Big names for Wong's 'dynasty'

IF THE number of celebrities clutching a souvenir copy of Tony Wong's first publication was anything to go by, then the lapsed comic king's new company is off to an auspicious start.

Mr Wong, recently released after 18 months in jail on fraud charges, yesterday launched his Jade Dynasty Publications company and a new comic strip, Legend of the King.

Entertainer Eric Tsang, who could not wait to get home to get acquainted with the new strip, said: ''It's really great to see Tony back again and starting this comic empire.'' Mr Wong promised his fans - including Dickson Poon, Anita Mui, Karen Mok, Lui Fong, Stephanie Lai and Jacky Chan - another six or seven new comics before the end of the year, some of them, he said, with three-dimensional pictures.

According to his general manager, David Ki, the first comic book has hit the number two spot for the most popular weekly comic and subscriptions have already surpassed 50,000.