Weirdly enough, my subconscious mind drove me to Max's for dinner in Market Market. I ordered a budget meal—a fried chicken and two cups of rice—and was told that food would be served after 15 minutes. To kill time, I opened the book and started reading.
I saw boobs. I could live with that. The first pages hinted that the book is not for all-ages. Then I read about the protagonist—a talking chicken—ranting about racism and calling humans bastards who used to eat them. I skipped some pages and saw images of chickens being beheaded.
And then my meal came. (Insert Twilight Zone music.)
I did not think the comic book wanted to make me a vegetarian but with a bit of guilt, I devoured the chicken. This is what I get for not reading reviews with spoilers. I still don't regret doing it but being served a fried chicken after seeing images of fowl massacre is really weird.
I read the book in one-sitting. Elmer is both melancholic and funny—the best Filipino-made graphic novel I've read so far. I think what moved me most is not the racism shown in the book, but the relationship of the titular character, Elmer, with his son, Jake.We are presented to a kind of father who admitted to his wife that he might have failed his son.
Experiencing the greatness of Elmer was like someone pouring me a bucket of ice-cold water. I am not worthy to be asked by the author to send a copy of our indie comics last year.
The only complaint I have? The book is riddled with typographical errors. The blurb by Neil Gaiman should be inspected by a grammar cop. For a second printing, I wish proofreaders, if there were, should have done their job.
Nonetheless, it is great comic book Filipinos should read and be proud of! Just don't read it while having your Chickenjoy.
Jerald Uy
Jerald Uy
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