The History of Singapore by the Comic King Tan Fook Choi

The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye

The pinnacle of comic art: fiction pursues truth, balancing mainstream historical perspectives. A look at Singapore's modern history you never knew existed. Winner of three of the highest honors in American comics: Eisner Awards for "Best Writer/Illustrator," "Best Publication Design," and "Best American International Comic (Asian)." Named a Book of the Year by The Economist, The Washington Post, and Publishers Weekly. Translated and published in Singapore, the United States, France, Sweden, China, and other countries. Adopting the original design and printed in a special format, the book fully captures the comic's style and details. The only uncensored, complete translation published in the Chinese language.
【Little People in the Great Era】
Born in Singapore in 1938, manga artist Tan Hock Choi, influenced by Tezuka Osamu, aspired to become a manga artist. Growing up during Singapore's political and social turmoil, he began drawing stories about Singapore's founding from a young age, often incorporating his own interpretations of current events. For example, in his animal-themed manga "136 Squad," the monkey leading the charge symbolizes the white commander who was the first to flee Singapore during the Japanese invasion. He also created characters such as "Ah Fat the Iron Man" and "Cockroach," who embodied the superheroes who aided Singaporeans during their independence and socioeconomic reforms. Chen Fucai is an ordinary man like you and me, eking out a living through comics. His family and friends have gradually passed away, and even his participation in comic exhibitions abroad has been met with indifference. Yet, he has never lost his passion for comics, nor his original intention to use them to convey his care and perspectives. However, a warning to all readers: this cartoonist is actually a fictional character created by the author of this book, Liu Jingxian!
【History of Singapore in a Comedy】
The book's author, Liu Jingxian, is a Singaporean cartoonist who previously worked for American comics companies like DC and Marvel. To draw the comics he wanted, he returned to Singapore, where the comics industry was underdeveloped, to paint stories that resonate with his hometown. While Singapore is a global financial center, it has long been dominated by one party, known for its authoritarian system and harsh punishments. This often creates the impression that while the economy is advanced, the political and social landscape remains mired in the past. He believes it's necessary to interpret Singapore's past and future from a different perspective.
Liu Jingxian created the cartoonist Tan Hock Chai and his comics in a picture-within-a-picture format. In the comic "Invasion," we witness the story of Lee Kuan Yew's early collaboration with the leftist leader Lim Chin Siong in his quest for independence from Britain. Through the fictional character Tan Hock Chai's supplementary narration, we also glimpse the political calculations behind the merger of Malaya and Singapore, as well as the true story of Lim Chin Siong's eventual rift with Lee Kuan Yew and his imprisonment. These interweaving layers of reality and fiction offer a multifaceted interpretation of Singapore's history. This comic provides insights and answers to questions like how Singapore was founded, how its unique system came into being, and where Singapore will head after the passing of political strongman Lee Kuan Yew in 2016.
A Very True Fictional Autobiography
This highly creative comic book, written by Liu Jingxian, draws on three strands: Tan Hock Chye's final oral history, his life experiences, and his own comics. Through photographs, sketches, and picture-within-pictures, Liu Jingxian retells the history of Singapore's founding in a three-dimensional and meticulous manner. Despite its fictional nature, the biography creates remarkably real characters, and Liu Jingxian's critical narrative is closely aligned with the real world. Furthermore, in line with Tan Hock Chye's life experiences, the various pictures-within-pictures reveal his style and techniques over time. Perhaps it is precisely because of the comics that this accessible yet profound form of expression is achieved.
Publishing is victory: a door-knocking brick for freedom of publication and expression in Singapore
In Singapore, the comics industry has long been undervalued, yet this book won three major awards in 2017, the comic book's equivalent of an Oscar. However, due to the author's excessively unofficial historical interpretations, the book's funding was temporarily rescinded. Yet, it unexpectedly became a mega-bestseller, a revelation of the ongoing political tensions in Singapore. To understand the origins of today's Singapore and its social and cultural roots, this fascinating work, a blend of art and history, is a must-read.

◎Recommendations from all parties (sorted by surname strokes)
Wu Pingliang, comics critic Li Quzhong, editor-in-chief of Dazhi Magazine and The Affairs Weekly; Ruan Guangmin, cartoonist Lin Weidi; Weng Ji'an, founder of Monsoon Belt Culture; Zhang Chenyu, assistant professor of history at National Chi Nan University; Chen Yijing, director of World Soft Image Culture; Huang Peishan, freelance writer and host of "Adult Comics Club"; editor-in-chief of Slow Work Culture
◎Praise from all sides: Graphic novels are a popular creative form in Singapore's English-speaking community, and Liu Jingxian is a leading figure. The original English edition of "Comic King Tan Fook Chai's History of Singapore" caused a huge sensation in Singapore. The content is highly entertaining, and it offers a powerful critique and reflection on Singapore's official historical perspective. I'm very pleased that this classic has been published in Traditional Chinese in Taiwan, making this excellent book available to Taiwanese readers. —Lin Wei Di, Founder of Monsoon Belt Culture: This history of Singapore, constructed through characters from a fictional comic, is more realistic and revealing than the world we know. It also demonstrates how comics can provide a clearer path through previously unfamiliar and obscure historical contexts. —Li Quzhong / Editor-in-Chief of Dazhi Magazine and The Affairs Weekly: A unique work… an unprecedented masterpiece. A delightful, multifaceted, and beautiful book. More than a paean to manga, it's a masterclass in technique, a thrilling journey, a deeply enlightening novel, and a resolute look back at the postwar era to the present day. I love it and I'm in awe of it. —Mike Carey / Author of Lucifer and The Unwritten: A masterpiece that rivals Yoshihiro Tatsumi's The Story of the Adrift… with the captivating style of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. It is undoubtedly a first-rate manga masterpiece. —The Beat, a manga website
Part graphic novel, part picture book, part narrative essay, this book shows us a completely different Singapore... Filled with wry commentary on Singapore past and present, it makes comics an excellent medium for storytelling. Relevant yet nostalgic, this book is undoubtedly a multi-layered narrative masterpiece. --The Malay Mail
This book uses a series of comic strips to record the riots and protests of the past. Each chapter is a tribute to the world's great cartoonists. It is also a conscientious work that challenges the unspeakable and redresses the anonymous people in official history. - The New York Times
The author explores the secrets and realities of postwar Singapore and offers a scathing critique of policies that prioritize order over personal opinion. Through captivating storyboarding techniques, this book, a powerful narrative and masterful illustrations, makes for a compelling read. Infinitely captivating, it pushes the boundaries of graphic fiction and is highly recommended for readers who enjoy political satire comics or the works of Chris Ware and Art Spiegelman. —Library Journal
This book not only strikes a delicate balance between unofficial and official historical perspectives, but also, through the medium of storytelling, raises historical questions about Singapore's decolonization and postcolonial era... The author steadfastly places personal experience within the larger national narrative, transforming the protagonist from a mere spectator to a thread weaving history. --Philip Holden, Journal of Postcolonial Writing

2022-09-29

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