Margins
2014
First Published
4.31
Average Rating
199
Number of Pages

Part of Series

ABLAZE proudly presents "14", the second silent graphic novel created by Filipino comic artist, Manix Abrera. This graphic novel is also his first work to achieve a National Book Award (Category: Wordless Graphic Literature) in 2015, awarded by the National Book Development Board and Manila Critics Circle. 14 tells the story of a human who mysteriously discovers a 13th floor on his building and finds himself in the middle of a storytelling session among different mythological creatures of Philippine folklore. Together with a partying crowd of supernatural beings, he listens to stories narrated by creatures such as the Manananggal, Diwata, Tikbalang, Kapre, Tiyanak, and even by a White Lady and a Doppelganger. With each creature taking the stage, describing wild stories spurred by their unique, terrifying traits and abilities, 14 is a grand narrative of weird yet wonderful tales, humorous albeit dark and spooky, surreal but unarguably true to the emotions of the heart. Stories like finding love then losing it, searching for happiness, getting lost, staying trapped, wanting to belong, dying to be born again – may all sound too human, but are also being experienced by these mythological creatures. Using absolutely no words in this graphic novel, Manix successfully tells the stories through careful planning of each scene and sequence. Frame by frame, panel by panel, Manix effectively renders each scene in detail and maximizes the power of images to completely convey the stories and emotions he wants to evoke in his readers. It is now up to you, the reader, to notice these details, to savor each frame, page by page until the big picture and meaning unfold sans the usual text balloons. Sounds mind-blowing! Reading without words is like talking without a voice, almost supernatural but not impossible. Let Manix Abrera’s 14 talk to you visually and take you into a truly exciting and totally unforgettable literary experience.

Avg Rating
4.31
Number of Ratings
170
5 STARS
52%
4 STARS
32%
3 STARS
11%
2 STARS
5%
1 STARS
1%
goodreads

Author

Manix Abrera
Manix Abrera
Author · 13 books
Manuel “Manix” Abrera graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines–Diliman. He is the author of the daily comic strip Kikomachine Komix in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and the weekly webcomic News Hardcore in GMA News Online. He has currently authored twenty books and has won the National Book Awards for his wordless graphic novel 14, comics compilation News Hardcore, and comics compilation Kikomachine Komix 14: Alaala ng Kinabukasan. More of his works can be found at https://www.manixabrera.com.
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