It might not be an answer that would surprise anyone who cares to ask but writer Mikey Sutton and visual artist Noel Layon Flores agree that story is still king when it comes to making a hit international graphic novel. The duo is behind Dreamwalker that made waves at the recently concluded Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectible Convention or more popularly known as ToyCon.
Sutton penned the story of blogger Kat who possesses the ability to enter dreams and retrieve objects to fight monsters, ghosts, and wayward elementals from Philippine folklore. Flores is the hand that drew its “eye candy” visuals including its muse whose likeness is inspired by actress Filipina Kate Valdez.
“People in the U.S. and Europe love reading about Filipino myths and folklore. It’s so fresh and exotic to them. They love the Wakwak in the first issue. Those kinds of beliefs don’t exist in America, for example,” Sutton said to Tony&Nick.
It has been months since Tony&Nick got to catch up with the duo via email, the first time was a month before the first issue, published by Second Skin Comics, sold out well in the United States in February. Less than six months later, Dreamwalker debuted on a positive note in June in the Philippines and was among the features at this year’s ToyCon held at the Mega Trade Hall in Mandaluyong City with comic book collectors and fans lining up to score their copies.
“I have no idea how many copies were sold up to now. But it was plenty,” shared Noel who obliged fans for book signing sessions.
Noel, who is a lead visual artist for popular TV shows such as Encantadia and the anticipated Voltes V: Legacy, was amazed at how Dream Walker even attracted younger fans because of the novel’s dark horror leanings.
‘Very Pinoy’ British horror
Make no mistake, Sutton might sound foreign but Mikey was born in Angeles City, Pampanga. It is where his fascination with the aswangs, manananggals, tiyanaks and every other Philippine creature that Filipino children found fascinating and frightening at the same time began. Like Mikey, these conflicting emotions are shared sentiments of most Filipinos even into their adulthood.
He is based in Seattle for now as editor-in-chief of popular comics and pop culture website, GeekosityMag.com. He has yet to meet Kate in person, who dropped by at a comic booth in ToyCon.
Mikey knows the fascination of most Americans and Europeans with non-Western myths because they are exotic and unfamiliar. He thought it might be a gradual process for Dreamwalker, building a fandom like his favorite, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, which he began reading in 1989 and is now a cult favorite with a Netflix adaptation set to premiere in August.
Mikey, however, did not expect Dreamwalker to surge into popularity barely a year after its first release.
“Someone told me, ‘Your book is so Pinoy.’ As someone who is half-Filipino, half-British, I see both sides inside and obviously outside of me. But it’s important that I show my Filipino side. I’m proud to be Pinoy. Para sa akin (For me), Dreamwalker is a Pinoy comic written in a British style (gothic). I love it when people see the Filipino spirit in there. It’s important to me that Dreamwalker, the character, embodies the heart of a Pinay—her refusal to give up no matter how hard her life is,” Mikey shared.
Pasatsat are coming
Noel said that it is the Filipinos’ global nomadic reputation that has helped bring consciousness in non-Filipinos to its stories, including its myths and legends. And they, as creatives with experiences outside of the Philippines, continue to share these stories the way it would attract readers.
Mikey shared that the upcoming issues will touch on the horrific Ozone Disco tragedy that trapped partygoers in a burning inferno in 1996. He will also be introducing the Pasatsat, which he said are ghosts of people who died during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II.
Like his previous issues, Kat’s journey into meeting the Pasatsat is based on Mikey’s own experience when their family rented a home in Angeles City in 1985.
Noel said that Dreamwalker has been already planned with Kat’s character development progressing within six issues of horror, vengeance, fall from grace, redemption, and maturity.
Their success with Dreamwalker was not made overnight. It took years for them to hone their creative skills starting by knowing the basics.
“Read as many comics as you can so you absorb their qualities. Don’t copy the work of others or try to be like someone else,” Mikey advised.
“For writers, write what you’re familiar with and have a personal connection for. I’ve been reading comic books since 1978 so I’ve had decades of creative growth. Build a following on social media and never give up,” he added.
World-building has been Noel’s domain for years working in some of Philippine TV’s most famous fantasy series. He shared that it is a good way to start.
“When you build it, they will come…. or when you create it, one way or another, people will see it. And then it will be a matter of how you tell your story well, literally, visually, and intelligently,” he said.
They concur that they might have published first outside of the Philippines, but the story—and talent—still draw the crowd.
Dreamwalker issue no. 2 will be released this coming August.