After Drawing Flak Over Commissioned Mar Roxas Comic Book, Artist Releases Duterte Version

Artist Karl Comendador is a staunch fan of presidential candidate Mayor Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte but when he was commissioned by the camp of another presidential candidate, former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, he took the job – not because he has changed loyalties but because of the money. After all, an artist has to eat, too.

Despite still being loyal to his candidate, Comendador received flak from netizens who believed that if Duterte was his candidate, then he should not make a comic book for other candidates, especially Mar Roxas.

Moreover, netizens were critical of the scenes depicted in the comic book showing Roxas as hero when it was widely believed that he allegedly ‘did nothing’ at the height of the storm.

Comendador defended his actions, saying that even if he was commissioned to draw the comic book, his loyalty remains with Duterte – but such statement did not sit well with many netizens who could not believe he would be a ‘traitor’ against his candidate.

Fast forward to a few weeks later, Comendador shares teaser shots of a comic book featuring his idol, Duterte! Also released by Atlas Komiks, the comic book is entitled, “Digong: Ang Kanlungan ng mga Inaapi at Inaabuso”.

Photo credit: Inquirer/Facebook-Zhalir Jaila

In the teaser shots of the comic book, Comendador was able to copy the likeness of the tough-talking mayor; though the story was written by Jim Estrabela and KC Cordero. The comic book features stories of Duterte helping the Filipino people, including giving prosthetic legs to a cancer-stricken boy.

The comic book opened with “Ang mga accomplishments ni Davao City Mayor Rodrigo ‘Rody’ Duterte ay hindi nakasulat sa mga pahayagan, naririnig sa radyo o napapanood sa telebisyon. Ikinukwento iyon ng mga taong nakatatanggap ng tulong niya at nakasasaksi kung anong uri siya ng public servant. (The accomplishments of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo ‘Rody’ Duterte are not written on newspapers or heard on the radio or seen on TV. These are shared by the people who were recipients of his help and had witnessed the kind of public servant that he is.)”