Komiks Presents: Kapitan Boom

Komiks Presents: Kapitan Boom is a fantasy drama series from the Philippines that aired on ABS-CBN. It draws from Mars Ravelo’s comic strip of the same name and marks the fourth entry in the Komiks anthology. The show was helmed by directors Frasco S. Mortiz and Dondon S. Santos, with a cast led by Jon Avila, Maja Salvador, and Jay-R Siaboc. It occupied the network’s Saturday evening slot from April 26 to August 2, 2008, taking over from Komiks Presents: Varga and later giving way to 1 vs. 100.

The story follows college student Lance Mercado, who secretly transforms into the superhero Kapitan Boom. Only his grandmother, Lola Gretchen (Gloria Sevilla), and his best friend, Bukol (Thou Reyes), know about his double life. When danger strikes, Lance shifts into his alter ego, Kapitan Boom (Jon Avila), to battle evil. Meanwhile, Lance falls for his classmate Melody (Maja Salvador), but struggles with low self-confidence. Melody, however, is drawn to Kapitan Boom. Though she eventually accepts Lance as a friend, he cannot bring himself to reveal that they are the same person.

The cast includes Jon Avila as Lance Mercado/Kapitan Boom, Maja Salvador as Melody, Jay-R Siaboc as a different character, Thou Reyes as Bukol, Mariana Del Rio as Cheska, Isay Alvarez as Harmony, Gloria Sevilla as Lola Gretchen, Ana Capri as Rebecca “Becky” Mercado, Bembol Roco as Hector Dasmaquinoz, Marvin Raymundo as Tristan Ballesteros, Ina Raymundo as Queenie Romualdez, Joem Bascon as Lapu-Lapu, Jordan Castillo as Red, Railey Valoroso as Ichiro, Buboy Villar as Young Lance Mercado, Maricar Reyes as Young Gretchen, and Mariel Rodriguez as Varga.

Jay-R Siaboc performed the theme song for the series. In 2008, while ABS-CBN aired this weekly show, GMA also broadcast another Mars Ravelo classic, the daily telefantasya Dyesebel—both Ravelo adaptations premiering that same year.