173-733: Philippine Comics ( Filipino : Komiks ) have been popular throughout the nation from the 1920s to the present. Comics scholar John A. Lent posited that the Philippine comics tradition has "the strongest audience appeal, best-known cartooning geniuses, and most varied comics content" in Asia after Japan and Hong Kong . The origins of Philippine comic strips trace back to the early 20th century, and Comic books gained widespread readership after World War II . These early comics were deeply rooted in Western styles and formats, yet they possessed
346-524: A National Artist award. Larry Alcala left a lasting legacy with his 56-year career, notably through his Slice of Life , a single-panel comic strip series portraying daily life in the Philippines without dialogue. Alcala was also bestowed with the title of National Artist. Mars Ravelo introduced the iconic Filipino superhero, Darna . Ravelo's other creations, such as Captain Barbell , Lastikman ,
519-488: A cigar , his last name being a homophone of "cigar" (pronounced SEE-gar). Comics historian Brian Walker stated: "Segar offered up a masterful blend of comedy, fantasy, satire and suspense in Thimble Theater Starring Popeye ". Owing to Popeye's increasingly high profile, Thimble Theatre became one of King Features' most popular strips during the 1930s. A poll of adult comic strip readers in
692-464: A movie and a musical theater production. The 1990s also witnessed a surge in influence from Japanese manga and anime. This trend can be traced back to the 1970s when anime titles such as Voltes V and G-Force had gained popularity among expanding television audience of the middle class. However, the momentum of the anime boom was hindered when the Marcos administration banned these series, though
865-498: A bill was introduced for a graphic novel archiving project. Comic creation is now being integrated into university curricula, and student groups are actively fostering emerging comic book artists. While circulation numbers may not reach previous highs, the comics culture is experiencing a resurgence in the 21st century. Comics with boy's love genre focusing on the lived experiences of the Filipino queer community have become popular in
1038-570: A case reaching the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the choice of Tagalog as the basis of the national language (a case ruled in favor of the national language in 1970). Accusing the national language as simply being Tagalog and lacking any substantial input from other Philippine languages, Congressman Geruncio Lacuesta eventually led a "Modernizing the Language Approach Movement" (MOLAM). Lacuesta hosted
1211-685: A close association with the film industry. Tailored to the preference and aspirations of the " clog -wearing" Filipino public, comic books proved to be suitable source material for films, with approximately 30–40% of major studio releases in 1986 being comic book adaptations. These adaptations covered a variety of genres, including melodramas, romantic comedies , and adventures. Filmmaker Lino Brocka acknowledged his practice of alternating between artistically oriented projects and those based on comics that appeal to existing audiences. Beside direct adaptations, some Filmmakers provided original story for comic magazines, later releasing film adaptations coinciding with
1384-833: A compassionate prostitute, a daughter sacrificing herself for her family, or a woman deceived by her lover, with the protagonist ultimately prevailing and finding happiness. Queer genres, such as boy's love , have recently enjoyed a rise in popularity especially after the rise of queer motion-picture series in the 2020's. Besides these mainstream genres, Philippine comics explored a wide range of themes, including news, politics, agriculture, biography, history, and sports. Some stories depicted dramas revolving around ordinary people based on reader-submitted narratives. Science fiction elements, such as space adventures, organ transplants, cloning, and test-tube babies, were often featured. Additionally, works imitating hit movies like Jaws , The Towering Inferno , and James Bond , were not uncommon. In
1557-523: A cultural export in the Philippines as in other Asian nations. The reception of Japanese manga has sparked controversial, mirroring debates in other nations. Alanguilan has criticized Filipino professional manga artists for adopting styles closely associated with Japanese cultural identity, labeling them as "Filipino". As new developments unfolded, efforts to revive traditional Filipino comics were also underway. Mango Comics rebooted old superheroes like Darna, Lastikman, and Captain Barbell around 2003. Targeting
1730-441: A decline in quality, exemplified by writer Carlo Caparas who once produced 36 works (typically 4 pages each) on a weekly basis, while another artist completed 19 works per week with assistance for the pen work. In the 1990s, economic instability, political turmoil, and natural disasters strained family finances, resulted in sharp decline in comic book sales. Concurrently, new forms of entertainment including television, video games,
1903-566: A decline in the 1990s and have since evolved into modernized forms with updated content and binding, targeting university students and affluent urban residents. The readership now predominantly consists of males. Following the dissolution of the Roces family's monopoly, numerous independent publishing houses have emerged. Their owners often derive their primary income from mass media or academia and frequently are creators themselves. These publishers maintain close connections with their fan base, nurturing
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#17328021392642076-453: A dictionary, which he later passed to Francisco Jansens and José Hernández. Further compilation of his substantial work was prepared by Juan de Noceda and Pedro de Sanlúcar and published as Vocabulario de la lengua tagala in Manila in 1754 and then repeatedly re-edited, with the latest edition being published in 2013 in Manila. Spanish served in an official capacity as language of
2249-745: A dire situation. It did not stop there, as spinach could also give Popeye the skills and powers he needed, as in The Man on the Flying Trapeze , where it gave him acrobatic skills. This cartoon, incidentally was the only appearance of Olive Oyl's mother, Nana. In May 1942, Paramount Pictures assumed ownership of Fleischer Studios, fired the Fleischers and began reorganizing the studio, which they renamed Famous Studios . The early Famous-era shorts were often World War II-themed, featuring Popeye fighting Nazi Germans and Japanese soldiers, most notably
2422-449: A distinctive character as melodramas enjoyed by both children and adults. Marked by ornate, baroque illustrations drawn in thick lines, Philippine comics peaked in popularity as a national pastime during the 1980s. They also served as source material for movies, as well as for promoting government initiatives. However, by the end of the 20th century, public interest began to wane, with alternative forms of entertainment such as television and
2595-403: A diverse range of content, including anthologies, reprints of serialized works, and newly created comics. Most Pinoy manga, Filipino comics influenced by Japanese manga, are printed in color and cover a wide range of themes, gaining particularly popularity among women aged 8 to 25. Manga publishers focus on middle and high-school students, as publications tailored to this age group were limited in
2768-438: A dominant position, owning 62 out of 71 titles in the market by 1992. The publishing model established by the Roces family, characterized by the short publication periods, a wide array of titles, and affordable prices, faced minimal challenges from smaller publishers. However, this oligopoly led to a conservative approach to content, often favoring recycled ideas over innovation. The relentless pursuit of production speed resulted in
2941-478: A fickle attitude towards the sailor. Initially, Castor Oyl continued to come up with get-rich-quick schemes and enlisted Popeye in his misadventures. By the end of 1931, however, he settled down as a detective and later on bought a ranch out west. Castor's appearances have resultantly become sparser over time. As Castor faded from the strip, J. Wellington Wimpy , a soft-spoken and eloquent yet cowardly hamburger -loving moocher who would "gladly pay you Tuesday for
3114-470: A flourishing of the genre. Nonoy Marcelo , among those blacklisted, evaded censorship by joining the state-run media agency , and infused subtle political satire into his cartoons featuring his rat character Ikabod . Eventually Marcos was overthrown in 1986, yet satirical cartoons did not regain their former prominence, as media conglomerates increasingly excluded content deemed detrimental to business interests. The 1970s presented multiple challenges for
3287-405: A foundling baby in the mail whom he adopted and named Swee'Pea . Other regular characters introduced into the strip following its retool in 1930 were George W. Geezil , an irascible cobbler who spoke in a heavily affected accent and habitually attempted to murder or wish death upon Wimpy; Rough-House, the temperamental owner of a budget diner who served as a long-suffering foil to Wimpy; Eugene
3460-508: A full-color page, then advanced into the magazine's various language editions. The moniker "Kenkoy" was ingrained into the Filipino vernacular as a term meaning "someone who is boisterously hilarious, funny or amusing", and the character persisted in comics and visual media well into the 21st century. Velasquez has come to be called "father of Filipino comics," partly due to his role as a publisher in later years, providing numerous creators with
3633-624: A generational change in comic book publishing. Many young artists were inspired to break into American comics industry by Whilce Portacio , a Filipino immigrant who had achieved success in America. Portacio made regular visits to his home country in the early 1990s, engaging with and mentoring local artists, including the Alamat group. The studio Portacio founded in Manila has nurtured talents such as Alanguilan and Leinil Francis Yu , both of whom have subsequently contributed to Marvel Comics . During
