With the Kickstarter campaign live for The Mask of Haliya Volume 2: Echoes of the Forgotten Past from Kwento Comics and Clover Press. We are delighted to be joined by Cecilia Lim and Waverley Lim. Cecilia is the Co-Founder and COO of Kwento Comics, and Waverley is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kwento Comics.
Hi, Cecilia and Waverley; it is so great having you both here with us.
Could you please introduce yourselves to our readers?
Cecilia: Hello! I am Cecilia. The first half of the mother-daughter duo. I would describe myself as a small town gal with big city dreams. I left the practice of law eight years ago and since then, I have turned a love of mythology and fantasy into an indie comic book publishing company. Growing up in the MidWest in the 1960’s (yes, I am that old), I discovered comics at the local newspaper stand. Comics took me out of my everyday surroundings of cornfields and soybeans to places that stirred my imagination. I am thrilled that Waverley and I can introduce the next generation of young readers to the fantastical worlds we are creating at Kwento.
Waverley: Hi! I’m Waverley and I’m so lucky to be the daughter of Cecilia Lim. Thank goodness she loves hanging out with me so much that she thought the only way we could be even closer was if we started a business together! Turns out, that was one of her best ideas ever because now we get to grow and build something together. While it’s definitely hard work, we have a lot of fun doing it and I couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone else.
Can you tell us about Kwento Comics?
Waverley: Kwento Comics is an all-Asian women comic book company, whose mission is to bring more authentic Asian and Asian American representation to media while celebrating our unique cultural identity with the world. We wanted to create a space where AAPI women creatives could shine and have a platform to tell stories made by and for us. As you probably know, the comic book industry is male dominated so it was important for us to show that women are both creators and consumers of this medium and that we deserve more stories where we see ourselves reflected.
Can you tell us about the origins of The Mask of Haliya?
Cecilia: The idea of making the story stemmed from wanting to create a strong Filipina American heroine that we have never seen before. However, the initial idea of The Mask of Haliya actually came from a family story of ours during the time of my mother-in-law’s passing. When she passed away, my sister-in-law passed around a basket with all her jewelry and asked all the grandkids to pick out any piece of jewelry of hers. My daughter, Waverley, instantly found the one ring that was so special to her because it is the birthstone of both her and her grandmother. Thinking back on that moment, we wondered, what if that ring held powers? So when conceptualizing where our main protagonist’s powers could’ve come from we toyed around with the idea of a ring with powers, until Kaitlyn found the mythos of Haliya and her mask, which fit our narrative so beautifully. At that point, it only made sense to change it from a ring to a mask. Kaitlyn did a great job at honoring and embedding that family story into issue #1 of The Mask of Haliya, where all the children gather around during Lola Talia’s wake and pick a piece of jewelry.
Who is Marisol Reyes?
Waverley: Our story begins with Marisol Reyes, a young Filipina-American teen, who finds herself in the Philippines for the funeral of her great-grand Lola (Filipino for Grandmother). At the start of our story, Mari finds herself adrift, a stranger in her own ancestral land, who is now suddenly immersed in a world teeming with unfamiliar faces, a rich cultural heritage, and whispers of ancient, mythological spirits. The loss of her Lola becomes a catalyst, pulling Mari into a journey far beyond her expectations as she is thrust into a hidden legacy, discovering her family’s lineage of babaylan—powerful shamans—and the connection they hold to the spiritual realm. As she grapples with her newfound identity and the weight of her inheritance, Mari must confront the insidious forces that lurk in the shadows, threatening to unravel the delicate balance between worlds. This is more than a coming-of-age story; it’s a profound exploration of identity, heritage, and the courage to embrace one’s destiny. Mari’s journey is a crucible, forging her into a heroine who must reconcile being a young girl figuring it out with the ancient power that flows through her veins.
How did Kaitlyn Fajilan, Susan Bin, Vik Caedo, Liezl Buenaventura, Kielamel Sibal and Arielle Jovellanos join The Mask of Haliya team?
Cecilia: It’s been a long and rewarding process to put together this stellar team of talented creatives. We found Kaitlyn years ago when I saw some of her short films. We definitely wanted a writer that had experience writing screenplays which in turn made The Mask of Haliya very cinematic. To visually capture the unique world of Kaitlyn’s saga, we sought a particular art style. This search organically led us to a team of talented female Asian artists, whose perspectives and skills aligned with our vision. Our current team have all joined us through recommendations of artists previously on the team or some who have joined from creating covers for us in the past. Being a global team and not having the luxury of working side by side with each other, I couldn’t be more proud of what this group of artists have accomplished.
Can you tell us about the world in which The Mask of Haliya is set in?
