Uncle Choi was a popular manhua

Manhua

Manhua are Chinese comics originally produced in China. Possibly due to their greater degree of artistic freedom of expression and closer international ties with Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan have been the places of publication of most manhua thus far, often including Chinese translations of...

 in Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

. It was created by Hui Guan-man (許冠文), and released in 1958. Publication was finally ceased in the mid 1970s

1970s in Hong Kong

1970s in Hong Kong underwent many changes that shaped its future. Economically, it reinvented itself from a manufacturing base into a financial centre. The market also began leaning toward corporations and franchises.-Background:...

.

Background

Uncle Choi was the best selling comic in the 50s to early 60s. The comic is considered a creative break away from traditional lianhuanhua

Lianhuanhua

Lianhuanhua is a palm-size picture book of sequential drawings found in China in the early 20th century....

. The story was able to adjust with the different time periods and make changes associated with social issues. It is also one of the most successful comic to come out prior to the arrival of television broadcasts.

The popularity only faded when the story became over the top with laser guns, spy gadgets and non traditional weapons, which turned off some readers.

Story

The comic began more or less as a comedy. Eventually the story developed into a focus against the Japanese occupation

Japanese occupation of Hong Kong

The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began after the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the territory of Hong Kong to Japan on 25 December 1941 after 18 days of fierce fighting by British and Canadian defenders against overwhelming Japanese Imperial forces. The occupation lasted...

and the plot became more serious. The character Uncle Choi became a war hero.

Format

It is interesting to note that some of the titles read from left to right, while others read from right to left. The book was different in size at 5x7, instead of 3.6 x 5 inches.