Comic is a visual medium used to express ideas via images, often combined with text or visual information. Comic takes the form of contrasted sequences of panels of images with textualdevices such as speech balloons, captions, and sound effects, narration, or other information. Actually, there are several other genres such as super heroes, alternative/esoteric, manga, science fiction, fantasy, action adventure, horror, humor, romance and so on.Some consider comic appreciated by children, but it can be read of all ages. One important reason why teenagers are hooked on reading comic books is for pleasure and the entertainment.
Comic have been seen in Europe as beginning in 1830s while Americans in 1890s in the newspaper. Also, Manga, the Japanese term for comics and cartooning, was first popularized in the early 19th century. In Cambodia, comic has been existed more than 50 years ago after the French colonial occupation. From the 1960s to early 1970s, Cambodian comic appears to have inspiration from French culture.
However, the artistic legacy of Cambodian comic was died during Khmer Rouge regime. In the mid1980s, Cambodian comic was republished with few comic artists such as Uth Roeun and Hul Sophon. A famous Khmer comic book, “Torn Chey” by Uth Roeun was the beginning of the 1980s comic’s boom. In addition to local comic artists, there are some overseas Cambodian comic artists such as Ung
Bunhean Phousera Séra Ing Keu Tian and many others. Cambodian comic has been in the new life since 1993. With “Free Market” style economy, Art Comic becomes gradually more competitive in Kingdom of Cambodia.
Cambodian comic was orderly shown in comic exhibition and workshop both locally and internationally. Meanwhile, more and more Cambodian youths are aware of Cambodian comic. Many new comic artists are existed within the nation. This is a good sign to preserve Cambodian comic. Though it is a bit slow to develop, we can only have high hopes to our future artist.
