Tales of young entrepreneurs, rarely-heard-of native animals, spirit worlds, and more exciting stories by SEA comic creators feature in Difference Engine’s 2021 publishing line-up

Posted on February 19, 2021May 26, 2022 by Charlene Shepherdson

We are proud to announce three original graphic novels that will be published this year, together with brand new projects planned for 2022–2023.

Created by Southeast Asian writers and illustrators, DE’s upcoming line-up features our first picture book-comic, and young adult tale. With our titles covering a diverse range of topics, there will be a book for readers of every age!

Coming Up in 2021

The Makers Club: Starting Up!

Readership: 9-14 years old
Category: Middle Grade Fiction
Publication: June 2021
Synopsis:

Childhood friends Aqilah and Yong Qiang have lost touch over the years. When they are unexpectedly reunited in Pangolin Secondary School, they discover that things are very different, and life seems a lot more uncertain than it once was. Together, will they be able to convince everyone and, more importantly, themselves that they’re ready for independence?

The Makers Club returns in June 2021 with Book #2 of the series. Co-written by Reimena Yee and Tintin Pantoja and illustrated by Tintin Pantoja, The Makers Club: Starting Up! is a comic about friendship, entrepreneurship, and design thinking. Writer Reimena Yee expressed: “I hope readers will enjoy meeting Yong Qiang and Aqilah, and be inspired to pursue their own dreams, whatever they may be.”

Illustrator Tintin Pantoja added: “Creativity takes a lot of work and bravery. This is the reason I love these kids – they very honestly reflect the struggles of people trying to do great things.”

Praise for The Makers Club: Game On! (Book #1)
“I loved it! With a diverse cast of teens with interesting backgrounds, The Makers Club
tackles real problems that young aspiring creators face at home and in school with relatable and believable characters.”
– Laila Shabir, Founder & CEO of Girls Make Games

Book #1 is available in print and ebook format here.

Afterlife

Readership: Young Adult
Category: Fantasy
Publication: August 2021
Synopsis:

Kyra’s younger brother lays on his deathbed and she’s stricken with grief. Spirit Keeper Eric was just there to do his job and bring a Soul into the Afterlife. So why do they feel an inexplicable connection when they meet?

In this great expanse where what’s lost is found, fate, memories, and love intertwine as Kyra and Eric embark on a daring rescue mission to save a little boy from Death’s clutches. Afterlife is an epic Southeast Asian-inspired young adult fantasy graphic novel about one girl’s sacrifice as she fights to save what she loves, without losing herself in the midst of it all…

“I have always been fascinated by stories that compelled its characters to be pushed to the limits,” said first-time comics writer Gina Chew who sought to examine themes of love and sacrifice.

For illustrator Nadhir Nor, the story allowed him to explore his concept of death and the afterlife. “As scary as it can be to consider us having to face death, it’s way more devastating to think of the people we love facing it. The story lets readers ponder that, while having a little bit of fun going through the otherworldly adventures Gina has written.”

**Update 06 July 2021: Due to unforeseen delays, the book will be released in Mar 2022 instead. Stay tuned!

Marvellous Mammals: Southeast Asian Animals in ABC

Readership: 7-12 years old
Category: Picture Book-Comic
Publication: September 2021
Synopsis:

Hello fellow naturalist!

We know that dogs bark, cats meow, and cows moo. But do you know dholes whistle “whee-whee”, wild boars grunt “grrt grrt”, and siamangs call out “ooh-wow-wow”?

In the humid nature reserves of Singapore city, high up the mountain trees of New Guinea, and in the tropical rivers of Ayeryarwady, a multitude of mammals live their unseen lives. They await a bold explorer to learn their secrets. Could that explorer be you?

In this beautiful illustrated comic book for children and adults alike, follow wildlife ecologist Debby Ng and illustrator Darel Seow as they guide you to discover the lesser-known creatures of Southeast Asia!

Writer Debby Ng explained why she’s writing this book: “Six years ago, I became an aunt to a young girl who would grow up with less forests than I had. I wanted her to know that our forests are special and full of incredible wildlife waiting to be discovered. This book is for her, and all the people who live in cities, on the edge of grand forests. May you find a familiar neighbour.”

Illustrator and nature-lover Darel Seow agreed: “I hope this book starts readers on an adventure of learning about and how to live alongside our unique Southeast-Asian wildlife!”

