"It's because I'm a chicken, isn't it? You are all racist," so the chicken flocks.
I got my hands on Gerry Alanguilan's trade paperback comic book compilation Elmer on my first-time visit to the annual Komikon (Filipino comic convention) last month. Three years of passing up, telling myself chickens could wait, "asuangs" and "tikbalangs" could not, I had picked it up on the shelf. I conclude: I was the racist after all. And I'm not proud of it. Elmer is a brilliant comic book - original, funny and tragic. And dumb enough, I let myself wait for a time before flying through its pages.
It all starts when chickens begin to gain the same senses that human beings have, they can now talk, think like pros and of course could still peck the flesh out of a feller. Every part of humanity is baffled, astounded by the phenomenon that eventually lead to chickens being considered as humans, anyway. They would live with us thereafter, take jobs, fall in love and become movie stars. In the heart of the story is Jake Gallo, a writer chicken who returns home after he receives the news that his father, Elmer, is badly ill. Soon Elmer dies and his death leaves Jake with his journal. Inside are his father's scribbling that will change his life forever.
Luminous artworks and first-rate storytelling wins you over with Alanguilan's sense of fantasia. Racism, family ties, predicaments of the society and even homosexuality is in Elmer as though a breathing community, shelter to Alanguilan's realistic characters. His wry observations in the society that we live in on a broad scope he transcribes to words and illustrations executed stupendously.
Jake is wryly humorous as he is sensible and affectionate - to his mom, to his sister and to his brother. His rants and realizations is what keeps the story raw and entirely moving. Elmer is a fantastic read, a lavish eye treat and an inspiring and hearty narrative.
4 out of 5
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