Extract from Wacom Community, 1st August 2006
Click here for extract of the interview.



With the Hollywood studios making blockbuster movies of American superhero comics such as Spiderman, Superman, Batman, X-men, and let's not forget Catwoman, comics are coming into the mainstream like never before. But they've been mainstream in another form for decades in Japan, and Japanese-style comics or manga, is beginning to reverse the West to East current of influence. Translations of Japanese manga have invaded bookstores, costumed fans or cosplay fans dress up in their favorite Japanese characters to attend sprawling conventions, and Japanese animation, or anime, occupies the airwaves.
What's the next step of this cultural export from Japan? The adaptation of it by local artists who add their own flavor and flair to wild, funny, fantastic, cool, ridiculous storylines and art. Wacom Community staff was lucky enough to get in contact with one emerging studio in Singapore, and sat down (virtually) with writer Ho Wan and artist Kaya to talk about their studio, Fresh Mode Comics, and the Steps series.

Q1. When did Fresh Mode begin and why "Fresh Mode"? Kaya, when did you join? How did you find out about Fresh Mode?

Ho Wan: Fresh Mode went online on 27th Feb 06. The inspiration behind Fresh Mode was to develop a local free online comics portal for homegrown comic artists to have their own unique space to showcase their talents and works to the world. It's supported by Synthesis, a pilot initiative launched by the Media Development Authority (MDA) of Singapore, with the objective of supporting innovative and creative digital productions made for the Internet. With the effort of the entire Fresh Mode team and blessing of MDA, I'm happy to say that the five month old site is off on a good start. Fresh Mode currently attracts an average of 2,000 visits per day.

Why "Fresh Mode"? Well, the gist of Synthesis is to encourage the use of the Internet as a platform for content creation and marketing. So "Fresh Mode" represents the essence of Synthesis; it means a new way in which something is done... sounds nice huh? Haha, but come to think of it, there's nothing new in what Fresh Mode is doing. There's thousands of webcomics in the west! Haha, still, I would say that webcomics is something new in our region, so at least that's some justification to our name.

Kaya: I don't remember! :D It should be around this year March. I just finished my O levels, and I wanted to make some money. So I asked around about open spaces in any design firms, and my *very good* friend told me about Prodigy Studio. I emailed Ho Wan and asked whether he wanted to hire, and luckily for me he did!


Q2: Can you tell readers out there a little more about Steps? Why "Steps"? Who are the characters? What's the story?

Ho Wan: Steps is a four-panel comic strip targeted at teens with a story line that hinges mostly on nonsensical and wicked humor. The comic revolves around the antics of three spunky 17 year old girls, each with their own brand of charisma and attitudes. As for the name "Steps"... it doesn't have anything to do with the theme, characters or story. We were thinking of a name that's catchy and easy to remember, hence "Steps". Another point to add... we are also too lazy to brainstorm on other names, hahaha.


Q3. Steps shows quite a number of influences, taking sarcastic jabs at Cosplaying and X-men and design. Is it an American-style comic or a Japanese-style manga or something altogether different?

Ho Wan: For Steps' story, I would say that it would lean towards the kind of humor and nonsensical stuff you would find in some Japanese manga or Hong Kong films (for example, Stephen Chow's movies). I do read American comics (I'm a Marvel fan) but the type that I go for are non-comedy stuff. So probably there's not much of American influence on Steps. But with globalisation and convergence of pop culture and stuff like that, there are certain things nowadays that's difficult for us to differentiate between Western and Eastern influences. As for the art, I say it's KAYA style!

Kaya: I'd say my art is manga-styled with my own demented twist to it. Drawing the stereotypical Japanese manga/anime style was getting boring, and I wanted to make my art look different. The American-styled influence is little or none at all because I did not grow up with that. But I'd love to try. Not Marvel. Most of their drawings are too realistic, though they look great. I'd want something stylish, like Penny Arcade! Or Jeremy Fish!

Prodigy Studio is pleased to announce the launch of Fresh Mode, the first ever local comic platform to be supported by the Media Development Authority of Singapore. The inspiration behind Fresh Mode was to develop a local online platform and community for homegrown comic artists to have their own unique space to showcase their talents and works to a worldwide audience.

At the moment, Fresh Mode features two of our very own homegrown comic titles, Steps and Hunt!

Steps, a four-panel comic strip, has a story line that hinges mostly on nonsensical and wicked humor. The comic revolves around the antics of three spunky girls, each with their own brand of charisma and attitudes.

In Hunt! the spotlight is trained on the struggles of Xuanzhen, a young demigod who embarks on his journey of self-discovery. He is torn between benevolent intervention and the celestial rules of non-intervention. The story invites its audience to give thought to the concepts of taking justice into one’s own hands or leaving matters in the hands of nature and the laws of the greater good. The story later develops into a battle between Gods and Demons.

Prodigy Studio would like to take this opportunity to thank our online friends for their support to Fresh Mode and we promise to continue to do our best to bring good entertainment right to your computer screens!

Prodigy Studio would also like to express our sincere appreciation to the following partners of Fresh Mode:

- Hobbyhype
- Tyzon
- SG Anime

Fresh Mode is supported by Synthesis, a pilot initiative by the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA), with the objective of supporting innovative and creative digital productions made for the Internet.