For this special online edition of 13 Letters Down, we did a very quick Q&A with Kajo Baldisimo, artist and co-creator of TRESE.What comic books are you reading now? What was the last comic book /graphic novel you read that you really liked?I keep re-reading WATCHMEN (ang aking paborito) from time to time and I’m still in love with it. Pero, teka… if that’s not counted , uhm… the latest comicbook I’ve read na nakaka-aliw … Kiko Machine ni Manix.
Who are your favorite artists?We’ll run out of paper if I put everyone kaya siguro yung top 5 lang: Jim Lee, Nestor Redondo, Fernando Amorsolo, Alex Nino, Mar Santana, Alex Ross… saka Hal Santiago.
Why the change in art style in this issue? What inspired this?I’ve been experimenting since issue 1, looking for that definitive TRESE look. I want something gritty yet clean (an’labo no?). I think I’ve hit it with issue 7. This is the same style I used dun sa
Trese pinup sa Ish 1. I will be re-drawing Trese 1-6 after I’m done with Trese 13.
Who was your basis for Alexandra Trese?Part girlfriend ko (Hi Divine!). Part Major Kusanagi. Part Maja Salvador. Part KaJO Baldisimo. Hindi ko pa po napapanood ang Underworld nung ginawa ko yung Trese 1 (actually, hanggang ngayon) so hindi po based kay Kate Beckinsale si Alexandra.
Who’s your basis for the Kambal?The Kambal’s design is loosely inspired by those Matrix mumus. And their maskara is based on a Mananggal mask I made for the story ‘The Last Datu’.
What ever happened to NWA? Will you ever finish that story?I’m writing Sopas’, Panic’s and Gagam’s stories everyday. But I won’t draw them ‘til TRESE is done, so sorry po sa mga mambabasa ng NWA.
