Is it FP-friendly? Manix Abrera's Terror Prof Blue Book

(This review of the Terror Prof Blue Book is primarily written in Filipino. English notes are available at the end of the post.)

Noong nilabas ni Manix Abrera ang unang kuha ng Terror Prof Blue Book, ang una naming naisip ay “oh you did not!” Sino ba naman kasi ang mangangahas gawan ng parody ang mukha ng exam notebook na nagpaiyak na sa samu’t saring henerasyon ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan?

Ang orig na terror prof blue book. Photo courtesy of Mel Lopez, na sana mataas ang grado sa kakatapos lang na exam.

Sorry, hindi namin alam kung may blue book sa others. Pero kung titignan kasi ang cover ng nasabing notebook, talagang University of the Philippines talaga ang dating. Pero imbes na UP, University of the Universe ang nakalagay sa itaas ng cover. Akma naman, kasi sa unibersidad naman talaga umiinog ang mundo ng mga estudyante.

Terror Prof Blue Book measures at 8×5.75 inches, a tad smaller than the UP College of Law blue book that we had on hand, which is 9×6 inches.

READ: New to nibs? Get a fountain pen friendly planner

At nasa gitna nga nito ang mga terror prof na hindi matitinag kahit ilang beses nang binagsak sa student evaluation. Tulad ng logo. Ayan.

This can’t be just a UP thing, is it?

Take note. University of the Terror Profs na ang nakalagay dito. At anong Honor at Excellence? Horror ang nandito para mas terror.

Tulad ng ginagaya nitong UP blue book, may mga puwang para sa pangalan at kolehiyo ng estudyante, kasama na ang iba’t ibang detalye para sa exam. Pre-destined na nga lang pulang 5.0 bilang grado.

The product listing describes the Terror Prof Blue Book as “a special high quality notebook, perfect for your everyday terror-taking/terror-making notes! Instant Singko included!” We agree.

May bend at lukot yung dalawang kopya ng Terror Prof Blue Book na nabili namin, pero sa palagay namin nabugbog na siya sa shipping. Masinop naman ang pagkaka-pack. Baka nag-practice lang ng Steph Curry 3pt shots yung mga taga-delivery center.

Ok na rin. Dumagdag sa look and feel ng blue book na madalang naman talaga alagaan sa loob ng bag. Aminin.

Tapos akala ko talaga may tastas sa cover tapos kita yung pahina sa loob. Design lang pala. Bigyan ng uno ang nakaisip ng touch na ‘to.

Sa likod naman, TP ang nakalagay sa logo imbes na UP. Pero kung confused ka sa kung anong TP ang tinutukoy dito, aba hindi ka masyadong nag-iisip na Pinoy. IYKWIM.

Hindi tulad ng totoong blue book, blangko ang 80 na kulay cream na mga pahina sa loob ng Terror Prof Blue Book. Sinasalamin nito ang estado ng utak mo habang iniisip ang sagot sa malabong tanong. Tulad ng “Find the feasibility value of fighting organized fake news machineries as the limit of political clans’ inherited stay in government office among relatives approaches infinity.”

Pero ang tanong: fountain pen-friendly nga ba? Well, pwede na.

Depende sa ink brand. Nagkakalat ang Noodler’s, Pilot Iroshizuku, at Rohrer & Klingner. Pero kinakaya naman ng pahina ang iba, kahit mas makapal pa ang nib point. Tignan na lang ang writing sample sa baba, kung saan kinaya ng papel ang napakakapal na latag ng Robert Oster.

At kung wala ka namang fountain pen, ito naman ang writing test sa ilang piling ballpoint pen at gel pen.

May pirma nga pala si Manix Abrera ang inner cover ng notebook. Sana pala nagpalagay ulit kami ng dedication.

Final grade based on UP grading system: 1.5

Mabibili ang Terror Prof Blue Book sa presyong Php300 sa ecommerce platform na nagtanggal kamakailan ng di-mabilang na empleyado sa iba’t ibang opisina nito sa Asya, kasama na ang sa Pilipinas.

Clarification: We paid for these notebooks and the Terror Prof comic book featured on the thumbnail. Also, we won’t earn anything if you purchase the Terror Prof Blue Book if you click to the shop through this post.

Pen Noob notes:

The Terror Prof Blue Book is a must-buy for its novelty, especially if you can relate to what the cover is parodying. But if you’re very particular with the paper, here are some things that you should know:

This is definitely not a product that specifically targets fountain pen users. So it is already a huge plus that it can be enjoyed by such folks.
The cream-colored paper can handle most brands. But for those that it can’t, going the fine nib route would still show minor feathering. That can break the deal for some. Product listing says that the paper used is 80gsm, paper thickness doesn’t exactly correlate to ink friendliness.
Shading is a hit and miss. Robert Oster Caffe Crema looked darker, but showed some shading on the paper.

Showthrough is strong on inks laid down with the glass pen. But do note that glass pens are wet writers in general. This means though that those inks that behaved well despite being used on glass pens will most have minimal to no problems when used with fountain pens on this paper.
The paper shows shimmer, but drowns sheen in inks. Except for Vinta Kosmos, which still had a visible dark red sheen. If you have inks that sheen but you prefer the base color alone, you’ll like this paper.
J. Herbin Emerald of Chivor shows some feather, and its sheening tendency is quite gone. But the shimmer is there.

Same goes for Diamine Golden Sands, though that one is challenging to take a photo of. Also, check a relatively well-behaved Akkerman Oranje Boven in the shot.

Vinta Romblon is a black ink that sheens. But not on this paper.

Vinta Kosmos shows minor sheen and shimmer.

Sandugo’s monster sheening property is tempered by this paper. Also, see Troublemaker Butanding’s shading at the left and Vinta Kosmos’ shimmer and sheen at the right.