Winner of Comics/Graphic Novel
COCKMAN
A chicken from another dimension wanders about and finds itself stranded on earth. But due to the vibrational incompatibility of earth with its ethereal form, it ends up manifesting into a human form called COCKMAN. COCKMAN is a rompy comedy adventure led by the atrocious anti-heroic titular character and the outrageous cast of clowns unwillingly swept alongside him for the ride. Together, they bring a hilarious lowbrow charm into this indie gem of a graphic novel unlike any other!
Excerpt
Self-Published, 2022
Judges' Comments
From a varied and impressive range of entries for this year’s first award for graphic novels, COCKMAN stood out to the judges for its total lack of seriousness and compromise and its over-the-top audacity and absurdity. Across over 350 gaudy pages, author Kenfoo unleashes an ethereal chicken spirit, who on his arrival in Singapore transforms into a politically incorrect and apparently irredeemable anti-superhero. His new identity as Cockman and his red-and-white costume with tail feathers derive from his poultry origins, but also allow for plenty of broad jokes about male genitalia. Joining him is a supporting cast of equally bizarre misfits, who have to unite against a seemingly invincible enemy. Kenfoo’s satire combines his kinetic timing and fluid, frenetic cartooning with the excesses of shonen action manga, Hong Kong martial arts comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all enhanced with a distinctly local Singaporean flavour. it is not for everyone and some may cringe, but many will be swept up by the macho banter, escalating humour and sheer exuberance, as well as moments of surprising heart.
It’s also worth remembering that the term ‘graphic novel’ was first coined in English sixty years ago in America explicitly to elevate the medium, encourage greater ambition and distinguish a more artistically serious form. The intervening years have seen comics worldwide achieve great literary and artistic recognition, including Singapore’s own Sonny Liew winning a record three Eisner Awards, the equivalent in American comics of the ‘Oscars’, for his remarkable meta-epic, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye. Amidst such highbrow progress and plaudits, however, comics also remain—and must always remain—a creative arena open to bold, singular, even anarchic authorial imaginations. Kenfoo’s COCKMAN marks another key turning point in Singapore’s comics and one that I suspect will also prove internationally popular and acclaimed.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR
Kenfoo
Kenfoo is a an illustrator and graphic novelist.
Short Notes with Kenfoo
What does "Mata Hati | 心眼 | Eye of the Heart | மனக்கண் வழியே" mean to you in writing?
That the heart sees the path true.
What does your writing process look like? Do you type or write? Are there multiple drafts, long pauses, or sudden bursts of activity?
Usually I'm on the toilet, an idea forms, it drops, and I pick it up. I then put it into an idea bottle, shake it up a bit, and pour it all out into pictures and words.
What does your working space look like?
A desktop computer; fully equipped with mouse and keyboard, positioned on a desk that is complimented by a chair.
Make an elevator pitch for your shortlisted work in 30 words or less.
A graphic novel titled COCKMAN. Yes, that's right. A lowbrow comedy adventure about an etheric chicken who came to earth and took on a human form. It's crass, energetic, ridiculous, and needless to say, funny. Very funny. Because I say so.
Could you share a pivotal moment as you were writing this work?
No publisher I approached wanted my book. This broke me, tore at my soul, unhinged my kind nature, and made me cruel. I yelled at the universe, wanting to give up. But then something happened- My mata hati, reignited with passion, burned like fire, and pushed me through!
If you could give one advice to yourself when you were writing this book, what would it be?
"Don't you dare give up. Who are you, to deny the five people out there wanting to read this? They believe in you! Sort of."
