British / American Comics in China

[booksandcomics]

Hello everyone,

Thought I'd share some recent finds I've had whilst working in China. The first lot are DC Thomson translations of Beano and Dandy. I assume they were done without DC Thomson's knowledge. However, the print quality on them are excellent, complete with thick card centres of masks and puppets to be made. Has anyone else found similar translations of comics into Chinese? I'm also trying to improve my Chinese reading skills so thought this would be a fun way to practice. I'll also post another set of comics I've found a bit later.

[colcool007]

If you find any Commando or War ones, I will happily buy a couple off you just for the sake of being able to have some in the collection.

[booksandcomics]

If you find any Commando or War ones, I will happily buy a couple off you just for the sake of being able to have some in the collection.

No problem, I'll keep my eye out for you!
Cheers,
Adam

[booksandcomics]

Here's the other set of comics, from c1948, printed in Nanjing. Full of American comic strips.

Comic title is "Comic World" (圖画世界 Túhuà shìjiè). I picked up three copies from the outdoor antiques market in Beijing back in November. Anything from this period in China is difficult to find.

Some of the strips I've not been able to identify so would welcome any help you might have. Has anyone else found similar issues?

"Comic World" (圖画世界 Túhuà shìjiè) c1948, Nanjing, China

[booksandcomics]

I'm unsure on who this strip is, the Chinese name is 呆大偵棎 Dāi dà zhēn chán - rough translation "Slow-witted/dull big detective Chan"

[booksandcomics]

I'm also unsure of this chap, a silly sailor? Dumb sailor?
Chinese name is "笨水手" Bèn shuǐshǒu rough translation as 'Foolish / Clumsy Sailor'

[booksandcomics]

Here's Chic Young's 'Blondie', although interestingly in the Chinese version the names are reversed. The husband, Dagwood Bumstead, is called Blondie (白朗弟) "Bai lang di". From reading it, the wife (Blondie Dagwood) is not named.

I only have three issues of this comic so she may have been named in other issues, I'm intrigued to find out more so will be on the scout for more issues!

[booksandcomics]

Here we have Donald Duck
and also Felix the Cat.

In this comic, Donald duck is named 鸭老唐 Ya lao tang - 'Old exaggerative duck'

Felix has had different names in the early Chinese comics:
黑狸貓 Heili mao 'Black fox-like cat'
菲利克斯猫 'Fei li ke si' cat (literal translation)
貓的鬧劇 Mao Naoju 'Feline Follies'

[colcool007]

Here's the other set of comics, from c1948, printed in Nanjing. Full of American comic strips.

Comic title is "Comic World" (圖画世界 Túhuà shìjiè). I picked up three copies from the outdoor antiques market in Beijing back in November. Anything from this period in China is difficult to find.

Some of the strips I've not been able to identify so would welcome any help you might have. Has anyone else found similar issues?

"Comic World" (圖画世界 Túhuà shìjiè) c1948, Nanjing, China

Number 37 is Nancy by the inestimable Ernie Bushmiller. This was syndicated all around the world and even D C Thomson syndicated Nancy in The Topper.

Number 34 could be Buck Jones but I could be talking through my stetson with that answer!

Keep putting these up. It is fascinating to see how comics were syndicated around the world.

[booksandcomics]

Nancy comic strip from Ernie Bushmiller

Both Nancy's and Sluggo's names are literal translations:
耐茜 Nai xi - Nancy
斯樂哥 Si le ge - Sluggo

[booksandcomics]

Here's the other set of comics, from c1948, printed in Nanjing. Full of American comic strips.

Comic title is "Comic World" (圖画世界 Túhuà shìjiè). I picked up three copies from the outdoor antiques market in Beijing back in November. Anything from this period in China is difficult to find.

Some of the strips I've not been able to identify so would welcome any help you might have. Has anyone else found similar issues?

"Comic World" (圖画世界 Túhuà shìjiè) c1948, Nanjing, China

Number 37 is Nancy by the inestimable Ernie Bushmiller. This was syndicated all around the world and even D C Thomson syndicated Nancy in The Topper.

Number 34 could be Buck Jones but I could be talking through my stetson with that answer!

Keep putting these up. It is fascinating to see how comics were syndicated around the world.

Will do! I've a few more to go

[booksandcomics]

This is Fritzi Ritz, who I believe is Nancy's aunt.

In this comic she is called 'Fei' Aunty (fei = cost / spend) 費姑母
However, I believe in other comics she is referred to as Fritzi 'Fei Li Zi' 費麗滋

Her boyfriend Phil Fumble also has a literal translation as 'Fei Li' 菲力 (Phil)

[booksandcomics]

Swinging through the trees, here we have Tarzan

泰山歷險記 'Tai Shan Lixianji' Tarzan Adventures

[booksandcomics]

This strip I've struggled to identify. It's a strange tale which ends with a doctor in the modern era waking up or using a strange vapour. Does anyone recognise this?

Rough translation is "Afterlife Revenge Story" 再世复仇记 zaishi fuchou ji

[booksandcomics]

Cowboy western comic strip which I'm unsure of.
Name is 大侠黑白龍 Daxia Heibai Long 'Black White Dragon Hero'