The Mythology Class

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Comics & Graphic Novels
Author:	Arnold Arre

The Philippines, like the rest of the world, is a country steeped in myths and legends. For all the great stories we have heard on Greek gods and Egyptian deities, our native culture has some amazing stories of our own. Ours is a land filled with diwatas, tikbalangs, and enkantos. Who among us hasn’t heard these stories growing up? When reading Arnold Arre’s graphic novel “The Mythology Class”, I cannot help but reminisce back to my childhood. I, as most Filipinos, first heard of the kapre, the manananggal, and the nuno sa punso when I was just a child. Arre brilliantly mixes these native legends and brings them to the forefront, making them as real today as they were when they roamed the land.

The University of the Philippines has long been acknowledged as a place where freedom of thought is encouraged. Though every school claims their own share of weirdness within their walls, U.P. and it’s alumni seem to have even wilder stories than the rest of us. It is within the State University that this story begins. Certain students experience similar dreams: that of a ghostly woman seemingly calling out to them to sign up for some class in school. As each is drawn to Krus na Ligas near the U.P. campus, this eclectic group finds themselves wondering what brought them here in the first place.

Bookworm Nicole Lacson is the central character of this mini-series. She had long lived in the fantastic stories her late lolo had told her as a child. Joining her is a huge cast of characters. Lane, Lisa, Angie, Edward, Bob, Gio, Rey, Sam, Gina, and Misha comprise the group who sign up for Ms. Enkanta’s mythology class. Mrs. Enkanta serves as both teacher and mother figure for them, and she is assisted by Aili, Sulayman, and Kubin, ancient warriors who must hunt down the enkantos who are terrorizing Bathala’s land. Along the way, each discovers not just power within them but a love and respect for their teammates as well.

Arre shines in this collected edition of his original 1999 mini. Though drawn completely in black and white, the visuals come across as even more powerful, even raw as the color has been taken away. Think of it like an old black and white movie. Almost film noir-ish in tone. The author taps into so many native legends and beliefs that one might fear that he would lose sight of the main cast. Happily, he never does. At the heart of the heroes’ quest to contain all evil is Nicole. She who has long dwelled in her lolo’s stories now finds herself as part of them. She also finds love in the arms of one of these mythic heroes, revealed to still be a man who yearns for love.

To see the breadth and scope of Arre’s work is breathtaking. He not only captures characters and their personalities, he even shows a mastery of scenery. From showing actual places like the U.P. campus, to lands of make believe and fictional structures like “the Plaza of the Gods”, Arre’s attention to detail is astounding. For a fellow Filipino to excel in such a medium warms my heart. Even as big comic companies like DC and Marvel have tapped Filipinos Whilce Portacio, Leinil Francis Yu, and Gerry Alanguilan, it is refreshing to see Arre still writing and penciling his own work, incorporating Filipino settings. “The Mythology Class” is an opus in graphic art, and Arre emerges as its master conductor.