Rafael Kayanan stated in a 2007 interview that he "grew up with Filipino Komiks masters like Alcala, Coching, and Redondo mixed in with Kirby, Sy Barry's The Phantom, Kubert's Tarzan, and Hal Foster's Prince Valiant.
[11] Rafael co-created the third character to be called Spider-Woman named Mattie Franklin published by Marvel Comics first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man” #441 (1998) Kayanan is a Master-level edged weapons (knife, sword, tomahawk) expert and instructor in Sayoc Kali.
Kayanan was a development artist, fight trainer and weapons consultant for Paramount Pictures adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars.
Kayanan designed fights for the main cast of LL Cool J, Chris O' Donnell, Daniela Ruah and Eric Christian Olsen, as well as special guest stars Danny Trejo,[13] Ernie Reyes Jr.,[14] and Daniel Henney.
Rafael Kayanan was a set illustrator and story board artist for the Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Broadway show, directed by Julie Taymor with music created by Bono and the Edge.
[18] Kayanan’s Sayoc Winkler RnD Hawk is also featured in both the tv and book series Terminal List written by Jack Carr As artist unless otherwise noted