Comics come good

The cover art for Flower of Battambang by Em Satya
Em Satya signs a copy of his book for a fan
Two contestants in the 'comic art battle.' Yes that's John Weeks in the dark shirt!

Thumbs up for the comic book launch at Meta House tonight, when illustrator Em Satya gave an insight into his Flower of Battambang graphic comic book that has been 17 years in gestation before its publication this week with the help of Our Books and Valease. Satya has worked for decades in various fields of illustration, for newspapers, covers for novels and in children's books. A stroke has left him partially paralysed but more determined than ever to bring his fine artwork to a wider audience. Flower of Battambang is a graphic novel set in Battambang and Phnom Penh, shelved when the market for local comics experienced a downturn. Nearly two decades later, Satya has taken up his pen and finished the story, which has been assembled into one volume. The Khmer edition, at just a $1, was on sale at the event - which included intro's by John Weeks and Elizabeth Anne Moore, a Q&A session with the artist and a 'comic art battle' where the audience suggested subjects and two teams of artists drew their own interpretation against the clock, which Satya judged. Great fun and very impressive art by all involved. Link: Our Books.