This year’s Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong will see hundreds of thousands of fans descend on the city’s Convention and Exhibition Centre between 26 to 30 July, 2019. But this is no imported fandom – Hong Kong has a proud history of comics and creativity.
Hong Kong comics started out humbly in the 1930s, and reached their prime in the ’80s. At their peak, Hong Kong comics sold five million copies a year, worth HK$100 million.
The hapless Old Master Q and his friends have entertained generations since the ’60s.
And artist Theresa Wai-chun Lee made her name in the ’60s with the stylish Miss 13 Dots.
Martial arts heroes have always been the most popular, such as Tiger Wong from Oriental Heroes.
Left: Ho-man Fung/AFP
But it’s not all fists of fury. Alice Mak’s adorable McDull has gone from comics to TV to seven feature films.
The city’s comics have gone international; Hong Kong’s Raman Hui was the character designer of Shrek. And The Ravages of Time has gone from local comic to global hit – it’s a big-time mobile game, too.
While comics sales are down, the fans are still fervent. Hong Kong’s toy industry is going strong – but with a shift to western superheroes.