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#17328021392643806-533: A hamburger today" was introduced into the Sunday strip, in which he became a fixture by late 1932. After first appearing in the daily strip in March 1933, Wimpy became a full-time major character alongside Popeye and Olive. Thimble Theatre was renamed Thimble Theatre Starring Popeye in 1931. It was eventually renamed simply Popeye , the name under which the strip continues to run. In July 1933, Popeye received
3979-435: A handful of those cartoons had fallen into public domain and were found on numerous low budget VHS tapes and later DVDs. When Turner Entertainment acquired the cartoons in 1986, a long and laborious legal struggle with King Features kept the majority of the original Popeye shorts from official video releases for more than 20 years. King Features instead opted to release a DVD boxed set of the 1960s made-for-television Popeye
4152-508: A higher-income demographic, Mango opted to distribute through comic book specialty stores rather than newsstands. In 2007, the company embarked on an unsuccessful venture into mass-market weekly comic books, setting filmmaker and writer Carlo Caparas as a spokesperson. Caparas himself promoted Philippine comics through initiatives such as establishing awards for new creators and organizing the Artist Training Caravan to bolster
4325-428: A lighthearted adventure story as opposed to using typical comic strip style humor. The story also featured a more realistic art style and was edited by Bill Pearson, who also lettered and inked the story as well as the front cover. A second issue, by the same creative team, followed in 1988. The second issue introduced the idea that Bluto and Brutus were actually twin brothers and not the same person, an idea also used in
4498-545: A major presence in American comics. However, as reader preferences shifted in the 1980s, many Filipino artists transitioned to alternative career paths, such as animation. In 1972, Ferdinand Marcos ' administration imposed martial law , forcing all publishers to align with a pro-regime stance. The administration recognized the significant influence of comics on public opinion and published comics to promote its policies, while establishing The Media Advisory Council to regulate
4671-493: A married couple with a son named Popeye Jr., who hates the taste of spinach, but eats it to boost his strength. Maurice LaMarche performed Popeye's voice as Mercer had died in 1984. The show lasted for one season. USA Network later picked up reruns of the series after CBS's cancellation. Additionally, the series aired on The Family Channel from 1994 until 1995. In 2004, Lionsgate produced an animated television special, Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy to coincide with
4844-545: A minor character yet arguably the protagonist of the strip by 1925. Castor and Olive's parents Cole and Nana Oyl also made frequent appearances beginning in the mid-1920s. By the late 1920s, the strip had likewise acquired a number of notable characters beyond the sphere of Ham Gravy and the Oyl family, including Castor Oyl's wife Cylinda (to whom he was married from 1926 to 1928), her wealthy, misanthropic father Mr. Lotts and Castor's fighting cockerel Blizzard, all of whom had exited
5017-478: A new trend emerged as artists began to self-publish photocopied minicomics , predominantly within the American-style superhero genre, often selling them at campus festivals. Alamat Comics, founded in 1994 as a small convention for independent creators to connect, eventually expanded to formally publish works such as Wasted by Gerry Alanguilan . Mango Comics and other publishers also emerged, signifying
5190-455: A niche community. General bookstores in the Philippines primarily focus on foreign publications, placing domestic comic books at a disadvantage in terms of sales and distribution. Consequently, independent publishers view comic conventions as vital channels for sales. Graphic novels , primarily comprising Western works and English-language Japanese ones, are widely accessible in general bookstores. This relatively new publishing format encompasses
5363-469: A number of "anti-purist" conferences and promoted a "Manila Lingua Franca" which would be more inclusive of loanwords of both foreign and local languages. Lacuesta managed to get nine congressmen to propose a bill aiming to abolish the SWP with an Akademia ng Wikang Filipino , to replace the balarila with a Gramatica ng Wikang Filipino , to replace the 20-letter Abakada with a 32-letter alphabet, and to prohibit
Philippine comics - Misplaced Pages Continue
5536-418: A number of Popeye comic books, with his main series running continuously from 1948 to 1984 published in turn by Dell Comics , Gold Key Comics , King Comics , Charlton Comics , and back to Gold Key. The series was originally written and illustrated by Bud Sagendorf . In the series, Popeye became something of a crimefighter, thwarting evil organizations and Bluto's criminal activities. The new villains included
5709-465: A platform to publish their works. During the 1930s, Filipino comics heavily mirrored American comic strips. José Zabala-Santos was renowned for his Popeye -inspired creations, Lukas Marakas and Popoy . The first adventure comic, Francisco Reyes ' Kulafu , featured a Tarzan -esque hero in the jungles of Luzon during the pre-Spanish era . Amidst the pressures of westernization, such pseudo-historical adventures continued to captivate audiences in
5882-417: A series of Sunday-format comics, a wide assortment of artists depicted the characters in their own styles in one comic each, including Alex Hallatt , Erica Henderson , Tom Neely, Roger Langridge , Larry deSouza, Robert Sikoryak , Jeffrey Brown , Jim Engel, Liniers , Jay Fosgitt, Carol Lay , and Randy Milholland. At the end of the year, Milholland's Cartoon Club comic was declared the number one comic of
6055-509: A series of animated cartoons released by Paramount Pictures . The first cartoon in the series was released in 1933, and Popeye cartoons remained a staple of Paramount's release schedule for nearly 25 years. William Costello was the original voice of Popeye, a voice that was replicated by later performers, such as Jack Mercer and even Mae Questel . Many of the Thimble Theatre characters, including Wimpy, Poopdeck Pappy, and Eugene
6228-494: A series of episodic comic anecdotes depicting the daily life and dysfunctional romantic exploits of Ham Gravy and Olive Oyl. It could be classified as a gag-a-day comic during this period. In mid-1922, Segar began to increasingly engage in lengthier (often months-long) storylines; by the end of the following year, the strip had effectively changed fully into a comedy- adventure style focusing on Ham, Olive, and Olive's ambitious-but-myopic diminutive brother Castor Oyl , initially
6401-552: A study and survey of each existing native language, hoping to choose which was to be the base for a standardized national language. Later, President Manuel L. Quezon later appointed representatives for each major regional language to form the NLI. Led by Jaime C. De Veyra , who sat as the chair of the Institute and as the representative of Samar-Leyte-Visayans , the Institute's members were composed of Santiago A. Fonacier (representing
6574-599: A surge in female creators. In the past, comic artists operated within an apprenticeship-like dynamic, often excluding women. However, with the rise of a new generation influenced by Western comics and manga such as Sailor Moon and CLAMP , independent comics by female artists have become more common. Despite the persistent male dominance in the comics landscape of the 2020s, events like Komiket actively empower and support women's creative pursuits. Comics are increasingly acknowledged as an art form, with frequent retrospectives honoring early artists like Ravelo and Coching. In 2010,
6747-516: A tool for government public relations. During the presidency of Corazon Aquino in the late 1980s, comics were used to disseminate messages urging communist guerrillas to surrender, camouflaged as romance stories, and distributed nationwide. In the 1970s, Filipino artists began penetrating the U.S. market, pioneered by Tony DeZuniga , a Filipino immigrant based in New York. Recruited by DC Comics editor Joe Orlando in 1970, DeZuniga would create
6920-414: A trademark. In almost every Popeye cartoon, the sailor is invariably put into what seems like a hopeless situation, upon which (usually after a beating), a can of spinach becomes available, and Popeye quickly opens the can and consumes its contents. Upon swallowing the spinach, Popeye's physical strength immediately becomes superhuman, and he is easily able to save the day, and very often rescue Olive Oyl from
7093-470: A turban-wearing employee of the nemesis, Dr. Morbid Grimsby. On September 9, 1978, The All New Popeye Hour debuted on the CBS Saturday morning lineup. It was an hour-long animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions , which tried its best to retain the style of the original comic strip (Popeye returned to his original costume and Brutus to his original name of Bluto), while complying with
Philippine comics - Misplaced Pages Continue
7266-496: A viable alternative to the traditional weekly comic books. Notable works like Trese by Alamat member Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo , The Mythology Class and Trip to Tagaytay by Arnold Arre , and One Night in Purgatory by Carlo Vergara have been released in book form by mainstream publishers. Vergara's queer superhero Zsazsa Zaturnnah , created in 2002, gained widespread popularity, leading to its adaptation into
7439-429: A week and was known as Linggo ng Wika (Language Week). The celebration coincides with the month of birth of President Manuel L. Quezon, regarded as the "Ama ng Wikang Pambansa" (Father of the national language). In 1946, Proclamation No. 35 of March 26 provided for a week-long celebration of the national language. this celebration would last from March 27 until April 2 each year, the last day coinciding with birthday of
