Singapore graphic novel makes a splash in the US
The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye has been well received. Photo: Epigram Books
A graphic novel about Singapore’s history has made the best-seller lists of both The New York Times (NYT) and Amazon, while garnering critical acclaim from numerous publications in the United States.
The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, by award-winning artist Sonny Liew, debuted at number eight on NYT’s hardcover graphic novel best-seller list. This ranking (see below) was shared with Liew by the work’s US publisher, Pantheon Books, and the list is not yet available on the NYT website.
It has also topped Amazon’s graphic novel best-seller lists in three categories: literary, art of comics and manga, and historical and biographical fiction.
The comic is a meditation on Singapore’s history, socio-political issues, comic art history, censorship and more. It examines key incidents in Singapore’s history such as the Hock Lee Bus riots and includes the late Lee Kuan Yew and Lim Chin Siong as characters.
The likes of National Public Radio (NPR) and periodical The Economist have also lavished praise on the book. A reviewer for the latter called it “brilliantly inventive”, while NPR reviewer John Powers said it is a “startlingly brilliant tour de force”.
Photo: The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye Facebook page
All this is a far cry from Liew’s situation last May, when the National Arts Council withdrew an $8,000 publication grant for Charlie Chan, citing its “sensitive content”. Singapore publisher Epigram Books has since gone on to sell about 9,000 copies of the book in Singapore.
In response to queries from Yahoo Singapore, Liew said that he is “just happy that it’s gotten such a good response”. Asked what might account for its popularity among American readers, given its heavily Singapore-centric subject matter, Liew said, “I think the way the story is told pushes the comic medium a little bit. And there’s also the human interest element,as a lot of Charlie’s struggles are quite universal.”
Liew admitted that that he is “excited, but also a bit anxious”, adding, “Once a book is on the list, you wonder how long it’ll stay there. But mostly you just enjoy the ride whilst it lasts.”
One of Singapore’s most high-profile comics creators, Liew has also done extensive work for Marvel and DC Comics, including a revival of the iconic character Doctor Fate.
Next month, Liew embarks on a two-week book tour in the United States that will take in major literary events such as the MoCCA Arts Festival, an independent comics showcase in New York.
Epigram Books’ publisher Edmund Wee said, “We are happy for Sonny that the book is getting the acclaim it deserves. A great book knows no boundaries. We hope this will be the start of many others to come.”
Award-winning Singaporean author Dave Chua, whose novel Gone Case was adapted into a graphic novel, also spoke enthusiastically about the success of Charlie Chan. “I think it’s a great achievement and really wonderful that the book can find an audience beyond Singapore. It’s a great comic that showcases the breadth of Sonny’s skills,” he said.
