Taiwanese comic artists showcase works at U.S. expo

Washington, Sept. 13 (CNA) Five Taiwanese comic artists showcased their works at the 2026 Small Press Expo (SPX) over the weekend at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Maryland.

The artists — A ee mi, Rio (里約), Ding Pao-yen (丁柏晏), Monday Recover (星期一回收日) and Crystal Kung (水晶孔) — held signing events and interacted with fans and fellow artists during the two-day expo.

A ee mi said she originally created her work in both Mandarin and English, so she did not need to prepare a separate translation for the expo. She said many U.S. readers told her they could relate to her work.

Monday Recover spoke about her work, titled “Sea You There and Us” (貓與海的彼端), which was her first book to be published in the United States. She said the story was somewhat sad but that she hoped it would resonate with readers.

Crystal Kung, who works at an animation studio in the U.S., said her works reflect what she wants to express and honestly convey her own experiences and feelings.

She said many people her age face similar issues, which helps her work resonate with readers.

In her new book, “American Overtime” (我很多的美國時間), published in Taiwan in August 2025, Crystal Kung depicts her everyday struggles after moving to the U.S. at the age of 22 to study and spending nearly a decade working there.

Ding said he was pleased that his work had been well received and that an English translation had been published for U.S. readers, following the publication of versions in European languages.

Meanwhile, Rio’s work, “Unemployed Killers Support Group” (失業殺手互助會), sold out at the expo.

SPX Executive Director Warren Bernard said he was glad to have the Taiwanese artists at the expo, noting that they had brought works he greatly admired and wanted to add to his own collection.

Established in 1994, SPX promotes artists and publishers who produce independent comics, according to its official website.

The annual comics and graphic arts festival showcases established independent comic creators while providing exposure and networking opportunities for attending artists and those just starting out, the website said.

(By Tony Liao and Wu Kuan-hsien)

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