More to look forward to in 2022 & 2023!

Work-Life Balance

Readership: Adult
Category: Fiction
Publication: 2022
Synopsis:

Dead-end jobs, hellish clients, glass ceilings – it seems like even in the underworld, creatures like the pontianak and the penanggalan aren’t spared from the drudgery of office life. How do the supernatural cope with the super mundane daily grind?

Prose and comics intertwine in this thought-provoking, (forked) tongue-in-cheek collection to bring you familiar Southeast Asian mythology in an even more familiar setting: the realm of the deskbound.

Presenting an entertaining take on corporate inanity and gainful employment, Work-Life Balance features prose written by Wayne Rée and comics illustrated by Benjamin Chee. “With this project, we wanted to explore what it feels like to work in the corporate world, how much the supernatural is a part of Southeast Asian culture, and just this sense of duality that I think we all struggle with on some level,” said Wayne Rée.

Added illustrator Benjamin Chee: “What it’ll have and what I’m excited to draw: What if your colleague is a literal monster? Boardroom drama…with demons? Terrible, terrible stuff!”

Amazing Ash & Superhero Ah Ma (Books #2 and #3)

Readership: 7-12 years old
Category: Middle Grade Fiction
Publication: 2022 & 2023
Synopsis:

The adventures of Amazing Ash & Superhero Ah Ma continue! As Ash juggles school and being a superhero, and Ah Ma seems to get increasingly more forgetful, how will Team ASH cope with new nemeses and strange developments happening in town? Join Ash, Ah Ma, and the rest of Team ASH as they try to save the neighbourhood and at the same time, face the changes that come with growing up and growing old.

The creative team of writer Melanie Lee and illustrator Arif Rafhan have signed on for a second and third installation of Amazing Ash & Superhero Ah Ma. “There are going to be even more thrills and spills with new challenges, along with plenty of heart in the relationships. We hope to balance the reality of Ah Ma’s dementia with the hopefulness of unconditional family love and community support in the next two books,” said the creators.

Praise for Amazing Ash & Superhero Ah Ma (Book #1)
“The storyline is unique and captured my attention as a reader. I like that it portrays persons with dementia (PWD) in a positive light and seeing them as more than just PWD.”
– Tan Pei Qi, Adila Yusof and Nicodemus Ching, Social Workers of AWWA Health and Senior Care

Book #1 is available in print and ebook format here.

Creators’ Bios

Reimena Yee is an illustrator, writer, and designer hailing from the dusty metropolis of Kuala Lumpur. She is the author-illustrator of the gothic comic The World in Deeper Inspection, the Eisner and McDuffie-nominated The Carpet Merchant of Konstantiniyya, and Séance Tea Party.

Tintin Pantoja is a Philippine-born artist who graduated with a BFA in Cartooning and Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in NYC. She has been illustrating comics since 2007. Among her works are adaptations of Hamlet, Pride and Prejudice, and the educational middle-grade Manga Math series.

Gina Chew is a Singaporean writer most acclaimed for her debut play Permanence. An English Literature graduate from the National University of Singapore, she brings her interest in theatre and its myriad of stories-come-to-life to other mediums including film, television and online media such as videos and animated stories.

Nadhir Nor is a Malaysian artist based in Selangor with an interest in all things otherworldly. Believing the magic of finding the otherworldly in the mundane, and vice versa, makes for a story worth telling, he uses his works to explore the relationships between mythology and ancient cultures with modern society.

Debby Ng is a wildlife disease ecologist, photojournalist, and National Geographic Explorer. She is also the founder of two volunteer organisations: PulauHantu.sg, which aims to conserve Singapore’s coral reefs, and HimalayanMuttProject.org, which focuses on emerging infectious diseases capacity-building in Himalayan communities. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions.

Darel Seow is a visual storyteller who illustrates the tales of the natural world through his unique brand of wry wit and whimsy. An illustration graduate from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design (UK), he believes in the draw of storytelling as a means of engagement, creating experiences that simultaneously excite and educate. He has previously worked with the National Museum of Singapore, the Asian Civilisation Museum, and the British Museum.

Wayne Rée is the author of the short story collection, Tales From a Tiny Room. He’s contributed to publications such as Infinite Worlds Magazine, LONTAR, and Pulp Toast. He’s also the co-creator of the comic, Mr Memphis, and the narrative podcast, Ghost Maps.