7612-407: A younger generation distinct from traditional comics readers. In 2000, Culture Crash Comics debuted, showcasing high-quality manga-inspired works. Although the magazine did not last long due to financial difficulties, its popularity spurred the emergence of followers such as Mangaholix by the same publisher, alongside Questor and Nautilus Comics . Superhero comic publisher Mango Comics launched
7785-452: Is Popeye's ward in the comic strips, but his custody is inconsistent in cartoons. There is no absolute sense of continuity in the stories, although certain plot and presentation elements remain mostly constant, including purposeful contradictions in Popeye's capabilities. Popeye seems bereft of manners and uneducated, yet he often comes up with solutions to problems that seem insurmountable to
7958-475: Is a list of awarded artists and works up to 2024, excluding awards given to anthologies. Filipino language Filipino ( English: / ˌ f ɪ l ɪ ˈ p iː n oʊ / , FIH-lih-PEE-noh ; Wikang Filipino , [ˈwi.kɐŋ fi.liˈpi.no̞] ) is a language under the Austronesian language family . It is the national language ( Wikang pambansa / Pambansang wika ) of
8131-801: Is a translation of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . Usually, the diacritics are not written, and the syntax and grammar are based on that of Tagalog . the General Assembly proclaims this UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among
8304-544: Is argued that current state of the Filipino language is contrary to the intention of Republic Act (RA) No. 7104 that requires that the national language be developed and enriched by the lexicon of the country's other languages. It is further argued that, while the official view (shared by the government, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino , and a number of educators) is that Filipino and Tagalog are considered separate languages, in practical terms, Filipino may be considered
8477-456: Is frequently used. While the word Tagalista literally means "one who specializes in Tagalog language or culture" or a "Tagalog specialist", in the context of the debates on the national language and " Imperial Manila ", the word Tagalista is used as a reference to "people who promote or would promote the primacy of Tagalog at the expense of [the] other [Philippine] indigenous tongues". This
8650-528: Is instantly discernible. Sagendorf continued to use many obscure characters from the Segar years, especially O. G. Wotasnozzle and King Blozo. Sagendorf's new characters, such as the Thung, also had a very Segar-like quality. What set Sagendorf apart from Segar more than anything else was his sense of pacing. Where plotlines moved very quickly with Segar, it sometimes took an entire week of Sagendorf's daily strips for
8823-543: Is not a tonal language and can be considered a pitch-accent language and a syllable-timed language. It has nine basic parts of speech . The Philippines is a multilingual state with 175 living languages originating and spoken by various ethno-linguistic groups. Many of these languages descend from a common Malayo-Polynesian language due to the Austronesian migration from Taiwan. The common Malayo-Polynesian language split into different languages, and usually through
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#17328021392648996-433: Is shorter. As of 2024, Thimble Theatre comic strips from 1919 through 1928 have entered the public domain, concluding seventeen days before Popeye's first appearance. Even after the strips enter the public domain, trademarks regarding Popeye remain with King Features, as trademarks do not expire unless they cease to be used, and King Features has used the trademark continuously since the character's debut. There have been
9169-485: Is that speech variety spoken in Metro Manila and other urban centers where different ethnic groups meet. It is the most prestigious variety of Tagalog and the language used by the national mass media. The other yardstick for distinguishing a language from a dialect is: different grammar, different language. "Filipino", "Pilipino" and "Tagalog" share identical grammar. They have the same determiners (ang, ng and sa);
9342-414: Is the indigenous written and spoken language of Metro Manila and other urban centers in the Philippines used as the language of communication of ethnic groups . However, as with the 1973 and 1987 Constitutions, 92-1 went neither so far as to categorically identify, nor so far as to dis-identify this language as Tagalog. Definite, absolute, and unambiguous interpretation of 92–1 is the prerogative of
9515-593: The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (Commission on the Filipino Language, or KWF), superseding the Institute of Philippine Languages. The KWF reports directly to the President and was tasked to undertake, coordinate and promote researches for the development, propagation and preservation of Filipino and other Philippine languages. On May 13, 1992, the commission issued Resolution 92-1, specifying that Filipino
9688-485: The New York Journal on December 19, 1919. The paper's owner, William Randolph Hearst , also owned King Features Syndicate , which syndicated the strip. Thimble Theatre was intended as a replacement for Midget Movies by Ed Wheelan (Wheelan having recently resigned from King Features). While initially failing to attract a large audience, the strip nonetheless increasingly accumulated a modest following as
9861-717: The Philippines Free Press under the American rule , extensively criticized both the colonial powers and the local government through cartoons. Early political cartoons personified the nation as "Filipinas", a naive maiden courted by Uncle Sam , who later was replaced by Juan dela Cruz , a slipper-wearing common man introduced by Jorge Pineda in The Independent . Noteworthy painters of this era, such as Fernando Amorsolo and Botong Francisco , were also known for their cartooning. The weekly Liwayway ,
10034-466: The shōjo title Mango Jam . Even longstanding children's magazines such as Funny Komiks adopted manga-style illustrations. These creations by Filipino artists, dubbed "Pinoy manga," marked an era of "comics, komiks, and manga" (works in the American, Filipino, and Japanese styles). Notable Pinoy manga works include Love is in the Bag by Ace Vitangcol. The Japanese government actively promoted manga as
10207-494: The 1980 live-action film directed by Robert Altman and starring Robin Williams as Popeye. Charles M. Schulz said, "I think Popeye was a perfect comic strip, consistent in drawing and humor". In 2002, TV Guide ranked Popeye number 20 on its "50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time" list. The person believed to have inspired Popeye was Polish born Frank "Rocky" Fiegel, a tough laborer from Chester, Illinois who
10380-772: The Ilokano-speaking regions ), Filemon Sotto (the Cebu-Visayans ), Casimiro Perfecto (the Bikolanos ), Felix S. Sales Rodriguez (the Panay-Visayans ), Hadji Butu (the languages of Muslim Filipinos ), and Cecilio Lopez (the Tagalogs ). The Institute of National Language adopted a resolution on November 9, 1937 recommending Tagalog to be basis of the national language. On December 30, President Quezon issued Executive Order No. 134, s. 1937, approving
10553-547: The Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte, that Filipino was simply Tagalog in syntax and grammar, with as yet no grammatical element or lexicon coming from Ilokano , Cebuano , Hiligaynon , or any of the other Philippine languages . He said further that this is contrary to the intention of Republic Act No. 7104, which requires that the national language be developed and enriched by
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#173280213926410726-568: The Philippine Postal Corporation commemorated Philippine comics by issuing a series of stamps . The featured artworks included Darna by Gilbert Monsanto, Darna by Nestor Redondo, Kulafu by Francisco Reyes, and Lapu-Lapu by Francisco Coching. The National Book Awards , managed by the National Book Development Board , have included a category for graphic literature since 1999. Below
10899-623: The Philippines , lingua franca (Karaniwang wika), and one of the two official languages ( Wikang opisyal / Opisyal na wika ) of the country, with English . It is a standardized variety of the native language Tagalog , spoken and written in Metro Manila , the National Capital Region, and in other urban centers of the archipelago. The 1987 Constitution mandates that Filipino be further enriched and developed by
11072-713: The Supreme Court in the absence of directives from the KWF, otherwise the sole legal arbiter of the Filipino language. Filipino was presented and registered with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), by Ateneo de Manila University student Martin Gomez, and was added to the ISO registry of languages on September 21, 2004, with it receiving the ISO 639-2 code fil . On August 22, 2007, it
11245-545: The western hero Jonah Hex and contribute to Conan the Barbarian , as well as various romance , horror , and war titles. In 1971, DeZuniga recommended DC publisher Carmine Infantino to visit the Philippines to scout for new talent at moderate rates. This initiative resulted in a significant outflux of Filipino artists, including Alex Niño, Nestor Redondo and Alfredo Alcala. Renowned for their drawing proficiency, speed, and diverse artistic range, Filipino artists became
11418-547: The 1920s continued. At the end of its first decade, the strip resultantly appeared in over a dozen newspapers and had acquired a corresponding Sunday strip (which had debuted on January 25, 1925, within the Hearst-owned New York American paper). Thimble Theatre's first main characters were the lanky, long-nosed slacker Harold Hamgravy (rapidly shortened to simply "Ham Gravy") and his scrappy, headstrong girlfriend Olive Oyl. In its earliest weeks,
