Bring up Chinese Comics!!!

[rookiyong]

What do you think Singapore comic fans or industry players can do to bring up the level of Chinese comics? It is always seem as one level below Marvel.

I dun think that way, in fact all have their own characteristics and are drawn by passionate people. What makes people have that kind of misconception?

In Japan, HK, they are supported by their people and they are proud of the success. If there is any way to make Sg a more vibrant place for the comics industry, I would put my hands and legs up with full support! :supz:

When I hear ppl say "its no use, they are cheap and it wont change" I dun agree, please see the positive side of things and shed light on Chinese comics. They do deserve our recognition.

[Fire]

i agreed with you L-)
i think sg is stil a good market for chinese comics.
i heard and read in magazines saying tat those artists comments that sg is a small market and everything is sooooo limited.....but hey.....think twice.....
if we are good enough....we can promote local comics to overseas....and see wat happen to taiwan and HK comics....they gained recognition in overseas...and the responds are very promising...evern malaysian comic indutries is well developing...see how comic king grow?
i think if more ppl or comic lover or artist combined and work out something for the local chinese comic industy...sure can one!!!
i really hope to do something....
let keep this topic rolling.....i'm trying to collect ideas....i'm thinking to workout a society or club here.....then we can get more recognized...then more activities to come in the future... :rock:

[rookiyong]

I remember few years back there were some local artist who publish their own comics, there was a police story with style similar to HK and I think its a good effort.

But now only left with Huang Zhan Ming full time. Since SG maket is small currently, they can really work together to form a considerable strength, than develop it further. Most things start small. :mrgreen:

[Fire]

:shock:
tru...agree...
i'm in planning process to publish a comic...
do u know any of ur frens love drawing & can draw well & like to participate in this project..pls let me know...
hopefully we can kick off this project this year...

[Hades]

perhaps u can describe the job scope that u going to working on with this projects. It sounds interested to me :D

But I can't draws, a pity that there wasn't any art class manga lesson in local comparing to HK/Jap

[rookiyong]

perhaps u can describe the job scope that u going to working on with this projects. It sounds interested to me :D

But I can't draws, a pity that there wasn't any art class manga lesson in local comparing to HK/Jap

There used to be, but didnt know what happened to them, but it is not cheap so I think many ppl will chose to draw on their own :o

[Fire]

ya pegasus...i know there's one workshop in beach road area, i think it's in goldenmile complex..been there to see see looklook before...
the art teacher not famous....small place... but i think they got a few classes running
dunno now stil there or not...can try check it out :rock:

[Fire]

perhaps u can describe the job scope that u going to working on with this projects. It sounds interested to me :D

But I can't draws, a pity that there wasn't any art class manga lesson in local comparing to HK/Jap

well, actually there's lots of things to do in this project...
let me think...i don hv a concrete plan on this project yet...it's still in a very initial stage at the moment..
but i'll need ppl who's interested in:
storyboeard writting, inking, colouring (using PC/mac), advertising (look for sponsors ) :prayer: need lots of funding to pay bills...& etc
so which position u interested?
actually now i'm looking for ppl who's dedicated to contribute first....talk money later.. :wink: coz we're not a established group yet...maybe later if this project worked out...then we're able to set up a more former studio like the one in malaysia doing comic king....so now wat i need is "free labour" :)) no lah... partner actually...
msn me lah if u interested...i'll keep u posted as n when i hv more concrete plan...u can contribute ur ideas too... ok?
:mrgreen:

[LoneWolf]

This is going to be very challenging but you have my morale support, frankly my drawing is worse than kids but story wise think my brain and imagination quite good :wink:

[Fire]

This is going to be very challenging but you have my morale support, frankly my drawing is worse than kids but story wise think my brain and imagination quite good :wink:

moral support only meh..?? got $$$ support better lah :))
is myhobbyworkz ur com? saw it from ur profile...??

[Hades]

I'm weak in arts, computers etc.. perhaps my contribution was to giving ideas on the story plots :))

As for advertising and sponsor, can finds Chuang Yi since this is the only big coy publishing comics...

Come to thinks of it, $$$ is a must before setting all this up. Me poor guy, can't contributes $$ :( All my savings had gone to my hobbies.. :((

[Fire]

I'm weak in arts, computers etc.. perhaps my contribution was to giving ideas on the story plots :))

As for advertising and sponsor, can finds Chuang Yi since this is the only big coy publishing comics...

Come to thinks of it, $$$ is a must before setting all this up. Me poor guy, can't contributes $$ :( All my savings had gone to my hobbies.. :((

tru tru...$$very important for this project...i can get printing it cheap...but stil need other support...chuangyi? if they oublich for u,maybe they'll support lah...if not....i don think loh.
advertisement can oso look ofr those hobby shop owner , or comic shop owner oso can...actually anyone interested in comic can consider lah...... :prayer:

[Hades]

Seriously it is quite hard to form these 同人志 in Singapore

Esp looking for someone to draws. Still got to up to everyone expectation with good storylines as well as the arts. Must have his own individual ways of drawings rather than imitating others.

