Search Results

A few days ago, a good friend asked me, “There are other Monkey King-inspired books out there. Are you worried that will hinder your book’s sales?” Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Monster and the Maze. (Book 1). Now available where books are sold! There were concerns in her eyes. She was sincerely asking and truly worried. To be honest, I wasn’t worried at all. In fact, it’s the opposite. I’m excited! I hope the story of Monkey King can help readers generate more interest in world mythologies. I hope when I refer to Monkey King, it is as if I am referring to Hercules, or Thor, or Osiris. Everyone would be like, oh, I know who he is! There is something beautiful about mythologies and folklores. They touch the core of our collective humanity. They are a part of a specific culture, and yet their stories transcend cultures. “Myths are clues to the spiritual potentialities of the human life.” ~Joseph Campbell There are so many great books out there about the Monkey King, or they are inspired by the Monkey King. We each tell the story in our unique ways. I hope readers will get to know the story. Perhaps make a spin-off or a remake to the original tale, just as I did. Here are some of my favorite Monkey King stories: Picture Books (This is a classic created by picture book legend Ed Young. Too bad it is out of print today. But I’m sure you can find a copy in your local library.) Graphic Novels for the Young Graphic Novels for Slightly Older Readers And My Favorite Manga Inspired by the Monkey King Story I grew up reading so many variations of the story, and I loved all of them. Reading a monkey story didn’t stop me from reading another. It’s the opposite! Once I read one version of the story, I wanted to know how another author would make his/her spin on it! It made me want to learn. More please! Some of the Monkey-King-inspired manga and comics I read when I was a kid. I hope you will find the joy in reading all these wonderful Monkey King stories. On a side note, if you happen to be in Los Angeles this weekend, check out the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books! I will be signing there on Sunday! April 21st, 2024 (Sunday), 10:30am-11:00am Los Angeles Times Festival of Books Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore, Booth #368 USC Campus Los Angeles, CA 90007 Come say hello! Also, if you purchase Monkey King and The World of Myths at the booth there, I can autograph the book, and you get a high-quality sticker as a gift! My very talented friends, Benson Shum and Naz Kutub , will also be signing there! Check out their wonderful books as well! Hope to see you there! Have you read Monkey King or Monkey King-inspired stories? I would LOVE to know! Please share in the comments below.

If you tell the middle-school me, the kid who swam in comics and drawings and stories, that I would one day become a published graphic novelist, I think my heart would explode with joy and disbelief. How it that possible? I don’t even know where to start? And, yet, here I am, ready to kick off the launch of my debut graphic novel series Monkey King and the World of Myths: (Book 1) The Monster and the Maze. (Publisher: Penguin Putnam. Release date: April 2, 2024) American Edition. Coming April 2, 2024! And if you live in the UK, the UK edition of the book will come out April 9, 2024! (Publisher: Hachette Hodder.) UK Edition. Coming April 9, 2024. How exciting!!! A few days ago, I turned on an antique computer I used in college to locate a file, and I stumbled upon some forgotten artwork I made back then. Monkey King artwork when I was a Freshman in UC Irvine. Monkey King artwork when I was a Senior in UC Irvine. Ah, life full-circling! How cool is that! There are so many things, from process to challenges, that I want to share with you. I will share them one at a time, sometimes via this wonderful Substack space, and other times via physical or online workshops, school and library visits, conventions, panels, etc. If you have any particular questions, whether if you are a creator who wants to learn more about specific process, or an educator/parent who wants to know how to integrate graphic novels into the young one’s reading habit, or a reader who wants me questions about the story, please feel free to leave a comment below! The best part about Substack is that I have a very centralized place to interact with you, and I get to answer your questions in future Substack posts! If you live in Southern California, please come to the Monkey King book launch party on Sunday, April 7th, 2024 at 2pm at Once Upon a Time Bookstore (2207 Honolulu Ave., Montrose, CA 91020). I will share my creative process and little trivia in making the book, and I will sign and make a small drawing in your book! Pre-order the book to get a special sticker! If you live in Michigan, I am honored to be invited to Grand Rapids Comic Con on Saturday April 13th, 2024 , where I will share in a workshop panel the graphic novel process from proposal to publication. And I will be signing books after. Come say hello! More to come soon! In the meantime, happy reading comics and graphic novels!

