This chapter examines how heroic representations in Hong Kong comics both engage with and diverge from Western superhero traditions across six decades. Through analysis of landmark works—Uncle Choi (財叔, Choi Suk, 1950s–1960s), Little Rascals (小流氓, Síu Làuh Màhn, 1970s), Chinese Hero (中華英雄, Jūng Wàh Yīng Hùhng, 1980s), Teddy Boy (古惑仔, Gú Waahk Jái, 1990s), and Harbour Heroes (維港巨星, Wàih Gồng Geuih Sīng, 2000s–2010s)—the text traces a trajectory from traditional heroism to postmodern anti-heroism, reflecting Hong Kong’s shifting sociopolitical landscape. Unlike American superheroes who typically reinforce institutional authority, Hong Kong’s comic protagonists emerge from society’s margins, embodying the territory’s liminal position between East and West, tradition and modernity. These narratives draw from traditional xiáyì (俠義, martial chivalry) elements while selectively incorporating transnational influences, constructing a distinctive heroic paradigm that navigates tensions between collectivism and individualism, cultural pride and political ambivalence. Rather than being derivative of Western models, Hong Kong comics articulate cultural identity through hybridity, displacement, and transformation—mirroring the territory’s unique historical experience and complex positioning within global cultural exchanges.

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Hong Kong in Comics: The Changing Iconographic Landscape of Heroes

  • Kin-Wai Amelia Chu,
  • Wendy Siuyi Wong

摘要

This chapter examines how heroic representations in Hong Kong comics both engage with and diverge from Western superhero traditions across six decades. Through analysis of landmark works—Uncle Choi (財叔, Choi Suk, 1950s–1960s), Little Rascals (小流氓, Síu Làuh Màhn, 1970s), Chinese Hero (中華英雄, Jūng Wàh Yīng Hùhng, 1980s), Teddy Boy (古惑仔, Gú Waahk Jái, 1990s), and Harbour Heroes (維港巨星, Wàih Gồng Geuih Sīng, 2000s–2010s)—the text traces a trajectory from traditional heroism to postmodern anti-heroism, reflecting Hong Kong’s shifting sociopolitical landscape. Unlike American superheroes who typically reinforce institutional authority, Hong Kong’s comic protagonists emerge from society’s margins, embodying the territory’s liminal position between East and West, tradition and modernity. These narratives draw from traditional xiáyì (俠義, martial chivalry) elements while selectively incorporating transnational influences, constructing a distinctive heroic paradigm that navigates tensions between collectivism and individualism, cultural pride and political ambivalence. Rather than being derivative of Western models, Hong Kong comics articulate cultural identity through hybridity, displacement, and transformation—mirroring the territory’s unique historical experience and complex positioning within global cultural exchanges.