Voltar (comics)
Encyclopedia
Voltar was a comic strip
title and comic book
character created, written, and illustrated by Filipino illustrator Alfredo Alcala
in 1963. A story about Vikings, Voltar was first published in the Philippines
by CRAF Publications, a comic book company established by Alcala himself, together with other colleagues in the field of comics such as Virgilio Redondo, Nestor Redondo, Amado Castrillo, and Tony Caravana, among others. Voltar was described as one of the most spectacular comic strips to ever appear in Philippine comics.
Although the inspiration for Voltar, as a Viking saga and as a tale about a "barbarian
hero", was the Conan the Barbarian
novels written by Robert E. Howard
, the style of the illustrations was described by G.W. Thomas as "brilliant for 1963" because it was done seven years before any actual illustration of Conan the Barbarian as a character in comics existed. Voltar was first published in the United States
by debuting in Magic Carpet #1 (1977) and then in the comic book The Rook
#3-9, after Alcala drew artworks for Marvel comics
, particularly the The Savage Sword of Conan. Voltar was later published also by Marvel comics during the 1970s. It was reprinted in The Rook from June 1980 to June 1981.
, Voltar won for Alcala awards in the field of fantasy and science-fiction during the 1970s. An illustration of Voltar, which was a part of a fantasy and science-fiction exhibition in the United States, became the first prize winner for a heroic fantasy competition in 1971. In 1974, it was featured in the book entitled The Hannes Book Memorial Showcase of Fantasy Art, a compilation of several of the finest artworks in the fantasy genre.
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
title and comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
character created, written, and illustrated by Filipino illustrator Alfredo Alcala
Alfredo Alcala
Alfredo P. Alcala was a Filipino comic book artist, born in Talisay, Negros Occidental in the Philippines. Alcala was an established illustrator whose works appeared in the Alcala Komix Magazine. His 1963 creation Voltar introduced him to an international audience, particularly in the United...
in 1963. A story about Vikings, Voltar was first published in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
by CRAF Publications, a comic book company established by Alcala himself, together with other colleagues in the field of comics such as Virgilio Redondo, Nestor Redondo, Amado Castrillo, and Tony Caravana, among others. Voltar was described as one of the most spectacular comic strips to ever appear in Philippine comics.
Although the inspiration for Voltar, as a Viking saga and as a tale about a "barbarian
Barbarian
Barbarian and savage are terms used to refer to a person who is perceived to be uncivilized. The word is often used either in a general reference to a member of a nation or ethnos, typically a tribal society as seen by an urban civilization either viewed as inferior, or admired as a noble savage...
hero", was the Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
novels written by Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
, the style of the illustrations was described by G.W. Thomas as "brilliant for 1963" because it was done seven years before any actual illustration of Conan the Barbarian as a character in comics existed. Voltar was first published in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by debuting in Magic Carpet #1 (1977) and then in the comic book The Rook
The Rook
The Rook is a fictional, time-traveling comic book character whose adventures were chronicled in 1970s issues of Warren Publishing's Eerie magazine and then in his own 1980s title, The Rook Magazine...
#3-9, after Alcala drew artworks for Marvel comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, particularly the The Savage Sword of Conan. Voltar was later published also by Marvel comics during the 1970s. It was reprinted in The Rook from June 1980 to June 1981.
Description
The Comics Reporter described Voltar as "an incredibly lavish, lushly-drawn comic book serial that showcased Alcala's diverse interests and influences". According to Orvy Jundis, a scholar in the field of comics, described Voltar in the World Encyclopedia of Comics, as "truly unique" because "it was a continuing series geared towards mass readership. It was written, laid-out, penciled, inked, lettered and published by one man, Alfredo P. Alcala. The brush used to ink many Voltar pages was a special fountain-brush invented by Alcala, thus making the series even more noteworthy." Jundis declared Voltar as "one of the earliest epic comic book series to result from a single creator's vision". Voltar was further regarded by the World Encyclopedia of Comics as "an antonishing display of sustained artistic endeavor" because "[e]very chapter contains a spectacular center spread. Each panel is embellished in an etching style that rivals the works of the old masters. Inch for inch, it is probably the most detailed art ever to appear in comic books."Awards and recognition
In the Philippines, Alcala obtained awards for Voltar from the Society of Philippine Illustrators and Cartoonists. In the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Voltar won for Alcala awards in the field of fantasy and science-fiction during the 1970s. An illustration of Voltar, which was a part of a fantasy and science-fiction exhibition in the United States, became the first prize winner for a heroic fantasy competition in 1971. In 1974, it was featured in the book entitled The Hannes Book Memorial Showcase of Fantasy Art, a compilation of several of the finest artworks in the fantasy genre.
See also
- UkalaUkalaUkala , meaning "Ukala " [i.e. the one who doesn't give up] was a comic strip title in Philippine comics. The main character in the comic book story is Ukala. Ukala was created in the 1950s by distinguised Filipino illustrator Alfredo Alcala. Ukala, the character, was a Native American Indian or...
- Ipo-ipoIpo-ipoIpo-ipo is regarded as the first costumed and first true Filipino comic book superhero. Ipo-ipo was created by Lib Abrena and Oscar del Rosario in April 1947 as a reaction against Japanese military invaders who occupied the Philippines in World War II and refused to surrender even after the...
- SiopawmanSiopawmanSiopawman is the comical or funny Filipino superhero and first comic strip created by Filipino cartoonist Lauro "Larry" Zarate Alcala after World War II . Siopawman first appeared in Halaklak Komiks in 1947. Siopawman was described as a “Superman-parody”...
- VargaVarga (comics)Varga is a Filipino comic book character created by Mars Ravelo in 1947. Varga was a female Filipino superhero created by Filipino writer Mars Ravelo and Filipino artist Nestor Redondo for Bulaklak Magazine. She was the precursor to Mars Ravelo’s other superheroine Darna...
- LagimLagimLagim is one of the first Filipino superhero characters in the Philippines. He was created by Filipino artist Cris CaGuintuan. Lagim’s first appearance was in the pages of Pilipino Komiks #1 in 1947 or 1949...
- HagibisHagibisHagibis is one of the first comic book heroes in the history of komiks in the Philippines. Hagibis was created in 1947 by Francisco V. Coching, a Filipino comic book artist and illustrator who is considered as the “father" or "grandfather” of Filipino komiks...
- DarnaDarnaDarna is a fictional character and Filipino comics superheroine created by writer Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo. In her more popular incarnations, she is a deceased warrior from another planet manifesting herself through a girl from Earth, named Narda...
- Captain BarbellCaptain BarbellCaptain Barbell is a fictional Filipino superhero created by writer Mars Ravelo and artist Jim Fernandez. He first appeared in Pinoy Komiks #5 .-Character history:...
- KenkoyKenkoyKenkoy is a Philippine comics character created by writer Romualdo Ramos and cartoonist and illustrator Tony Velasquez in 1929. Velazquez continued the strip for decades after Ramos' death in 1932. Kenkoy was seminal to Philippine comics and thus Velasquez is considered the founding father of the...
External links
- Alfredo Alcala's Voltar, Pilipino Komiks, 25 March 2006
- Sample illustration of Voltar, VOLTAR, Alcala Fight Komiks #23, May 26, 1964, Craf Publications
- Magic Carpet's cover for Voltar circa 1977, Alcala Legacy Milestone of the Master