'Trese' creator Budjette Tan on the future of comics: 'We still want to hold on to our stories'

"Trese" has officially entered mainstream consciousness thanks to the popularity of the Netflix anime adaptation which premiered last week.

The series, however, began as a Filipino comic book created by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo. It was first published in 2005 and Book 8 is currently in the works.

In an episode of "The Howie Severino Podcast," Tan addressed the future of comics as an analog medium of entertainment.

"As far as the Philippines is concerned, I think print still holds... literally and figuratively dear and dear to our hearts," he said.

"We still want to hold on to our stories, we still want to be able to read them in the bathroom," he added.

READ: 'Trese' creator Budjette Tan reveals the biggest thing that Netflix changed from the comics

Tan said digital platforms such as Webtoon are on the rise in other countries like the United States, but physical comics won't just disappear.

Technology plays a role in bringing in new readers, he said, but fans will still want their own paper-and-ink copies.

"What happens after a series become popular?" he said. "It still gets printed into a book because people still want it on their shelves even though it's easily accessible on their phones."

"I think whatever happens this relationship between physical and digital reading material will continue to exist," he added.

As for "Trese," Tan said their grand plan is to reach Book 13 to tell the story of Alexandra Trese. Books 1 to 3 will also get published in the United States and other countries soon.

—MGP, GMA News