The mysterious steampunk comic book collaboration between myself and the wonderful Hannah Buena has now been released! Flipside Komix has published “High Society” (formerly “Kataastaasan“) on Amazon as a Kindle comic. It’s an alternative history story that mixes automata, Philippine folklore, and the British invasion of Manila in the 1760s. It’s also the first comic book story set in the world of the “Wooden War”, which was also the setting of my story in Philippine Speculative Fiction 6.
There’s not a lot of Philippine steampunk stories out there (I’m eagerly awaiting “The Marvelous Adventures of the Amazing Doctor Rizal”), and none that mix it up with Philippine mythology quite the way that Hannah and I do here, so if that interests you, please do buy a copy and help spread the word. If not for me, then for Hannah’s amazing art. Maybe some preview pages/panels will seal the deal?
Again, here’s the Amazon page, and thank you for your support!
Hi, Paolo! Would you know if this would be available in print format? I’m not really into reading via ebook. I love steampunk and I think I would enjoy this!
Heya Peter! Thanks for the interest
We’ll be selling a few photocopied versions at the Komikon this coming November 19 (http://www.komikon.org/) at the Flipside table. Hannah should be there too (and Honey!) so do pass by 
FEW lang?! ^^v
The art is so detailed and pretty and unique! Gambatte!
[...] let Paolo’s Rocket Kapre post tell you all about High [...]
Congratulations Hannah and Paolo for a job well done. Just bought a copy and read it. Flawless.
When’s the next one coming out?
Glad you liked it Julz! We’re aiming for the Summer Komikon in May next year, but I’m not sure if the format will lend itself well to a digital edition yet…
Can’t wait. The Kindle edition was acceptable but I guess the print format will be better still. I wonder if it would be better on Kindle Fire. Whatever the format, you’ve got a fan here.
Anyways, you made me want to go back to finishing my own steampunk + Filipino mythology story. And yeah, I’m also waiting for Gerry’s Rizal story too.
Keep up the good work of preserving Filipino myth alive.
[...] Angel, White Shadow by Charlson Ong, which I reviewed earlier this year. And of course, they have High Society by Paolo Chikiamco and Hannah Buena (formerly known as Kataastaasan), which I definitely recommend. [...]
[...] “High Society” is a stand-alone steampunk comic book in the “Wooden War” series. Check out the teaser pages on Paolo Chikiamco’s site! And if that is intriguing, there is a giveaway (closes Dec 18) at Tinamats of a Kindle version! [...]
Is this already available in print form? I am not as fortunate as others who have Kindles.
It’s one of the stories in Kwentillion Magazine, available at all National Book Store and Power Books branches.