The Mother and Daughter Led Company Teams Up with an all-Asian, All-Female International Creative Team for an Epic Philippine Mythology-inspired Adventure
Timed to Women’s History Month, 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 dark 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 available now on 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 192-page Deluxe Hardcover via Kickstarter.
“In this latest volume, Mari’s emotional journey takes quite the turn. As someone who has always maintained a very guarded front, Mari starts to emerge from her cocoon under Bella’s tutelage,” explains writer Kaitlyn Fajilan. “Slowly, her internal perspective shifts from that of worrying that all she does is hurt people, to believing that harnessing her ‘true’ self can allow her to *help* people. She dares to hope that she can make real friendships, win her mother’s approval, perhaps even fall in love. However, as the girl comes more and more into her own, that new sense of self begins to splinter. A *second* Mari emerges–a darker one, one that is simultaneously tumultuous and composed. A persona that that may or may not be connected to the moon goddess Haliya. The formation of this new identity is sure to bring about further complications and revelations, culminating in a seismic battle that launches us into the second half of this arc.”
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. 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.”
“I’m so pleased to continue the MASK OF HALIYA series of books at Clover Press,” said Clover Press Publisher Hank Kanalz. “The ladies at Kwento are telling such a compelling story, and one steeped in mythology. We’ve all grown up hearing these stories from our parents, and Kwento is bringing them into modern light.”
Fans can support the book on Kickstarter now.
For updates, follow Kwento Comics on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and follow Clover Press on Blue Sky, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Author Profile
- I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!
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