“Anitu”, the comic book series created by award-winning director Jason Paul Laxamana (100 Tula Para Kay Stella, The Day After Valentine’s) became an instant hit to Pinoy comics enthusiasts when it was launched in August 2020. Additional copies had to be printed soon after thousands of copies initially produced were sold out.
Set in the land of Kapampangan, “Anitu” tells the adventure of a team of natives seeking the help of powerful ancestral spirits so they can defeat the conquistadores, the colonizers who are out to enslave the people to enrich themselves and expand their power.
It was Laxamana’s childhood dream to create this historical fantasy comics, and now that the dream has materialized, his advocacy to promote Filipino culture continues with the release of “Anitu 2: Pagbukadkad ng Sampaga.”
In this issue, Sampaga, a babaylan-in-training, is caught between pursuing her spiritual apprenticeship under her mentor, Apung Binyatu, and succumbing to the new religion as encouraged by Jacinta, her batchmate in studying shamanism. This new faith, albeit powerful, deems women as inferior to men.
If she sticks to tradition, she could be burned alive. If she commits to the religion promoted by the conquistadores, she must forget about her principles and independence and be submissive to men. It’s probably the toughest choice she has to make, but the time has come for Sampaga to make a stand.
Readers of Anitu comics will be happy to see how Uri, the young warrior featured in “Anitu 1: Pagpapaamo sa Salbahe”, figures in this latest issue, as he unlocks a new ability he never knew was possible for a warrior. New characters appear to challenge our local heroes.
The quality of action, suspense, and humor established in the first issue is also found in “Anitu 2: Pagbukadkad ng Sampaga”, which guarantees a great reading experience. Complementing the story/words of Laxamana are the illustrations by brilliant artist Ruel Enoya.
“Anitu 2: Pagbukadkad ng Sampaga” is available in Shopee and Lazada for only P199. You can purchase it with “Anitu 1: Pagpapaamo sa Salbahe”, for a bundle price of P350 only.
For more updates on this historical-action-fantasy-adventure comic book series, follow @AnituComics on Facebook.
Laxamana assures that despite the delays “Anitu” may face in these challenging times, his team “will keep Anitu’s heartbeat pulsating”. In fact, an official theme song for Anitu entitled “Sandigan” has been produced and released by Viva Records. Performed by the rising P-pop group, Alamat, part of it goes, ’Di magpapatalo ang kabutihan, Anitu ang ating sandigan. Pangako, sa dulo may liwanag na nakaabang.” Certainly, the “Anitu” comic book series will not be stopped.