September 2, 2025 | 1:00pm
PENTICTON, Canada — The return of SuperManila Comic Con this year promises to be a big one with the release of four exclusive comic releases.
Leading the charge is Kid Heroes Publications’ “Eraserheads: Combo on the Run #1,” a limited-edition one-shot comic book inspired by and named after the music documentary of the same name.
The comic book — illustrated by Raymund Lee, Felix Morales, and Ardie Aquino, written by Patricio Ginelsa and Justin Quizon — reimagines the band’s semi-fictional journey through four unique stories told in an anthology format.
It integrates music and mythology into an adventurous tale of musicians turned superheroes, making the world a better place one step at a time — thanks to their record-breaking hits, heroic deeds, and zombie-fighting missions.
The cover featuring at SuperManila Comic Con 2025 is the one designed by Stephen Segovia, who will be present at the comic con. Fellow Filipino-American artist Whilce Portacio designed the version of the cover that debuted at San Diego Comic-Con.
A cover of “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #21” by Miguel Mercado in honor of the original “Silent Issue” by Larry Hama will also be featured. The release, which introduced the iconic character Storm Shadow, will be told entirely without dialogue.
Related: Eraserheads documentary, comic book heading to San Diego Comic-Con
DC Comics’ “Absolute Flash #1” will become the comics’ first Philippine-exclusive cover as it shows the titular speedster running down Ayala Avenue.
Responsible for this special DC Comics cover are Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz, and Romulo Fajardo. All three will attend SuperManila Comic Con 2025.
Another Philippine-exclusive cover making an appearance is a limited-edition Archie Comics by Dan Parent, a longtime Archie Comics artist and writer.
Parent — who will also be at the event — took inspiration from the classic “three on a straw” image of where Archie, Betty and Veronica are sharing a milkshake.
Instead of a milkshake, the three characters are sharing a Halo-Halo, with Archie nibbling on one of the Barquillo sticks.
There will be two variants of the limited-edition comic, trade dress and virgin, the latter featuring a clean, text-free layout showcasing Parent’s artwork in full.
Related: Archie Comics to debut Philippine-exclusive cover with halo-halo
The comic will also mark the debut of a new character Medusa Doom, a mysterious and mischievous green-skinned villain, arriving to cause mischief in Riverdale.
Finally, Absolute Flash #1 (photo attached) features the first Philippine-exclusive DC Comics cover, with the Flash racing through Ayala Avenue. The cover is brought to life by Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz, and Romulo Fajardo, making this SuperManila variant a must-have for collectors.
International artists attending like Parent include C.B. Cebulski, Mike Zeck, Bengal, Hendry Prasetya, Ario Anandito, Alan Quah, Heather Edwards, and Peach Momoko.
The latter is showcasing her Momoko-Verse, which is lauching an exclusive “Manananggal” print where only 250 pieces will be available at the event.
Artists with Filipino heritage, such as Segovia, Paz, Pagulayan, Fajardo, Don Aguillo and Leinil Yu, as well Manix Abrera of “Kikomachine Komix” fame and “Pugad Baboy” creator Pol Medina Jr., are also gracing the event.
SuperManila Comic Con 2025 will take place on September 6 and 7 at Makati’s One Ayala.
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