11591-415: The 1930s with humorous works such as Kenkoy , followed by the popularity of historical heroic tales such as Kulafu . The subsequent rise of melodrama in the 1940s and 1950s, drawing from the tradition of Philippine popular fiction, set the prevailing tone of Philippine comics. Mars Ravelo, one of the genre's most renowned writers, created Roberta , in which a young girl is bullied by her stepmother. By
11764-435: The 1937 selection. The 1960s saw the rise of the purist movement where new words were being coined to replace loanwords. This era of "purism" by the SWP sparked criticisms by a number of persons. Two counter-movements emerged during this period of "purism": one campaigning against Tagalog and the other campaigning for more inclusiveness in the national language. In 1963, Negros Occidental congressman Innocencio V. Ferrer took
11937-617: The 1942 short You're a Sap, Mr. Jap . In late 1943, the Popeye series began to be produced in Technicolor , beginning with Her Honor the Mare. Famous/Paramount continued producing the Popeye series until 1957, with Spooky Swabs being the last of the 125 Famous shorts in the series. Paramount then sold the Popeye film catalog to Associated Artists Productions , which was bought out by United Artists in 1958. Through various mergers,
12110-458: The 1970s and the cancellation of the daily strip in 1992 (in favor of reprints), the comic, now solely a Sunday strip, remains one of the longest-running strips in syndication today. Thimble Theatre had a number of topper strips on the Sunday page during its run; the main topper, Sappo , ran for 21 years, from February 28, 1926, to May 18, 1947. ( Sappo was a revival of an earlier Segar daily strip called The Five-Fifteen , aka Sappo
12283-594: The 1970s with the works of Pablo Gomez and Carlo Caparas, and by 1980, fantasy narratives were present in around 70% of all comic magazines. Romance comics had become a dominant genre by the 1990s, comprising more than half of the stories published in popular magazines as indicated by a 1992 survey. Comics editor Emmanuel Martinez suggests that Filipinos are particularly drawn to love stories due to their romantic, emotional, and family-oriented nature. Martinez notes that readers prefer light-hearted tales with optimistic endings. These stories frequently portrayed characters such as
12456-508: The 1970s, each magazine featured signature long serials, with Anak ni Zuma in Aliwan Komiks standing out as a prominent example that remained popular for over a decade. Additionally, these comics books featured crossword puzzles, short gags, letter sections, advertisements, and prose sections covering topics such as celebrity gossip, biographies, and life hacks. The title of comics was often straightforward, employing everyday objects,
12629-423: The 1980s, marked by the publication of 47 weekly comic books and a total circulation of 2.5 to 3 million copies by the mid-1980s. The actual readership far exceeded these figures due to the conventionalized sharing of copies among friends and families, making comics the most widely consumed form of publishing, even surpassing newspapers. With a national distribution network under its ownership, Roces continued to hold
12802-457: The 1980s, melodramatic narratives infused with themes of sex, violence, and class inequality gained prominence. Despite the male dominance in the industry, this genre was contributed to by many female writers including Elena Patron , who produced over 350 short comics and 120 serials in 20 years, alongside Nerissa Cabral and Gilda Olvidado . Action and fantasy also have long been popular in Philippine comics. In 1950s, Ravelo introduced Dyesebel ,
12975-806: The 1980s. From their inception, comics faced criticism from conservative and religious groups due to perceived lowbrow content. In 1954, following the establishment of the Comics Code in the U.S. comics industry, the Association of Publishers and Editors of Philippine Comics-Magazines (APEPCOM) was formed, spearheaded by Ace. Collaborating with the Catholic Church, APEPCOM implemented a self-regulatory code aimed at excluding "filth harmful to morals," such as explicit sex, horror, and criminal activities, from their works. Consequently, Filipino comics would persist in avoiding offensive or vulgar humor until
13148-587: The 20-letter Abakada alphabet which became the standard of the national language. The alphabet was officially adopted by the Institute for the Tagalog-Based National Language. In 1959, the language became known as Pilipino in an effort to disassociate it from the Tagalog ethnic group . The changing of the name did not, however, result in universal acceptance among non- Tagalogs , especially Cebuanos who had previously not accepted
13321-420: The 2000s, comic publishing styles diversified, with more artists taking on works from non-comic or international publishers, alongside the trend of self-publishing. The latter facilitated the creation of a broader range of works. In the late 2000s, Alanguilan self-published Elmer , a social drama featuring intelligent chickens, earning a nomination for the prestigious Eisner Award . Graphic novels emerged as
13494-887: The 2020's and transformed into its own sub-genre of Pinoy BL. New generations of queer comic authors, most of which are queer themselves, have focused on creating books to introduce people to the LGBTQIA+ world, covering both differences and similarities to the heterosexual mainstream. Notable works include Ang Jowa Kong Crosswise , Champion of the Rose , Nang Mainlove Ako sa Isang Sakristan , and Sari Sari Story , while various queer comic anthologies have also been published in last few years. Filipino language, geography, and culture often merged with American and Japanese influences in various works. While U.S. superheroes typically operate in settings where superhuman abilities arise from innate qualities or are obtained through scientific means and training,
13667-450: The 21st century, predominantly focusing on simple humor and political satire. During this era, many artists emerged who would shape the history of Philippine comics. Francisco Coching , a World War II guerrilla fighter, established the indigenous style of Philippine comics with his dynamic and intricate drawings. Nicknamed "the Dean of Philippine comics," Coching was posthumously honored with
13840-485: The 75th anniversary of Popeye. Billy West performed the voice of Popeye, describing the production as "the hardest job I ever did, ever" and the voice of Popeye as "like a buzzsaw on your throat". The uncut version was released on DVD on November 9, 2004; and was aired in a re-edited version on Fox on December 17, 2004, and again on December 30, 2005. Its style was influenced by the 1930s Fleischer cartoons, and featured Swee'Pea, Wimpy, Bluto, Olive Oyl, Poopdeck Pappy, and
14013-524: The April 1937 issue of Fortune magazine voted Popeye their second-favorite comic strip (after Little Orphan Annie ). By 1938, Thimble Theatre was running in 500 newspapers, and over 600 licensed "Popeye" products were on sale. The success of the strip meant Segar was earning $ 100,000 a year at the time of his death. The strip continued after Segar's death in 1938 under a succession of artists and writers. Following an eventual name change to Popeye in
14186-506: The CBS lineup in September 1983, the year before Jack Mercer's death. These cartoons have also been released on VHS and DVD. During the time these cartoons were in production, CBS aired The Popeye Valentine's Day Special – Sweethearts at Sea on February 14, 1979. Popeye briefly returned to CBS in 1987 for Popeye and Son , another Hanna-Barbera series, which featured Popeye and Olive as
14359-956: The Commuter , which ran from December 24, 1920, to February 17, 1925.) For seven weeks in 1936, Segar replaced Sappo with Pete and Pansy – For Kids Only (Sept 27 - Nov 8, 1936). There were also a series of topper panel strips that ran next to Sappo . Segar drew one of them, Popeye's Cartoon Club (April 8, 1934 – May 5, 1935). The rest were produced by Joe Musial and Bud Sagendorf : Wiggle Line Movie (September 11 – November 13, 1938), Wimpy's Zoo's Who (November 20, 1938 – December 1, 1940), Play-Store (December 8, 1940 – July 18, 1943), Popeye's Army and Navy (July 25 – September 12, 1943), Pinup Jeep (September 19, 1943 - April 2, 1944), and Me Life by Popeye (April 9, 1944-?). Following Segar's illness and eventual death in 1938 (with his final Thimble Theatre strip appearing October 2 of that year), numerous people were hired to draw and write
14532-713: The Dutch. The first dictionary of Tagalog, published as the Vocabulario de la lengua tagala , was written by the Franciscan Pedro de San Buenaventura, and published in 1613 by the "Father of Filipino Printing" Tomás Pinpin in Pila , Laguna . A latter book of the same name was written by Czech Jesuit missionary Paul Klein (known locally as Pablo Clain) at the beginning of the 18th century. Klein spoke Tagalog and used it actively in several of his books. He wrote
14705-519: The Filipino folktale The Turtle and the Monkey , which featured a combination of words and pictures akin to modern cartoons. As in many countries, commercial cartooning in the Philippines originated with single-panel political cartoons in satirical periodicals . Magazines and newspapers such as Te con Leche and El Tio Verdades during the Spanish colonial period , followed by Lipang Kalabaw and
14878-523: The Filipino language. Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that: as Filipino evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages. And also states in the article: Subject to provisions of law and as the Congress may deem appropriate, the Government shall take steps to initiate and sustain
15051-422: The Filipino writer Francisco Baltazar , author of the Tagalog epic Florante at Laura . In 1954, Proclamation No. 12 of March 26 provided that the week of celebration would be from March 29 to April 4 every year. This proclamation was amended the following year by President Ramon Magsaysay by Proclamation No. 186 of September 23, moving the dates of celebration to August 13–19, every year. Now coinciding with
