The Mythology Class Special Collected Edition Book Launch

Last September 16,  Arnold Arre launched a Special Collected Edition of one of his earlier works which was originally published as a four-issue miniseries, “The Mythology Class.”
It won the National Comic Book Award for Best Comic book in 2000—the
first one that won in that category. It was held at Fully Booked at the
Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City.

The Mythology Class Special Collected Edition. Click on the image to see larger picture.

Recognize the “shaman-esque” character? :) Click on the image to see larger picture.

My autographed copy :) Click on the image to see larger picture.

I’ve
been waiting to read this book for a long time now. During the time the
four-part miniseries came out, finding individual copies was like
looking for a needle in a haystack (or I probably just didn’t look hard
enough :)). I’m just glad Arnold
decided to come out with just one book. I know that four-part thing was
just some marketing ploy to make readers hang on a bit longer and wait
for the consequent release of the other issues. The original publisher
probably thought at that time that Arnold couldn’t generate a steady
fan base that would flock to newsstands as soon as the next issue comes
out. At least that’s what I think. I guess he thought wrong. :) I think
I became a fan myself, ever since he gave me a signed copy of his other
work, “Trip to Tagaytay,” (a bit mushy for my taste but then the guy’s very much in love so that’s forgivable) as well as his other (mushy) work, “After Eden.” :)

Admirers of Arnold Arre’s work. Click on the images to see larger pictures.

Professor Emil Flores reads a message of praise for Arnold’s work. Click on the image to see larger picture.

Arnold
talks about how he consciously missed an opportunity of a lifetime to
come up with his own comic book masterpiece. Click on the image to see
larger picture.

The publisher hands a copy of The Mythology Class Special Collected Edition to Arnold. Click on the image to see larger picture.

Book signing… Click on the images to see larger pictures.

The launch turned into a sort of mini-reunion. Lots of U.P. Fine Arts
people turned up and we hung out after “Kaiser” Arnold was done signing
up autographs for his fan boys and fan girls. Ah, the price of fame…
Reminds me of a story that Sarah McLachlan shared in her VH1 Storytellers
video about the song “Possession” which was about people sending her
fan mail, a small percentage of which were bordering on “psychotic.” I
just found out Arnold had his share of a’la “Misery” fans. No, he
didn’t get kidnapped and got his legs broken and forced to write a
graphic novel the way his loyal, yet crazy fan wanted it. At least it
wasn’t as extreme as that. His legs are still intact. :)

The Arre’s with Reg. Click on the image to see larger picture.

Reg, moi and Arnold. Click on the image to see larger picture.

Sam, Bia, moi and Reg. Borrowed this photo from Arnold and Cythia's phlog. Click on the image to see larger picture.

The Macasaets. Click on the image to see larger picture.

Bia’s bunsoy. Click on the image to see larger picture.

multiply.com’s poster boy :) Click on the image to see larger picture.

Reg
was there. So was Bia and the rest of the Macasaet family, and Coco…
oops, he’s now known as Sam, I keep forgetting. Multiply.com’s poster
boy, Carlo and Niña. Dulzzi and Lizza. Terry came by and so did
Juliet. Ang saya saya!



We should do that again soon.