Current ChinaComx Visiting Scholar Amelia Kin Wai Chu will deliver a guest lecture titled “Transcultural Influences on the Transformation of Hong Kong Superhero Comics” on 1 July 2026 in CATS 010.00.06 from 16:15-17:30.
We are looking forward to the talk and to seeing you there!
Abstract for the talk:
Heroic representations in Hong Kong comics between 1950s and 1990s engage with and diverge from Western and Japanese superhero traditions. Through analysis of landmark works—Uncle Choi (財叔, 1950s–1960s), Little Rascals (小流氓, 1970s), Chinese Hero (中華英雄, 1980s) and Teddy Boy (古惑仔, 1990s)—the text traces a trajectory of heroism represented in Hong Kong hero comics, reflecting Hong Kong’s shifting sociopolitical landscape. Unlike American superheroes who typically reinforce institutional authority, Hong Kong’s comic protagonists emerge from society’s margins, embodying the territory’s liminal position between East and West, tradition and modernity. These narratives draw from traditional xiáyì (俠義, martial chivalry) elements while selectively incorporating transnational influences, constructing a distinctive heroic paradigm that navigates tensions between collectivism and individualism, cultural pride and political ambivalence. Rather than being derivative of Western models, Hong Kong comics articulate cultural identity through hybridity, displacement, and transformation—mirroring the territory’s unique historical experience and complex positioning within global cultural exchanges.