Em Satya

Met with famed comics artist Em Satya yesterday, who has some amazing comics hidden away. Why is he not publishing them? The state of the market is not the best. Publishers print his old stories over and over again, he is in competition with himself. And commercial art pays better. The art below is part of a three part story that may someday see the light.

Spent some time recently with retired artist Sin Yun Phyrum. She did about 80 comics during the 1980s and 1990s. She hasn’t retired voluntarily, market conditions led her to work at a food stall instead to support her growing family.

What is impressive is that once she received approval from the Ministry of Culture, she would have her comics printed and distribute them personally, cutting out the middleman. Years later, comics are still on the newsstand – reprinted by the same middlemen.

Publishing sometimes ain’t a pretty picture here. Stay tooned for more news.