One of the biggest guests of Mocca Fest 2025 is the famous Chinese Australian artist Badiucao. He is known for his banned political cartoons in China, and he will join writers and journalists Melissa ChenTalk about their highly anticipated graphic novel about totalitarian futures You must join the revolution!
This book has been highly praised by experts and experts who must read graphic novels this year. Check out this premise to understand why:
It’s 2035. The United States and China are in war. The United States is a primitive fascist country. Taiwan is divided into two. As the conflict between the nuclear powers escalates, three idealistic young men who met for the first time in Hong Kong have developed different beliefs about how to best drive this technocratic landscape. Andy, Maggie and Olivia go different paths towards transformative change, and everyone faces the extent to which they fight for freedom and who they will be.
Badiucao will be with Rodriguez Edel Saturday at 12 pm on Space 2, Leadership in the famous comic scholar Paul Gravett.
We spoke with Badiucao and Melissa Chan in this interview about their backstory, upcoming graphic novels, and Mocca Fest 2025, which you can read below.
Christian Angeles: You have to participate in the revolution will be one of the most important and controversial graphic novels of the year. It introduces the future of our technocratic bureaucracy, authoritarian fascism, and the war between the United States and China, with Taiwan splitting in the middle. My first question is: Are you two travelers? Is this book a warning for us for the next four years? Tell us in your own words what this book is about?
Melissa Chan: Ha! Well, as a reporter, I don’t like prophecy… What I can say is that the Indo-Pacific tensions are very important to me as someone reporting on international security, including traveling to Taiwan for deputy news. I took that part of the story seriously – the situation played in the plot is actually based on a real war game played by one of the Washington think tanks.
BADIUCAO: I am a time traveler, but a loyal observer of history and times. “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong,” Murphy’s Law says. All signs point to the coming era of chaos. It shines before us – hard to miss. I’m afraid the future is earlier than we expected in the book. This story is intended to pay tribute to activists from Hong Kong, Tibet, Eastern Turkey, Taiwan, China and the United States. In the apocalyptic nuclear war between authoritarian China and our fascists, there are about three young people who choose to choose – many actions were carried out on Taiwan.
Angeles: I know Jesse Schedeen from the days when IGN briefly wrote. He calls the book the perfect graphic novel for 2025. Haven’t read it yet, but knowing how relevant this topic is, I tend to agree. But do you agree? What is the story here, whose geopolitical pattern is it, and why? Also, if you can, please tell us how this book wakes up the phone, I think everyone needs to read…I think it may be.
BADIUCAO: I think it depends on when you read this year. Because reality is catching up. Chinese troops circulate Taiwan more frequently. Trump is openly betraying international democratic norms – he is almost Putin’s lapdog. It seems that he will visit China soon. We are facing a global crisis. The result is either an authoritarian empire that divides the world or World War III.
List: Four years ago, we started working on this book – actually when the last Trump administration ended, when we knew Biden would be the next president. In my mind, I always thought there were sequels for horror movies, and I think that’s what we live in now.
Angelis: Then some. Now, Melissa, you are probably one of the most prestigious journalists I have ever interviewed. Not only was you nominated for the Emmy Award, but you were also listed as one of the top 25 interpersonal people in the U.S.-China relationship in the Pacific Power Index of Foreign Policy. Some would say you are an expert in this matter, but for those who don’t know, can you tell us what you say in your own words? You can also share with us how some of the content you see affects what you write here?
List: Thanks! That’s to be kind. Well… The best way I want to describe my reporting work is that I look at authoritarianism and the global rise of democracy. Sometimes this is through the scope of human rights. Other times, this is through international security. For example, my latest trip in December was in the Baltic Sea where I spent military, reserves and traveled along the border near Russia and Belarus. The Europeans there were really worried that Putin would follow them next. I have reported from Asia for nearly a decade, including from Hong Kong and China. Then I also reported from Russia Cuba – even North Korea. So I think you can see that there is a pattern here. This was not intentional. This just happened. Yes, absolutely, I realized that I wanted to convey these issues in new ways, except for magazine articles or broadcast reports. There is authoritarianism everywhere, including in the United States, where citizens need to fight back.
Angeles: That’s why this book is so important. Well, Badicao, you are called Banks of China. Is that because the little girl’s painting you also painted failed to catch the red balloon? (joke)
BADIUCAO: Banksy’s name is a useful analogue for the average audience. Westerners naively lack knowledge and imagination because of China’s cruel behavior. Also, I never really like Banks’ work – a lot of empty love and peace BS never had any courage to do anything in China. Political art without real consequences is just a decorative product of consumerism. People buy it for high-end apartments in Manhattan to make it feel good and then call it peace.
Angeles: No, but in reality, why do people call you? Because you have geopolitics, family politics, survivalism, and a backstory that weirdly teaches kids. How did you become such a prolific artist?
BADIUCAO: I grew up in a regime, and even the air was polluted by extreme political repression. As an artist, I am just faithfully representing my life and the struggles I see. That’s all. My grandparents were part of the first group of filmmakers in China, and then they were persecuted in 1957 for the Chinese Communist Party. My father was orphan when he was five years old. I am the third generation, but I am still being hunted by the same regime to express my art. If people just keep silent, this vicious cycle will never end. Art is one of the clearest and most influential ways to play a role in social issues.
Angeles: This is a powerful backstory. Now, you are said to have been anonymous until recently. It’s all due to political dissent and fear of the happiness of your family. If I tell the truth, it’s really brave, like you did. Your street art is great, but what is it like to make sequential art for this graphic novel for the first time?
BADIUCAO: One type of framework art is a quick response I can make on social media and it’s easy to get trends. But there are limitations. The order art is different. Creating for artists takes time and takes time to digest for audiences and readers. It is an art form that weaves time into frames for storytelling. Plus, it’s a form that has a lot of similarity to filmmaking (almost like a storyboard), which brings me closer to my grandparents.
Angels: Bring it back to the roots, I dug it. OK, but we should talk about Mocca. What are your favorite things about this festival and are you looking forward to?
BADIUCAO: I look forward to hanging out with other artists!
List: I have a lot of books I want to sign!
Angeles: Very good. Finally, why do you think indie comics are so important now?
BADIUCAO: As more and more power accumulates to the top, the more likely the censorship will establish and undermine free expression. It works for politics – but also for publication. More independent comics mean a more fragmented ecosystem, less content control and more space for different value. This is just the basis for the success of any artistic medium and a blessing from readers.
Badiucao and Melissa Chan’s You must participate in the Revolution, which will be available on the Street Noise Books stall on Table 156. If you want to attend Mocca Fest 2025 in New York, click here.
For more information about MOCCA 2025, click here.
