Wong Chak
Alfonso Wong used his eldest son’s name, Wong Chak, as his pen name when he created the Old Master Q comic strips five decades ago. Little did he know that Wong Chak would grow to be a household name as the hilarious adventures of Old Master Q, Big Potato and Mr. Chin became beloved by Hongkongers and even Chinese communities the world over. These days, the real Wong Chak has picked up his father’s pen to draw a new series of Old Master Q comics. Wong tells Grace Tsoi what it’s like to live up to his old man’s legacy.
My father is 88 years old this year. He’s had more than 10 pen names and created Old Master Q under the name Wong Chak. The comic was so popular that he could not change it. So, he became Wong Chak himself.
I have five younger brothers. We studied different subjects [in college]. I studied architecture. One studied mechanical engineering, the other learned about computers and the youngest brother went to medical school. But in the end, all of us have become cartoonists. It is fate, and I can’t explain it.
There were some embarrassing moments in my childhood because of Old Master Q. I was so puzzled because there were two Wong Chaks! I didn’t understand why my father used my name and didn’t use his own.
At school, one of my teachers told me to stand up and asked me, “Why are both you and your dad named Wong Chak?” The teacher barked the question in front of the whole class of 40 students, and all my classmates erupted in laughter. I didn’t know how to answer, and I just wanted to hide somewhere!
My father has a strong sense of humor. He is not a comedian and doesn’t crack jokes intentionally. He has his own way of seeing things, and the comments he makes are hilarious.
