Old Master Q lives on in architect's hands

This article was written by Sandra Shih and published by the Taiwan Journal on January 4, 2008. It features OMQ Zmedia Ltd. in Taiwan, the company that is responsible for OMQ's intellectual-property rights, publications, images, cartoons and films. OMQ, or Old Master Q, has three main characters -- Master Q (aka Lao Fu-zi), his side-kick Big Potato, and Mr Chin. The rock-‘n-roll trio was first invented by famous Taiwanese cartoonist Alfonso Wong in 1962.

OMQ has been extremely popular with Chinese readers in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and North America. First published in Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily, it was an instant hit with readers who regaled in the awkward social situations in which the three characters were placed. One time, Master Q, who usually wore traditional Chinese attire, caused a rambunctious scene by refusing to change his clothes for a black-tie event. On another occasion, he put himself and the food-loving Big Potato in a ridiculous jam by taking a world map on a climbing trip in the suburbs. The unorthodox nature of Master Q's handling of such problems and the reactions he provoked from others kept the laughs rolling.

The overwhelming response to OMQ in Hong Kong saw the publication of a bound edition in 1964. The initial run of 6,000 copies sold out in just two days and subsequent issues could always be found on the local best-seller list. Although Taiwan had to wait until 1965 for its taste of OMQ, the comic experienced similar success on these shores and is still popular today. For many Taiwanese, OMQ's four to six frames of malarkey were a welcome diversion from the pressures of day-to-day living.

OMQ Zmedia Ltd. was established by Wong's son, Joseph Wong, who is an architect. "Although my siblings joked I should follow in father's footsteps and become a cartoonist, I never considered working in the field of comics. I dare not draw cartoons because I can't do it better than my father," Joseph Wong said. While he runs OMQ Zmedia as a way to extend the life of his father's work, Wong still teaches architecture at a university in Taiwan.

According to Wong, cartoons are a valid form of artistic expression and deserve to be taken seriously by the art world. As he sets about fashioning OMQ's international business, he keeps an eye firmly on the model used by Walt Disney to create a phenomenal global animation, publication and amusement-park empire. "I feel like it's my job to make people happy and help them fulfil their dreams. The spirit of OMQ is about giving urbanites the opportunity to laugh at the antics of Master Q while reflecting on many aspects of their own lives," he said.

In Taiwan and Hong Kong, being a cartoonist was not considered an ideal or promising career because of unstable income. Worse, as OMQ became more successful and popular throughout East Asia, Wong's father began experiencing failing eyesight and shaking hands, which were sure signs that the end of his career as a cartoonist was looming. Determined to help his father and extend the life of OMQ, Wong first set about organizing the comic's massive back catalogue by securing trademark and intellectual-property rights in several different countries. In the process, he stumbled across numerous pirate publications, especially in Taiwan and China. Instead of accusing the publishers of misconduct, Wong simply adopts a positive attitude: "All this means is that many people like to read OMQ."

Wong ensures parents that OMQ includes topics relating to local culture and lifestyle. For instance, Master Q goes suit shopping in Taipei's entertainment and shopping districts. And in only three to four strips, the origins of the long traditional Chinese dresses and Western mini skirts were contrasted. Additionally, idioms or slangs were illustrated in simple, easy-to-understand pictures without too many words, overturning the reputation comic books have been lumped with being educational black holes.

According to Wong, social responsibility weighs heavily on his mind when thinking of ways to expand OMQ's scope and sustain the core of his father's work. Although he defends parents' rights to ban their children from reading improper comic books, such as those that are too violent or pornographic, Wong believes that presenting serious literature in a relaxing comic-book format could be the key to bringing comics into the mainstream. “Instead of suppression, we need to have an open mind when reviewing the content of different comics," he said.