15224-593: The Internet taking precedence, leading to the decline of nationally distributed comic books. Subsequently, self-publishing and independent publishers flourished, and comics communities formed through conventions . The emergence of webcomics provided a new avenue for publishing works. Some believe that the origin of indigenous Philippine cartoons can be traced back to the independence activist José Rizal . Rizal privately created several picture stories , with one notable example being his 1885 illustrated rendition of
15397-442: The Internet, and foreign comics, further intensified competition. Furthermore, the departure of top artists for other industries or overseas opportunities, combined with outdated printing and binding techniques, contributed to the industry's struggles. To address the downturn in the market, comic book publishers employed various strategies, including the integration of Japanese anime and video game aesthetics into children's titles and
15570-550: The Japanese Propaganda Corps, promoted assimilation programs such as Japanese language education and suggested ways to address shortages in supplies. After World War II , Filipino publishers began to adopt the format of American comic books , influenced by the abundance of comics in American soldiers' garrisons. Unlike the single-story format common in the U.S., these Filipino periodicals were typically anthologies ranging from 36 to 45 pages. Leading this trend
15743-681: The Jeep , a yellow, vaguely doglike animal from Africa with magical powers; the Sea Hag , a terrible pirate and the last witch on Earth; Alice the Goon , a monstrous creature who entered the strip as the Sea Hag's henchwoman and continued as Swee'Pea's babysitter ; the hapless, perpetually anxious King Blozo; Blozo's unintelligent lackey Oscar; Popeye's lecherous, scheming father Poopdeck Pappy ; and Toar, an ageless, dim-witted caveman. Segar's strip
15916-498: The Jeep, eventually made appearances in the Paramount cartoons, though Olive Oyl's extended family and Ham Gravy were absent. Thanks to the animated-short series, Popeye became even more of a sensation than he had been in comic strips, and by 1938, polls showed that the sailor was Hollywood's most popular cartoon character. Although Segar may have used spinach as a prop a few times, it was Max Fleischer who realized its potential as
16089-517: The Malay language, the lingua franca of maritime Southeast Asia, these were able to adopt terms that ultimately originate from other languages such as Japanese , Hokkien , Sanskrit , Tamil , and Arabic . The Malay language was generally used by the ruling classes and the merchants from the states and various cultures in the Philippine archipelago for international communication as part of maritime Southeast Asia. In fact, Filipinos first interacted with
16262-446: The Philippine art style as "classical and romantic, delineated by luscious and graceful brushwork." Franscisco Coching was an influential artist who left a lasting impact on his contemporaries starting from the 1950s, earning the nickname "Dean of Filipino Komiks Illustration." Alanguilan praised his "bold and frenetic" brushwork, noting that his figures "seemed to move even when they were standing still." Filipino comics originated in
16435-512: The Philippine comics industry. Alongside losing talent to the higher-paying American counterpart, the industry faced criticism from the administration and the Catholic Church regarding perceived 'harmful' content, not to mention economic recession. While several weaker publishers succumbed to these pressures, companies such as GASI and Atlas, owned by Ramon Roces, continued to thrive. GASI's circulation and revenues quadrupled between 1975 and 1978. The popularity or Philippine comics reached its peak in
16608-417: The Philippines alongside Spanish; however, the number of speakers of Spanish steadily decreased. The United States initiated policies that led to the gradual removal of Spanish from official use in the Philippines. This was not done through an outright ban, but rather through a strategic shift in language policy that promoted English as the primary language for education, governance, and law. At present, Spanish
16781-526: The Philippines, where the majority of the population is Catholic, pornography is prohibited by law, and homosexuality tends to be viewed indecent as well. Positive portrayals of homosexuality are rare in mainstream media. According to comics scholar Soledad Reyes , many traditional romance comics depicted protagonists undergoing an overnight transformation from "overaged babies, thumb sucking men and women, [...], and effeminate man" into proud and confident individuals "deeply conscious of their sexuality" through
16954-750: The Philippines. During the Pacific War , Manila fell under Japanese military control in January 1942. Japanese military authorities enforced a ban on local newspapers, while utilizing Roces family-owned publications such as Liwayway and The Tribune for propaganda. American comic strips including The Lone Ranger and Fritzi Ritz , which had been serialized in The Tribune , were replaced by The Boy 'Pilipino' by Japanese cartoonist Keizo Shimada [ ja ] and The KALIBAPI Family by Tony Velasquez. These works, subject to censorship by
17127-690: The Philippines. These conventions serve as vital platforms for indie artists to distribute their works. Online fan activities have thrived, enabling greater exposure to international influences and creating new avenues for publication. Several platforms originating in the Philippines, such as Penlab, Webkom Alliance, and Kudlis, allow amateurs to publish webcomics. Some artists have found recognition on Korean webtoons . Veteran artists including Pol Medina Jr. have ventured into online publishing and monetization. The anime adaptation of Budjette Tan's Trese , released on Netflix in 2021, attracted international attention. The evolution of comics culture has facilitated
17300-403: The Popeye character became so popular that he was given a larger role by the following year, and the strip was taken up by many more newspapers as a result. Initial strips presented Olive as being less than impressed with Popeye, but she eventually left Ham to become Popeye's girlfriend in March 1930, precipitating Ham's exit as a regular weeks later. Over the years, however, she has often displayed
17473-448: The Popeye characters to fit the times. For instance, Popeye grows his own spinach and has replaced his corncob pipe with a bosun's whistle . Bluto no longer sports a beard and focuses his time on stealing Popeye's spinach rather than his girlfriend. Olive Oyl is shown as an inventor and engineer. The characters are drawn to appear younger than typically done, save Swea'pea, and no words are spoken, with all actions mimed. I'm Popeye
17646-409: The Roces comics monopoly fell in the late 1990s, it took everything with it." Although comics publishing persisted, the dissolution of the Roces distribution network significantly diminished the industry and compelled a shift in publishing style. Many artists opted for self-publishing avenues, such as Pol Medina Jr. , who reprinted his newspaper serial Pugad Baboy as graphic novels. In the 1990s,
17819-632: The Sailor cartoons, to which it retained the rights, in 2004. In the meantime, home video rights to the Associated Artists Productions library were transferred from CBS/Fox Video to MGM/UA Home Video in 1986, and eventually to Warner Home Video in 1999. In 2006, Warner Home Video announced it would release all of the Popeye cartoons produced for theatrical release between 1933 and 1957 on DVD, restored and uncut. Three volumes were released between 2007 and 2008, covering all of
17992-482: The Sailor is a fictional cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar . The character first appeared on January 17, 1929, in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre . The strip was in its tenth year when Popeye made his debut, but the one-eyed sailor quickly became the lead character, and Thimble Theatre became one of King Features' most popular properties during the 1930s. Following Segar's death in 1938, Thimble Theatre (later renamed Popeye )
18165-483: The Sea Hag as its characters. On November 6, 2007, Lionsgate re-released Popeye's Voyage on DVD with redesigned cover art. On December 2, 2018, a Popeye web series named Popeye's Island Adventures produced by WildBrain subsidiary WildBrain Spark Studios premiered on the official Popeye YouTube channel. With intent on drawing in a younger, contemporary, international audience, the new series has updated
18338-545: The Sea Hag. Since King Features has exclusive rights to these Popeye cartoons, they have been released on home video, with 85 of them included in a 75th anniversary Popeye DVD boxed set in 2004. Popeye, Olive Oyl, Swee'Pea and Wimpy were featured prominently in the cartoon movie " Popeye Meets the Man Who Hated Laughter ", which debuted on October 7, 1972, as one of the episodes of The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie . In this cartoon, Brutus also appears as
18511-466: The Spaniards using the Malay language. In addition to this, 16th-century chroniclers of the time noted that the kings and lords in the islands usually spoke around five languages. Spanish intrusion into the Philippine islands started in 1565 with the fall of Cebu. The eventual capital established by Spain for its settlement in the Philippines was Manila , situated in a Tagalog-speaking region, after
18684-555: The Thursday strips, which focus on Popeye and his extended family, while Tuesday strips focus on Olive and her own adventures. These were initially drawn by Shadia Amin, who was later replaced by Emi Burdge in October 2023. The two storylines run in parallel and occasionally intersect. In November 1932, King Features signed an agreement with Fleischer Studios to have Popeye and the other Thimble Theatre characters begin appearing in
18857-561: The adoption of Tagalog as the language of the Philippines, and proclaimed the national language of the Philippines so based on the Tagalog language. Quezon himself was born and raised in Baler, Aurora , which is a native Tagalog-speaking area. The order stated that it would take effect two years from its promulgation. On December 31 of the same year, Quezon proclaimed Tagalog as the basis of the Wikang Pambansâ (National Language) giving
