Trese () is a Filipino komik series written by Budjette Tan and illustrated by Kajo Baldisimo. It tells the story of Alexandra Trese, a detective who deals with crimes of supernatural origin. Its first issue was published on October 22, 2005, starting off as a niche work which grew in popularity as readers were intrigued first by the first two volumes' focus on Manila's urban legends, and then by the later volumes' development of Alexandra Trese as a character. The series went on to win several accolades.
An animated adaptation for Netflix premiered on June 11, 2021, and has both Tan and Baldisimo as its showrunners and Jay Oliva as executive director.
Publication history Trese was first published independently by Alamat Comics in ashcan and online format. The komik series is currently available in a collected, graphic novel form, published by Visprint, Inc (formerly Visual Print Enterprises). The retail company National Book Store re-released Trese: Last Seen After Midnight and Trese: Midnight Tribunal with dust jackets, while the local comic bookstore Filbar's re-released the first three books with dust jackets.
A hardcover compilation titled Trese: Book of Murders has also been published and contains the first three graphic novels. These compilations include journal entries from the protagonist's grandfather, Alexander Trese, which serve as additional commentary, providing more history and lore for each case. Trese: Stories from the Diabolical Volume 1 were tales originally published online as early as 2005 and compiled in 2008 in a blog before it collated and published as a book in 2013. Cases #1, #2, and #4 were re-published by Visprint with updated, colored art by Kajo Baldisimo and translated into Filipino by Bob Ong. They also contained the translated journal entries from Trese: Book of Murders.
Trese and the Kambal have also appeared in other publications such as Skyworld and Agents of Ambush.
After the closing of Visprint Inc. in 2021, Avenida Books became the new publisher of the Trese series. Trese Lite Postcard Book Vol. 1 was the first to be published under Avenida Books followed by the reprints of the first three main volumes which coincides with the release of the Netflix anime adaptation. The reprints featured new pages and remastered artwork that includes extended action scenes and original concept sketches by Kajo Baldisimo, similar to the US edition.
Other publications With the goal of reaching a larger audience, the creators set up an Indiegogo campaign for the production of an international 32-page edition of Case 1: At the Intersection of Balete and 13th Street that would contain updated text and art with bonus pages and would also include the same journal entries from Book of Murders. Aside from a variant cover exclusive, supporters could also avail the Indiegogo sketch variant with uniquely drawn covers. The campaign was endorsed by Neil Gaiman. Supporters from the Philippines were given freebies, 2 of the 16 designs sketches that were drawn in 13 ways, and a reprint of the original Trese #1 ashcan.
At the release of Trese 7: Shadow Witness, Visprint Inc. sold more than 300 copies during the 40th Manila International Book Fair. For the 14th anniversary of Trese, a reprint of Trese #1 Global Edition: At the Intersection of Balete and 13th Street was released exclusively by Comic Odyssey and Filbar's and called the "Anniversary Edition" . It differed from the Global Edition in price and size, and included a "self-cover" where the paper used for its pages was also used for the cover page. In the same year, Trese Deviations: Iunctura was released in ashchan format. Another company, Ablaze Publishing, released the U.S. edition of Trese: Murder on Balete Drive, which used the Trese #1 Global Edition comic, along with an exclusive variant cover for Comic Odyssey and Sanctum Sanctorum Comics.
Other languages An Italian edition adapted after the U.S. edition was released beginning September 2021 by publisher Star Comics. The first two volumes of Trese were translated into French in March 2022, adapted after the U.S. edition, and released in one volume by publisher Les Éditions Delcourt. A German edition of the first volume was also released in May 2024 by publisher Dantes Verlag.
Plot
The story of Trese fuses Philippine horror mythology with dark, graphic storytelling and follows Alexandra Trese, a mysterious detective who deals with crimes of supernatural origin mainly occurring in the capital region of the Philippines.
Because of her specialization in the supernatural, Alexandra is often called when the police cannot handle paranormal crimes, by Captain Guerrero, a man who prefers to lean on her knowledge and specialized skills. Alexandra is supported by two mysterious and magical creatures with uncertain powers known as the Kambal and together, they protect the streets of Manila from various creatures of Filipino folklore.
Volume 3 explores Trese's past, when, at 15-years old, she joins her father Anton on her first case. The origins of the Kambal are also revealed in later issues.
Trese was originally planned for 13 chapters or cases. Volumes 1 and 2 comprise self-contained chapters (Cases #1 - #8) and introduce the paranormal world of Manila. Most cases are standalone, with the exception of the third issue, Mass Murders, where Cases #9 - #13 are related and use different cues from previous books. Beginning with Volume 5, the komik series takes on a more serialized progression while continuing to incorporate aspects of episodic storytelling in each issue.
Trese's plot, world-building, and characters have garnered comparisons with American comics such as Hellblazer and Planetary, while writer Budjette Tan cited the former, as well as Batman, X-Files, CSI and Constantine as some of the main inspirations going into the creation of Trese. Tan also named the anime film Ghost in the Shell as a major source of inspiration for Trese.
