Graphic novels: true stories & non-fiction
December 2021
Son of Formosa
by Yu Pei-Yun, Zhou Jian-Xin
The true story of Tsai Kun-lin, born in Qingshui, Taichung, in 1930, as he lives through Japanese rule and the arrival of the Kuomintang. Polite and a good student, Tsai found himself sentenced to ten years in jail for“ membership of an illegal organization” after attending a high school book club. On release he worked in publishing and advertising, and founded Prince, a children’s magazine which kept Taiwan’s cartooning tradition alive during martial law. He raised funds to allow a rural little league team to compete in Taipei and, on retirement, became a human rights activist. Tsai’s life is Taiwan’s recent history writ small. This graphic novel recounts his tenacity and determination. VIDEO
