Popular Book Fair at Singapore Expo

Popular Bookstore held its March school holiday book fair at the Singapore Expo over the weekend. I was invited to participate, which is a great honour because my book and publishing company Ottonium are less than a year old!


I went for two days of the 3-day exhibition. Reaching out to the regular Popular customers is a great experience for myself. Kids as usual are amongst the most enthusiastic and open to new ideas, but so are the parents! Once the announcement about my book is made, my team got ready to field questions from families flocking to our location! Everytime I spoke to a parent, my heart went "wow!" at his/her dedication towards the child/children's education, happiness and improvement.

Being at the fair also brought unexpected insight and delight . . . from Mr Midnight!


I was buying myself a frappucino after the first day, when this cool Ang Moh guy standing next to me asked, "how was your day?" Looking at his exhibitor's tag, I figured he was an exhibitor but didn't know what was he exhibiting. It was only after we chatted a bit that I realised he was from Flame of The Forest, a successful local publisher with household titles such as "Singapore Ghost Stories" and "Mr Midnight". These books not only sold incredibly well, but changed the local publishing landscape. "It was hard at first - some bookstores would not even stock our books!" he shared, "but after a few years of persistence, things took off in a big way."

I was so bowled over by his generous sharing that I did not even ask his name. Later, when my mind cleared, I realised I must be talking to Alex Chacko - founder of Flame of the Forest!



Another great occasion was meeting Gary Goh. I'd mentioned his comic books in this blog previously, but never got to meet him. Well, that weekend we joined forces! He invited me to his location, and as I started drawing to entertain the kids, he walked up and down the exhibition hall with his trusty loud speaker.

While I was at the exhibition for only a few hours, Gary was there throughout. He talked and talked and talked, and we even went to make general broadcasts together - he in Mandarin, I in English. His dedication and conviction inspired me! Now this is the guy who quit his teaching job before I did, and started his comic studio dream years before me, so in some ways I'm walking in his footsteps!


On the last hour before I wrapped up my time at the Expo, a boy called Marcus came by. He is very independent, and has been well-trained by his parents to handle situations by himself. So he started making suggestions - "why don't you draw this?" - and even helped in my drawing. Moved by his can-do spirit, I drew him a cover of my book. Given that my book was entirely drawn in the computer, there were no hard copy of my own drawing on paper on Sir Fong's Adventures . . . until now. And Marcus owns it!



Two beautiful ladies are responsible for making this a great weekend for Sir Fong: Dorothea Lee, Operations Manager for this event and Amy Woo from my distributor Marketasia. They're the ones whose leadership made me one step towards the kind of publishers that Alex Chacko and Gary Goh are.


Again, to Singapore parents and Singapore kids. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Announcing a new Ottonium project!

I started my little publishing company out of necessity. Ottonium Comics was started because I did not want to follow the rules and schedules of other publishers. From the mouths of my fellow comic artists, some publishers publicized my friends' works poorly, others did not pay the artists their dues. "I was made to think that my work was bad, even though the books were sold out," said one of my friends, "and up till today (the publisher) did not pay me a cent."

We move forward on our journeys with only our hearts and passions as guide. We often do not understand why we have to take these paths in life. But as I am finding out gradually, if we follow our hearts and learn from our experiences, life helps in mysterious ways. When we are ready, life will take our hands and lead us to our dreams.

After publishing Sir Fong's Adventures In Science Book 1 with Ottonium Comics, I realised that the little company has some really exciting potential. So, without further delay, i decided my company will take on a different kind of project: MONKEY KING BLACK + WHITE.


The seeds of this project was planted more than ten years ago. See the picture above? A grand set inside Beijing Film Studio! The gorgeous palace interior was built for a planned movie Uproar In Heaven, an adaptation of a Monkey King story. I was assistant to the director.


Hundreds of beautiful storyboards were drawn - a sample is shown above, as drawn by my ex-colleague Ye Feng. Hundreds of costumes made. An army of artists worked for a year to prepare the filming of the most ambitious and expensive live action China movie in to be released in 1998.


The director, Zhang Jianya, was a classmate of Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige. His vision was great, and he lead us into the studios week after week, month after month. We were all happy to follow, because we believed that this movie would make film history.


It was during the filming that I rediscovered my love for drawing comics. Simply by participating in the project, life gifted me with the reawakening of my passion. It also gifted me with the publication of my first comic book Buddy Buddy (pictured above).


But life also said, "you are not ready to do the Monkey King." For after a year and a half of hard work, our hopes were dashed when the investor went bankrupt. The movie folded before filming could go into full swing, and the crew went on to other projects. I returned to Singapore, and would languish in an uncertain future for quite a few years during the Economic Storms of 1997. I shelved my Monkey King dreams, and told myself over and over, "I am not ready!"


In 2007, exactly ten years since coming home to Singapore, I put my foot down and decided to fear no more. I imagined myself as the Monkey King - like so many fans of the Asian mythical hero - and he has just been freed from Buddha's imprisonment for 500 years.

So, without further delay, I declare to you all I am ready. My dear friends, announcing the brand new project by Ottonium Comics. Thank you all for reading!

Happy Chinese New Year + Monkey King!

Earlier last week I sent out a digital CNY greeting card. Zaobao (our main Chinese newspaper) columnist Lim Fangwei received it and included it in his Zbnow comics page on the 21st Jan (Wed), titled "Anime/comics greeting cards welcome the Year of the Ox".

