Tribute to the ‘King of Komiks’

The ‘50s and ‘60s were considered the golden age of Filipino komiks, and one of the leading lights in this visual art form was National Artist Francisco V. Coching, who was also known as the “Dean of Filipino illustrators.”

Coching was undoubtedly a legend in the industry, having produced over 63 titles — 51 of which were adapted into film. Among the numerous classics produced by the “King of Komiks” include Pedro Penduko, Hagibis, Ang Barbaro and La Sombra.

Apostolic Nuncio Gabriele Giordano Caccia with Lulu and Pepe Rodriguez.

In celebration of his 100th birth anniversary, Ayala Museum paid a fitting tribute by launching an exhibit titled Images of Nation: F.V. Coching, Komiks at Kultura that features original plates of covers, first issue spreads, character studies, illustrations and scaled, re-colored reproductions of his most popular works. The exhibit also provides a glimpse of the creative process that goes on behind-the-scenes, giving viewers the opportunity to grasp the vast and vivid imagination of the artist and his commitment to details, and his mastery of draftsmanship.

Ambassadors Kok Li Peng of Singapore and Harald Fries of Sweden.

The late National Artist transformed the lives of readers as they reveled in the stories he created, finding affinity with the characters and getting drawn in their experiences — fantasy, romance, adventure. His narratives and heroes became part of the aspirations of Filipinos, instilling in his readers a strength of spirit to cope with and overcome the trauma of war in order to face the task of rebuilding a young nation.

Mary Ann and Jose Mari Chan.

An essay written by Alice Guillermo, a well-known art critic, states that “Coching’s art reveals the influence of (Hal) Foster — author of the popular 1930s pulp series Prince Valiant — in the acute characterization, the interrelation of the figures, the general composition the use of color and tones, as well as the feeling of the natural setting.”

Danny Dolor, Criselda Lontok and PeopleAsia editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez.

The launch of the exhibit was a great success, with my good friend Pepe Rodriguez and his gracious wife Lulu Coching spearheading the event attended by the “literati and the glitterati.”

The exhibit, which is presented under Ayala Museum’s “Images of Nation” exhibition program with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, will run until Feb. 8, 2019.