Happy birthday, MONKEY KING Book 1! Today marks the book birthday of my debut graphic novel series Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Monster and the Maze (Volume 1) . Yaaaaaay! I am grateful for all the support, from the publisher, to fellow creators, bookstores, friends, family, librarians, educators, and, of course, my dear readers. Thank you for all the kind words and compliments! Truly, wholeheartedly, a BIG THANK YOU! The idea of the Monkey King series was a long-time in the making, but it solidified into a story during the lock-down period of the global pandemic. In fact, three stories came bubbling in my head during that time, and I chose to work on the Monkey King story first. Why did I work on Monkey King ? Over the years, I discover that the myth of a muse magically landing in a creator’s head does happen, but it is far and few in between. Ideas are easy and a-dime-a-dozen, but molding the idea into an compelling story is an art that involves time, dedication, and the crafts of storytelling. It is much more common for a project to brew for years, even decades, before the idea percolates into something tangible that we can work on. This is horrible news for someone who has an attitude of “I want it and I WANT IT NOW!” , but it is fantastic news for those who much prefers the long game. And I really enjoy a long game. For Monkey King , I’ve wanted to do this story forever – since my middle grade years, to be honest. I just didn’t know how to deliver the story until now. I have always enjoyed reading folklores and mythologies. They are like nuggets about the wisdom of life, but they are wrapped in fascinating, imaginative tales. Creators over the centuries use myths as springboards to reflect upon our collective human values. As someone who grew up in both Hong Kong and Los Angeles, I loved stories from both the East and the West. “Read myths. They teach you that you can turn inward… Read other people’s myths… because you tend to interpret your own religion in terms of facts – but if you read the other ones, you begin to get the message.” ~Joseph Campbell With that in mind, I started thinking about how I can incorporate a fun, action-packed and humorous graphic novel series that also draws an interest in world mythologies to young readers. I hope my reader will look at a bookshelf and go, “ I enjoy these books, and I can’t wait to read more that’s along the same line! Oh hey! This Monkey King book looks fun!” It’s a long time in the making, and I hope readers will enjoy it. Celebrate Monkey King and the World of Myths (Book 1) book birthday with me at upcoming events! April 7th, 2024 (Sunday) , 2:00pm Once Upon a Time Bookstore 2207 Honolulu Ave., Montrose, CA 91020 April 10th, 2024 (Wednesday), 7:00pm-8:00pm Southern California Radio Station KMRB AM1430 (Live radio interview in Cantonese) April 13th, 2024 (Saturday), Panel & signing time TBD Grand Rapids Comic-Con Kalamazoo County Event & Expo Center 2900 Lake St., Kalamazoo, MI 49048 April 21st, 2024 (Sunday), 10:30am-11:00am Los Angeles Times Festival of Books Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore, Booth #368 USC Campus Los Angeles, CA 90007 See you! 🙂

Today’s post is quite technical, and it is a follow up to last week’s post on using softwares to facilitate our comic-creating process. As I mentioned in the previous post, after testing out several softwares, my favorite continues to be Adobe Photoshop. Clip Studio Paint is powerful, and it serves as a great alternative for me if I work on the road. One of the best things about Adobe Photoshop is the plug-ins and extensions you can purchase. Depending on your work flow, these plug-ins can help increase efficiency. There are times when I don’t prioritize efficiency and prefer slowing down to enjoy the creative process, and there are times when I need to make it as efficient as possible to meet my deadlines. If you use Adobe Photoshop, here are two plug-ins I personally find very useful. Note: Because we all draw differently, one person’s “useful plug-in” might be completely useless to another person. I am sharing what I find useful, as it fits well with my work flow. Disclaimer: I am not sponsored by any of the softwares, apps, or extensions. I am just a user reflecting upon my personal experience. Plug-in #1: Kyle's Lasso Fill for Photoshop Although Photoshop is my favorite software to use for illustrating comics, I miss a powerful tool that is both readily available in Procreate and Clip Studio Paint (CSP). It’s the auto-fill lasso tool. Auto-fill lasso tool in CSP (a little weirdly hidden). In both Procreate and CSP, I have the option to select auto-fill when I use the lasso tool. This means whatever I selected will automatically be filled-in with the chosen color. In Photoshop, after I selected something, I have to either use the bucket tool to fill in the shape, or use the keyboard shortcut (alt + backspace) to fill it. If I am doing a fill-in every now and then, this wouldn’t be an issue. But in comics, where I have to draw shapes quickly, or when I have to flat colors, I have to repeat this action hundreds of times. This plug-in comes in handy, as it gives me