Why use the Monkey King for the card? In Chinese folklore, the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) is the sworn-brother of The Ox Demon King (Niu Mowang). As economists forecast a gloomy picture of negative economic growth around the world, I hope that everyone can be as resourceful and powerful as the Monkey King in dealing with this new year's challenges.

"Fear Not The Ox!"

Just click on the pictures below for a full-sized ecard and send it as an encouragement to all your friends!

Another reason why I am invoking the Monkey King this year is because I am thinking of publishing a comic anthology of the Monkey King. But I'll talk about that in a later blog post. Instead, I'd like to share with you a most wonderful comic book I just read:

"American Born Chinese" is a comic book by Asian American artist/high school teacher Gene Luen Yang. Yang skillfully weaves the Monkey King story into his personal experience as an Asian American.

I studied in America, so I can appreciate what it feels like to be a minority race: you try so hard to fit in and be accepted into that society, and yet there are many road blocks you must overcome along the way. I won't spoil the powerful message it delivers in the end, but I am just delighted that there are still fresh ideas that spring from such a classic character. To see the Monkey King from Yang's comics is a joy, and an inspiration.

Highly recommended!

Of Exercise Bands and Childhood Heroes

In the January issue of What's Up, Singapore's Newspaper for Students, you can catch Sir Fong and a few bunnies talking about the science of exercising. This is a health ad sponsored by Coca Cola about a kind of exercise band! Yes, only if you exercise correctly, you will get the benefit of health and strong strength!

Special thanks to Grace Tang of Pei Chun Public. She wrote in the paper, "I hope Mr Otto Fong will create more comic books about science to encourage students to love this subject more."

Dear Grace, I am now working on Sir Fong's Adventures In Science Book 2. Thank you for your encouraging words. I will keep it in my heart when I work, so i will do my very best!

In the same issue, you can read about Singapore's history in a comic series by a person whose comic work once made me happy as a kid myself: Morgan Chua.

When I was young, Mr Chua's personal icon (it is a cute little bull, I think) - shown below - accompanied his every comic drawing in the Far Eastern Economic Review. I don't understand politics when I was a kid, but I always loved his little bull making funny remarks.

If you want to learn about Singapore's history in a fun, pictorial way, you can read Mr Morgan Chua's comic book collection of his best works in "My Singapore - sketches by Morgan Chua".

Ask your history teachers to go buy!

Back to School!

A Happy Back 2 School to all u anxious kids and parents out there!

Those of you at Telok Kurau has a special treat in store. A little comic booklet drawn by myself that lets you know you're in a very special school, and that you can be sure to have a great learning environment. This primary school has a great tradition to uphold: the great MM Lee Kuan Yew got his start there (you'll see him as a young student in the booklet)!

While I am no longer teaching in school, I am convinced that the key to a great Singapore - a country we can be proud of - lies in a great education system. That is why I will be starting the planning of Sir Fong's Adventures In Science Book 2.

Take a good look: these are your fellow Singaporeans!

In two days' time, we bid 2008 farewell and welcome 2009.

It is timely to look back and give thanks for all the blessings we are given. For me, the greatest blessing I received are from the countless Singaporeans whom I met. I have met more Singaporeans in 2008 than I ever had in my life!

Whether it's conducting a workshop, or sharing a seminar session, or going to schools to promote my comic book, or working with someone on a new comic project, I see a lot of my fellow country men and women.

I am present to an abundance of beauty. Singaporeans are beautiful, and I am still in awe that I did not realise that sooner. I still cannot believe that I am a part of you!

Recently, I conducted a series of workshops for people from different government bodies. As we worked together on their comic ideas, I am amazed at their creativity and sense of humour.

They may not know how to draw at first, but they are willing to give it a good try.
They may seemed reserved and quiet at first, but they come through with their ideas.
They may have limited resources (I deliberately allowed only two types of markers), but they create and communicated effectively with their artworks!

Look at their drawings and you will see we have much in common.

I was brought up to be afraid to look at people in their eyes. Maybe because I heard too much about fights that broke out during staring incidents amongst gangsters in the distant past.

But when I do, and open myself up to their worlds, I find so much in common (I know, this sounds so hippie!).

Yet, if you sit down with a fellow Singaporean, and look around at all that we have achieved in such short decades, you can truly feel proud to be a part of this country (ok, now I'm sounding very National Education!).

So, what's the secret of being happy? I urge you to look fellow Singaporeans in the eyes more. If someone clears your tray at a coffee shop, look him or her in the eyes and say 'thanks'. If someone smiles at your dog, smile back on your dog's behalf. If someone stops for you at the zebra-crossing, give him or her a wave of thanks.

Thank you all for reading my blogs, whether you see eye-to-eye with me on certain issues.

May all of us be prosperous and happy in 2009!

Yours sincerely,
Otto

Merry Christmas!

Thank you Straits Times! Our main local paper gave my Sir Fong bunny an opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas today in Life! section. I am humbled!

Here's the online version:

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_318476.html

Last week I went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A few of the artists were there to sign for the launch of Liquid City in Kuala Lumpur's Kinokuniya bookstore. I am very happy to see my Sir Fong books in Malaysia.

I got to meet Tan Eng Huat. He has pencilled and inked for Silver Surfer, Batman and Doom Patrol. I also got to buy one of his original artworks, but that's another story I'll post in a while.

I also met Muhamad Azhar Abdullah and Kaoru of Gempak, Malaysia's most popular comic magazine.

Here's Leong Wan Kok, a fellow artist in Liquid City. I will be highlighting his comic work here soon!

Anyway, to all of you who are reading this and supporting me in one way or another, to all of you who are my friends or fans, I wish you a Merry Christmas!