Some
Asian languages, like Japanese, are notoriously difficult to read. Does Sonny
think this has anything to do with the popularity of graphic novels in Asia?
“No. I think prose sells well in Japan too, so I don't think it's a question of
language difficulty. That said, comics and graphic novels can be easier to
digest than narrative text, but that’s not particular to Asia. During and after
Word War Two the American cartoonist Will Eisner produced illustrated
instructional booklets for the US Army that were very well received.
Understanding and processing a visual image, or a combination of visual and
textual information, is probably easier for the human brain than comprehending
text alone.”
The
Malay she-devil, the Pontianak, seems made for horror. Does Sonny detect any specifically Asian themes in local
offerings? “There’s a natural urge
to create stories close to our home and hearts, but I think what might make a
story "Asian" is the particular temporal or geographical setting, a
specifically Asian world in which the story unfolds, rather than thematic concerns.”
Whether
they were “Asian” or not, which types of local offering does he see working well
internationally? “I'm guessing most stories that translate well deal with
universal human conditions and issues - love, death, taxes. So a good story set
in an interesting world, I think that would be the key to international
success.”
Most
of Sonny’s internationally published books have been collaborations with
authors from the US or the UK, and none of his novels
have been set in Singapore. What if he tried selling internationally a book set
in his hometown? It seems Sonny is
about to discover how easy, or difficult, that will be. “I'm working on one
right now, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, for a local publisher, Epigram Books. A
local book for a local publisher makes sense in many ways; how the book can
then be marketed or sold outside Singapore is big question. Right now I'm
focused on trying to make the book work in its structure and storytelling - and
I guess hoping that if the narrative is successful, then later that in itself
will go a long way into making selling it easier.”
What
advice does Sonny offer to other graphic novelists in Asia who want to reach an
international audience? “Sometimes you can rely on the luck of the zeitgeist -
riding the right wave at the right time - but generally I think it's still a
question of crafting good stories. A combination of good and interesting art,
and a strong story spine I think would make a book work anywhere.”
If you are a graphic novelist, app creator, comic aficionado, or similar, then do please post with your opinions.