Benjamin Chee is a game artist by day, and a comic creator by night. He is the creator of Charsiew Space, a story about smugglers in spaceships cooking forbidden pork. He has also published 6 other titles, and has contributed to multiple anthologies including LONTAR Issue #5, Liquid City Vol. 3, Asian Monsters, and SOUND: A Comics Anthology.

Melanie Lee is the author of the picture book series The Adventures of Squirky the Alien, which picked up the Crystal Kite Award (Middle East/India/Asia division) in 2016. She is also an Associate Faculty at the Singapore University of Social Sciences developing and teaching media writing courses.

Arif Rafhan is a comic and pre-production artist. His work has been published in more than 10 books to date by MPH, Buku Fixi, Maple Comics, and Marshall Cavendish. He also works with various production companies creating pre-production visuals such as concept art, character designs, environment designs, and storyboards.

**Titles and illustrations are not final.

For updates on these titles and more, sign up for our e-newsletter.

If you have a story you’d like to tell, head here to find out more details on submitting your pitch or manuscript to us. We’d love to hear from you!

Why Adults Should Read Comic Books Too

Posted on December 11, 2020February 21, 2023 by Charlene Shepherdson

While comics play a great role in getting younger students to develop reading habits – both by meeting individual reading needs and to help form a love for reading – we are finally moving past the misconception that the medium is just for kids. Comics are for all ages, whether you are new to the medium or have loved it for years. Here’s why.

Comics are fun to read

Maybe the best thing about comics is that almost any topic can be found in a comic book – nothing is too far-fetched as a subject matter! Aliens, man-eating slugs, vampires, ghosts, post-apocalyptic nightmare realms…the list goes on. Comics explore topics that stretch far and wide, and are a medium where imagination runs wild, and not just in terms of the story, but the art as well.

Other times, certain subject matters need to be made riveting. Comics can be used as learning tools across a wide range of subjects, such as languages, science, and even mathematics. Oftentimes, when it’s in a comic, it is easier to digest.

Smashed: Junji Ito Story Collection entwines scary and strange in a collection of horror manga. The Stuff of Life: A Graphic Guide to Genetics and DNA is a nonfiction science comics for adults, while The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Computer is inspired by the lives of Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage.

Comics were first intended for adult readers

While young readers are naturally drawn to comics (think comics series like The Adventures of Tintin and Mr Kiasu), comics can be used to tell stories of any content, in any style, and for any audience. Japanese, European and American comics each evolved differently, but generally speaking, comics were used to depict cultural and historical events, satirical or otherwise. Even today, with many child-friendly comics targeted at very specific age groups and market segments, more than half of comic book readers are still adults. So it is entirely possible for the children and adults to be visiting a comics shop together, each absorbed by the variety of content on offer in separate corners of the same shop.

Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei, When the Wind Blows and Watchmen are satirical works that encapsulate feelings on war, politics, and life.

Comics provoke deep-thinking

Comics make readers engage on a plane that extends beyond words on a page. The process is active: Text and images come together, but the reader makes meaning out of the combination, filling in the gap between panels, gutters and speech bubbles. When we read comics, we’re not only looking at the text but also at the spatial cues, the colours, the visual cues between objects, and all the other elements in the panel. When all of these elements are combined, they can invoke the sense of passage of time, the space of the story, sounds, and action. As the reader’s inference skills and visual literacy improves, comics also pave the way for a deeper understanding of metaphors, symbolisms, and point-of-views.

Furthermore, creators can pack a lot of tiny details into one single panel or page just by how they portray their work. Even a character’s personality traits can be shown in a panel by highlighting an object. For example, a character’s love for a certain movie franchise can be shown entirely through background illustrations; maybe there are movie posters in the room, or memorabilia peeking through their bag. There are so many visual cues that artists use to convey plenty of information – all in just a few panels.

Trese, Ten Sticks and One Rice, and Liquid City are beautifully crafted graphic novels that encapsulate characters’ emotions and settings.

