Timed to celebrate Women’s History Month and honoring the spirit of International Women’s Day, Kwento Comics, the trailblazing Filipino-American comic book publisher is partnering with Clover Press for a Kickstarter campaign to publish the second volume of ‘The Mask of Haliya’, a Young Adult urban fantasy graphic novel inspired by Philippine mythology.
Written by Kaitlyn Fajilan, with art from Susan Bin and Vik Caedo, colors by Liz Buenaventura, lettered by Kiela Sibal, and edited by Arielle Jovellanos – ‘The Mask of Haliya Volume 2: Echoes of the Forgotten Past’ follows Filipina-American teenager Marisol Reyes, as she grapples with the life-changing power of the magical mask she inherited from her great grandmother. The deluxe hardcover is coming soon to Kickstarter.
“Kwento Comics is rooted in the Filipino word kwento, meaning ‘story,” said Kwento Comics Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Cecilia Lim. “We believe in the transformative power of storytelling to inspire, empower, and connect communities across the globe. Every story we tell, every panel we create, and every character we breathe life into reflects our mission: to uplift diverse voices and celebrate the richness of Asian heritage, culture, and identity.”
As darkness rises and family secrets are revealed, ‘The Mask of Haliya: Echoes of the Forgotten Past’ plunges fans deeper into the soul of ancient Filipino mythology, where sinister forces stir and paths begin to intertwine. Haunted by fragmented memories, Isla races against time to unearth her buried past and protect the Mask’s new heir. Meanwhile, Mari grapples with her emerging powers and an awakening that thrusts her into unchartered territories.
Deep within the forest, a malevolent organization’s activities draw suspicion as whispers of forbidden rituals and monstrous creatures surface. ‘The Mask of Haliya: Echoes of the Forgotten Past’ will be available as a 200-page Deluxe Hardcover via Kickstarter.
Kwento Comics was founded by a mother and daughter team, Cecilia and Waverley Lim, who were inspired to create a solution to the lack of Asian American representation in media. Their goal in launching the company is to create lead Asian female characters on the page, while also highlighting the talented Asian women artists and writers in an industry that is heavily male-dominated. Kwento Comics is the first all-women, all-Asian comic book company highlighting Filipino and Asian mythology through the medium of graphic novels.
With the release of Kwento Comics’ second graphic novel, the company cements its reputation as a source of empowerment and inspiration for women in the arts around the world.
“It’s truly been such a special and rewarding experience working with an all female creative team not only because of all the beautiful work that our team puts out, but that I’m able to see Asian women at the forefront of creative and entrepreneurial endeavors,” says Kwento Comics Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Waverley Lim.
“It’s empowering knowing that we don’t have to ask for a seat at the table, when we can just make our own. We deserve to see ourselves in every space, including graphic novels, which has been such a wonderful way to visually show and immerse audiences in the mythology from our islands in the Philippines. The Philippines and its people are full of such color and life, so it was important that our artwork reflected this.”
You can watch the new teaser video for ‘The Mask of Haliya Volume 2: Echoes of the Forgotten Past’ below, and bookmark this Kickstarter page so you can help this Kwento comic come to life when the campaign launches this month!
Be sure to follow Kwento Comics on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
