This is not my works, but a friend's comic (In Chinese, Local Hong Kong comic) "Rock'n Zero" by Tong.

It wasn't self-investment (mine is) but was published by a local comic company, Jade Dynasty Group Ltd ( 玉皇朝集團有限公司 ) .

Reason I know Tong was because I used to work with him when I was around 17 years old in Jonesky Publishing (天下出版有限公司), of course I was just a junior (and the only girl in the team), he was already a really skullful senior who handle some extremly complicated background in the top local comic at that time. He was like a big brother to me.

But after I left the company one year after, I didn't keep contact with anyone from comic industry ( I just hated and disappointed too much at that time and about to have my new life start). But then last year, after a lot of coincidences we met again, while he was about to have "Rock'n Zero", his first comic release to the market, and I was about to have mine first comic (ODS)print. The artwork, obviously is excellent, details, mature, best treatment of black and while with pieces and lines all in the right place. He is currently working on volume 2 (reason I mention is, I saw some post on alocal forum said his comic got no news and probably not having the volume 2 release)

The comic market is surely really bad in Hong Kong for local comic there's no doubt, when locals all think that local artist were crap and only read Japanese comic. To be honest, Japanese comic IS on the top, just if you like the style or not. BUT there's great artist in other places in the world as well, and I personaly know a lot of great artist in Hong Kong. (And you won't believe how great the fan art in Thailand - those girls were like 15 years old already draw much better than many professional illustrators) Why is the local comic always having same style of story, narrow imagination and same style of artworks, was because of the companies' traditional directions, and why would the companies here having such decidion and dare not trying new thing / let different kinds of work out to the market, was because the reders, WE not giving them a chance.

Its hard to be a comic artist and make enough income for living nowadays, why are we still putting so much time, effort and heart on it, was because we truely love it and UNDERSTAND that comic actually IS a culture, that most people look down and assume it was childish (oh you guy who say no, shut the hell up you are still having star wars toy at home).

For the comic companies, I'm sure they know that they can't just use the artist from 80s, the golden age for local comic to be the creator - we need new blood(new artist, like Tong) to fulfill the dream. I'm still not that positive on the future of local comic (neither does so many people who work in the industry I know), but at least we know the problem and .... we should still give it a try. Most of us (esp. teenager in Hong Kong), even think the art work / story seems good in the book store, then after realized the comic is from Hong Kong and say 'I don't bother try reading it".

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