It's not an easy job boss [-X

Perhaps it will be more easier to test the market by sending the 搞(drawings) to those publishers. And u can knows how the sales rate going before u really into big business

[rookiyong]

There is a 同人志 in here, published yearly, but most of the comics are towards English style.

If possible, I think you would want to do your own publishing rite? If you send the 搞 to big companies, somehow it seems similar to others and you are like a worker :(

[Fire]

actually...i'm on the more advantage side...i can do my own printing in house...i work for a pritning com... :|
so maybe can go tru chuangyi just to market the comic...or direct to bosses of comic connection, tenchi comics, popular, kinokuniya...& etc or those hobbies shop..just kinda hardwork loh... :shock:
anyway....it's stil too early to talk about this...must get more artists to contribute artwork first.... :bang:

[LoneWolf]

Talk about $$, go kopitiam on my luck.......all saving gone... Anyway, i know of a friend who is also drawing part-time, maybe you know him.... :shock: His name JiaHwee

[Fire]

jia hwee????? sounds very familiar.......just cant recall wher i saw this name...mind intro to me? thanks :supz:

[LoneWolf]

Sure, when we have the time to meet up :mrgreen:

[Fire]

is jia hwee publishing any comics of his own? or he's now working for any comic studio? :D

[Terry Hooper]

:bang: Firstly,NEVER think of your own comics as second to Marvel or DC! Remember,US comics have,over the years,used Korean artists such as Sanho Kim [lots of Charlton comic work] as well as from the Filipines and so on.

I'm 48. I read English comics from 4 years onward. About 7-8 I found US comics but both were completely different -as were the German comics I read while living in Germany [many drawn by artists from France,Spain,Italy and so on]. When DC was going out of business in the mid 1980s who did they get to revive their comics? Who did Marvel grab to do similar? BRITISH creators like Alan Moore,Dave Gibbons and so on.

I see Japanese Manga and,sorry,I just cannot get into them.

I see Chinese comics and it's a whole different ball-game! Colour artwork looks so much more vibrant than that of Japan. The black and white artwork DEFINITELY looks better. Your comics are NOT second to Marvel or DC [much as I love 'em] because you are NOT Marvel or DC! You produce your own unique brand of comics.

If you did super hero comics then they would be Chinese super heroes set in PRC,HK,Malaysia,Taiwan or Singapore -and they would BE Chinese!

Japan calls its comics Manga. That defines them.

Korea,I'm afraid I have,sadly,not seen a lot of Korean comics,but the term Manhwa defines them and their look.

From whatever Chinese community you come from your comics should be called,proudly,Manhua!

It is what will define what you do in the future so that people reading your comics,if they ever get published in the US or Europe,will say "Cool;he started in Manhua!"

You can draw a huge ape attacking One Park Avenue,Shanghai;Chinese costumed heroes fighting an alien creature whose craft has crash-landed in Hubei. China has an emerging space programme and its own cosmonauts -hey combine the previous two genres and add sci-fi!

It will be Chinese. Just as there is not,despite what some 'experts' say,a "European style",a "British Style" or even a standard "US style". So it has to be with Chinese artists! Use whatever style you want or that is quick,easy and satisfying for you to use and gives good end results.

Someone says to you "Oh,you draw comics -like Superman?" You reply:"No. I draw MANHUA!!!"

And while I'm at it,the kindest couple of remarks I got in private e-mails recently called me "Chinese Comics Ambassador"! Well,thanks -hey,does that come with a pay cheque?!
Terry

[Hades]

Yeah, Terry.. U have yr point :thumbsup: But too bad that the HK comics industry only hits in Asia.

It looks like Japan & European's markets doesn't accept Asian titles except a few good one..

Though I'm still supporting HK comics but I still preferred Japanese manga actually :D

Just hopes that HK comics will start a great hits in Japanese's market in future :hello:

[Terry Hooper]

Hades,it is all down to publishers getting out of their chairs and working hard! Anyone I've ever shown HK comics to have liked the art even if they could not understand Chinese!
We have very little in the way of Chinese comics getting into the UK which is why I set up the discussion group and web site. The Japanese began promoting,etc.,other-wise we'd be non-the-wiser re. Manga!
Give me one hour with a Chinese publisher and if he isn't convinced he should not be in publishing!
Terry

[rookiyong]

Wow Terry, you will really boost the morale of people reading this. :supz:

And er, Ambassador will be very volunteery work, but I think you are happy with it :D

Btw, I like this, hope I can see it soon in one of the MANHUA! :rock: :rock:

You can draw a huge ape attacking One Park Avenue,Shanghai;Chinese costumed heroes fighting an alien creature whose craft has crash-landed in Hubei. China has an emerging space programme and its own cosmonauts -hey combine the previous two genres and add sci-fi!

