GIO Minister Cheng Wen-tsang presented the list himself, telling a press conference in Taipei how much he had enjoyed reading comics since childhood and, indeed, that he had spent some time reading the 10 works. He also praised the sophistication of both the readership and marketing of Taiwan's comics, saying that this had enabled the country to be a leader of comic book trends in the Asia-Pacific area.
Cheng also noted that the number of entries for this year's award was up on last year and that many works had been submitted by college students. He made particular reference to a composition in which a medical student incorporated aspects of his field of study and, for Cheng, was reminiscent of the renowned Japanese comic "Black Jack" featuring a mysterious surgeon with consummate skills. This led the minister to mention the unique role that Japanese comics have played in advancing the industry in Taiwan, through their emphasis on playwriting, editing and, most importantly, creativity. Now that Taiwanese graphic novels have improved significantly, Cheng said that from now on the award-winning works will be published and marketed internationally.
Democratic Progressive Party legislator Cheng Yun-peng, a VIP guest invited to the press conference due to his interest in Taiwan's comic book industry, said that he hoped there would be a return to regulation through publishing classifications instead of simply allowing authors or publishing companies to regulate themselves, so that inappropriate content is not sold to young persons. Nevertheless, he added that such control mechanisms should be relaxed, and that he did not wish to see criminal charges used to regulate comic publishing.
As a comic lover himself, Cheng said he hoped that Taiwan's comic books would continue to expand in scope and style. The legislator explained that, since pictures are easier to understand than words, graphic novels have great potential for international marketing. Further expansion of their audiences might be achieved by producing motion pictures or digital versions of the winning works, he added.
Last year the award went to Huang Chia-li for her graphic novel "Modern Guanyin"; this year she was invited to share her thoughts at the press conference. Huang said that, with the summer vacation just beginning, many foreign comics would be entering Taiwan. While she welcomed these works, she also expressed the hope that they would inspire creativity in local comic book artists and authors.
According to an introduction to the history of Taiwanese comics presented at the press conference, with the possible exception of a satirical magazine called "Taiwan Punch"--based on the original British "Punch"--which included work by Taiwanese cartoonists, Taiwan's first comic book proper was published in around 1935. Its title, "The Comic Anthology of Ji Long-sheng," was taken from the pseudonym Ji Long-sheng--"Born in Keelung"-- of its creator Chen Bin-huang. Now over 90 years of age, Chen lives in the United States. While the second of the anthology's two volumes was published in 1954 following Taiwan's retrocession, the first was published during Japanese colonial rule. Subdivided into sections depicting city life, poetry and painting, the four seasons, idioms, news and so forth, it was considered a satire on the government. Provoking the authorities' ire, it encountered official pressure, and only 500 copies were published.
Another pioneer, Chen Hai-hung, got off to a better start. Using the traditional painting skills he had learned since childhood, Chen specialized in creating martial arts comics. "Chivalric Tornado," published in 1958, sold over 700,000 copies and made his reputation. His books continued to be popular until 1966, when the government banned comics.
Previous winners of the Graphic Novel Awards were also introduced. In addition to Huang Chia-li, these included 2004 winner Huang Chung-wei, whose book "Time Forest" recounts the story of a woman struggling to find meaning in her monotonous life. Mention was also made of another 2004 publication, "Oil Painting Spirit Chen Cheng-po" by Lee Chung-lung, which examines the case of pioneer oil painter Chen, who was killed in the aftermath of the Feb. 28, 1947 incident.
Participants at the press conference noted the great diversity of sources from which past award winners have sought creative inspiration. These have ranged from classical Chinese poets such as Li Bo and Du Fu, to film star Nie Siao-cian and the well-known parable of the race between a tortoise and a rabbit.
According to information released by the GIO, which also publishes this newspaper, a total of 68 works were entered for this year's award. Of the 10 authors selected, eight were from the general category and 2 from newcomer category, they aged between 20 and 40 years old, and their works ranged from realism to fantasy. At present the works are only in draft form, and their creators will have another six months to finish the books before the final result is announced in December. The award for first place carries a cash prize of NT$700,000, that for second place of NT$600,000, while all the others will receive NT$400,000. The newcomers will receive NT$150,000.
Cheng Wen-tsang said that the GIO has, for some time, been promoting the development of the local comic book industry. In addition to providing financial help, it initiated the Graphic Book Awards in 2003. These supportive moves were aimed at persuading artists considering trying their hand at comic books to give the medium a go. It was also hoped, especially in relation to the competition, that draft works of original creativity could be discovered and nurtured to fruition. In sum, the government hoped to promote comic books' international market as a part of Taiwan's burgeoning creative industry.
In a related event, the GIO also provided information about Taiwanese graphic novels that have already met with international success. These included the "Lau-tzu" and other comic serials--about the patriarch of Daoism and other philosophic and literary texts--which were written by Tsai Chi-chung, translated into more than 20 languages and published in almost 50 countries worldwide; the "Girls Comics" serials by Lin Cing-hui, which have been translated into German, French, English, Italian and Spanish; as well as works by Lin Cheng-te, Lai Yu-hsien and Yu Su-lan that have been well received in Hong Kong and Japan. Some, like "Eastern Chu Heroes" by Cheng Wen, were first popular in Japan before attracting attention in Taiwan.
Several hundred of Taiwan's best graphic novels published between 1940 and 2006 are listed on the Chinese Comic Publishers Association Web site for the general public to vote for the 20 they consider as having been most influential. The online poll runs through Oct. 10.