I’ve always loved history and culture—especially the rise and fall of civilizations. You could say I’m one of those people who think about the Roman Empire every now and then, literally. But my thoughts aren’t confined to the borders of Roman provinces. From the Greco-Persian Wars to the Cold War, I’m genuinely enthusiastic. With that said, how can I stop my mind from spiraling into what-ifs and alternate timelines?
I’ve read and watched a few—The Man in the High Castle, Red Army, Reddit threads, even the YouTube channel AlternateHistoryHub. But most of those are foreign-related.
What about my birthplace? My motherland?
What if our ancestors had managed to resist every colonial power that came our way? Or what if—yes, we were colonized by Spain—but when the Americans arrived during the Philippine Revolution, amid setbacks, betrayals, and assassinations, a visionary Filipino pulled off something akin to Japan’s Meiji Restoration and sparked a rapid modernization—one so effective it not only prevented foreign pressure and future invasions, but also set the stage for the Philippines to rise as a dominant global power in the years to come?
The Minds Behind the Komiks
Last April, I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch of Maharlika Vol. 2 at Manila Middle Ground in Makati City. I’d come across Maharlika comics online before but never really gave it much attention. I nearly missed a hidden gem—because once I read the first few pages of the komik from the copies that I got there, I was absolutely blown away!
The next logical step, of course, was to meet the creators. I had the chance to talk to Rexy, the author, and John Ray, the illustrator. Both were incredibly friendly and easy to approach. The artwork is absolutely stunning—huge credit to John Ray for that—but I ended up spending more time chatting with Rexy, since he’s the mind behind the story. We talked about everything from his inspirations and favorite book genres to the games he enjoys playing.
We eventually had to wrap up our conversation as fans started lining up for the signing and photo op. But before I stepped away, I made sure to get my copies signed too—I wasn’t about to miss that! I’ll just continue the rest of our interview online. Here’s what transpired:
– What inspired you to create Maharlika?
Rexy: I lived in the Philippines for the first 10 years of my life, then moved to the US where I spent middle school, high school and college. As a young kid trying to fit in, I thought of the Philippines as something in the past—until I realized there was an exciting future back home brimming with potential.
On one hand, Maharlika was inspired by that promise—of the Philippines defined by its future, not its past. At the same time, having been a human being in society over the past few decades and learning from centuries of history, I’ve seen enough to know that utopian promises are never as great as they initially seem. They come with a cost that often takes the form of blood and silenced voices. The tension between these two ideas formed the foundation of Maharlika (as well as, of course, the more creative drive to make something inspired by the scifi, anime, and manga stories that I love.)
JohnRay: Alongside creating Maharlika with Rexy, I was intrigued with the premise. My enthusiasm with sci-fi mixed with the urge to create something set in the Philippines nudged me to move forward with our collaboration.
– Why did you choose the name Maharlika for your series?
Rexy: Maharlika was a warrior class in precolonial Philippines. But over time, the word came to take on different meanings: to some people, the meaning morphed into something akin to a romanticized ruling nobility; for politicians, it became a go-to name for initiatives aiming towards Philippine greatness; a popular urban legend even emerged alleging that the Philippines was once a kingdom called Maharlika which stretched across vast swaths of Asia. There are still politicians today proposing to change the name of the Philippines to Maharlika. The word itself has become kind of this sponge for the Filipino people’s urge to see a Philippines that rises beyond its station and achieves excellence… an idea that is central to the story that we want to tell.
– What themes or messages do you want to convey through Maharlika?
Rexy: Beyond the sociopolitical themes I mentioned before, it’s this broader question of: What does it mean to imagine and push towards a better world? And all the complications that arise from that—who gets to decide what that better world looks like, what sacrifices are made? So many of the worst injustices in history were done under the pretense of making the world a better place… it’s as destructive an impulse as it is necessary. And yet it is necessary—so how do you as a person in the midst of all that find a way to navigate those complexities without giving up?
– How does Filipino culture and history influence the story?
Rexy: I like to think that the broader themes, characters, and arcs of Maharlika are universal. But the details are very Filipino: you have flying jeepneys, family dynasties, a mystical Siquijor, sans rival, and robot waiters cutting the bone marrow of your bulalo. And then the things that subvert what you’ve learned to expect as a Filipino: a young Korean girl looking up to Manila pop stars and wondering if Korea will ever have the same cultural dominance.
– Can you introduce us to the main characters and their roles?
Rexy: On one side, you have the agents of the Maharlikan empire, led by Team Agila, the President’s own security unit slash death squad which maintains peace by slaying dissidents. On the other side, you have the loose rebel alliance, and their leaders whose motivations are diverse and often contradictory, but united in wanting to break the status quo. In the middle of them, we have our main characters: Mal and Yari, two childhood friends who are hired mercenaries of the Maharlikan state, recruited to quell the rebellion but struggling with their distrust of the Maharlikan government.
– What tools and methods do you use to create Maharlika?
JohnRay: Drafts are made traditionally with a pencil and sketchbook. From there, I transfer the panel layouts to Clip Studio Paint. I initially place these empty panels into Photoshop where I plan the lettering, caption and sound effects. Because of my graphic design experience, I am a stickler for proper kerning, spacing and lettering. After lettering, I proceed to the sketch and share it with Rexy for feedback. It also includes creating backgrounds with SketchUp. If we’re happy with the initial draft, I proceed with a staggered process of pencilling, inking and toning. I thankfully have Sam Gungon assist on backgrounds and other elements to help finish the komiks.
– How do you approach storytelling and visuals in your work?
JohnRay: Maharlika is a mix of manga-inspired visuals with the efficiency of western comic storytelling. I wish I could expand and extend the exposition and action scenes just like in manga, we had to be mindful of the limitations of the format, time, production and logistics in creating our komiks. Rexy wrote the story with a predetermined number of issues so the efficiency of western comic approach aids in this regard.
Rexy: As far as storytelling goes, I’m definitely more of a planner—I outline my stories from front to back and every beat has a purpose in getting to the eventual payoff and broader themes. But the magic for me happens between those planned constraints: when the characters take on the life of their own, when a chapter unfolds in a way you didn’t initially expect.
– What has been the biggest challenge in making Maharlika?
JohnRay: Creating and releasing the issues in a timely manner. But hopefully, we can improve the process and build a more robust team to improve the workflow.
Rexy: Honestly, just making sure we get the full story out there! Making comics is time-consuming and expensive work, especially if we want this story to reach a broader audience. Every bit of support from the readers who’ve fallen in love with our story, whether that’s a purchase or a recommendation to a friend, means a lot to us.
– What can readers look forward to in the future of the series?
JohnRay: Look forward to more world-building, engaging characters, and a growing community of fans centered around the world of Maharlika.
Rexy: I finished the script of the full story back in 2022, so I can promise anyone reading Maharlika that: (1) there is a planned end to this story, and (2) the best parts are still coming up!
Why Maharlika Matters
Maharlika reimagines what the Philippines could be—not just in some far-off fantasy, but in a future rooted in our own culture, struggles, and dreams. It’s the kind of story that makes you ask, what if we rose on our own terms?
Meeting Rexy and John Ray showed me that powerful stories don’t have to come from abroad. They’re being built right here, by creators who dare to dream big for the Philippines. And honestly? That’s a future I want to keep reading about.
So if you’ve ever wondered what could’ve been—or what still could be—Maharlika is for you. Support it, share it, talk about it. Somewhere in its pages is a version of us we’ve yet to imagine—and maybe, one day, become.