Cecilia: What makes reading The Mask of Haliya a wonderful experience for the reader is that the world we have created blends present day Cebu, Philippines with elements of Filipino mythology, folklore, and pre-colonial history. In our world, characters navigate daily life, attend school, deal with family issues, and interact with local culture and customs along with using all the trappings of modern technology like cell phones and laptops. However, interwoven within modern day life in the Philippines exists deities like Haliya, the Bicolano moon goddess, or mythological creatures such as the Tiyanak, a vampiric baby with razor-sharp teeth. Finally, an important component to understanding our world is the deep connection to pre-colonial Philippines whereby some of our characters experience vivid visions that connect them to the past and the reader is transported to a time where Filipino mythological creatures and spirits were even more prominent in everyday life. I mean, who wouldn’t want to live in a world where the supernatural and natural coexist?
How important is it to have a female team, creating comics with a lead female character?
Waverley: Building a female team wasn’t just a choice, it was a necessity. We wanted to ensure Mari’s journey, and all the narratives we create, are rooted in authentic female experiences. That means not relying on tired tropes or male-gaze depictions. We’re drawing from our own lives, our own understanding of strength, vulnerability, and the complexities of womanhood. This allows us to create characters that truly resonate, and stories that empower, especially women who deserve to see themselves represented with depth and nuance.
How did Clover Press get involved with The Mask of Haliya?
Cecilia: Hank Kanalz of Clover Press discovered us through the recommendation of a mutual friend. He came by our booth at WonderCon and immediately understood our story and mission. Clover Press has been such a wonderful publishing partner for us as they truly appreciate and are committed to authenticity in storytelling. We are blessed to have the support of Hank and the Clover team to help us bring The Mask of Haliya to a global audience.
What has the feedback been like for The Mask of Haliya comics?
Waverley: It’s such a joy to see people get genuinely excited about discovering us for the first time. I love when readers pick up the book and are surprised by how vibrant the art is in the book or discover that there are other mythologies that exist like Filipino mythology. It’s cool knowing that we are bringing something new and fresh to the space.
How, as an industry, can we have more females involved in the comic industry?
Waverley: To get more women in comics, we need to actively create inclusive spaces, boost visibility for female creators, offer mentorship, support female-led projects, challenge stereotypes, and address harassment. It’s about conscious effort from everyone. Publishers and conventions need to prioritize diverse voices, and fans should actively seek out and champion female creators. Ultimately, a more equitable industry benefits everyone, enriching the stories we tell and the perspectives we share.
How would you describe The Mask of Haliya?
Cecilia: We typically describe The Mask of Haliya as a dark urban fantasy but it encompasses much more. The story features terrifying and fantastical creatures drawn from Filipino mythology, introducing elements of horror. Additionally, our heroine, a young teenage girl, embarks on a journey to her ancestors’ homeland and while there, she encounters mysteries and challenges that make transitioning into adulthood even more complicated. Therefore, it is a dark urban fantasy that weaves in themes of self-discovery, cultural adaptation and horror.
What can comic fans expect from The Mask of Haliya Volume 2: Echoes of the Forgotten Past?
Waverley: I can’t wait for fans to dive deeper into the 2nd installment of our series! There are so many more characters and mythological creatures to introduce readers to and even more epic battles to be had! In this volume, readers will get a glimpse into the backstory of some of our characters as major secrets are revealed of certain characters’ pasts that are crucial to the trajectory of our story. Readers will begin to unveil the web that connects all of our characters in this volume.
Do you hope Kwento Comics and The Mask of Haliya will inspire female readers all around the world?
Cecilia: Absolutely! Not only do we want to inspire female readers to immerse themselves into a new fantastical world where creatures and deities of ancient Philippines exist in the present day but we want our female readers to see themselves in our heroine as her journey demand that she discovers her true powers. I want our young readers to know that life is complex, that lines of good and evil are many times blurred but in the end, listening to the “right” voice inside yourself will ultimately bring you to the correct path.
Do you have a favourite Kickstarter reward?
Waverley: I’m really excited for all the new merch with new artwork from our very talented team. I love seeing people visit us at our convention booths with their Haliya T-shirts on. It makes me so happy that people are proud to rep the art and the story, I totally geek out!
Any message for the ComicBuzz readers?
Cecilia: Hey ComicBuzz fans! If you loved the epic storytelling and stunning art in the first volume, you won’t want to miss this latest installment. The Mask of Haliya Volume 2 continues the thrilling journey with even more twists, sinister characters, and action-packed visuals that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the series, this volume promises to deliver a captivating experience. Let’s show our support for indie creators and stories that enrich our beloved comic book world!
We would like to say a big thank you to Cecilia and Waverley, and we wish them the best of luck with The Mask of Haliya Volume 2: Echoes of the Forgotten Past.
Feel free to check out The Mask of Haliya Volume 2: Echoes of the Forgotten Past on Kickstarter.
