The Ivory Comb

Illustration from The Ivory Comb by Nguyen Quang Sang

One rare example of Vietnamese creators addressing the Vietnam War in comics since 1975 is The Ivory Comb written by Nguyen Quang Sang (1932–2014) while he was serving as a soldier. This acknowledged gem of Vietnamese literature is a ten-page short story about a father’s determination to overcome the hardships of war as a Viet Cong soldier to bring back a comb for his young daughter, whom he saw only once before enlisting. The author supported the plan by comics group B.R.O. (Black. Red.Orange) to expand the story into two 180-page manga-format volumes. Released in March 2012, these became one of the few examples of Vietnamese comics to be translated into Japanese.

This work features in Mangasia: Wonderlands of Asian Comics, a Barbican International Enterprises exhibition, curated by Paul Gravett. Mangasia presents a vivid journey through the art of Comics and visual storytelling across Asia. From its historical roots to the most recent digital innovations, the exhibition looks to popular Japanese ‘Manga’ and beyond, highlighting key creators, characters and publications.