Hong Kong’s Indie Bookshops: A Home for Local Comics at Epic One

We’re shining a light on some of the independent bookshops that are keeping Hong Kong’s literary scene alive. Stay tuned for our upcoming Zolima’s Picks roundup!

If you grew up in Hong Kong, then you’ve probably come across the city’s manhua or comics at some point. Maybe you passed a newspaper stand on your way to school or caught an animated series on television. Local icons like Old Master Q (老夫子), McDull (麥兜) and Oriental Heroes (龍虎門) evoke warm childhood memories beside Japanese manga and American superheroes.

This rich legacy continues to thrive on the 12th floor of the Long To Building in Lai Chi Kok, where Epic One is a shrine to Hong Kong manhua. As we enter, fresh copies of legendary comic book artist Tony Wong’s latest release have just arrived from the printer and are carefully packed into plastic wraps. (Titled 商湯天子 or Emperor Tang of Shang, this wuxia tells the story of a hero with ancient mystical blood who rises to overthrow a tyrant’s waning dynasty.) Clients old and new greet owner Dicky Lam before chatting with us.

Since an early age, Lam has been an avid reader — and later collector — of comics, developing a deep understanding of the art form through classics like Wong’s Little Rascals (小流氓) — a Hong Kong comic series first published in 1970. Centred on a street-smart teenager who rises through the city’s underworld while navigating friendship and loyalty, the story captured Lam’s imagination. He was enticed by the sense of familiarity Wong created by depicting young heroes battling criminals across Hong Kong’s different districts — urban settings and heroic paradigms that resonated deeply with him.

Fast forward to the early 1990s and Lam found himself unemployed. Searching for a new direction, he thought of taking a leap from working in cash courier security to the comic book field. He asked himself, “Do I have a chance to develop in this field?” Encouraged by friends in the comics community, he ultimately left his job to pursue a new path in the world of comics.

From passion to profession

His leap of faith proved rewarding. Decades later, he met one of his childhood heroes — Tony Wong. The two first crossed paths in 2013, when Lam served as a consultant and interviewed the artist for the twelve‑episode TVB programme 畫時代 (waak6 si4 doi6), a series tracing Hong Kong comics’ golden era from the 1960s through classic characters, creators’ stories and societal reflections. “Meeting my childhood idol for the first time was both surprising and exciting,” Lam recalls. “Receiving a hand‑drawn illustration from Mr. Wong was also incredibly moving!” 

As time progressed, their professional relationship grew over the years and, in 2025, reached a new milestone. Thanks to a formal collaboration with comics publisher New Sparkle Roll (玉皇朝出版有限公司), Epic One not only sells and distributes but also publishes Wong’s comics and displays his sketches.

Originally called Collectors’ Comics, the bookshop’s first location can be traced back to Mong Kok’s Sino Centre and was open for nearly two decades from 2006 to 2025. Once surrounded by comic bookshops specialising in Taiwanese and Japanese titles, it relocated to its second and current home in Lai Chi Kok in late 2025, marking a fresh chapter; by then, it had already been renamed as Epic One. “It’s the only shop in the city that exclusively sells Hong Kong comics,” says Lam.

The move, he explains, eased fierce competition with other comic shops and instead gave him a space to showcase his collection. With New Sparkle Roll just five minutes away, day-to-day coordination is far more efficient — while the new shop’s proximity to the MTR makes it even more accessible than before.

Another unique feature is the store’s exhibition-style display: shelves lined with Hong Kong comics spanning from the 1960s to today, glass cases gleaming with action figures and original framed artworks displayed like paintings — paying homage to the shop’s focus. Highlights include a sword from Wong’s Weapon of the Gods (神兵玄奇), an Oriental Heroes drawing marking Hong Kong’s 25th handover anniversary and a Chinese Hero figure from the esteemed Ma Wing-sing’s eponymous series.

