Can AI help Hong Kong’s struggling comic book industry turn the page?

Hong Kong once boasted a thriving comic book industry, with local titles achieving commercial success during the 1980s. However, the golden age dwindled, and today's market sees comics sell at a mere fraction of their past glory. Dicky Lam, owner of the sole bookstore in Hong Kong dedicated to local comics, laments the decline, estimating the market has shrunk by 90 percent.

Despite the shrinking audience, a new generation of artists continues to produce work, even garnering international recognition. Artist Jerry Cho's comic "The Life After Life" earned a bronze award at the Japan International Manga Award. However, the award-winning status does not translate directly to sales. "The Life After Life" has sold only 3,000 copies thus far, a small fraction of what the industry once saw.

One potential solution to reclaiming the lost market lies in harnessing artificial intelligence (AI). Some artists, like Cho, have started incorporating AI tools into their workflow. AI serves as a research and visualization aid, allowing Cho to experiment with different character designs and outfits before his team commits to the final art. By using AI for these exploratory stages, Cho claims the team saves around 10 percent of production time.

However, Cho remains cautious about fully integrating AI into the final product. He worries that AI-generated images lack the unique drawing style that sets his characters apart. Regardless, AI's potential to streamline production offers a glimmer of hope for revitalizing the struggling industry. If artists can leverage AI to reduce the time spent on creating and refining artwork, they may be able to shift their focus to other aspects of the comic-making process, such as exploring animation and other formats.

The Hong Kong Comics and Animation Federation has taken steps to support the industry's future. The government-backed Hong Kong Comics Support Programme has helped publish 63 original Hong Kong comics by the end of 2025, securing licensing agreements and adaptation deals. By empowering artists to leverage AI, the industry may soon transform from a labor-intensive endeavor to one where creators can seamlessly transition their work into various mediums, potentially expanding their reach and audience.