New images of Sir Fong 3!

This month's post: MAN + MACHINE
These two images are direct from my new book. Since I miss teaching Science, I'm taking the Sir Fong characters into a brave new territory: Asian science comics.

The series is titled "Sir Fong's Adventures In Science". Book 1 is about Atoms, Molecules, Elements & Compounds.

Some of you might wish I'd stuck to the original focus of the comic: jokes. But I think Asians have been missing out on our share of Scientists and Researchers, and also that Singapore is the perfect platform for such a center for Science and Education. It is a worthy mission: how to make Science fun and enjoyable for the next generation. I hope all of you who have supported me previously will take a chance on this new book!

For those who did not get to own a copy of the original Sir Fong 1 and 2, I am also reprinting a limited number as a compilation. It will be titled "Sir Fong's Jokes From a Singapore School".

One major feature that really excites me when creating the book is that I'm using computer technology to completely create the contents! Every line is lovingly drawn and twisted to my exact liking in Macromedia Freehand.

The hard work and long nights paid off handsomely for myself. When the tutorials in the software didn't work for me, I'd call up friends for their expertise. Although the work is tough (don't think drawing in computers take any less time!), I know in my guts that THIS IS IT. I am finally becoming the kind of comic artist that I'd always dream of being!

I love drawing comics, but I never really liked the traditional paint and ink approach to drawing. I stuck to pencil and brush because, for the longest time, computers were quite clumsy. Now, Computer technology has advanced to such a stage that I no longer have to endure long processing minutes or unwieldy computer tablets.

For those who resist the transition from brush to machine, just stop and look around us.

Iron Man is about a fragile but gifted man who was just mucking about, misdirecting his talents until he got encased in a metallic suit. After that, his dream of protecting the innocent became reality. Obviously the audience loved the show: it is currently still number one in America.

The star of the show, Robert Downey Jr, never reached such commercial success until his acting talents got married to computer graphics.

Number Two in America now is Speed Racer. A movie that will give older viewers headaches, but I suspect my nephew in primary 6 will totally love. Again, it is about a man who didn't hit the heights until he got into his space-aged super car. The visuals alone are worth the admission ticket price! I won't miss it!

Pop Queen Madonna and pop prince Justin Timberlake, currently in the charts all over the world with the duet "4 Minutes", reigned by fusing their voices with computer-generated sounds. When synthesizers were first introduced into the world of music, the technology was not taken seriously, and traditional rock stars poo-pooed electronic music as soul-less.

But look at the chart now.

It really is inevitable. Man + Machine. You can do a lot of good, or you can do a lot of bad with computers. We can't stop progress, but we can steer it in the direction of benefitting mankind. We are the ones behind the wheels.

Something decidedly last century, but still enduring to me: Buddy Buddy. Enjoy!

Survivors

In my last blog, I mentioned that Britney Spears had nothing to do with comics. I didn't know I had to eat my words so soon.

Her new single, Break The Ice, features a Manga video. Another great song, and here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DdCFczrodc

Britney will likely be a sruvivor, just like her predecessor Madonna. Cool.

I'm excited because two of my favorite survivors will soon hit our little island: Robert Downey Jr, in his comic book adaptation of Iron Man, and Sir Elton John.

Iron Man is a comic book hero who is not as well-known here as Spiderman or Batman. From the trailer below, I believe this movie will rock!

Before he finally get a blockbuster role as Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr was already an Oscar-nominated actor. He broke into the scene with his amazing portrayal of Julian, a wasted Beverly Hills rich (but neglected) kid in Less Than Zero. I met him in Los Angeles once, and he was down-to-earth and affable - no airs at all!

Downey's got really crazy with drugs and got into lots of trouble with the law. Sometimes I wondered if he would go the way of River Pheonix, another great actor who died of drug abuse.

Fortunately, Downey looks set to leave his past behind him.

In the following video, he played Sir Elton John's alter-ego, mouthing the words to one of my favorite Elton John song: "I Want Love":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_u6l7EsQMc

Sir Elton is another great hero of mine, He is outspoken, lived his talented life the way he wanted, and spoke out against homophobia. He will be performing in Singapore this May, and I look forward to hearing the great legend sing - hopefully as many of his newer songs as his classics.

Both Downey and Sir Elton are talented artists who'd overcome all odds, gained victory over their own demons and shared their gifts with the world. It is people like them that give us inspiration to battle our own odds, that inspire us to rise and shine.

And finally, Buddy Buddy: