Alternative history of Singapore scoops US comic book awards

Singaporean graphic novelist Sonny Liew dominated the comic industry’s equivalent of the Oscars, scooping three Eisner Awards for The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye – a wry alternative history of tightly-controlled Singapore.

Liew picked up the top prize for Best Writer/Artist, Best US Edition of International Material – Asia, and Best Publication Design at the annual awards at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday night.

The writer said he was feeling “a mix of elation and disbelief for most part” and was “still letting the whole thing sink in” after receiving his trophies.

Speaking before the ceremony, Liew said his main target audience had been fellow-Singaporeans, and he had never expected to find an overseas readership for the book, which has now been translated into French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.

“I always wanted people to read the book and get a sense of how rich our history was,” Liew said.

“I think the so-called official narrative Singapore story is part of our history, but it’s not the whole story and I wanted to tell a more inclusive version of our history, and I hope that’s what people reading the book will get from it.”