The best selling novel “The Legend of Sun Knight” by young Taiwanese author Yu Wo, which has sold more than 300,000 copies on the island, has been made into a comic book series that is set to go on sale in Hong Kong later this month.
The series will feature illustrations by popular Hong Kong comic book artist Os Rabbit Cat, who has worked on various other popular manga series such as “Vampire Master.” The work with Yu Wo on “The Legend of Sun Knight” represents her first ever collaboration with an author from Taiwan.
Yu’s entry into the Hong Kong market with her first offering follows on the heels of the success of another comic book series based on the novel “The Eighth Bronze Man from Shaolin” by Taiwanese author Jiu Ba-dao, who also goes by the name Giddens Ko.
The 56 volumes of Ko’s comic book series that have been published in the mainland Chinese special administrative region since last year have been well received by young readers there. The series features illustrations by renowned manga artist Khoo Fuk-lung.
Yu Wo’s works have already garnered much attention in Southeast Asia. Last year, roughly 50,000 copies of her novels were sold in Thailand alone. She has written 54 novels over the past six years, with total sales surpassing the one million mark.
The 26-year-old Yu Wo, whose real name is Chen Wen-hsuan, graduated from National Cheng Kung University’s Department of Foreign Languages and Literature. In her sophomore year, Yu achieved fame with the publication of “The Half Prince.” The novel was later also made into a comic book series, with illustrations by Taiwanese manga artist Choi Hong Chong.
“The Legend of Sun Knight” is set in an imaginary land created by Yu and populated by warriors fighting for what they believe in. With a generous sprinkling of humor and wit, the author tells tales of chivalry and hardship that draw readers into the fantasy world.
Talking about her written works, Yu said, “I grew up reading manga, so my novels have that sort of feel that they can be illustrated.”
“In addition, most of my readers also love comic books, so my works that are translated into manga should be well received,” she said with confidence. (SB)