There comes a time in the life of every Filipino “Percy Jackson” fan when they start thinking, “Hey, wouldn’t it be cool if we had a story like this based on local mythology?” Well, folks, good news: Those wishes have been granted.
Disney Hyperion, the publisher of Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson” series and its spin-offs, is set to release a Philippine mythology-centered graphic novel series titled “Highsummer.”
Created by Filipino author and illustrator Tori Tadiar, the trilogy will center around a 12-year-old girl named Mika, a student in Ilustra Junior High School. In an attempt to undo a curse she accidentally cast on her classmates, she awakens ancient gods in the process, alongside a sun-devouring monster that will bring the world into darkness. In order to bring humankind back into shape, Mika will have to team up with the last people on her list—her former bullies.
“Highsummer’s” characters include choir boy Teo, varsity player Halle, and their teacher Raha. Based on the concept art, the school is divided into four different tracks, with their uniforms taking inspiration from local traditional wear such as the barong Tagalog and Indigenous clothing.
The first book is set to release sometime in 2024. Tadiar is also the author of acclaimed works like fantasy graphic novels “Sagala” and “Twinkle, Twinkle,” an Official Selection finalist at the first Philippine International Comics Festival.
While we wait for “Highsummer” to drop into our lives, in the meantime, we can check out these games to sate our Philippine mythology void.
Read more:
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Photos from Tori Tadiar’s Twitter page