Thai Comics, finally got around to this subject. Sorry if it took so long but it’s only in recent times that I got enough intel. So a lot of the credit goes to Nicolas Verstappen and a few other bloggers. This country has a lot of great sequential art and genres including karmic ghost stories and epic poems. Now if only the distribution couldn’t be so much of a problem. That seems to be a problem in every country’s comic industry.
The Longest Thai Comics
It stands as no surprise that one of the most influential Thai comics are adaptations of epic poems. The most famous of them all is the Ramakien, Thailand’s version of a Hindu folk tale. Which is more than likely because King Rama III-VII tie their ancestors’ origins to it. Enough to serve as editor, complete with having artists repainting bits and pieces. So yeah, this mural complete with recreations in books is very much a comic.
I mean it certainly doesn’t stop publishers from making biographies of other King Ramas. Plus some people call Rama IX’s biography lively. Makes me wonder when Rama X’s biopic will occur.
Commercial Beginnings
As for comics as we know them, it’s no surprise they begin in political cartooning. Even Rama VI indulged the satire because he hated the corruption as much as everybody else. Quick disclaimer though, he was racist and an anti-Semite. But it wasn’t until Rama VII’s reign that cartooning flourished. How come? Well it involved a little thing called the Siamese Revolution of 1932, ending the absolute monarchy. Wait then how come there’s still a king? I said absolute monarchy; long story short, Thailand is a constitutional monarchy.
Anyway, after the coup, plenty of cartoonists flourish, some thanks to Rama VI giving them an art school. Most of these pieces can be found in The Art of Thai Comics: A Century of Strips and Stripes. Funnily enough, plenty of these artists are fans of Popeye, The Sailor Man (Phwee! Phwee!). I mean, making knockoffs like Ling Gee is hilariously flattering for combining Popeye with Mickey Mouse. Symbolically meanwhile, this shows off Thai comics’ ability to adopt and find compatibility with foreign subjects. The early newspaper strips for example combine Western cartooning with Likay theatre.
But more importantly these artists express their anxieties to people willing to listen. Whether in World War II or the Cold War, these comics reach just about everyone in the country. It’s no wonder that children’s comics come to dominate popularity. Because they best represent hope in these times.
Thai Comics Include One Dollar Ghosts
Of course not all of these titles are the child-friendly variety. Twenty years after Thai Comics’ golden age, comes a wave of Thai folk horror. Featuring tales of the ghosts haunting Thailand like the Krasue, the evocative art is something to behold. More surprisingly, most of these appear as Katun Lem La Baht (super cheap comics) that deviate into mature content. You know, the stuff that moral panic tends to scapegoat. Which doesn’t help when most content isn’t too memorable, prices inflate, and imports get cheaper. Nowadays you can only get this stuff as NFTs.
Thai Manga
Which isn’t to say that imports like manga cripples Thai comics. If anything, Thailand’s artists get reinvigorated with their presence. History repeats itself as manga elements combine with Thai storytelling. Apparently this doesn’t include the cutesy bits as bloggers like to highlight the machismo visuals. That’s what the teen aimed audiences of NED’s Boom magazine suggests anyway. The most significant title to come out of this magazine is Apaimanee Saga, adapting one of Thailand’s national epics. Think of it like how Dragon Ball adapts Journey to the West.
So important, this was actually the first Thai comic to be exported. Man why does it look like only the French can appreciate this stuff? This series even has two sequels, The Pirate’s Dawn and The Two Brothers. Hopefully this could allow for more people’s exposure to the culture.
And Its Slowdowns
Because with mature titles like Meed Tee 13 and comedies like Joe the Sea-Cret Agent, there’s a lot to love. Unfortunately, some of these magazines subsided, for reasons I can’t find. Frankly it’s getting hard to find what Thai comics are still running. The only one I could find was EXEcutional, and even the magazine it published on shut down. By 2016, the only publishers I could find were Vibulkij (all digital manga imports) and Burapat Comics (local and imports).
Thai Comics Survive On The Internet
I always say that comics reflect a country’s economy, but Thailand seems to be an exception. 2014 was a slow growth period, at .09% while 2015 and 2016 did better thanks to tourism politicians managing the money right. But when it comes to comics, they don’t seem to be a high priority; most of the magazines tied to major media companies for example got pruned off. Which is why most publishers and creators have to go the digital route. These days, titles like Apaimanee Saga and EXEcutional get more support from forums dedicated to them. Not only that but Thai cartoonists have to submit their work for international manga rewards.
What Can The Fans Do?
There are loads of programs that help nurture cartoonists throughout Thailand. Some like Chulalongkorn University use this as international communication and as therapy exercises. But still, without proper distributions and promotions, there’s not a lot of room to grow. Plus, one thing I always say comics need is freedom of speech. In recent years with Thailand’s junta takeovers, that’s in short supply. The most fans can do is find platforms hosting Thai Comics like WeComics or Lezhin. But even that’s not much, considering the language barriers.
Appreciate Thai Comics!
Today, Thai comics are facing an uphill epic battle. While they have survived the ages by combining great visual storytelling with Thai culture, it looks like they’re on a lifeline. Most artists are on the internet, embracing the independent venture market. But will this, the many programs, fanbases, and infrastructure make a difference? Thailand has the market, now it just needs to make the chances visible.
The ink’s not dry yet, so there’s hope. Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.