
What is SOUND?
Writers and illustrators from all around Southeast Asia were challenged to push the boundaries of depicting the unseen through the medium of visuals and words, while telling stories important to them.
Now you can be part of that experience.
Are you ready?


Listen closely.
What do you hear?
Put your brush to the
canvas, let your imagination run free, and discover what the anthology writers and illustrators
experienced as they drew inspiration everyday sounds to craft their stories.
What does sound look like to you?
“...think of the sounds that
went into the creation of
each of the stories
you
encounter.”
|
Charis Loke, Co-editor of
SOUND: A Comics Anthology
What did your sound look like to you?
Please share your art on social media with #soundcomics and tag @differenceenginesg
Like the creators, you would have crafted a story or piece of art that is unique and personal to
you.
Join us as we showcase the stories behind the thirteen comics, and hear from the
writers and illustrators who made them happen.
Hear from the Editors of the Anthology!
Budjette Tan | Budjette grew up in a haunted house and was told to sleep early because there were aswang flying outside his bedroom window. These stories inspired him to write the comic book, TRESE, which he co-created with artist Kajo Baldisimo. TRESE will soon be adapted into a Netflix anime series. |
Charis Loke | Charis is an illustrator and educator based in Penang, Malaysia. Her work draws upon literature and visual culture, exploring both real and fictional worlds. She is the Comics & Illustrations Editor at New Naratif and a committee member of Arts-ED, where she works on community-based arts and culture education for youth. |
“ This medley of lovingly crafted comics—fantastical, social realist, and
confessional—have plenty more in common than their unifying theme of sound.
They’re also tales of
loss, with characters struggling in the midst of broken families, forgotten traditions, failed belief
systems and governments.
They represent the collective spirit of young Southeast Asia—a generation,
caught between a colourful past and an uncertain future, drawing themselves together, finding their
voices. ”
|
Ng Yi-Sheng, author of Lion City

Traffic. A crunchy snack. An argument. What does sound look like to you?
Difference Engine is proud to present our first comics anthology, SOUND: A
Comics Anthology. Writers and illustrators from all around Southeast Asia were challenged
to push the boundaries of depicting the unseen through the medium of visuals and words, while
telling stories important to them.
Guest editors Budjette Tan
and Charis
Loke have put together an intriguing list of stories that showcase the creativity
of creators across Southeast Asia—both familiar and new names. In a broad range of genres and
topics, this collection of stories is an exciting exploration of what the comics medium is capable
of.
CREATIVE TEAMS
Folk (Paolo Chikiamco & Borg Sinaban)
The Whispers of the Earth (Amahl S.
Azwar & Nadiyah Rizki)
Hokkien for Beginners (Nicolette Lee)
Bonus Points (Benjamin
Chee)
Voices and
Votes (Rafael Romeo Magat & Ruth Chris De Vera)
On : Off (Xie Shi Min, Xiao Yan,
& Richard Phua)
Out of
Sight (Jingwei Wong & Soefara Jafney)
The Cat Who Barks (Bryan
Arfiandy)
Blabber (Bonni
Rambatan)
Softly, Sayang
(Sharon Bong & Leong Yi Zhen)
Road Trip Radio (Cathlyn Vania)
Signals (Farid Nad)
A Call (Nadhir Nor)
Difference Engine is an independent comics publisher based in Singapore.
We are inspired by stories from Asia and are committed to publishing diverse, well-written, and beautifully illustrated comics of all genres, both print and digital. We would love to work with writers and illustrators, both new and experienced, to contribute to the growing Southeast Asian comics community.
If you have a story to tell, we want to hear from you!