19030-551: The bank at the casino using the unbeatable good luck conferred by stroking the head feathers of Bernice the Whiffle Hen. Weeks later, on the trip back, Popeye was shot many times by Jack Snork, an undercover stooge of Fadewell's, but survived by rubbing Bernice's head. After the adventure's conclusion in June, Popeye left the strip, but, owing to reader reaction, he was brought back after an absence of only five weeks. Ultimately,
19203-504: The beginnings and ends of each cartoon, or in some cases, in their complete, uncut original theatrical versions direct from such prints that originally contained the front-and-end Paramount credits. The series aired 135 Popeye shorts over 45 episodes, until March 2004. The Popeye Show continued to air on Cartoon Network's spin-off network Boomerang . While many of the Paramount Popeye cartoons remained unavailable on video,
19376-476: The birthday of President Manuel L. Quezon. The reason for the move being given that the original celebration was a period "outside of the school year, thereby precluding the participation of schools in its celebration". In 1988, President Corazon Aquino signed Proclamation No. 19, reaffirming the celebration every August 13 to 19. In 1997, the celebration was extended from a week to a month by Proclamation 1041 of July 15 signed by President Fidel V. Ramos . It
19549-509: The black-and-white cartoons produced from 1933 to 1943. In December 2018, a fourth volume featuring the first 14 color shorts from 1943 to 1945 was released on DVD and Blu-ray from Warner Home Video through the Warner Archive Collection . In 1960, King Features Syndicate commissioned a new series of cartoons titled Popeye the Sailor , but this time for television syndication. Al Brodax served as executive producer of
19722-523: The can along with the contents. Since the 1970s, Popeye is seldom depicted using his pipe to smoke tobacco. Popeye's exploits are also enhanced by a few recurring plot elements. One is the love triangle among Popeye, Olive Oyl , and Bluto (sometimes called Brutus), and Bluto's endless machinations to claim Olive at Popeye's expense. Another is his near-saintly perseverance in overcoming any obstacle to please Olive, who often (if temporarily) renounces Popeye for Bluto. Segar's Thimble Theatre debuted in
19895-656: The capture of Manila from the Muslim Kingdom of Luzon ruled by Raja Matanda with the heir apparent Raja Sulayman and the Hindu-Buddhist Kingdom of Tondo ruled by Lakan Dula . After its fall to the Spaniards, Manila was made the capital of the Spanish settlement in Asia due to the city's commercial wealth and influence, its strategic location, and Spanish fears of raids from the Portuguese and
20068-443: The cartoons for King Features. Jack Mercer , Mae Questel , and Jackson Beck returned for this series, which was produced by a number of companies, including Jack Kinney Productions , Rembrandt Films , Larry Harmon Productions , Halas and Batchelor , and Paramount Cartoon Studios (formerly Famous Studios). The artwork was streamlined and simplified for the television budgets, and 220 cartoons were produced in only two years, with
20241-660: The climax of the comic serialization, featuring actors resembling the characters from the comics. The 21st century continues to witness film adaptations of both older classics and more recent comics. Among classics adapted into television series in the 2000s are Mars Ravelo's Darna (2005), Carlo Caparas' Bakekang (2006), Francisco Coching's Pedro Penduko (2006), Pablo Gomez's Kampanerang Kuba (2005). As of 2016, Darna has been featured 13 films, three TV dramas, an animated TV series, and even ballet performances. Film adaptations of recent comics include Mulawin (2004), Encantadia (2005), and Atlantika (2006). In 2004,
20414-863: The comic book industry often faced instability, partly due to the sluggish Philippine economy. Larry Alcala reflected on this period, noting that overproduction led to a decline in quality, marking the end of the golden age. The " bomba " and "developmental comics" are genres unique to the Philippines that emerged in the 1960s. Bomba comics, published by ephemeral publishers, featured pornographic stories , nude photos, and occasional political messages. Despite facing condemnation from religious and feminist groups, bomba magazines remained popular until they were forced underground following intensified enforcement measures during martial law from 1972 onwards. Developmental comics, published by public agencies, aimed to raise awareness about family planning and were reported for their impact on population control. Comics were also utilized as
20587-482: The comic strip on December 28, 2008, and April 5, 2009. In 1999, to celebrate Popeye's 70th anniversary, Ocean Comics revisited the franchise with a one-shot comic book, The Wedding of Popeye and Olive Oyl , written by Peter David . The comic book brought together a large portion of the casts of both the comic strip and the animated shorts, and Popeye and Olive Oyl were finally wed after decades of courtship. However, this marriage has not been reflected in all media since
20760-445: The comic was published. In 2012, writer Roger Langridge teamed with cartoonists Bruce Ozella , Ken Wheaton, and Tom Neely (among others) to revive the spirit of Segar in a 12-issue comic book miniseries published by IDW Publishing . Critic PS Hayes in reviewing the series stated: Langridge writes a story with a lot of dialogue (compared to your average comic book) and it's all necessary, funny, and entertaining. Bruce Ozella draws
20933-464: The content of comics. The comics industry complied, leading to a disappearance of works depicting poverty or social unrest from their pages. Although the Philippines had previously enjoyed an exceptional level of freedom for political satire among Southeast Asian countries, political cartoonists critical of the government began to be ostracized. Newspaper and magazines under Marcos' influence carried humorous cartoons devoid of political commentary, fostering
21106-410: The country in recent years, while queer comic festivals have become mainstream every Pride Month. The traditional format of Philippine comic book was firmly established by the 1990s. These books typically spanned 32 to 48 pages in color and were priced at 17 to 20 U.S. cents. Each weekly issue consisted of several short stories ( wakasan ) and serials ( nobela ), each running four pages in length. During
21279-469: The creation of neologisms and the respelling of loanwords. This movement quietened down following the death of Lacuesta. The national language issue was revived once more during the 1971 Constitutional Convention . While there was a sizable number of delegates in favor of retaining the Tagalog-based national language, majority of the delegates who were non-Tagalogs were even in favor of scrapping
21452-468: The daily strip to Ralph Stein, who would continue to collaborate with Zaboly until both the daily and Sunday strips were taken over by Bud Sagendorf in 1959. Sagendorf wrote and drew the daily strip until 1986, and continued to write and draw the Sunday strip until his death in 1994. Sagendorf, who had been Segar's assistant, made a definite effort to retain much of Segar's classic style, although his art
21625-550: The death of his creator, Segar's comic strips (though not the various films, TV shows, theme music , and other media based on them) became public domain in most countries, but remain under copyright in the United States. Because Segar was an employee of King Features Syndicate when he created the Thimble Theatre strip, it is treated as a work for hire under U.S. copyright law. Works for hire are protected for 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever
21798-561: The development and adoption of a common national language based on one of the existing native languages. Until otherwise provided by law, English and Spanish shall continue as official languages. On November 13, 1936, the first National Assembly of the Philippine Commonwealth approved Commonwealth Act No. 184; creating the Institute of National Language (later the Surián ng Wikang Pambansâ or SWP) and tasking it with making
21971-474: The first literary magazine in the Philippines, introduced its first comic strip in 1929. Titled Mga Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy (Misadventures of Kenkoy), the strip was centered around Kenkoy , a Filipino trying to imitate Americans. This notable character was created by writer Romualdo Ramos and by illustrator Tony Velasquez , who was 18 years old at the time, by commission from publisher Ramon Roces [ tl ] . The short comic swiftly expanded to occupy
22144-429: The first set of them premiering in the autumn of 1960, and the last of them debuting during the 1961–1962 television season. For these cartoons, Bluto's name was changed to "Brutus", as King Features believed at the time that Paramount owned the rights to the name "Bluto". Many of the cartoons made by Paramount used plots and storylines taken directly from the comic strip sequences – as well as characters like King Blozo and
22317-710: The following factors: On June 7, 1940, the Philippine National Assembly passed Commonwealth Act No. 570 declaring that the Filipino national language would be considered an official language effective July 4, 1946 (coinciding with the country's expected date of independence from the United States). That same year, the Balarílà ng Wikang Pambansâ (English: Grammar of the National Language ) of grammarian Lope K. Santos introduced
22490-469: The government during the Spanish period. Spanish played a significant role in unifying the Philippines, a country made up of over 7,000 islands with a multitude of ethnicities, languages, and cultures. Before Spanish rule, the archipelago was not a unified nation, but rather a collection of independent kingdoms, sultanates, and tribes, each with its own language and customs. During the American colonial period , English became an additional official language of
