written by Russell Molina
illustrated by Ian Sta. Maria
Comic books, like movies, have been around for so long that it's quite hard for any creator to come up with an original concept, or at least, a fresh take on something as old as superhero adventures. When creators are able to come up with something that, if not necessarily original, feels new, this is definite cause for celebration.
"Sixty-Six" is one such example; it is the story of elderly store-owner Celestino Cabal, who lives out his days in contentment, taking care of his wife suffering from dementia and enjoying the occasional long-distance phone call with his daughter, who lives in the United States, when on the evening of his sixty-sixth birthday, amid a terrible event that nearly takes the life of his wife, he finds himself endowed with extraordinary strength. Upon discovering he has super powers, in particular super strength, Celestino, having read superhero comic books as a child, does what anyone with both a sense of wonder and social responsibility would do: he fights crime.
It's fun at first, of course, to take down lowlifes like muggers and rapists, but before he knows it Celestino finds himself facing tougher, similarly super-powered threats, and considering that many of them are children being manipulated by a shadowy criminal syndicate, he does not know if he will be able to take the fight to the next level.
I've encountered Ian Sta. Maria's work twice before, in the English-language "ashcan" Ultracops, and in the collected edition of the fantasy-themed "Skyworld." Both works featured extraordinary art, but to my mind, both also fell somewhat short in the story and dialogue department.
In writer Molina, however, Sta. Maria has found a collaborator who not only plays to his strengths as a draftsman but coaxes some remarkable storytelling techniques out of him that weren't in either of his previous works that I've read. This book is an absolute joy not just to read but to absolutely consume from cover to cover.
Celestino Cabal is a truly endearing character, and the true strength of Molina's storytelling is how he takes the time and effort to compassionately establish who his lead is before shoving him into the thick of the action. It's thrilling to see him action against criminals, but the little moments, like the moment Celestino discovers that his powers do not include flight, a lovely bit of slapstick comedy that keeps the tone of the story buoyant, along with the dialogue of the wheelchair-bound, double-amputee of a neighborhood watchman ("barangay tanod") whose story as to how he lost his legs constantly changes. The Tagalog onomatopoeia sprinkled throughout the book is a real treat as well, and I was actually able to learn at least one new word from it. When the story does hit some serious notes, I really appreciated how much Molina and Sta. Maria had invested in the characters. When Celestino's enemies hit back at him where it hurts late in the story, the tragedy is palpable.
As someone who has been reading and enjoying superhero comic books for over three decades, I can say without exaggeration that this is one of the stronger efforts I've seen from any pair of creators of any nationality in several years, and I am thoroughly looking forward to the next installment, which should not take too long considering that this collected edition of Sixty-Six is actually a compilation of stories that ran from 2013 to 2014.
I've seen many copies of this in bookstores and comic book stores all around Manila, and having enjoyed this book so much I feel it behooves me to encourage others: if you're looking for something really fresh in the superheroics department, this is a great book to try.
8.9/10
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