Mano champion of the town of Mabolo (where the martial art is an honored tradition), Manuel is nicknamed "Kamagong," after the hard wood from which his namesake arnis sticks were made.

 SUPPORTING CAST

ARIEL SALGADO

Headstrong young arnis student who seeks to avenge the murder of his brother Emilio at the hands of disgraced fighter Lorenzo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAESTRO SOTERO

Manuel and Ariel's mentor.  His credo is "Fly like a bird and land on the ground like a dry leaf with the arnis still in your hands."

 

 

 

 

 

 

MELISSA AND BELEN

The love interests of Manuel and Ariel respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENEMIES

LORENZO MONTERO

Banished from Mabolo after killing Ariel's brother Emilio in a match, Lorenzo makes a name for himself as a brutal underground fighter.  He is obsessed with defeating Manuel and possessing the Kamagong sticks.

MR. GUEVARRA

Lorenzo's crooked manager, who gambles on his fights.

CENON BELTRAN

Guevarra's rival, who tries to recruit Manuel but eventually succeeds in convincing Ariel to fight against Lorenzo.

KAMAGONG: THE MOVIE

Kamagong was adapted into a 1987 action film produced by Viva Films.  Directed by Carlo J. Caparas himself, it starred Lito Lapid as Manuel and J.C. Bonnin as Ariel.  Bonnin also performed the movie's theme song, Ako'y Magwawagi ("I Will Win"), which for my money has to be one of the most kick-ass themes in Philippine cinema.

 

KAMAGONG: THE ANIMATED SERIES?

In 2018, a Kamagong animated television series was announced, produced by Sinag Animation Studios for tentative release in 2019.  Unlike the original komiks, the series would be more of a fantasy adventure in a period setting, featuring a new hero, Bagtas.

 

From the WhenInManila.com article:

"The animated series follows the story of protagonist Bagtas, the heir to Namayan, a kingdom enslaved by a foreign empire. His goal is to find the eight bulawans of Bathala to unleash the true power of the titular weapon Kamagong."

Unfortunately, production was put on hold due to the COVID pandemic.  However, the studio was able to release a teaser showcasing the look of the series.  And, hey, they even brought back the original theme song.  Awesome.  Hopefully, this project will get back on track soon.

 

COVERS

 

FALCON TRES

And we're back.

 

Falcon Tres ran in the pages Pilipino Superheroes Pocketkomiks (published by Adventures Illustrated Magazines, Inc.) for 100 chapters from issues 1 to 123 (November 28, 1985 - April 13, 1988).  It was written and later illustrated by Karl Comendador and initially illustrated by Nar Cantillo.

 

LOST BOYS

A trio of boy scouts, Jonjon, Boyet and Lino, get lost in a forest and stumble upon a cave containing strange advanced technology.  They then encounter a mysterious old hermit who levitates while riding on his staff.

 

The hermit, who turns out to be an alien from the planet Falcon, introduces himself as Apo Lukan and befriends the scouts.  When they ask him how he could make himself fly, he offers to give the boys super powers on the condition that they be used to save lives and help the people.  The boys are placed in Lukan's energizer chamber wherein they are imbued with superhuman abilities.

Whenever the boys shout out their respective code names, Uno (Jonjon), Dos (Boyet) and Tres (Lino), they transform into a trio of young heroes known as the Falcon Tres.

The Falcon Tres have several adventures, up until Lukan has to depart Earth and return to his home planet.  He leaves behind the energizer chamber to allow the boys to continue using their powers after he's gone.  But eventually, the trio would disband and retire from superheroing indefinitely.

 

Lukan would later return to Earth and find that his former young charges have grown up.  Jonjon has become a police officer, Boyet a reporter and Lino a lawyer.

Upon reuniting, they decide to resume their careers as Falcon Tres to combat the rising tide of criminality, aided by additional powers and technology Lukan brought back from the planet Falcon.

POWERS

The Falcon Tres possess superhuman strength and speed, invulnerability, and of course, the ability to fly.  However, they are required to recharge their powers every three months in the enrgizer chamber in order to retain them.

SUPPORTING CAST

 

APO LUKAN

A stranded alien from the Planrt Falcon.  He has a staff that enables him to levitate and can also fire destructive blasts.  He also has an electric-powered ring that can shoot a paralyzing electric blast at high voltage and emit a healing ray at low voltage.

 

 

 HEPE (CHIEF) ORMITA

The chief of police and Jonjon's father, who suspects that his son and his friends are the Falcon Tres.

 

 

JINKY

Jonjon's childhood crush.  Named "Daisy" in her first appearance.

VILLAINS

 

LAKAY

A hoodlum who murders Boyet's mother.

MORDAGON

A criminal from the planet Falcon who plans to conquer Earth.  He has a very familiar-looking suit of armor.

Yep, he's a real space in-vader.

 AGHOROX

Mordagon's giant robot.

 GARDONG TALIBONG

A bandit leader who obtains Apo Lukan's staff and uses it to sow terror.

Later in the series, the Falcon Tres fight a similar-looking outlaw named Lotgardo, but I'm not sure if he's supposed to be the same guy.

 

THE GORGONS

Led by Gorgo, a group of snake-haired aliens exiled from the planet Falcon.  Similar to the mythical Gorgons, their eyes emit rays that can turn people to stone, and they also have the power to control snakes.

MULAWIN

A terrorist who discovers Falcon Tres' cavern base.  In the final chapter of the series, he uses the energizer chamber on himself and transforms into a rampaging monster.

COVERS