Comics are used to discuss heavy topics

Oftentimes, narratives in comics also mirror real-world events. X-Men, for example, reflected racial tensions, and Captain America was created during World War II to serve as motivation and inspiration for troops. Similarly, a lot of stories in comics, even now, mirror our ever-changing world and current social issues, offering intellectually stimulating, empowering stories. There are also comics that deal with topics like grief, growing up, and other hardships of life – and sometimes, these heavy topics can be expressed more poignantly in this widely-accessible medium.

SOUND: A Comics Anthology, Persepolis, and Dancing at the Pity Party are graphic novels that poignantly discuss topics that can be difficult to breach.

Comics transcend language and cultural barriers

Ever wondered how the instructions in an IKEA manual can guide anyone, anywhere? As visual learners, in contrast to prose, pictures can help a wide range of people with understanding, which can go on and on for pages…this is something that could just be displayed in a couple of panels!

Often in prose, a reader can also lose concentration when there are unknown words. Yet, comics don’t generally have this problem. The story can still be followed by its art and other elements. In fact, comics are a good resource to learn more vocabulary – this could especially help those learning a new language.

More than just expanding one’s vocabulary within the English language, the visual accompaniment inherent to comics allows readers to follow the story even if they aren’t speakers of the language the comic is printed in! Manga is a great example of this – known as a representation of Japanese culture and history, manga started gaining traction with a new generation of non-Japanese people around the world who were interested in learning the country’s culture and language. Today, manga has become synonymous with Japanese popular culture, and is enjoyed worldwide by readers of all ages.

The Arrival, The Number 73304-23-4153-6-96-8, and Un océan d’amour are examples of graphic novels that do not feature any dialogue, yet tell compelling stories through visuals and other elements.

Comics is a unique medium that encourages reader participation, and when immersed in a comic, you are in charge of your (reading) journey. What are you waiting for? Once you set foot in this vast, inviting realm, to quote the magical words of Dr Suess, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”

Psst! Remember to check out all the books mentioned in this post! DE recommends them to ages 18+.

SOUND: A Comics Anthology

Posted on May 3, 2019March 3, 2020 by Charlene Shepherdson

Update: We have announced the final teams and stories here.

Traffic. The crackle of food. An argument.
What does sound look like to you?
Send us your stories now.

Difference Engine would like to invite writers and illustrators to submit story pitches to our comics anthology, which will be published in 2020! SOUND: A Comics Anthology is an initiative to develop and showcase the talents of local and regional creators. Coming on board as guest editors are Budjette Tan and Charis Loke, both veterans in the Southeast Asian comics industry.

We’re looking for comics that are:

Original fiction of any genre in the theme of “sound”
Inspired by Southeast Asia
10-20 pages long
Black & White
Written in the English language

Creators must be:

Living in Southeast Asia
Of Asian descent
Aged 18 and above upon submission

There will be two rounds of selection – Round 1 (Call for Submissions) and Round 2 (Further Development).

Stories selected for publication will receive a page rate of USD$30.

The deadline for Round 1 is 31 July 2019, 11.59pm GMT +8.

For more details, read our rules and regulations at the bottom of the webpage, or download the PDF (they’re the same!).

Read our FAQ here.

If you are a writer looking for an artist, or an artist in need of a writer, head to the Facebook post here to introduce yourself to fellow creators.

Download:

Entry Form (PDF) / Entry Form (Word Doc)

Rules and Regulations (updated 28 Aug 2019)

SOUND: A Comics Anthology Information Booklet

Our Guest Editors

Budjette Tan

Budjette grew up in a haunted house and was told to sleep early because there were aswang flying outside his bedroom window. These stories inspired him to write the comic book TRESE, which he co-created with artist Kajo Baldisimo. TRESE will soon be adapted into a Netflix anime series.

“I’m excited to see what kind of stories we’ll get for the anthology because the topic is very challenging. I feel it will push the writers and artists to figure out how to tell a story about sounds, music, songs, voices, noises, in a medium where your main weapon of choice are visuals and words. It feels great to be working with a team that shares a passion for telling stories, most especially through comic books.”

Charis Loke

Charis is an illustrator and educator based in Penang, Malaysia. Her work draws upon literature and visual culture, exploring both real and fictional worlds. She is the Comics & Illustrations Editor at New Naratif and a committee member of Arts-ED, where she works on community-based arts and culture education for youth.

