March 1998

Growing up with comics

By Carol Ko

Mr. Philip Kwok Ka-shing, 21, a salesman in a golf proshop in Sha Tin, has been reading local comics for 7 years and has a collection of more than 500 comic books.

“I don’t appreciate violence, but it may be a necessity for pushing a story, such as the use of foul language and fighting scenes,” said Mr. Kwok.

“Reading violence does not help me to release my emotions.

“I’d rather tear up the books instead!”

Mr. King Hung Kam-in, 21, a Year 1 student majoring in business studies at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, read his first local comic book in 1990.

“I read for building conversational topics with friends,” said Mr. Hung.

Photo by Carol Ko

“I don’t appreciate violence,” says Sha Tin salesman Philip Kwok, 21.

Mr. Leung Sze-cheuk, 21, a Year 2 fine arts student at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, has been reading local comic books for 10 years.

“Sometimes unnecessary sex elements are deliberately added,” he observed.

“I don’t oppose violence. Well, it’s fun to read at times.”

Added Mr. Hung: “Sex elements make a story attractive, and I sometimes even get sexually aroused.

“I accept all degrees of violence. A comic book is dull without it,” he said.

Mr. Leung said, “My parents oppose my reading comics since they think that comics are indecent.

“The general impression of local comics on me is that they teach kids bad things, such as telling sex jokes.”

“No one’s ever opposed my reading. My parents said nothing,” said Mr. Kwok.

“The comics are meaningful. Some are from Chinese classics, like Tin Loong Pat Po,” Mr. Kwok added. “I studied Chinese history in my secondary school and got a sense of familiarity and realness from the reading.”

“I don’t encourage others to read comics, for the words (Chinese characters) are poorly written, contentless and have no linkage. They’re only good for entertainment,” said Mr. Hung.

Some readers like to put themselves into the good characters’ situations.

“I imagine myself being Zhou Wu-wang in Zhou Dynasty,” said Mr. Hung.

“He fights well, and I want to look smart, like him,” he added.

[Channels Section Menu]