Early issues of Tagalog Klasiks

Tagalog Klasiks (Isinalarawan) first came out in 1949, meant to focus on Filipino and foreign classic tales. They could be fictional and real heroes, Arabian Night and fairy tales, legends, great love stories, kings and queens of yore. Some of them were culled from the stories of Lola Basyang.

The early issues of Tagalog Klasiks (1949) featured on its cover colored illustrations of such classic tales and characters.

Tagalog Klasiks was obviously patterned after America’s Classic Comics, then very popular in the Philippines.

Eventually, Tagalog Klasiks published contemporary stories which were adapted for the big screen. They included the Tessie Agana starrers Roberta and Rebecca, penned by Mars Ravelo. Also Carmen Rosales’ Inspirasiyon, again written by Mars Ravelo. Carlos Gonda’s Recuerdo, topbilled by Fred Montilla, Gloria Romero, Ramon Revilla and Myrna Delgado.

Until the ‘70s, Tagalog Klasiks was widely read along with three other Ramon Roces publications: Pilipino, Espesyal and Hiwaga Komiks. — RKC