Characters
Main characters Alexandra Trese – A woman who works as a private detective and specializes in crimes perpetrated by supernatural beings of the Underworld, to which she has a deep connection. She is the proprietor of The Diabolical, a night club that serves the "best kapeng barako" in the street where it stands, which was originally run by Alexandra's grandfather.Budjette Tan, Kajo Baldisimo. Trese #3: The Secret Constellation. Alamat Comics (December 2005): page 5, panel 5. She is usually dressed in black garb and is often seen working in her trademark outfitBudjette Tan, Kajo Baldisimo. Trese: Murder on Balete Drive. Visual Print Enterprises (April 2008): page 95. a black button-down Chinese-inspired trenchcoat. For weapons, Alexandra uses guns and a magical kris blade called Sinag, which was created by Anton from the soul of Trese's twin sister who had died at birth. Trese appears to have a very complex relationship with her father, Anton. Her psionic potential was revealed at her young age and started aiding her father in investigating the mysteries as a young teenager. She finished her initiation rites within 3 years. Trese was initially conceived as a male character named Anton Trese. The initial design for the character by Kajo Baldisimo was a "tough guy" who wields a stingray tail as a weapon. Budjette Tan suggested to make Trese as a woman after he felt that the character was "so typical" and remarked that it would be "very cliché to see another tough guy fighting monsters". Kambal (Crispin & Basilio) – Alexandra Trese's mysterious and imposing personal bodyguards that are often seen floating and wearing black suits. Each sports a unique diamond-shaped mask, a happy face and a sad face. To tell them apart when they don't have their masks on, Kajo gave the happy-faced Kambal a long haircut and the sad-faced Kambal, a short one. The short-haired Kambal wearing the sad-faced mask is the eldest of the Kambal and is referred to as "Kuya" throughout the first several books until he is finally given the name "Crispin" in Book 6. The younger Kambal with the happy-faced mask and long hair, Basilio, is the more playful of the two. The true nature of their existence is initially unknown until it is later revealed that the Kambal were born from a woman and a Bukidnon war god, making them demi-gods, although their father aims to consume them in order to achieve more power. "Kambal" literally translates to "twins" in English and the names after the characters in Noli Me Tangere. Captain Guerrero – He served as a sergeant when Anton Trese, Alexandra's father, was aiding his former superior. Guerrero takes charge of the task force responsible for dealing with the supernatural and mysterious after his superior retires. Hank Sparrow – He is the trusted bartender of The Diabolical. He loves to listen to stories of customers and if he likes their story he gives them a drink for free. Anton Trese – He is Alexandra Trese's father and the former guardian of Metro Manila. He was a psychic investigator and had six kids. He died protecting Alexandra during her initiation rite when he sacrificed himself to fortify the tree. He is first mentioned in Book 1, and appears in Book 3.
Recurring characters
Tapia – Captain Guerrero's right-hand man in his investigations. Nuno sa Punso – A small, dwarf-like creature of the Underworld. Their kind once lived in mounds of dirt or ant hills until humans started throwing garbage and littered their homes. This particular nuno lives in a manhole, does not like the sea, and seems to know Alexandra's father. In the komiks, Trese asks for permission when she passes by a dirt mound, saying "Tabi, tabi po. Good evening po," due to a superstition involving powerful curses being inflicted on unsuspecting humans who disturb a nuno's home. Maliksi – A tikbalang responsible for multiple illegal drag race accidents held on C-5. He is the son of the Great Stallion and a member of the Armanaz herd. Señor Armanaz – A tikbalang and the head of the Armanaz herd. Santelmo – A friend of Alexandra who assists her in some of her cases. Hannah and Ammie – Hannah and Ammie are Wind-people; beings that possess the magical powers of the wind. Hannah is from the Habagat tribe and Ammie is from the Amihan tribe. Madame – A highly influential antagonist with deep connections to the powerful figures of the city, noted to be visually reminiscent of the deposed first lady Imelda Marcos.
Awards Trese: Mass Murders won the National Book Award Best Graphic Literature 2010. Trese: Last Seen After Midnight, was nominated for the Filipino Readers' Choice Award for Comics/Graphic Novels 2012, and Trese: Midnight Tribunal won the Filipino Readers' Choice Award for Comics/Graphic Novels 2013. Trese: Stories from the Diabolical was nominated for the Filipino Readers' Choice Award for Fictional Anthology 2014, and the anthology book Manila Noir, which contained Trese: Thirteen Stations, won the National Book Award for Best Anthology in English 2014. Trese: High Tide at Midnight was nominated for the National Book Award for Graphic Literature in English 2015.
Issue synopses Each issue of Trese is split into chapters known as 'cases', some structured like an actual detective case where Alexandra Trese arrives at a crime scene and gathers clues until the case is solved, while others are written as chapters for the issue's main story arc. Starting with the fourth book, cases are no longer numbered, but are listed in the order they appeared.
Main series Trese 1: Murder at Balete Drive "Case 1: At the Intersection of Balete and 13th Street" "Case 2: The Rules of the Race" "Case 3: Our Secret Constellation" "Case 4: The Tragic Case of Dr. Burgos"
Trese 2: Unreported Murders "Case 5: A Little Known Murder in Studio 4": Starlet Heather Evangelista was found dead in the studio of her latest movie. Trese is called in after the remains of a dead duwende is found in the crime scene.