the option for an auto-fill lasso tool. As of March 2024, this plug-in costs US $7. Here is a video of how “Draw Jim” uses the plug-in for flatting. Plug-in #2: Magic Picker for Photoshop This powerful extension is wonderful for painting in Photoshop, as there are a lot of functions, such as the “Tone Lock”. There is a whole list of how it can facilitate your coloring process, depending on what you are looking for. But the biggest reason I use it is because it has the ability to lock “K” on my color wheel. If you have read my previous post “ Do You Watch the ‘K’ in Coloring? ”, you know I am a little particular on making sure K is set at 0 so that my colors will be as vibrant as possible on paper. (I also tend to use a relatively muted palette, which is why it is extra important for me to ensure my muted palette does not turn out too dark.) With the MagicPicker, I can lock K at 0 and won’t have to worry about it as I pick colors. It has tremendously facilitate my coloring process. As of March 2024, the MagicPicker extension costs US$29. And a quick note: I ran into problems installing the extension, but the website was very quick to get back to me with answers (I think within the same day.). Great customer service! Is there any plug-ins or extensions you use regularly and find helpful? Do share in the comment section below! I would love to learn from all of you! Happy creating!

On Kimberly's latest graphic novel series "What's Cooking, Arlo?" Over the years, I found that one of the best ways to improve my creative skills is to learn from other creatives. It is a great way to expand our knowledge from big-picture-career-paths to nitty-gritty details in creative habits. I am very excited to interview author-illustrator Kimberly Gee today. I knew Kimberly through a SCBWI Summer Conference more than 10 years ago. Not only is she super talented and hard-working, she is also one of the nicest human ever. Her latest 4-book graphic novel series, What’s Cooking, Arlo? , follow Arlo and his friends in celebrating food and friendships. They are perfect for early readers! Maple: Welcome, Kimberly! Thank you for taking the time! Kimberly: You’re welcome. I love to chat with you. Maple: Let’s start with getting ideas. How did you come with the story idea for What’s Cooking Arlo? Kimberly: The story idea came together from several unrelated “wisps” of ideas! I had a little 2” x 2”pencil sketch of an elephant in an apron and I scribbled next to him, “cooks up moods” and “miserable stew” and “happy pie”. That’s all I had, and he sat in my file for years. The first version of the character Arlo and the title What’s Cooking, Arlo ? came when I made a promo card (maybe 2016?) with an illustration of a chubby little rhino baking. The promo card was designed as a book cover.  Arlo was well received, and there was some interest in his story. At that point, he didn’t have one. And then I remembered the elephant in my idea file. Scratch the elephant, enter Arlo! (Maple: I love this postcard! I still have it pinned on my Inspiration-Wall in my little home studio.) As far as the my muse for the character himself, I was inspired by my daughter Claire. She’s quite the chef and an eager and helpful friend. She basically lives the series. Even in her college dorm, she’s baking cakes and cobblers and gathering friends. Maple: Can you share with us your creative process? Kimberly: It’s a long, curly-q road with lots of switchbacks and uphill stretches! AND it captivates me. Generally, my process in my studio is workman-like once I’m there. I show up and sit down and draw for a long time. Before I get in there, though, I like to dilly-dally. That could mean taking little idea strolls, listening to podcasts or books, maybe watering the garden, and just generally puttering…noticing the quiet, beautiful things. That’s ideally. If I can’t dilly-dally, I get in there anyway. This is my work, after all. (And, yeah, there was far less dilly-dallying when my kids were younger). Maple: What were some of the challenges you faced in the process? How did you overcome them? Kimberly: Challenges? Nah. NOT! Specifically, in this series, there were a lot of challenges to get the idea to gel into book form. The first format I tried was as an early reader, because I knew from the beginning that the idea lent itself to a series. There tends to a lot of dialogue in character-based early readers. With all those “he saids” and “she saids”… I just couldn’t get the text to sound anything but clunky.  It’s quite different than picture book text.  At this point, it was frustrating because so much WAS working; the premise was working, the world was darling, and I loved the characters. BUT IT STILL WASN’T WORKING AS A BOOK. Somewhere along the way, after letting the project “rest” while I worked on other projects, I had the idea to try it as a graphic novel. That was the key! That was the biggest creative hurdle. I was really rolling then, until the next challenge presented itself, which was probably when I remembered I do not know a thing about making a graphic novel. Maple: I’m so glad the stories are ultimately in graphic novel format! I love that! What do you hope readers take away from the book series? Kimberly: I hope they try the recipe-activity at the end of the books, that breaks down into ingredients some things that went into the making of the mood.  