A book review by @readiculously_
Salamangka by Ian Sta. Maria — A Visual Spellbook of Philippine Myth.
Salamangka is not your typical comic book; it is a curated visual spellbook where each page feels like a painting & every illustration serves as a meditation on Philippine mythology. He transcends genre boundaries by presenting folklore not as distant nostalgia, but as living, breathing stories rendered with elegance and striking force.
The artwork commands immediate attention—raw yet refined, he conjures gods, creatures, and symbols with cinematic power. His seamless blend of digital painting, traditional inking, and graphic design crafts a unique visual language that feels both ancient and avant-garde. The masterful use of shadow, light, and negative space reflects not only technical skill but a deep reverence, turning each composition into a sacred altar.
However, the true magic of Salamangka lies in its restraint. Eschewing linear narratives, the book offers fragments, poetic captions, and haunting images that invite readers to create meaning from suggestion. Through this approach, he transforms familiar myths into open-ended questions: What does it mean to inherit a story? To embody one? To rewrite it?
This is not a simple mythology primer; it is myth as art, as memory, as mirror.
For artists, designers, and lovers of visual storytelling, Salamangka is a masterclass in atmosphere and symbolism. For readers yearning to reconnect with pre-colonial roots, it opens a doorway into a culture still alive with mystery and power. Beautifully produced and deeply evocative, this book deserves a place not only on your bookshelf but also on gallery walls.
Salamangka invites readers not just to observe myth but to inhabit its pulse. For anyone drawn to Filipino heritage, visual art, or inspired mythmaking, it is a rare treasure—bold, elegant, and profoundly meaningful.
I don’t think my phone’s camera gave justice to it, if you can, go and grab your copy instead.