“So many Southeast Asian storytelling traditions — wayang, chanted epics, songs of healing, recited poetry — are rooted in oral forms. With this in mind, SOUND is an exciting opportunity to explore what comics as a storytelling medium is capable of. How might you push visual boundaries to depict the unseen? How might you meld word and image to be sound itself, not merely a representation? How do you tell stories with, without, about sound?”

Rules and Regulations for SOUND: A Comics Anthology

1. Theme

The theme of this comics anthology is “sound”. The stories must be inspired by Southeast Asia.

2. Content Eligibility

Content must be:

Original fiction of any genre. Not currently under review or previously published by a publisher. We accept stories that have been self-published on personal blogs, websites, Patreon, or elsewhere. We will also accept excerpts from longer work if they can be understood as a standalone without the need for additional context.
10-20 pages long
Black & White
Written in the English language
Suitable for readers age 13 and above, containing no explicit content, including but not limited to graphic language, depictions of violence, drugs, and sex

Creators/creative teams whose stories are selected will be working with the anthology editors to prepare it for publication.

3. Creator Eligibility

Creators must be:

Living in Southeast Asia, of Asian descent
Aged 18 and above upon submission
Creators can submit as an individual or as a team.
Multiple submissions are accepted, up to a maximum of 3 per creator.
Creators/creative teams must own all copyrights to their submitted work.
Difference Engine reserves the right to request for verification of eligibility.

4. Submission Guidelines: Round 1 (Call for Submissions)

Submissions must include:

A written story pitch outlining the plot, including the ending (500–800 words) typed in Arial, font size 11, single-spaced
One page of thumbnails or one page of character/settings concept sketches
A portfolio sample of 3 illustrations
A short biography of each creator (50–100 words)
A completed and signed entry form

All of the above needs to be compiled into a single PDF file no more than 10MB.

Label the PDF file with the title of the story.

Email the file to readcomics@differenceengine.sg with the subject header “Anthology Submission: [title of the story]”.

All submissions must be in soft copy.

Timeline for this round:

Round 1 Call for Submissions closes on 31 July 2019
Creators will be informed by 31 August 2019 if their submission has been selected for Round 2 Further Development

5. Submission Guidelines: Round 2 (Further Development)

Creators/creative teams will be requested to submit:

A full script with page and dialogue instructions
Five pages of thumbnails
One page of finished comics

Timeline for this round:

Round 2 submissions close on 30 November 2019
Final creators/creative teams whose stories are selected for publication will be informed by 31 January 2020

6. Publication Details

Creator/creative teams selected after Round 2 will be offered a contract in January 2020.

Sound: A Comics Anthology will be published in print and digital formats.

Estimated Publication Date: end 2020.

7. Payment

Stories selected for publication will receive a page rate of USD$30 (or the creators’ local currency equivalent). Creative teams may determine the payment division between them.

Each creator will receive 2 complimentary copies (up to a maximum of 6 copies per submission).

8. Rights Requested

Exclusive first world anthology rights for 1 year from the date of publication in both print and digital formats.

Continuing non-exclusive rights to print and reprint as this anthology for 5 years from the date of publication in both print and digital formats.

9. PDPA

Difference Engine will take all reasonable efforts to ensure that your personal data is securely handled according to the guidelines set out by the Personal Data Protection Act of Singapore.

Updated 28 August 2019

Difference Engine reserves the right to amend these rules and regulations at any time without prior notice.

Download:

Entry Form (PDF) / Entry Form (Word Doc)

Rules and Regulations (updated 28 Aug 2019)

SOUND: A Comics Anthology Information Booklet

Coming Up in 2021

The Makers Club: Starting Up!

Afterlife

Marvellous Mammals: Southeast Asian Animals in ABC

More to look forward to in 2022 & 2023!

Work-Life Balance

Amazing Ash & Superhero Ah Ma (Books #2 and #3)

Creators’ Bios

Traffic. The crackle of food. An argument. What does sound look like to you? Send us your stories now.

Download:

Our Guest Editors

Budjette Tan

Charis Loke

Rules and Regulations for SOUND: A Comics Anthology

1. Theme

2. Content Eligibility

3. Creator Eligibility

4. Submission Guidelines: Round 1 (Call for Submissions)

5. Submission Guidelines: Round 2 (Further Development)

6. Publication Details

7. Payment

8. Rights Requested

9. PDPA

Download:

Traffic. The crackle of food. An argument.
What does sound look like to you?
Send us your stories now.