I hope they’re inspired to cook up good things, especially with friends.  I secretly hope they’re inspired to make a bit of a mess, too. Go outside, plant a garden, and stomp in a muddy puddle, even! Maple: That’s wonderful! What are you currently working on? Kimberly: Picture books! I have 2 picture book ideas in the process of being dummied up. Maple: Yay for picture books! Last question: Where can we get your beautiful and fun books? Kimberly: Anywhere! Though bookshop.org is a favorite, as it promotes local bookstores. Asides from the wonderful What’s Cooking, Arlo? graphic novel series, Kimberly has also created many fantastic picture books. Check them out! Kimberly has recently joined the Substack community ! (Yay!) There, she discusses all things picture books! How exciting! Don’t miss it! Thank you for a great interview, Kimberly! We really appreciate it! (⑅ ॣ•͈ᴗ•͈ ॣ)♥

On how I love making plans to form good habits. Hello dear my friends! Happy new year! If I sound brisk and giddy, it is because I LOVE this time of the year. The logical part of my brain tells me it’s just a fabricated moment when Earth finishes yet another orbit around the Sun (“fabricated” because we as human collectively decide this is the starting/ending point of the loop). But the emotional part of my brain, which trumps all other parts, tells me it’s a fresh start. And a fresh start is wonderful – because it is in the dwelling of possibilities that makes life so exciting. Friends who know me KNOWS I am actually a very pragmatic person. Yes, I like to dream big, but I am also a realist. I like 10% inspiration (to satisfy my emotional brain) and 90% actionable stuff (to attain perceivable goals, or at least to give them a try). What does this have to do with learning comics and graphic novels? , you asked. Well, I think it’s an important life skill. It certainly applies to how I schedule my work as a writer and illustrator, but it also applies to other aspects of my life. So, in the first post of this new year, I would like to share with you some of the ways I track my habits. They’re not a brand-new invention. In fact, perhaps many of you do the same things already. I do it because I find them easy and effective, for me. “Goals are about the results you want to achieve. Systems are about the processes that lead to those results.” ~James Clear, from his book Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results For starter, I keep a daily planner. I’ve tried several different versions over the years, and I find what works best for me is a A6 planner (A6 is roughly 4.1x5.8 inches in size). It’s small enough that I can throw it in whichever bag I’m carrying. In terms of methods, it is similar to this video: I like this system because I can approximate my schedule for the day (very important for a freelancer) and jot down all the tasks. I leave the top part blank for stuff like things quotes, books/movies/TV I want to read or watch, grocery lists, etc. In terms of notebook brands, I switch around quite a bit, usually between Moleskine and Leuchtturm (It’s pronounced Loy-s-torm , which means lighthouse in German). Both have nice quality. Leuchtturm has the extra benefit of pages being numbered. I find it useful, but I can easily write my own numbers in the page corners. The ones I use usually last about 3 months, as I use them everyday. I like it because in 3 months time, I get a fresh start again, improving from my last system. In terms of pens, I use a regular Uni Jetstream 0.5 ballpoint pen. They are economical, don’t bleed through the pages, and don’t have a cap (I hate keeping track of where the pen caps are). I took out the rubbery part of the pen for my A6 notebook, as it snags in the pen loop (they are cheap pen loops I bought in bulk). It’s not as nice to hold onto the pen without the rubbery part, but this planner is for functional purposes; it’s not my diary. I don’t spend hours writing in it. I just need quick access to a writing tool without the hassle of hunting for one at the moment. I have a separate notebook that serves more like a diary or a journal. I call them my “soliloquies”. They are at a bigger size (I use A5, at 5.8x8.3 inches) because I enjoy writing self-reflections and philosophical contemplation on bigger pages. Plus, I don’t have to worry about weight, as they don’t leave my house. One thing to keep in mind: I’ve tried cheaper notebooks before. Amazon sells these A5 notebooks at less than $5 on sale. I dislike them because their lines are too dark. I want to see what I wrote, and the dark lines are a visual nuisance. When you’re picking a notebook, consider lightly printed lines / squares / dots. (On the other hand, if you simply want to try out a notebook size to see if it works for you, go for something economical first. I did. It’s unnecessary to spend money on expensive notebooks during the early trial-and-error phase.) Of course, if you are a digital person and prefer doing all these on your digital