Ancient origins, modern twist

Beyond aesthetic illustrations and kinetic figures, what makes Hong Kong manhua so special? To answer that, we have to first rewind to its beginnings. 

The wuxia and action-driven graphics we see today trace their roots back to early Chinese visual storytelling. As professor of design at Canada’s York University Wendy Siuyi Wong notes, manhua evolved from sequential picture books known as lianhuantuhua (連環圖畫), popularised in 1920s Shanghai in xiaorenshu (小人書) — pocket-sized books — that retold classic tales and legends for everyday readers.

When these traditions reached Hong Kong, they found a new lease of life. In the 1950s, as the city transformed through industrialisation and migration, so too did local manhua, with different themes and drawing styles flourishing, especially those defined by crisp, linear illustration. By the 1970s, manhua had grown into a working-class pastime and a mirror of city life — an affordable escape that captured many hearts amid the rhythm of cramped public housing estates and shifting aspirations. Crucially, while Japanese and American comics reached global audiences with individualist heroes, Hong Kong manhua stayed rooted in its people and collective stories, becoming a visual language of belonging.

Against this backdrop, a new generation of artists such as Tony Wong, Ma Wing-shing and Man Kai-ming defined a distinctly Hong Kong identity on the page. Wong’s Little Rascals (later rebranded Oriental Heroes or 龍虎門 due to public concerns over its violent content) channelled 1970s youth outlaw heroism into local neighbourhoods, turning public housing estates into battlegrounds of loyalty and brotherhood. Ma’s Chinese Hero (中華英雄) brought cinematic realism and moral depth, following a righteous swordsman’s exile to America in a story that blended kung fu spectacles with Confucian ideals. Meanwhile, Man’s Teddy Boy (古惑仔), later adapted into the film series Young and Dangerous (1996), fused Cantonese street grit with chivalric codes, crafting a hero who embodied the pride of everyday survival. 

Together, they forged not just a visual style but an emotional lineage — one that continues to shape how Hong Kong sees itself through its fictional heroes — documenting the city’s social transformations, collective identities and lived experiences amid migration and global exchange.

Keeping comics alive

Independent bookstores in Hong Kong often struggle to survive in the face of high rents and competition from online retail, and Lam knows that relying on sales alone is no longer sustainable. In response, he has shifted from simply selling books to overseeing the entire chain, from publishing to retail. 

Collaborating directly with comic book artists and publishing firms, he helps shape each title’s themes, artistic direction, then brings the finished works into his own shop. This integrated model, he says, gives him creative control and direct access to the readers who keep his business alive.

To further spread his passion for comics, Epic One hosts occasional events to cultivate intimate rapport between artists and readers — fostering friendships and collaborations among like-minded enthusiasts. This month, a major gathering is being planned: an exclusive dinner for 99 fans with Wong, celebrating both the legendary artist’s birthday and the success of his latest book in the Legend of Emperors (天子傳奇) series.

Outside of the bookshop, a few exhibitions also preserve the city’s comic book legacy. At the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Comic Fun for All: The Magic of Hong Kong Comedy Comics explores local humour from the 1950s to today, tracing how comedy comics have brightened urban life across generations. Through manuscripts, comic books and art installations, beloved characters from different eras like Old Master Q and My Boy emerge, revealing artists’ inspirations and creative processes. 

At Wan Chai’s M7, a new Old Master Q exhibition links the iconic character with Hong Kong’s martial arts novels to spotlight chivalry, storytelling and traditional Chinese culture. A range of exhibits — informative panels, immersive scenes, sculptures and weapon displays — transport visitors into a whimsical martial arts realm guided by Old Master Q and his friends.

Looking ahead, though sustaining a comic book career is no easy feat, shops like Epic One endure, ensuring everyone can discover how special Hong Kong comics truly are, and why they’re worth collecting and cherishing. “Because if there were no Hong Kong comics,” says Lam, “then there won’t be a part of the city and the people’s memories anymore.”