Nick Manabat
Nick Manabat was a part-Filipino comic sketch artist known for his notable contribution to the comic book world through the co-creation of the character Cybernary, featured in the popular Deathblow series. Born in Hong Kong to Filipino and Portuguese parents and raised in Australia, Manabat was a self-taught artist influenced by fantasy legends like Frank Frazetta and Boris Vallejo. His artistic style, characterized by dark lines and intricate shading, emphasized musculature and sinew, aligning perfectly with the postapocalyptic themes of Cybernary.
Manabat's career took off after winning the Super Hero Art Competition in the Philippines in 1992, leading to a collaboration with writer Steve Gerber. Unfortunately, after only four issues of Cybernary, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, which ultimately ended his artistic journey in 1995. Despite his short career, Manabat's legacy endures through his unique vision of anti-heroism and the impact of his work on the comic industry, with Cybernary being remembered as a striking character that balances beauty and fear. His peers and fans continue to celebrate his talent and contributions to art long after his passing.
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Subject Terms
Nick Manabat
Hong Kong–born comic book artist
- Born: September 2, 1972
- Place of Birth: Hong Kong
- Died: November 5, 1995
- Place of Death: Los Angeles, California
Nick Manabat was a part-Filipino comic sketch artist who gained notoriety from his cocreation of the anti-heroine Cybernary, which initiated the backup story to the commercially successful Deathblow comic book series. The artist’s use of dark lines and shading to highlight musculature and sinew contributed to the development of his signature style.
Area of achievement: Art
Early Life
The son of Filipino and Portuguese parents, Nick Manabat was born in Hong Kong and raised in Australia. He was a self-taught artist who was inspired by the styles of fantasy artists such as Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, Simon Bisley, Ken Kelly, and Bernie Wrightson. Manabat also studied sports and bodybuilding magazines to develop his style, and he was considered to be a talented model maker and sculptor.
Life’s Work
Manabat was discovered in the Philippines by Filipino American artist William (Whilce) Portacio in 1992 after beating eight hundred other artists to win the Super Hero Art Competition. Portacio brought Manabat to California to meet with other Filipino and comic artists. Manabat was soon offered a job with Homage Studios, an imprint of WildStorm Productions, which was acquired in 1998 as an imprint by DC Comics.
Manabat began working with writer Steve Gerber to cocreate the character Cybernary in a follow-up to Jim Lee’s hit comics series, Deathblow. With its dark, postapocalyptic world, Cybernary was a perfect fit for Manabat and his drawing style. After only four issues, however, Manabat was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1994 and could not continue the series. Gerber tried to continue with new artists, but he claimed they lacked Manabat’s grasp of the character and the cyber society the writing team was creating. The series was then retooled and released as Cybernary 2.0 with new writers and artists. His Cybernary character appeared in sixty-six issues.
Manabat battled his disease for over a year at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center. He died in 1995, and his remains were sent to Australia.
Significance
Those who knew Manabat have described him as humble, soft-spoken, and inspirationally talented. Many believe that his groundbreaking antiheroine Cybernary—with her sleek, scantily clad, feminine physique and intricate musculature juxtaposed with crisp cybernetics and hard, metallic armor—is as frightening as she is beautiful. His work, with its use of heavy black lines, has been categorized as haunting, heavy metal, and post-apocalyptic. Despite the brevity of his artistic career, Manabat’s work has been admired by his peers and sought after by his fans years after his death.
Bibliography
Alanguilan, Gerry. “The Nick Manabat Sketchbook.” Alanguilan.com. n.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2012.
"Cybernary." Comic Vine, 16 Nov. 2021, comicvine.gamespot.com/cybernary/4005-21981/. Accessed 21 Aug. 2024.
Tan, Budjette. “Those Marvelous Super Pinoy Comic Book Creators.” Inquirer Lifestyle. Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2 July 2011. Web. 28 Feb. 2012.