The
enthusiasm for comic books has become the hall mark of modern Chinese
people’s trendy lifestyle. A controversial medium, the comic has exerted
an indescribable influence on China’s younger generation as well as the
country’s modern culture.
Adolescents -Enthusiastic Comic Book Fans
In
the peripheral area of Beijing’s primary and middle schools, there are a
number of newsstands and bookstores selling a variety of comic book
publications. Before and after school hours, they are often packed with
students from nearby schools, whose patronage has contributed to the
bookstore’s prosperity. A bookstore specializing in comic books in
Beijing’s Liulichang area is a prime example.
It offers a wide selection
of comics in various genres, including action and science fiction which
boys favor the most. School kids, in twos and threes, gather inside and
outside the bookstore, either talking about or exchanging comics they
have just bought.
Since
comics are mainly targeted towards children, primary and middle school
students are undoubtedly their most their loyal fans. Therefore, book
dealers have set their sights on this group of consumers.
According to
the manager of the above-mentioned bookstore in Liulichang, the
principal frequenters of his store are school kids who come to buy or
rent comic books.
As
comics gain chic in China, education circles have shared their worries
about them, and have criticized the fact that pornography and violence
have permeated many comic books, and that piracy have conquered the
market. Recently, the media in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenyang, and
Chongqing Cites as well as Henan and Jiangsu Provinces have exposed
these problems, attracting the attention of society at large.
The
education circles have also pointed an accusing finger at those who
sell and lease pornographic comics to children, stating that they have
gone against the People’s Republic’s Law of Preventing Adolescents from Committing Crimes.
According to the law, it is illegal to sell or lease publications that
contain porn and violence as they may do harm to adolescents’ health,
both physically and mentally.
Talking
about her views on the subject, Mrs. Li approves of the comics about
love that depict the character’s devotion to their affections. Although
she says, “Such topics are acceptable only for adults. If these books
enter the market illegally and become easily accessible to children,
they will have a negative impact on our children.”
Below: Daniel Wong
Adult Fan: Keen on Classic Works
Comics
began to win popularity in China’s mainland in the late 1980s. The
leading audience of the comic culture of that age, who were then primary
and middle school students, have now grown up and become China’s first
group of adult fans of comic books.
This group is no less devoted to
comic then before; and different form the younger generation, they are
fussy about what they read. They select fine-quality comics and turn
their noses up at low-grade ones; and some have even established their
own collections.
While
a number of these adults’ fans have become cartoonists, the vast
majority of them have stayed loyal readers, nurturing the soil of
China’s comics book market. Mr. Zhang, a 25-year-old ad salesman, is
crazy about the Japanese comic book Slam Dunk; and a huge
poster of Slan Dunk’s leading character Hanamichi Sakuragi, is pasted on
his bedroom wall. When chatting online, he identifies himself as
Hanamichi. “Comics have become part of my life,” he said. “When I chat
with my friends, whether it be face to face or on the Internet, the most
discussed topic is comic books. Although I can’t draw, I enjoy looking
at them and I look forward to enjoying another work as wonderful as Slam Dunk.”
City Comics: Appealing to Trend Followers
In
2000, a Taiwanese cartoonist named Zhu Deyong published four sets of
comic albums in the mainland of China, which turned into runaway
bestsellers. The albums introduced a new cultural form to China’s
mainland.
Known as City Comics, this cultural form has now become the
criteria of “trendy” living.
Du
Yu, 1 27-year-old employee of a foreign-funded firm, is in love with
Zhu Deyong’s comic, and always keeps a spare corner both in his office
and at home for Zhu’s books. A tight work schedule leaves his little
time to read other books besides Zhu’s comics, which not only him but
also make him feel as if he were intricately involved in the stories
depicted in the comics.
Du’s thoughts abound in the minds of other young
city dwellers that wish to live a trendy life. This also helps explain
why City Comics enjoy such an awesome favor among today’s young people,
who live an intense life which is plagued by loneliness and a lack of
intimate communication.
(china.org.cn February 17, 2003)
It
must be remembered that Manhua covers a wide geographic area such as
Taiwan,Hong Kong,Singapore,PR China and so on. The influences upon
creators who now have access to Manga and Western comics are great so
defining the style of Manhua is not possible once you leap into the 1990s.
The
Chinese Comics group on Yahoo! attempts to up-date links and add more
information whenever possible to give those unfamiliar with the genre a
glimpse of what is out there.
There is something that I need to point out. Know your history! I have seen quite a few sites -mainly American- extolling the virtues of "Chinese Manga". These come-lately trendies are clearly showing ignorance. I've posted on this before but....
Japanese comics =Manga
Korean comics =Manhwa
Chinese comics =MANHUA
At a very early age I learnt that you DO NOT call a Korean "Chinese" or a Chinese "Korean" or either "Japanese". Check your history and you will know why.
Yes, some more commercial publishers/artists in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) opted over to Japanese Manga -reprints and art style. However, Manhua is completely different and though at times you may think you are looking at Manga, you are not. The style and colours used -the colours themselves are almost eye-poppingly bright- distinguish Manhua in many ways from Manga.
Apart from a couple of Manga books -Junk -Record Of The Last Hero being one- I tend to get left a little cold by the style...and those bloody over-sized eyes!!! Yes, you'll see slightly large eyes in some Manhua but, thankfully, not all.
I find it hard to believe that at a time when the PRC is exporting to much to the West that they have ignored Manhua. I have to resort to skulking around Chinese food stores to see if they have any in -they go fast!
India could have taken a big chunk of the Western market but on the whole publishers there seem content to just sit there and let the time pass. China, on the other hand, has businessmen and the printing facilities (check a lot of the books/graphic novels you buy) to burst onto the scene. Yes, like Cinebook the 9th Art, it will need to build up the interest of comic buyers, but if you are a publisher and the wait is to long -get into another business!
I'd certainly love to see Black Tower's Chinese heroes get a chance (they've appeared in Adventure vol.1 and volume 2, not to mention The Return Of The Gods) to shine in Chinese. We can all dream!
I have to admit that if I got Manhua n a regular basis I'd be more than happy -why don't I get any to review...can you see me crying? Can you?!
But the PRC and Manhua are truly "sleeping dragons" and once woken.......
Ma Wing Shing
Tony "Tiger" Wong
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