Funny business

THREE years ago, Ernest Ng left his high-paying job as a video editor to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time comicbook artist.
“I was not certain what the future held for me then, and whether I could make a decent living as [an artist],” says the 30-year-old who hails from Malacca.
For many months, Ng kept his decision a secret from his parents – his father is a doctor and his mother a nurse – because he did not want them to worry.
Even his friends thought that he was crazy for venturing into a profession filled with uncertainties. Thankfully, his gamble paid off.
When asked about his career path today, he said with a laugh: “Well, I am here to tell you that [being an artist] can be a viable career option. But you need to gauge what people like to read and then proceed to offer them that.
“Thanks to social media such as Facebook and Instagram, this task has become easier. If people like your work, they will share it online. Once you know you have an audience, you can monetise your work.”
So what advice can he give to other young people who are planning to become full-time cartoonists like himself?

“My first year as a full-time artist was not easy. In fact, it was hell,” he recalled.
“The most difficult period is when you are trying to establish yourself. People do not know you and what you can do.
“It will take some time to convince them that you are serious about what you do. Then let your drawings do the talking.”
His interest for drawing comics began when he was five years old.
It was his grandmother – a big fan of the Chinese comicbook series Old Master Q – who first exposed him to the world of comics.
Ng was fascinated by the way a story was told using sketches and drawing.
“I [also] loved watching cartoons and my favourite was Scooby Doo,” said Ng.
He drew 12 panels of a Scooby Doo comic and showed them to his mum.
“I [could] see that my mother had a worried look,” he said with a laugh. “Secretly, I think my mother was hoping I would become a doctor, just like my father.”
The next day, his Scooby Doo comics went missing, and he was extremely upset. But he did not stay upset for long.
Again, he drew the same comic and presented it to his mother. “I was simply unstoppable,” he said.
His all-time favourite cartoonists are C.W. Kee (of Kee’s World) and, of course, the legendary Lat.
“Sometimes, they can tell their story in one frame, and I really admire that skill,” he said. “I need to draw a few frames to tell my stories.”
Some believe that Malaysians prefer to buy foreign comic books to local ones.
“It is just [part of] the Malaysian mentality that we do not believe in our local talents,” he said.
“Malaysians are talented in terms of creative content. We should believe in ourselves more.”
Two years ago, he released his first comic book entitled Bro, Don’t Be Like That La Bro: Here Comes the Bros. He soon followed that up with his second book, Bro Don’t Like That La Bro Origins: Back to School.
Recently, Ng released his third book in the series, Bro, Don’t Like That La Bro: My Bad Bromance.
All his comics centre around his time in school and college, and his bachelor days.
The main characters are based on himself, and his five good friends. Ng is hoping to see his comic series turned into an animated series.
One wonders if Ng ever runs out of ideas to draw his comics?
“I never run out of ideas,” he said. “Whenever an idea hits me, I will jot it down in a book.
“My biggest problem is to really sit down and complete my drawing. I cannot sit still. I like to fidget a lot.”
He harbours dreams of becoming a standup comedian in the future. “I like to see the humour in life and share it with others,” he says.