22663-469: The idea of a "national language" altogether. A compromise was reached and the wording on the 1973 constitution made no mention of dropping the national language Pilipino or made any mention of Tagalog. Instead, the 1973 Constitution , in both its original form and as amended in 1976, designated English and Pilipino as official languages and provided for development and formal adoption of a common national language, termed Filipino , to replace Pilipino. Neither
22836-549: The incorporation of adult humor. These measures offered only temporary respite. Some of the longest-running titles in the world, notably the initial four founded by Tony Velasquez around 1950, which collectively amassed 11,500 issues, ceased publication during this period. The passing of industry titan Ramon Roces in 1993 signaled a pivotal moment. Following his death, Roces family-owned businesses either folded or discontinued comics publication entirely. Many argue that Philippine comics died during this period. As one critic noted, "When
23009-663: The industry, and general magazines began devoting special issues to comics. Additionally, translated U.S. comics became increasingly common. While many of these publishers faced various challenges and industry fluctuations, Roces and his family would remain a dominant figure in the comic book industry for decades. Filipino comics experienced a golden age during the 1950s, as affordable comic books became widely available at street newsstands and general stores ( sari-sari stores ), gradually supplanting literary magazines. While American titles like Superman , Archie , and MAD , sold in supermarkets and bookstores, were primarily consumed by
23182-595: The late 1970s. The Gold Key series was illustrated by Wildman and scripted by Bill Pearson , with some issues written by Nick Cuti . Popeye also had his own manga series published by Shōnen Gahōsha , written and drawn by Robotan and Marude Dameo creator Kenji Morita, which ran from 1961 to 1965. In 1988, Ocean Comics released the Popeye Special written by Ron Fortier with art by Ben Dunn . The story presented Popeye's origin story, including his given name of "Ugly Kidd" and attempted to tell more of
23355-468: The latter national. This is similar to the comparison between Castilian and Spanish , or Mandarin and Chinese . Political designations aside, Tagalog and Filipino are linguistically the same, sharing, among other things, the same grammatical structure. On May 23, 2007, Ricardo Maria Nolasco, KWF chair and a linguistics expert, acknowledged in a keynote speech during the NAKEM Conference at
23528-408: The lexicon of the country's other languages, something toward which the commission was working. On August 24, 2007, Nolasco elaborated further on the relationship between Tagalog and Filipino in a separate article, as follows: Are "Tagalog," "Pilipino" and "Filipino" different languages? No, they are mutually intelligible varieties, and therefore belong to one language. According to the KWF, Filipino
23701-715: The local comics scene. He also initiated the National Komiks Congress and the Komiks Caravan with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to elevate awareness of comics within the country. In the 2010s, comics further diversified in content and publication formats. Since the establishment of Komikon in 2005, conventions for fans of subcultures such as comics, anime, and video games have become regular events throughout
23874-402: The main character's name (in accordance with the Filipino convention of "characteristic + first name"), or wordplay based on the name of a celebrity. Comic books were sold through newsstands. It is estimated that each copy was read by six to ten individuals due to the accessibility of street lending shops and the practice of sharing within families and among neighbors. A significant proportion of
24047-427: The medium. In his debut storyline, Popeye's superhumanly proportioned strength and endurance stemmed from the "luck" he acquired by rubbing the feathers of the head of Bernice, a "whiffle hen", thus enabling him to survive fifteen gunshot wounds. By the end of 1929, however, Popeye's strength had become a regularized fixture of his character, with spinach, by 1932, becoming the primary repository of his prowess. Swee'Pea
24220-758: The mermaid Dyesebel , and the humorous character Bondying , have seen remakes in the 21st century, captivating a new generation of readers. Other notable figures include Alfredo Alcala , Clodualdo del Mundo , Nestor Redondo , Alex Niño , Pablo S. Gomez , and Jesse Santos . When the Ace Publication went bankrupt in 1963 following a printers' strike, creators who had contributed the company ventured into their own business endeavors. Velasquez managed GASI (Graphic Arts Services Incorporated) with Roces' support. Pablo Gomez and Mars Ravelo established their respective publishing houses PSG (1964) and RAR (1970) releasing several weekly titles. However, many new entrants into
24393-616: The mermaid who falls in love with a human, and the girl superhero Darna. A common storyline featured the protagonist acquiring a magical item (such as a typewriter, ballpoint pen, or winnowing basket) to overcome adversity. The genre also featured a variety of unusual characters, including half-beast children, talking dolphins, women with a snake or a mouse as twin siblings, three-headed girls, and "The Hands," severed and animated hands with eyes and magical powers. These characters were often drawn inspiration from an eclectic blend of Philippine , Roman , and Greek myths. The genre reached its peak in
24566-422: The middle classes, homegrown comics were embraced by the common people. Most creators did not hail from the intellectual elite either. Due to the shared pool of writers, Filipino comics inherited the characteristic of didactic melodrama from popular literatures. Initially serving as a means of escapism from reality, comics evolved over time, with stories growing more sophisticated and diverse genres emerging through
24739-558: The most popular of the 1930s, and Fleischer Studios , which later became Paramount's own Famous Studios , continued production through 1957. Cartoons produced during World War II included Allied propaganda, as was common among cartoons of the time. These cartoon shorts are now owned by Turner Entertainment and distributed by its sister company Warner Bros. Over the years, Popeye has also appeared in comic books, television cartoons, video games, hundreds of advertisements, peripheral products ranging from spinach to candy cigarettes , and
24912-504: The numerous Misermite dwarfs, who were all identical. Popeye appeared in the British TV Comic becoming the cover story in 1960 with stories written and drawn by "Chick" Henderson. Bluto was referred to as Brutus and was Popeye's only nemesis throughout the entire run. A variety of artists have created Popeye comic book stories since then; for example, George Wildman drew Popeye stories for Charlton Comics from 1969 until
25085-401: The official name of Tagalog, or even a synonym of it. Today's Filipino language is best described as "Tagalog-based". The language is usually called Tagalog within the Philippines and among Filipinos to differentiate it from other Philippine languages, but it has also come to be known as Filipino to differentiate it from the languages of other countries; the former implies a regional origin,
25258-418: The original 1940s–1950s Sagendorf Popeye comic books under the title of Classic Popeye . In November 2022, the publication of a new manga -inspired series called Eye Lie Popeye by Marcus Williams was announced, the series will be published in 2024 by Massive Publishing. In January 2019, in celebration of its 90 years of character, King Feature Syndicate launched the webcomic Popeye's Cartoon Club . In
25431-509: The original nor the amended version specified either Tagalog or Pilipino as the basis for Filipino; Instead, tasking the National Assembly to: take steps toward the development and formal adoption of a common national language to be known as Filipino. In 1987, a new constitution designated Filipino as the national language and, along with English, as an official language. That constitution included several provisions related to
25604-407: The other languages of the Philippines . Filipino, like other Austronesian languages, commonly uses verb-subject-object order, but can also use subject-verb-object order. Filipino follows the trigger system of morphosyntactic alignment that is also common among Austronesian languages. It has head-initial directionality. It is an agglutinative language but can also display inflection . It
25777-699: The past. Traditional Filipino comics draw inspiration not only from U.S. comic book arts but also from pen-drawn magazine illustrations, such as those by Charles Dana Gibson . The iconic character Darna, created by Mars Ravelo, was influenced by the works of Peruvian illustrator Alberto Vargas . According to Gerry Alanguilan , a comic artist known for his efforts in reprinting and popularizing vintage comics, Filipino comic artists were significantly influenced by American illustrators renowned for their exquisite artwork, such as Franklin Booth , J. C. Leyendecker , Norman Rockwell , and Frank Frazetta . Alanguilan characterizes
25950-812: The peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction. ang Pangkalahatáng Kapulungán ay nagpapahayág ng PANGKALAHATÁNG PAGPAPAHAYÁG NA ITÓ NG MGÁ KARAPATÁN NG TÁO bílang pangkalahatáng pamantáyang maisasagawâ pára sa lahát ng táo at bansâ, sa layúning ang báwat táo at báwat galamáy ng lipúnan, na láging nása ísip ang Pahayág na itó, ay magsíkap sa pamamagítan ng pagtutúrò at edukasyón na maitagúyod ang paggálang sa mgá karapatán at kalayáang itó at sa pamamagítan ng mgá hakbáng na pagsúlong na pambansâ at pandaigdíg, ay makamtán ang pangkalahatán at mabísang pagkilála at pagtalíma sa mgá itó, magíng ng mgá mamamayán ng mgá Kasáping Estádo at ng mgá mamamayán ng mgá teritóryo na nása ilálim ng kaniláng nasasakúpan. Popeye Popeye
