The Crucible Launches Malang Comic Book

I was in SM Megamall yesterday and I just a Malang comics and cartoon exhibit inside The Crucible and then I asked for a press release of the exhibit just to inform everyone about the event. And then I found out that they also published a Malang comic book, priced at P350. Which I will grab it this Monday, so excited to know about this and even that I missed the exhibit and opening in Art Center, this is a second chance for me to see and appreciate Malang's cartoon and comics creations. You can view a photo set of the exhibit here

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Press Release

The Crucible Launches Malang Comic Book

Long Before he became one of the Philippines’ most acclaimed painters, Malang enjoyed a “past life” as a cartoonist. From the 1940s to the 1960s, he created cartoon characters and comic strips that were widely followed in such publications as the Chronicle, This Week magazine and Weekly Graphic.

A sampling of Malang’s prolific output as a cartoonist is now gathered in the comic book “The Forgotten Malang: A Career in Cartoons”. Published by The Cubicle Workshop, it will be launched on Jan. 23, 6pm., at The Crucible Gallery which is also opening an exhibit of the artist’s cartoons that runs until Feb 10.

The comic book and exhibit feature selections of the various cartoon series that Malang drew such as : Kosme the Cop, the adventures of a city policeman as he walk his beat; Chain-Gang Charlie, the convict who has a thousand and one uses for his ball and chain; and Malang’s Menagerie, a humorous look at life in the city and barrio.

In the comic book, there are also editorial cartoons, illustration for legal columns and spot cartoons. It also shares little-known trivia about Malang, among them, that he opened The Bughouse, the country’s first cartoon gallery, along with several artist-colleagues in 1955.

“The Forgotten Malang” comic book, with text provided by Susan A. de Guzman and Giselle P. Kasilag, is a spin-off of the exhibition of the same title held last year which they also conceptualized.

By tracing Malang’s artistic roots, the comic book re-introduces Malang to the public, particularly younger audiences, and shows how these roots helped prepare him for his eventual transition into a full-time painter.

Malang affirms that his 20-year cartooning experience honed his graphic skill, while having a daily deadline taught him to be disciplined and to be more observant of things that went on around him which he used as sources of ideas of cartoons.

Decades later, many of these pieces remain just as amusing as when they were first drawn for a different generation of readers, thus providing the lasting appeal of the visual pun and the timeless humor of the artist who made it his specialty.

The Crucible Gallery is located at the 4^th Level, SM Megamall bulding A, in Mandaluyong City. For inquiries, call 635-6061.