Filipino Comics Art Fridays | Jun Borillo

Every Friday, I take a look at the work of one of the almost 200 Filipino artists who illustrated horror, sword-and-sorcery/fantasy, western, sci-fi, and war comics for American publishers during the 1970s and early 1980s. The “Filipino Wave,” as it came to be called, saw the likes of Nestor Redondo, Alfredo Alcala, Alex Niño, Tony DeZuniga, Rudy Nebres, Ernie Chan, E. R. Cruz, and many others pencil and/or ink scores of issues for DC, Marvel, Warren, and other outfits, helping define the look of an era. 

This week’s artist is the late Jun Borillo.

One of the most well-regarded artists in the Filipino komiks scene of the 1970s and early 1980s, Jun Borillo's domestic popularity perhaps left little room to do much American comics work. But part of the reason for his modest American comics record might also be due to his commitments outside of comics. A deeply religious man, Borillo swapped the funnybooks for the Book of Mormon sometime in the early 1980s, actively serving in the Church of Latter-Day Saints for the next several years.

Before switching careers mid-stream, however, Borillo illustrated two short strips for DC Comics, published several years apart: “It’s Your Funeral” (which appeared in The Witching Hour #29, March 1973) and “Signal from a Dead Soldier” (which appeared in G.I. Combat #227, March 1981).

Below is "It’s Your Funeral,” presumably written by The Witching Hour editor Murray Boltinoff and a showcase for Borillo’s detailed rendering and clear, compact storytelling:

To read all of the Filipino Comics Art Fridays entries, click here.