Kara Bodegón-Hikino is a Filipino cartoon illustrator, author, and semiretired music journalist. She grew up hoping to become a marine biologist to study sharks but ended up in the music industry, where she wrote for publications like Billboard, Bandwagon Asia, and PULP Magazine. She also worked from backstage to the photo pit at concerts and designed album covers and merch for some pretty cool bands and artists. These days, she sells stickers and little trinkets as KARAKUGAKI at local art markets and conventions. Squalo & Mage vs. the Rage of the Bakunawa is her first graphic novel.


Kara lives in a very music home with her husband and their son (who they’re training to become a Pokémon Master) in the south side of Manila. Learn more at karabodegon.com