devices, that’s totally cool, too! I prefer analog because I get less distracted. That’s my daily tracking habit. My good friend Debbie Ohi recently shared her journaling habit on her wonderful Substack post . Check it out! I don’t know what goals or new habits you have in mind this year. Whatever they are, I hope you will find a system that works for you, and I hope you will succeed. I hope you will consider redefining “success” as the courage to take the first step, and the next, and the next. It is in those baby steps that makes it more fun and thrilling than reaching the milestones. (◍•ᴗ•◍)♡ “Happiness is in the doing, not in the result.” ~Hector Garcia and Frances Miralles, from their book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. Do you have specific tracking or journaling methods? Any fun goals or habits for the new year? I would LOVE to hear from you! Wishing you a great new start! Happy new year!

Some reflections, and two recommended organizations to join in 2024. Ah, the holiday season is coming. This will be the last post of 2023. To everyone who subscribes, who follows me, and everyone who reads my posts here: I thank you wholeheartedly. This space started because I wanted to share everything I love and have learned over the years on comics and graphic novels, and I had a lot of fun writing each post. I hope you had fun reading them as well. I look forward to sharing more with you next year in 2024! My picture book DIM SUM, HERE WE COME! came out this January. It’s a story that celebrates culture, family, and food! I’m very proud of the book, and I hope you would enjoy it, too. Creating kidlit books, both in picture book and graphic novel formats, gives me a lot of joy. There are a lot of challenges, too. While the process often feels lonely, the journey doesn’t have to be. I say that because I’ve had SO MUCH help and support over the years. To my family and my friends, I can’t stress how much I love you all. Your continuous support means the world to me. As many of you do not like having your face shown on public platforms, I won’t share photos here. But please know I love you. For anyone who wants to learn everything about children’s book publishing, I highly recommend the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). It’s a great place to learn about the industry, to work on and hone your craft, and, most importantly, to connect with fellow creatives. I am a member for more than a decade. Over the years, I have met many wonderful and talented friends. Their hard work and kind souls continue to inspire me everyday. SCBWI New York Conference 2013. We’ve always joked this was our band photo. (From left) Andrea Offerman , Lisa Anchin , Maple Lam , Arree Chung , Jen Betton , Jessica Lanan . Photo by Debbie Ohi . SCBWI LA Summer Conference 2014. Still a bunch of newbies learning our ways. (From top left) Kathryn Ault Noble , Brooke Boynton Hughes , Andy Musser , Corinna Luyken , Rodolfo Montalvo , Suzanne Kaufman , Katie Kath , Maple Lam . My LA crit-group I met through SCBWI back in the days. (From left) Maple Lam , Rodolfo Montalvo , Ashlyn Anstee , Kimberly Gee , Michelle Thies , Jennifer Gray Olsen , Julia Collard . Good friends I met through SCBWI and did presentations together at CSLA (California School Library Association) 2019. (From left) Benson Shum , Meg Fleming , Maple Lam , Marcie Colleen , Cindy Derby . If you are interested specifically in working on children’s book graphic novels, a great organization to check out is Kids Comics Unite . It’s an online community with tons of great resources, workshops, courses, etc. I have taken courses at KCU, and I found them really helpful. Last my not least, I am SO excited every time I think about my debut graphic novel Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Monster and The Maze, coming out in April 2, 2024! It’s a brand new adventure weaving reimagined world mythologies, filled with action and laughter. I can’t wait to share the book with everyone! Pre-ordering means a TON, as it sends a signal to the publisher that there is a strong interest in the book. I thank you in advance for your support. And while you are at it, please consider pre-ordering through independent bookstores. It doesn’t make a difference to me, but it makes a HUGE difference to the book community and to all the hardworking staff and small business owners who dedicate every moment of their lives sharing the joy of reading to local communities. If you don’t have a local bookstore in mind, two of my favorites are Once Upon a Time Bookstore in Montrose, California, and Green Bean Books in Portland, Oregon. Indie bookstores also sell books online. You can order them and have the books mailed to you, just like any other online stores! Support indie! (◍•ᴗ•◍)♡ ✧*。 Friends supporting each other at book launches. This photo was taken at Once Upon a Time Bookstore and featured on Publishers Weekly. (From left) Kimberly Gee , Maple Lam , Eliza Wheeler , Ken Min , Keika Yamaguchi , Rodolfo Montalvo . Wishing everyone a festive holiday season, and a wonderful 2024 to come! Kidlit friends 2023 End-Of-Year holiday gathering in Los Angeles. See you all next year!