[garyg]

wow, terry never fails to impress, comes into this thread and wham, say and share a lot of your experiences :D at first i thought u're in your 20s :P

i also agree CL comics are not lower than EL :) it all depends on how you look at it. i think there're different comics for different tastes, just like different food for different people. chilli crab is too spicy for westerners, but a delicacy for asians. anyway there's this discussion of whether comics should go towards culture-specific or cross-boundaries...again, depends on how u look at it :)

[Fire]

Hades,it is all down to publishers getting out of their chairs and working hard! Anyone I've ever shown HK comics to have liked the art even if they could not understand Chinese!
We have very little in the way of Chinese comics getting into the UK which is why I set up the discussion group and web site. The Japanese began promoting,etc.,other-wise we'd be non-the-wiser re. Manga!
Give me one hour with a Chinese publisher and if he isn't convinced he should not be in publishing!
Terry

terry! wat can i say.....you r da man! :thumbsup: think we shld learn a lot fr u...teach us how to convince the pulisher....the more ppl know bout it....it helps the industry... :D rite? (i'll be the first one to learn..... :salute: ...long live manhua :hello: )

[joequakze]

...mmm...i actually has my own opinion on western and asian comics...mmm ...some of u might not agreed with me... but still i hope to share... :)

....comics reflect the culture, the way of life, the behaviovr, mindset, etc of the place that they are originated... eg. marvel or western comics... which i feel have a very distinctive characteristic in the art style, the comic format, the way comic production is run, the story concept and plot...etc....very American.... korean artist, Malaysian artist who work for them gotta adapt to their style too... Same goes for HK comics and Jap manga....

...thus, for a 'different' product to break into a market long dominated by products that are heavily characterised and the consumers are already long accustomed to.... it is very diffificult.....

...take Jap manga for example.... comics are like everywhere in japan...they actually have became a vital part of Japanese life style. A comic of different style, look, etc to break into the market will be difficult cos the majority of ppl might not be able to accept or adapt to it... :(

....but..... Jap comics are not juz everywhere in Japan they are also everywhere in singapore, HK, Taiwan, China, Korea....why...?....cos Jap manga started their market invasion ages ago long be4 these countries know wats comic market is all abt.... thus Jap's manga laid a strong foundation in all these markets.... :red:

...Jap manga are translated into chinese...cantonese chinese (HK)...korean etc.... the contents are quite acceptable to the readers of different countries becos... its ASIAN.... the bkgrd, story contents, characters designs etc... are actually quite close to our very own culture and life style...

...Singapore are bilingual...we are fluent in English and chinese and are adapted to both western and chinese culture...thus western comics and jap manga, HK comics all has a share in our market here.... :red:

....thus, i think to promote Chinese comics...or here i call them Asian comics in Western countries....i think...we shouldn't juz think of the art aspect alone...but also more on the contents...the..'culture' aspect of it.... :) ...and also the 'business' aspect of it...cos are the publishers or distributors bold enough to introduce something really new and bear the risk that consumers might not be able to accept it widely....?

:drum: :rock: :supz:

[rookiyong]

and also the 'business' aspect of it...cos are the publishers or distributors bold enough to introduce something really new and bear the risk that consumers might not be able to accept it widely....?

This part will not be easy. 千里马须遇伯乐. If artists are always able to draw what they like, and the publishers are always willing publish it, than the rules of economics will not exist :bang:

Story wise, how can the culture be determined and what makes it a comic with strong cultural content apart from art? Really, I usually just determine style by the art, that's why miss out on some good comics with normal art.

[garyg]

i usually go for the story, plot, characters etc... is it captivating? For eg HEAT...the artist is of course very famous and draw handsome guys, but look at the panels, its all faces and faces, and not that much action. But the story is good that it captivates me and my wife too :D

i've seen some beautifully drawn comics that make me sleep everytime.

[Hades]

For eg HEAT...the artist is of course very famous and draw handsome guys

U refering to 池上僚一 ??? If that so, I agrees that his arts is superb :D

[Fire]

i usually go for the story, plot, characters etc... is it captivating? For eg HEAT...the artist is of course very famous and draw handsome guys, but look at the panels, its all faces and faces, and not that much action. But the story is good that it captivates me and my wife too :D

i've seen some beautifully drawn comics that make me sleep everytime.

true....池上僚一 is a master...and he is famous for drawing faces....expecially the eyes....just look at the eye of the characters....u'll find that....hey!...the eyes really talks!...thats his power!! even mah rong chegn hv to learn fr him and imitate his style.....(if u look closely...u'll notice the way mah rong cheng draw eyes is very similar to 池上僚一....especially at the beginning of feng yun comic)

池上僚一 is lucky to work with good story writters....so combined with his powderful drawing skills....its a bid hit for the comic readers like us....but his story normally more for mature readers...younger genenration will not like it....coz mostly story orientated....like wat gary say.....all the panel is face.....its like watching a movie with a lot of conversation.....younger gen like action pack panel.....

wah gary...u so lucky ur wife oso like to read comic....no wonder u can qiong all the way to become full time artists....i'm sure ur wife will support u....most of our partner dont read comics.....and thats an obstacle for us ...to convince them to read comics..its like asking them not to watch drama series....so difficult...... :D

[garyg]

hee hee, she was influenced by me. me aka "The influenza", always influence friends around me :D

she started with 将太，射雕read halfway go read novel, etc. food comic girls like best :D