The Industry of Comics: Views from Around the World
PanelAśka, Felicia Low-Jimenez, Foo Swee Chin, Kaoru, Vitali Konstantinov | Moderator: Chong Lingying
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Discover how comics take shape across the world! This lively roundtable brings together leading creators and industry voices from all over the world to explore the current comics landscape—discussing market trends, cross-border publishing, and the future of comics in how kids read.
comics and graphic novelspublishingeditingindustry perspectives
Aśka (Australia)
Aśka (she/they) is creative dynamite. A short listed graphic novelist, an ex-quantum physicist, and a big fan of the little doovalacky above the ‘s’ in her name (which you pronounce ‘Ash-ka’).
A hugely engaging and popular presenter, Aśka likes to think about HOW pictures work and is passionate about visual literacy education. In addition to a catalogue of self-published comics, they have traditionally published more than a dozen books and graphic novels. Their recent titles include the Stonewall Award Notable graphic novel Stars in Their Eyes, which was also a Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Book and shortlisted for the 2022 Comic Arts Awards of Australia. Aśka’s latest YA graphic novel is The Friendship Paradox, published by Allen & Unwin in 2026.
She is also the recipient of several government arts grants, prizes, and fellowships. Aśka is an organising committee member for the Perth Comic Arts Festival, contributes regularly to The School Magazine, volunteered as Illustrator Co-ordinator for the WA branch of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for four years, has single-handedly run an animation festival, held a solo art exhibition about numbers in nature, and been featured in an ABC TV documentary.
When they’re not creating, Aśka is travelling across Australia teaching eager students of all ages how to write with pictures. Find out more at askastorytelling.com
Photo by Emanuel Rudnicki
Felicia Low-Jimenez (Singapore)
Felicia Low-Jimenez is the Publisher at Difference Engine, an independent comics publisher based in Singapore. She holds a Master’s degree in Literary Theory and Asian Studies, with a focus on anime and manga, and has worked in bookselling and publishing for over a decade. She believes that stories have the power to change the world. She is also one half of the writing team behind the bestselling Sherlock Sam series of children’s books and the writer of the young adult fantasy comic, Tiger Girls.
Foo Swee Chin (Singapore)
Foo Swee Chin’s prolific career as a comic book artist and illustrator spans more than two decades. She has collaborated with American and Japanese publishing houses and game developers. Her versatility as an artist allows her to easily cross genres from dark, twisty and melancholic to sweet and whimsical. She has great empathy for animals and environmental causes and always curious and open to new ideas.
Kaoru (Malaysia)
Kaoru joined Kadokawa Gempakstarz as the first full-time Chinese female comic book artist in Malaysia in 2001. Her ornate, Japanese manga-influenced art style has won her many fans. Since 2013, she has transformed into a comic screenwriter, leading her team to create the “Candy” and “Prince” comic series. These two comic series have achieved excellent results, with total sales reaching 4.5 million and 1.6 million, respectively.
Vitali Konstantinov (Germany)
Vitali Konstantinov is a German author, illustrator and comic artist. He studied architecture, graphic art, painting, and art history and has been writing and illustrating books for more than 20 years, which have been published in 40 countries. His work has earned the title “Best German Book Design” and he won the “German Children’s Book Prize 2025” for his illustrations in Genius Eyes – A Curious Animal Compendium. Vitali also presents his books worldwide at interactive readings and workshops.
Chong Lingying (Singapore)
Chong Lingying is a writer and publisher based in Singapore. She is a member of literary arts collective, Books& Collective. She manages business development at Marshall Cavendish Education. In 2022-2023 she managed the launch of BookData.sg and the Frankfurt Book Fair pilot for Singapore Book Publishers Association. She ran independent comics publishing house, Asiapac Books, from 2018 to 2022. She has served on the committees of the Singapore Book Publishers Association and Sing Lit Movement (previously BuySingLit). In 2020, she co-founded COMIX.SG, Singapore’s online home for comic artists.
Programme dates and times are subject to change.