Filipino artist Benjamin Lee De Guzman was featured in the US based publication AsianFeed for his relatable Asian stories inspired by Ned’s Lola in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The publication noticed the artworks of Benjamin for his different and funny take on Filipino grandmothers on a millennial and Gen Z point of view.
In an interview with GMA Pinoy TV’s Global Pinoy Unlimited, Benjamin shared how this project came about.
“I’m actually an animation lead for Activision. So, you know, it’s for video games. So, when the pandemic hit, you know, I work from home. I always want to make sure that I’m still sketching. I tend to draw things that interest me.”
The inspiration to do a comic cover of Ned’s Lola started when he saw her cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Depicting the ways and standards of a Filipina grandmother, the relationship between Ned and his Lola reflected to what Benjamin experienced in real life.
“When that happened in Spider-Man, it was amazing. This is like Ned is essentially me because [as] I grew up, my Lola was one of the ones that raised me and I wanted to make sure that I kind of capture that. I didn’t think I would see that in the big screen. It was a very big deal to me.”
In “The Further Adventures of Ned’s Lola,” Benjamin showed Venom being compared to the Filipino dish “dinuguan” and how a crucifix might get rid of Green Goblin and the karaoke against Carnage.
Because it was such a big hit, even Mary Rivera, the actress who portrayed Ned’s lola heard about Benjamin’s artworks.
“Her family saw the drawings and they passed it on to her and she saw it. She wanted prints, so I sent her prints and she said she would be willing to sign them. So, I sent her something to sign and she actually mailed them back to me.”
Now, Benjamin is more inspired to share his Philippine heritage in the work he does.
“I do want to continue making these. I love making them. I want to make sure that I still love making these covers and I still do something that I feel people will love. Both my lolas are so important to me that I wanted to make sure that I saw both my Lola’s and Mary Rivera’s character.”
Benjamin’s proud Pinoy moment was more amplified by Filipinos who went #StrongerTogether in promoting his comic covers.
“I’m just very happy that my work is out there. Finally, as Filipinos and Filipino-Americans like us can see ourselves in all these kinds of different media. It shows that that’s how much our community is so strong and we’ll support each other. It’s so great to see that kind of representation.”
Who would have thought that Filipino grandmas can make it to Hollywood? Ned’s Lola and Benjamin’s short stories only show that the values and traits elder Filipinos pass on to younger generations are something worth sharing and worth keeping.
For more inspiring stories like this, watch “Global Pinoy Unlimited” on GMA Pinoy TV. Visit www.gmapinoytv.com/subscribe for more details!