Akira Toriyama took the fights to the next level. *Disclaimer: Some images shown in this newsletter can be graphic.* My debut graphic novel series, Monkey King and the World of Myths , is inspired by the Chinese mythological novel Journey to the West . How can I not talk about Akira Toriyama ’s Dragon Ball , which is also inspired by Journey to the West , and one of my favorite manga series growing up? Before becoming famous with Dragon Ball , Toriyama was already well known with Dr. Slump , a humorous manga series about the daily life of a robotic girl and her outrageously hilarious friends. Toriyama was only 25 when he created Dr. Slump. 25!!! Let’s talk about Toriyama’s art style. Toriyama came from a design background, and his strong sense of design shines through in his artwork. In an age where most manga creators relied heavily on screentones, Toriyama’s mostly black-and-white design palette stood out. Of course, one would have to be extremely knowledgeable in design to execute so beautifully. The result might look simple, but it is extremely difficult to pull off. The keep-it-simple-and-clean line work will always be one of my favorite things about Toriyama’s work. He is a big fan of Jackie Chan’s movies. It’s incredible how Toriyama “translated” martial art moves into his work. His fighting scenes differed drastically from other battle-centric comics at the time. In “Fist of the North Star”, illustrator Tetsuo Hara chose to feature the power in the punches. It’s like watching the MMA. Fighting scenes in Masami Kurumada’s “Saint Seiya” also emphasized on each punch and each kick. To me, the most fun part of this heavily Greek mythology-inspired series was not in the fighting, but in the adventurous seeking of the various protector armors. In contrast, Akira Toriyama’s “Dragon Ball” focused heavily on the fights. The characters flipped, bounced, spring back, leaped… The movements were much more dynamic and fun to read. Toriyama was not the first manga creator to make comics with a focus on fighting, but he surely took it to the next level. The generation that succeeded Toriyama are all heavily influenced by Toriyama’s work: Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece , Tite Kubo’s Bleach , and Massahi Kishimoto’s Naruto . “Forget all the tricks and shortcuts. Get a hold of basic drawing skills. Learn what makes sense to you, and follow your inspiration.” ~Akira Toriyama, via a Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine interview. Needless to say, I’m a big fan of Akira Toriyama. ✲✲*(❁´▽`❁)*✲✲ Trivia: Did you know Akira Toriyama had drawn his editor into the Dr. Slump series? I heard Kazukhiko Torishima has released a book this summer. In the book, he shared his experience as a manga editor, his thoughts on what makes a comic series successful, and his reflection on the manga industry as a whole. I really hope this book gets translated, and we could all learn from his experience! *** Do you like Dragon Ball ? What are your favorite battles in this long series? Is there a particular character you love? I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments section.

Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko became manga legends together. I vividly remember the first manga (Japanese comic books) my Mom bought me – it was issue 14 of Doraemon . I’ve re-read this book a bajillion times. From the point forward, Doraemon became one of my all time favorite manga. Today’s story revolves around two legendary manga masters, one of whom is the creator of Doraemon . Hiroshi Fujimoto (藤本弘) and Motoo Abiko (安孫子素雄) first met when they attended the same grade school at age 10. They went to a bookstore one day, read a copy of Osamu Tezuka ’s manga New Treasure Island , and got completely hooked. They began making their own manga together. They tried to mimic Tezuka’s way of storytelling, including character design, storyboarding, compositions, etc. In the process, they learned a lot about comic creation. One can imagine how much fun it must have been for two young kids to explore the world of comics. After high school, Abiko worked in a local newspaper agency, but Fujimoto wanted to pursue his childhood dream as a comic creator. He successfully persuaded Abiko to quit his job (Wow!). Together, they moved to Tokyo, the heart of manga publishing. They co-created a few manga series together, but the books didn’t generate much noise. Undeterred, they moved into what is now a famous apartment building called Tokiwa-sō, where many famous manga artists once resided. Fujumoto and Abiko continued to collaborate. They shared a pen name: Fujiko Fujio (藤子不二雄) . Their first major breakthrough came in 1964: Little Ghost Q-Taro , a story about a mischievous ghost who enjoyed playing pranks on others. Over time, despite their deep friendship, Fujimoto and Abiko preferred to work on their own projects. To avoid confusion, Fujimoto switched his pen name to Fujiko F. Fujio (藤子 •F•不二雄) , and Abiko to Fujiko Fujio A ( 藤子不二雄Ⓐ) . Fujimoto enjoyed making stories for young readers. The most famous manga series he created was Doraemon , a robotic cat from the future with endless amounts of gadgets to share with a self-proclaimed unfortunate boy, Nobi Nobita. Another big hit Fujimoto created was Perman , an adventure story of a group of young superheroes. Abiko preferred to explore a wide variety of topics. He created several manga series for children, including Ninja Hattori-kun and The Monster Kid . But Abiko also enjoyed exploring darker subject matters, the most famous of which was The Laughing Salesman , a salesman who sold what the prospective client desired but would punish the client when he/she breached the terms, usually due to greed. Fujimoto and Abiko might have walked separate paths as they grew as comic creators, but their friendship lasted a lifetime. I always find the story between Fujimoto and Abiko fascinating. To have a passion in life is a blessing. To share a passion with a friend for a lifetime is a true gift, a true wonder. Hiroshi Fujimoto (Fujiko F. Fujio) (Left) and Motoo Abiko (Fujiko Fujio A) (Right) Have you read any of Fujimoto’s or Abiko’s manga series? What’s your favorite? I look forward to hearing from you on the comments below.

A look at the brilliant Luke Pearson and his great graphic novel series Hilda. The first time I picked up Hilda , I remember thinking: Why is this book so big? At 8 x 11 inches, Hilda is at a size bigger than most graphic novels I see today. (To be fair, a lot of European comics and graphic novels are also at this bigger size.) But I think I also see a reason why it is bigger: the comic panels are done a bit differently from most other “modern” comics and graphic novels geared at this specific age range. Most of the time, graphic novels avoid having too many panels on the same page, especially for younger readers. The reason is that it actually takes some time to “train” a reader to read the comic panels in the correct order. With panel divisions, if you are not careful, the reader gets confused quickly. A confused reader will lose interest and put the book away. Each time a book gets put away, a little fairy dies somewhere in the Neverlands’ Public Library. It just goes downhill fast. For example, when reading George Herriman’s Krazy Kat comics, I got very puzzled. Krazy Kat was created over 100 years ago, literally. Time has changed. Most comics and graphic novelists don’t draw that many panels on a single page. Which was why I did a double-take when I first read Pearson’s Hilda series. There were so many panels on a page! But it felt natural immediately to read the panels in the correct order. After all, much like reading a book, we are used to going left to right, then our eyes hit the “return” button to the next “line” underneath. There is an art to panel divisions. At this, Pearson did a masterful job. Despite having so many panels, there was never a time when I felt confused. The slight trick, of course, is to never have the upper and lower panel stacked in the same width. Sometimes, we also use subtle visual tricks to “guide” the readers. Not only is Pearson’s panel division brilliant, the whole series is done beautifully. There is a wonderful quality to Pearson’s illustrations. It’s a sense of magical serenity. The quiet nature reminds me of the joy in Tove Jansson’s Moomin books, and the adorable, woodland creatures exude a warmth similar to Hayao Miyazaki’s fantasy work. In terms of story, the kind of adventures Hilda went on was the kind all kids dreamed of: exciting, warm, and fantastical. What a master graphic novelist! If you haven’t read Hilda yet, I highly recommend the series. It is now also an animated series on Netflix. It’s done well, but, as always, I prefer the books. I look forward to many more Hilda books to come. *** Do you enjoy reading Hilda ? Which is your favorite book so far? I look forward to your thoughts on the comments section below.

