The Life and art of Francisco Coching D.M. Reyes, Alice Guillermo, Soledad Reyes, Justino Dormiendo ; edited by Patrick D. Flores.

A Born Storyteller with a flair for the dramatic, a self-taught illustrator who schooled his genius with discipline and hard work, Francisco V. Coching created komiks that transformed ordinary lives into vivid adventures. He nutured a generation of readers who found in his stories not fleeting fantasies or escapist romance, but a world where they loomed large as the makers of their fate and the tellers of their tales. This lavishly illustrated book presents a rich selection of Francisco Coching's works, from character sketches to excerpts from his novels. The essays in the book weave biographical detail and discussions of his work into a concise narrative that illuminates the singular artistry of Coching. The book focuses on key themes of Coching while offering a scholarly look at the uniquely Filipino artistic phenomenon that is komiks. The book daringly posits that the popular graphic tradition should be included in the pantheon of great Filipino art. The two decades, Francisco Coching's fanciful stories captured the popular imagination. Borrowing from the long tradition of romances and corridos along with the moro-moro and zarzuela of the colonial era, Coching re-imagined Philippine history in his enduring works. Masterfully edited by Patrick Flores, this book puts outstanding scholars together in a salute to this prolific artist and storyteller. Alfredo Roces, art critic.