Difference Engine, a young Singapore-based publisher has published its first comics anthology with 20 writers and illustrators from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. The call for submissions from across the region began in May 2019 and ended in July 2019. With the theme, ‘Sound’, creators were ‘challenged to push the boundaries of depicting the unseen through the medium of visuals and words, while telling stories important to them.’
From the 103 submissions received, editors Charis Loke and Budjette Tan selected 13 stories for the anthology.
“...comics anthologies ... play an important role in showcasing new and not-so-new talents and bringing different writers and artists together.”
—CT Lim, country editor (Singapore) of the International Journal of Comic Art
Charis Loke is an illustrator based in Malaysia. Among her many projects is her work with Arts-ED Penang, designing and supporting their community-based arts and creative education to promote cultural sustainability and placemaking
Filipino creative director and writer Budjette Tan together with artist Kano Baldismo are the creators of TRESE, a horror/crime comics series which is being adapted into a Netflix anime series.
Comics and graphic novels are an increasingly popular literary form in Southeast Asia with significant talents from the region. The 324-page and three-category Eisner Award winner (2017) ‘The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye’ by Sonny Liew comes to mind.
Sonny Liew is also one of the editors of the Liquid City comics anthology from Southeast Asia, published by Image Comics, USA. The first volume was published in 2008 with the third and latest volume published in 2014.
“Liquid City has established itself as one of the most intriguing anthology series on the comic landscape … the collection featuring the work of Southeast Asian creators is … one of the most beguiling collections of talent largely unknown in the west, and provides a wealth of curious comics in each volume.” Comics Alliance
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