Electromagnetic Tentacle makes irreverent, funny graphic tees that parody Marvel and DC superheroes (and sci-fi franchises), and they do it with a spot-on Pinoy sensibility: Aquaman telepathically chats up a frying pan of fishballs. Ghost Rider pedals a pedicab. Spider-man squares off against Venom whilst they both dangle on a stick.

So far EMT’s wares are only available online and at conventions, but we see big things in store for them in the future. Pinoy Pop sat down with these rising stars of the geek wear world:

Who is Electromagnetic Tentacle and how did you get together?

EMT is a ruthless T-shirt organization determined to rule the world. Or at least make some money on the side selling shirts.

Banded together from the cosmic regions of the galaxy are four friends from the advertising industry who came together one fine afternoon at the coffee house to make t-shirts for fun and possibly other sinister, diabolical secret purposes.

Three members of our fantastic foursome are what the industry calls Creatives. (You’d think a field that calls itself Creative would have been able to come up with a more creative job description. But no such luck.)

These top guns crank out the ideas. Our call signs are Javey “Maverick” Villones, Carl “Iceman” Urgino, and Joe “Merlin” Dy.

The fourth member of our kooky quartet is Janlo “Cougar” Cui–a talented account executive who makes sure things get done.

Without her, we would never finish anythi--

Where are you based? Where is your HQ, so to speak?

We initially considered undisclosed underwater base in the Spiral Zone… but rent was a bit high and their WiFi connection was too erratic.

Right now, we meet at coffee shops, burger joints and cheap restos. A couple of us have a suitcases/plastic tubs stocked with shirts under our office desks ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. We also sell out of the trunk of our cars.

Yes. We’re living the entrepreneur start-up cliché…este dream.