Creator Of Iconic Comic Mr Kiasu Is Giving Up His Creation To S’pore

By
Rae Woo
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Remember those days where you would run home after a long day of school, hop into your bed and start poring over the pages of your favourite Mr Kiasu comics, laughing up a storm?

Image: Shogakugan Asia

Yep, these books that evoke nostalgia just by looking at them.

I bet it’s also a staple on most teachers’ desks, for many copies were sure to have been confiscated when students sneakily read it under the table in class.

The teachers most likely secretly read and enjoyed those confiscated copies too.

The epitome of classic Singaporean comics, Mr Kiasu was an essential part of most of our childhoods and gave us happiness in our days of growing up.

It was created by Johnny Lau in the 1990s and brought much joy and fun to children and adults alike. It’s been almost 30 years… Yep, it’s been that long – feel old yet?

It’s Time To Move On

Sadly, as we grow up, many things from our childhood slowly start to become obsolete – they move on just as we do.

Johnny Lau announced that it was time for him to retire from being Mr Kiasu’s creator and illustrator for good this time, as he wanted to move on to other things – Mr Kiasu will no longer be the same as we remember it from now on.

Luckily, the series will not be discontinued, but instead, Mr Lau will pass on the baton to other younger writers in Singapore, saying: “This is my legacy. I am going to give up Mr Kiasu so that young, budding artists can use it as a platform to develop their own stories and hopefully become more well known.”

“Mr Kiasu belongs to Singapore so it is time to give it to Singapore,” he added.

A Gift To Singapore

Image: Shogakukan Asia

As a way to further leave a wake of his legacy, Mr Lau’s latest Mr Kiasu book is an anthology of Singaporean history, released in conjunction with Singapore’s bicentennial celebrations this year and supported by the Singapore Bicentennial Office. It will not be his last, he said, but it is close to it.

Mr Kiasu In Singapore History was illustrated not only by Mr Lau himself but also eight other artists, who each illustrated one section in the book to further highlight Singapore’s change throughout the years with a unique style for each. With the multiple styles of illustration in the collection, we are able to see what Mr Kiasu’s art direction in future might possibly be like.

The comic will follow the journey of prominent figures in Singapore’s history such as Sir Stamford Raffles and Sang Nila Utama as well as key events that shaped the nation, aimed at retelling the stories in a unique way that provides entertainment rather than to educate or showcase patriotism.

Showcasing Singapore’s Unique Society

“Young people are searching for the Singaporean identity and culture, so we have to present it to them through this book for them to realise that things like Mr Kiasu, hawker culture and MRT make up Singapore’s unique and vibrant society,” said Chia Yu Chin, an artist who illustrated the entire Singapore Sling chapter in the book and an old friend of Mr Lau’s.

Mr Lau said that he hopes for readers to gain some understanding of Singapore’s historical figures and ultimately discover the rich history of Singapore on their own, saying: “In Singapore, it was not easy getting to where we are today. I appreciate it and don’t take it for granted.”

Aww, I feel strangely patriotic all of a sudden.

If you’d like to purchase Mr Kiasu In Singapore History, you can do so at all major bookstores for $12.90, or at the Fort Canning Bicentennial Experience at a student price of $9.90.

Goodbye, childhood comic, you will be missed. Hopefully, the new style of the Mr Kiasu series will do the original masterpieces justice.

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Rae Woo
Email: [email protected]