A Look Into the Depth of Osamu Tezuka's Comics Disclaimer: Some artworks shown in this newsletter can be graphic. I only read two of Osamu Tezuka ’s comic series when I was young. It wasn’t until my adulthood that I caught up with some of his other famous works. And they are absolutely mind-blowing. Tezuka was extremely prolific. During his lifetime, he had produced more than 450 comic books. (Some say 700. But at that level, who is counting, really?) The most impressive thing about Tezuka’s comics is the philosophy behind his work. He was a solider in World War II and almost died during an air raid in Osaka. This near-death experience made him weave a theme into all his books: the dignity and values of being alive. The work that amazed me most is his epic series Phoenix . (Sadly, he died before could finish it.) I was struck by the story’s depth. The series pinged back and forth in time, from ancient Japan to the future in outer-space. All of them carry the same theme: war, pain, what it means to survive, and what it means to be human. It’s like a reading companion to Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind . Part of me wonder: if someone today pitches a series like this, would it ever get picked up by an American publisher? For starter, it’s a lengthy story. Tezuka had not even finished it, and it is already 12-books long. This means it’s a pretty risky investment from a publisher’s perspective. The topic is heavy, which means the market might be small. The drawing style leans young – by today’s standard. But content-wise, it gets gory. An art director might (rightfully) ask, “Who is the target audience?” I personally have no problem with artwork that looks like they’re for a younger audience but contains adult themes, but this is something you have to consider when you pitch to publishers. Keep in mind, you have the freedom to create whatever work you want, but the publisher also has the freedom to invest in whichever work makes the most business sense. (Of course, one can always self-publish!) In the end, as a reader and a fan, I am grateful Phoenix exists. *** Have you read any of Tezuka’s work? What’s your favorite series to recommend? I look forward to your thoughts on the comments section below.

Welcome! This is the origin story that kickstarts my substack newsletter. I was a BIG manga (Japanese comics) reader in grade school. I constantly made little comics and dreamed of becoming a comic creator some day. At first, I wanted to be a syndicated comic strip cartoonist, like Charles M. Schulz, who created the wonderful Peanuts , or Jim Davis’ Garfield , or Patrick McDonnell’s Mutts . I even created my own comic strips in my college newspaper. But, alas! The comic strip syndication industry was at its end of life before I graduated college. As far as a career goal, that was a dead-end. Webcomics was at its infant stage, but I personally didn’t enjoy reading on screen. I wasn’t into superhero comics, and despite my love of manga, I wasn’t drawn to the limited art-style back then. Fast forward many years, I switched from an event-exhibit designer to a full-time children’s book author and illustrator. I had the incredible luck to work with many amazing editors and art directors, and I learned a lot about the art of storytelling. I still love and continue writing and illustrating children’s books today. And whenever there was a chance to make comics… In the mean time, the graphic novel industry was changing and evolving. What was once a non-existent market in America became an exciting scene, filled with talents and great storytellers. I wanted to do my own series, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready. But… Why not take a leap of faith? After working on many different ideas and proposals (trials and errors, a.k.a. the fastest way to learn), I came up with a story series filled with everything I love – action, humor, friendship, adventure, and mythology. (Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Younger Readers. Publication date: April 2, 2024) (I want to emphasize how much I love and support local independent bookstores! They are great to both the reading communities and local communities. Ordering through Bookshop helps independent bookstores, and I highly encourage it. I also recommending ordering books through my favorites: Once Upon a Time and Green Bean Books .) My adventure as a comic and graphic novel storyteller has just begun. I want to share with you everything I learned, from reading and observing, to creating and revising, to challenges and overall thoughts. Perhaps it will inspire you to read more amazing comics and graphic novels. Or, better, yet, to create your own. Let’s have fun learning together! *** Are you into comics and graphic novels? What’re some of your favorite titles? Are there topics you look forward to reading about? I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the comments section below.