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Comic Exhibition Opens in Taipei

Mayor Ma at the Comic Exhibition
The Seventh Annual Comic Exhibition kicked off at the Taipei Show (formerly of Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 2) on August 10. The event will last from August 10 until August 15. Dignitaries attending the opening ceremony included Executive Yuan’s Government Information Office (GIO) Minister Cheng Wen-tsang, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou, Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Sebastian Liao, and Taipei Tourism Commission Executive Director Kang Bing-cheng. Chinese Comic Publishers Association Chairman Michael Huang noted that without the support and assistance provided by the different levels of governments, the comic exhibition would not have grown considerably over the last several years. He remarked that the theme for this year’s exhibition is food and cooking in the world of comics. For charity, the organizers also donated a total of NT$100,000 to the Children Are Us Foundation and the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families. The disadvantaged individuals were also invited to attend the fun and exciting spirit of the exhibition. During his address, Mayor Ma noted that one of the things he used to do as a kid is to make sketches of popular comic characters from the 1950s – Si Lang and Zen Ping. He expressed his hope that one day the comics created by Taiwanese artists will be able to conquer this huge market. Chairman Huang presented a caricature of Minister Cheng to the GIO official himself and then prepared a cake with a cartoon picture of Mayor Ma on the top as gifts to the two guests. The Mayor left his autograph on the cake via a tube of dark-colored icing. The exhibition features Japanese-translated comics, local comics, and other comic-related products. In addition, there will be autograph sessions by famous comic artists and industry personalities from both Taiwan and Japan. This event attracted many fans to come out early in the midst of typhoon weather to meet their idols.