26123-452: The perfect Popeye. Not only Popeye, but Popeye's whole world. Everything looks like it should, cartoony and goofy. Plus, he brings an unusual amount of detail to something that doesn't really need it. You'll swear that you're looking at an old Whitman Comics issue of Popeye, only it's better. Ozella is a great storyteller and even though the issue is jam packed with dialog, the panels never look cramped at all. In late 2012, IDW began reprinting
26296-400: The plot to be advanced even a small amount. From 1986 to 1992, the daily strip was written and drawn by Bobby London , who, after some controversy, was fired from the strip for a story that could be taken to satirize abortion . London's strips put Popeye and his friends in updated situations, but kept the spirit of Segar's original. One classic storyline, titled "The Return of Bluto", showed
26469-456: The police or the scientific community. He has displayed Sherlock Holmes -like investigative prowess, scientific ingenuity, and successful diplomatic arguments. In the animated cartoons his pipe also proves to be highly versatile. Among other things, it has served as a cutting torch, jet engine, propeller, periscope, musical instrument, and a whistle with which he produces his trademark toot. He also eats spinach through his pipe, sometimes sucking in
26642-510: The power of love. Carlo Vergara's Zsazsa Zaturnnah (2003), a gay man who transforms into a female superhero, marked a significant breakthrough in LGBTQIA+ representation in comics. The work garnered attention from both the general public and academia and paved the way for autobiographical comics by LGBTQIA+ artists. Furthermore, a fandom of Japanese-style yaoi exists, which had a small fanbase before 2015, but has drastically grown since
26815-519: The powers of traditional Filipino heroes often stem from faith. Characters like Darna, Panday , and others acquire magical items as symbols of the purity of their hearts. Arnold Arre's 1999 work The Mythology Class extensively explored Filipino mythology, revitalizing the fantasy genre that had been heavily influenced by American superhero comics. By around 2020, commercial works increasingly incorporate noirs and mysteries infused with folklore creatures . Traditional Philippine comics had maintained
26988-401: The prevailing content restrictions on violence. In addition to providing many of the cartoon scripts, Mercer continued to voice Popeye, while Marilyn Schreffler and Allan Melvin became the new voices of Olive Oyl and Bluto, respectively. The All New Popeye Hour ran on CBS until September 1981, when it was cut to a half-hour and retitled The Popeye and Olive Comedy Show . It was removed from
27161-537: The readership was adult, particularly low-income women, which distinguished it from the U.S. counterpart. Most comic books were published in Tagalog and served to promote Filipino , the official language based on Tagalog, throughout the country. Around 1980, during the peak of prostitution tours from Japan to the Philippines, some works featuring Japanese protagonists were illustrated by Filipino artists and published in Japanese . Traditional comic books experienced
27334-488: The reasons for these restrictions remain debated. In the late 1980s, following a regime change, anime experienced a resurgence with the airing of Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon . However, it wasn't until the late 1990s that anime truly permeated the general public. The popular comedy show Bubble Gang played a significant role in this by featuring Voltes V , evoking memories of the military regime and contributing to anime's broader appeal. Japanese subculture captivated
27507-494: The rights are currently controlled by Warner Bros. Discovery . In 2001, Cartoon Network , under the supervision of animation historian Jerry Beck , created a new incarnation of The Popeye Show . The show aired the Fleischer and Famous Studios Popeye shorts in versions approximating their original theatrical releases by editing copies of the original opening and closing credits (taken or recreated from various sources) onto
27680-512: The sailor battling every version of the bearded bully from the comic strip, comic books, and animated films. The Sunday edition of the comic strip was drawn by Hy Eisman from 1994 to 2022. Following Eisman's retirement, the Sunday strip was taken over by R. K. Milholland , who had previously contributed Popeye cartoons to the web-only feature Popeye's Cartoon Club in 2019 and 2020. The daily strip has featured reruns of Sagendorf's strips since London's firing. On January 1, 2009, 70 years since
27853-398: The same personal pronouns (siya, ako, niya, kanila, etc.); the same demonstrative pronouns (ito, iyan, doon, etc.); the same linkers (na, at and ay); the same particles (na and pa); and the same verbal affixes -in, -an, i- and -um-. In short, same grammar, same language. In connection with the use of Filipino, or specifically the promotion of the national language, the related term Tagalista
28026-422: The strip by the close of 1928 (although Cylinda would eventually maritally reunite with Castor under R. K. Milholland 's authorship almost a century later). Popeye first appeared in the strip on January 17, 1929, as a minor character. He was initially hired by Castor Oyl and Ham Gravy to crew a ship for a voyage to Dice Island, the location of a casino owned by the crooked gambler Fadewell. Castor intended to break
28199-407: The strip featured the duo, alongside a rotating cast of primarily one-shot characters, acting out various stories and scenarios in a parodic theatrical style (hence the strip's name). As its first year progressed, however, numerous elements of this premise would be relinquished (including the recurring character "Willie Wormwood", introduced as a parody of melodrama villainy), soon rendering the strip
28372-513: The strip. Tom Sims, the son of a Coosa River channel-boat captain, acted as the writer for Thimble Theatre beginning in August 1938 and established the Popeye the Sailorman spin-off. Doc Winner , who had previously filled in for Segar between January and May 1938, initially acted as Sims' artist, with Bela Zaboly succeeding him by December 1939. In 1954, Sims relinquished writing duties on
28545-518: The use of Filipino as a medium of official communication and as language of instruction in the educational system. and: The regional languages are the auxiliary official languages in the regions and shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction therein. Section 17(d) of Executive Order 117 of January 30, 1987 renamed the Institute of National Language as Institute of Philippine Languages . Republic Act No. 7104, approved on August 14, 1991, created
28718-466: The year on King Features' website, Comics Kingdom. From February through April 2020, Cartoon Club ran an additional five comics by Milholland, which was followed by an extended run from May 28 through July 6, 2020, making Milholland the first person to write a daily-update Popeye comic for King Features since 1994. In August 2022, a new twice-weekly (Tuesdays and Thursdays) webcomic titled Olive & Popeye debuted. Milholland writes and draws
28891-533: Was Halakhak Komiks , a short-lived weekly publication launched by Tony Velasquez in 1946. Subsequently, in 1947, Ramon Roces established Ace Publications, appointing Velasquez as editor-in-chief. Ace introduced Pilipino Komiks , and several others including Tagalog Klasiks , Hiwaga Komiks , and Espcsyal Komiks . As these bi-weekly magazines became popular, they evolved into weekly and then semiweekly publications. Initial circulation began at 10,000 copies, eventually exceeding 100,000. By 1950, other publishers entered
29064-405: Was always getting in fights. It was believed he could have been a professional boxer. However, he also gave out candy and treats to children, including E.C. Segar, who remembered Fiegel when he created Popeye. Fiegel was described as "[j]ust like the fictional spinach-loving mariner ... a one-eyed, pipe-smoking curmudgeon with a jutting chin." Popeye's story and characterization vary depending on
29237-453: Was continued by several writers and artists, most notably Segar's assistant Bud Sagendorf . The strip continues to appear in first-run installments on Sundays, written and drawn by R. K. Milholland . The daily strips are reprints of old Sagendorf stories. In 1933, Max Fleischer adapted the Thimble Theatre characters into a series of Popeye the Sailor theatrical cartoon shorts for Paramount Pictures . These cartoons proved to be among
29410-472: Was designated an optional and voluntary language under the 1987 Constitution, along with Arabic. While Spanish and English were considered "official languages" during the American colonial period, there existed no "national language" initially. Article XIII, section 3 of the 1935 constitution establishing the Commonwealth of the Philippines provided that: The National Assembly shall take steps toward
29583-506: Was quite different from the theatrical cartoons that followed. The stories were more complex (often spanning months or even years), with a heavier emphasis on verbal comedy and many characters that never appeared in the cartoons (among them King Blozo, Toar, and Rough-House). Spinach usage, a trait introduced in July 1931, was comparatively infrequent, and Bluto appeared in only one story arc. Segar signed some of his early Popeye comic strips with
29756-463: Was reported that three Malolos City regional trial courts in Bulacan decided to use Filipino, instead of English , in order to promote the national language. Twelve stenographers from Branches 6, 80 and 81, as model courts, had undergone training at Marcelo H. del Pilar College of Law of Bulacan State University following a directive from the Supreme Court of the Philippines . De la Rama said it
29929-416: Was the dream of Chief Justice Reynato Puno to implement the program in other areas such as Laguna , Cavite , Quezon , Aurora , Nueva Ecija , Batangas , Rizal , and Metro Manila , all of which mentioned are natively Tagalog-speaking. Since 1997, a month-long celebration of the national language occurs during August, known in Filipino as Buwan ng Wika (Language Month). Previously, this lasted only
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