Bonnie Pang, Hong Kong artist behind IT Guy and Art Girl, on her first ‘serious’ comic book Chronos Express

“I was flattered and very honoured to receive the award,” said the 32-year-old, who was one of 15 comic artists and companies sponsored by HKCSP to create a comic book within seven months.

The author confessed that she was initially shocked by her wins “since the 15 books only debuted at the convention – we never knew what the other artists’ stories [were] like”.

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Pang shared that the book’s themes about dealing with loss and the passage of time were inspired by her experiences confronting death.

“There was a period in my life where I was suddenly aware of dying and became very anxious about losing everything around me,” the illustrator explained.

“Eventually, I learned to live in the moment by embracing uncertainty and loss.”

While the heart-warming message behind the comic draws from Pang’s life, its style and storytelling is an amalgamation of many different influences.

Pang revealed that the fantastical elements of her book were inspired by the 2011 American film Midnight in Paris and the 2018 Japanese movie Cafe Funiculi Funicula, both of which involve time travel.

The art style of Chronos Express was influenced by French comic book artist and writer Cyril Pedrosa as well as Hong Kong cartoonist Little Thunder.

“Cyril Pedrosa creates wonderful storytelling with his layouts, and I love Little Thunder’s use of warm, vibrant colours,” Pang said.

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While this is not Pang’s first comic, she said it differed vastly from her previous creations.

The artist is best known for her digital slice-of-life short comics, for example, “IT Guy and Art Girl”, which she shares regularly with her 290,000 followers on Instagram.

But compared to those series, Chronos Express was much longer – 168 pages – and more “serious”, requiring structure and skill, Pang said.

“It’s like writing for a novel or movie. There must be the protagonist, some side characters, conflicts and challenges, cliffhangers, and finally, growth and closure,” she explained.

Also, producing the comic in less than a year felt like competing in a “triathlon”, the artist revealed.

“I had to go through various challenges and reach numerous milestones with no stopping,” she said. “It requires skill in many aspects, not just drawing.”

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Despite the difficulties of creating this comic book, the illustrator shared that it was also very rewarding.

Pang noted how HKCSP provided seminars and mentors to support the artists with writing, printing and promoting their works. It was also an opportunity to connect with other illustrators.

“It feels kind of like a boot camp, and everyone will cheer each other on. I liked how the programme connects a bunch of creatives, given that I usually work on my own.”

Pang has been making art throughout her life, beginning from the moment she picked up a crayon. Her first comic even dates back to when she was just six years old.

While drawing had always been a hobby of hers, Pang only decided to pursue it as a career in her final year of studying geography and resource management at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

“I decided that I wanted to work in the art field after all because I loved to draw so much,” she said.

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So after graduating, Pang got her master’s degree in illustration at the Academy of Art University in the US.

While she started creating art for animation studios, children’s books and public art projects, she was also publishing webtoons, which were gaining popularity.

“Illustration pays most of my bills. Comics, on the other hand, is more like a hobby, but it’s what gets me the most following, reader interaction and satisfaction,” said Pang, who hopes her stories can create a positive impact.

“I take personal experiences and convey the message through my work, so that readers won’t make the same mistake as me.”