Old Master Q
| Old Master Q | |
 | |
| Original Name | Lou5 Fu1 Zi2 (老夫子) |
| Translation Name | Old Master Q Master Q |
| Region | Hong Kong |
| Original run | February 3, 1962-present |
| Written by | Alfonso Wong Joseph Wong |
| Published by | WangZ Inc. |
| Adapted work | Movies Animated series |
Old Master Q (老夫子, Mandarin: Lǎo Fū Zi, Cantonese: Lou5 Fu1 Zi2) is a Hong Kong comic strip series created by Alfonso Wong.
Contents
Introduction
Old Master Q is a comic strip created by Alfonso Wong under the pseudonym "Wong Chak" (王泽). Since 1962, it has been published in some newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong. Later, it was published by Ng Hing Ke Press in 1964. The agency has continuously serialized, published new works, and reprinted old works. The series has published millions of copies in various languages including Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, English, Malay, and Thai, and there are countless pirated books and periodicals. In 2009, Old Master Q won the first place in the "Most Representative Legendary Object" survey conducted in Hong Kong; in 2011, the Boys' & Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong conducted online and questionnaire polls by Hong Kong citizens, and Old Master Q won the first place in all categories. 60% selected it as "Favorite Children's Publication".
The main form of the work is a four- or six-frame comic, with eclectic content, unconstrained imagination, and complex and changeable character identities. It mainly reflects the changes in the lives, thoughts and behaviors of ordinary people in Hong Kong over the past few decades, although there is less political content involved and it is more of a satire on social ethos. But there are also a few works that show concern for the political changes in Hong Kong in the 1980s and 1990s.
Alfonso Wong's pen name "Wong Chak" (王泽) was the name of his eldest son, Joseph Wong Chak. Since Wong immigrated to the United States in the 1980s, the creation and distribution of Old Master Q has been mainly undertaken by Joseph Wong. Only in order to distinguish the two cartoonists, Joseph Wong is often called "Wong Chak II".
Characters
- Old Master Q (老夫子, Lǎo fū zi)
- He is the main character of the work, and he is the protagonist in most of the content. The old man himself is a thin middle-aged and elderly person. He is very short-sighted but does not want to admit it. He has sparse hair and a mustache. He has no other teeth except a pair of buckteeth. He wears a black vest and dark long leggings, black kung-fu shoes, an appearance that is out of touch with the times, and he is often portrayed as a pedantic character.
- Big Potato (大蕃薯, Dà fān shǔ)
- He is one of Master Q's friends. He is short and chubby, with a head as big as a potato, hence his name. His clothes are similar to Master Q's, but he also occasionally appears in white suits and leather shoes. He has an optimistic personality, and can often turn misfortune into good fortune.
- Mr. Chin (秦先生, Qín xiān shēng)
- Another one of Master Q's friends. Tall and thin, with a handsome appearance, usually wearing a light-colored plaid shirt and jeans, but also often in suits and trendy clothing. He, Master Q and Big Potato often help each other and are the "power trio" in the comics.
- Mr. Chao (老趙, Lǎo zhào)
- He is Master Q's "rival" or "antagonist". Tall, bald, with a huge nose, usually plays the role of Master Q's boss/superior. He is stingy, and likes to play tricks on Master Q. He is married, and is afraid of his wife.
- Miss Chen (陳小姐, Chén xiǎo jiě)
- A young adult lady whom Master Q is in love with. She mainly has short hair. According to her, the reason why he can maintain a long-term friendship with Master Q is that the boundaries between men and women are not obvious.
Other characters
- Miss Lin (林小姐, Lín xiǎo jiě)
- She is Mr. Chin's girlfriend, however, in some stories, Master Q would also be after her. She is indistinguishable from Miss Chen except for her long hair, and the two are very similar in personality.
- Cousin (表妹, Biǎo mèi)
- Master Q's bulky cousin. She practices martial arts, and her dress and common sense are not up to date with the times. She appears to be based on Hong Kong immigrants from mainland China in the 1960s and 1970s. Big Potato likes her. She has no name, and is simply called "Cousin".
Adaptations
TV series
- Master Q Fantasy Zone Battle (2003)
- Q Master Q (2004)
Films
- Mr. Funnybone (1976)
- Master Q 2001 (2001)
- Master Q: Incredible Pet Detective (2003)
- Old Master Q and Little Ocean Tiger (2011)
Games
- Old Master Q Monopoly (老夫子大富翁)
