Way before social media and tech gadgets were a thing, traditional forms of media such as newspapers and television were our primary sources of information back in the 1990s. Millions of readers would flock to their doorsteps and pick up the papers first thing in the morning. 联合早报 (lian he zao bao) and 联合晚报 (lian he wan bao), which catered and is still catering to the Chinese audiences, had one section that was once our #1 favourite: Chinese Comics or rather, Manhua. Let us take a stroll down memory lane and enjoy some nostalgia.
Humble Beginnings of Chinese Comics
Chinese Comics was a daily section in the Chinese newspapers more than two decades ago. It was a huge trend, and hundreds of artists would submit their masterpieces in hopes of getting featured. Payout rates were low, but the exposure was what these artists needed. According to one comics artist, getting accepted was an incredibly tedious process at the beginning. However, it had gotten easier for him upon acceptance of his first work and eventually became a regular contributor to the comic strips.
Chinese Comics is still a small part of lian he zao bao today. Sadly, it is published only on a weekly basis. Check out a few of these newspaper cut-outs below and enjoy some light humour.
Read More: 222 Chinese Songs That We All Love to Listen to (2-part Series)
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The artist that Guidesify spoke to was kind enough to provide all the previous works that were accepted and published in the newspapers. These works were mostly dated in the early 1990s.
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Some works were displayed in between sections of news articles in the form of comics strips. They were carefully placed and arranged in interrelated panels to provide a light reading experience for its readers through brief humour.
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Comics strips filled with fun and creativity have almost gone extinct in today’s newspapers.
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Comic artists tend to design and stick to a font of their own to differentiate themselves from their competitors. It is an indispensable part of their identity and defines their uniqueness and character as content creators. The fonts are usually fresh and funky.
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Since you are here, why not have a look at other nostalgic reads?
• 222 Chinese Songs That We All Love to Listen to (2-part complete series)
• Chinese Movies 90s Kids Grew Up and Fell in Love With
• 10 Old Videos You Used to Watch
• 4 Adult Sites Made it to Singapore’s Top 50 Most Visited Sites
