A life in comics with no regrets
“Drawing comics is demanding work—you’ve got to be scriptwriter, director, actor and narrator all at once, and you’ve got to be able to capture readers’ attention with pictures, dialogue, plot, and writing.” A truly masterful piece is a work of art worthy of passing down to future generations.
On Hsu’s old desk, he keeps a small mirror that he uses to try out characters’ expressions. “My brain never stops. What’s most worrying is that I often find myself talking to the characters in my dreams.” Having spent a lifetime in the comics world, he long ago stopped drawing a line between reality and fantasy.
“People used to say comics were just kids’ stuff, easy to draw, but in reality there’s a complicated process behind them, especially the more realistic ones.” Each stage from the composition of the first draft to inking, from storyboarding to line drafting, rewriting and coloring, is time-consuming and laborious. “Paper quality is also very important, since you can’t let the colors get smudged,” explains Hsu of the need for specially selected paper. “No matter how hard up you might be, you can’t skimp on the paper.”
“The linework in The Buddha is very dense, which meant it was stressful on the eyes and the hands, so I could only get a page or two done a day.” As a result, Hsu was finally able to finish the book after a decade of work. Spending so long hunched over his work led to Hsu injuring his lumbar spine, paying a physical price to produce a masterwork for the generations.
“I never had a formal teacher, I’ve really just been blessed from above.” The plaudits may keep coming for Hsu, but now in his eighties, he views brickbats and bouquets with equanimity. “I’ve still got so many ideas in my head, but these days the body isn’t quite as willing.” Hsu’s trembling hands are no longer up to the task of his old intricate linework. Nevertheless, he remains committed to the cause of helping Taiwan create its own style, the same commitment that has kept him going throughout his lifelong career in comics. Time may be taking its toll, but at heart, Hsu Mao-sung is as tireless as ever.
Hsu Mao-sung carefully crafts the progress of his stories toward their climaxes, immersing readers in their twists and turns.
The figures in The Buddha are all clothed in a manner faithful to their times. (from The Buddha, © Hsu Mao-sung, courtesy of Dyna Books)
Dyna Books took up the mission of publishing The Buddha out of a desire to help Hsu create his legacy.
The Buddha was published in three volumes, carefully detailing every stage of the life of Siddhartha Gautama from birth through enlightenment to parinirvana.