Sonny Liew and Dr. Hsu Li Yang Explains The Science Behind Covid-19

What a discombobulating year this has been.

2020's Covid-19 pandemic threw everyone's lives out of whack, and here we are, on the last day of an unforgettable year.

The Covid-19 vaccines arrived in Red Dot Island more than a week ago, and vaccinations have already begun for frontline healthcare workers yesterday. Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel, but it still feels as if we are treading on thin ice, as the virus is still raging on in other parts of the world.

Red Dot Diva thought that that best way to end 2020 would be a cautious yet positive blog piece about a new webcomic entitled THE SCIENCE BEHIND COVID-19 by local Eisner Award-winning writer/ artist Sonny Liew (The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, Dr. Fate, Malinky Robot, Eternity Girl) and Dr. Hsu Li Yang, Vice Dean of Global Health and Programme Leader of Infectious Diseases at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. The comic was published on 28 December in both the printed and digital versions of the local English-language daily, The Straits Times.

Click on this link to read the web comic - https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/the-science-behind-covid-19-1

STGCC 2013: Introducing Ray Toh and Morning Rain Studio

There is a treasure trove of very talented artists in Red Dot Island, with design, illustration and concept work being the primary kinds of artwork you usually find here. Most of these artists may not be internationally-known names, but they are hard-working and accomplished professionals in their own right.

All one needs to do is to drop by the ART JAMMERS SG Facebook Group to admire the amount of creativity and perspectives of the many artists there, and on a wide range of subjects!

One of the artists who posts regularly in the FB group is local freelance illustrator and concept artist Ray Toh. Recently, Ray's artwork was used for the cover of teen-mystery book "Triple Nine Sleuths" written by Maranna Chan and published by local house, Epigram Books.

At STGCC 2013, Ray will be hosting his own booth at Artist Alley G45 under the name of his brand new company, Morning Rain Studios. His guest Jerry Teo of "Rex Regrets" will also be accompanying him there during the convention.

(More emo on Jerry/ "Rex Regrets" here!)

Red Dot Dude caught hold of Ray so that he could introduce more art-appreciators to his portfolio and what his new company has to offer:

A Spooky Q&A With Dave Chua - Writer of "The Girl Under The Bed"

Local readers may already be familiar with Dave Chua's award-winning novella "Gone Case" which was adapted into two graphic novels recently. The graphic novels - which depicted a boy's coming of age story in the very heartlands of the  HDB landscape - were a collaboration with artist Koh Hong Teng.

Both books were well-received by local readers mainly because it spoke right to the heart of the true-blue Red Dot Islander. Even more so when the books were visualized by Hong Teng, whose amazing artwork were so detailed and vivid.

This time round, in Epigram's graphic novel "The Girl Under The Bed" (with young artist Xiao Yan), Dave Chua turns to another favourite genre of his - horror. Despite being set during the Hungry Ghost Festival or "7th month" (in Hokkien), the story is also another realistic, coming-of-age tale of a teenage girl.

Red Dot Diva lays out some glittery offerings so that Dave will reveal what lies behind the spooky tale.

FCBD 2013: So What Will Be Happening On 4th May?

This year's Free Comic Book Day (FCBD), which falls on 4 May, seems to be more muted than last year.

Well, for one thing, Harris Planerds - hailed as the bookstore for geeks - closed its doors late last year. And there have been no early excited hints of well-known comic guests making appearances at stores like GnB or Invasion. YET.

That leaves Kinokuniya - the only other bookstore chain with a geek-worthy stock of graphic novels - to create some hype for FCBD. From the details released in Kinokuniya's April e-newsletter, one would have noted that they were the first to promote any kind of the local FCBD events at all!

The details of two FCBD related events held at Kinokuniya's main store at Ngee Ann City are:

Young Readers Gather at the "Sherlock Sam" Book Series Launch At Kinokuniya

Even as a grown adult, Red Dot Diva found local "Sherlock Sam" children's book series (published by Epigram) a smart, funny and invigorating read.

All thanks to its creative team - the husband (Adan Jimenez) and wife (Felicia Low-Jimenez) writing duo who call themselves A.J. Low and local-based illustrator, drewscape (Andrew Tan). The three of them seem to have a quirky blend of synergy which resulted in the light-hearted and entertaining book series.

(Click here to check out out Red Dot Diva's review on the first book "Sherlock Sam and the Missing Heirloom in Katong".)

The "Sherlock Sam" official launch held at the Kinokuniya flagship store's Crossroads area last month on March 16th was no less fun!

A.J. Low - the Writers of "Sherlock Sam" - on Food, Books and Mysteries

A locally published children's illustrated detective fiction book series has captured the hearts and imagination of many young readers recently.

The adventures of precocious 10-year-old "Sherlock Sam" and his trusty sidekick robot, Watson, were penned by "A.J. Low". 

Instead of just one person, the moniker "A.J. Low" belongs to two personalities - an adorable husband and wife team whose real names are Adan Jimenez and Felicia Low. Both USA-born Adan and homegirl Felicia have quite a few years of experience working in bookstores, and "Sherlock Sam" is one of the creative results of their shared love for books and geek-pop-culture. 

Together with illustrator drewscape and homegrown publisher Epigram Books, the team has made "Sherlock Sam" a jaunty, often tongue-in-cheek tale of mystery-solving - Singapore-style.

Book Review: Get Your Kids Reading with "Sherlock Sam and the Missing Heirloom in Katong"

While reading "Sherlock Sam and the Missing Heirloon in Katong", the first book of Epigram Book's new children's series by A.J. Low, Red Dot Diva found herself hurled back in time to when she was a long-haired little girl, devouring book after book that were investigative in nature.

Her love for investigative novels started early with Enid Blyton's "The Secret Seven", followed by "Famous Five", and progressed to a little of Hardy Boys/ Nancy Drew. Later on as a pre-teen, she especially enjoyed reading "The Three Investigators" series, relishing the more intricate plots and their witty dialogue.

These detective-mystery novels brought her farther along her book journey towards Dame Agatha Christie's works and inevitably, to one of her favorite writer of all time - Arthur Conan Doyle and his creation - the wonderfully eccentric master detective, Sherlock Holmes.

So it was of little coincidence that the Chinese name of "Sherlock Sam"'s main character is Cher Lock ("It's SHER-Lock!!!"). An intelligent, precocious young boy who's also growing up to be the typical Singaporean foodie, Samuel considers Sherlock Holmes (and Batman) to be his detective heroes.