Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
Cartoonist Justin Tan Haozhi believes villains are not solely evil. And even in the world’s cruelty, you can still find kindness and optimism.
The 22-year-old’s cartoons feature old castles and knights as well as robots and futuristic machines, all coexisting in harmony. Every story has humour, love and a happy ending.
After completing two illustration degrees, Tan now studies product design at the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong.
Embracing his differences
Tan was diagnosed with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at the age of three. His art is based on his experiences of being bullied and feeling misunderstood.
Tan is neurodivergent. This term describes people whose brains develop or work differently from those of many others. It is commonly used for people with conditions that change how they think and learn, such as with autism, ADHD and dyslexia.
For Tan, being neurodivergent means he experiences the world differently: thinking at his own pace, focusing intently on his interests and needing breaks during conversations.
At 15, Tan lost his mother to cancer. He channelled his grief into writing and illustrating a fantasy comic book, The Misunderstood Monster: A Hotdog Hutchins Adventure.
Annie, a nurturing figure in the book, is a tribute to his late mother. Of the many stories Tan has worked on over the years, he chose to publish this one because it is closest to his heart.
Growing as an artist
Tan’s art journey began when he was three. His parents trained him to draw circles and straight lines to improve his dexterity. Over time, he began drawing cartoon characters.
Tan was eager to share his work. He would knock on his neighbours’ doors to promote his books. But some would complain to the building management.
School life was also difficult as Tan was often excluded for being different.
“There were bullies,” he said. “They did not leave me alone. They didn’t like me. But the bullies are gone now.”
Creating an inclusive publication
A turning point came after Tan’s stepmother, Donna Yau Yuet-wah, shared Tan’s work with another Hong Kong parent who also understood the struggles of children with special educational needs (SEN).
Rosalind Lee Suk-yee is an accountant and honorary secretary of the parent-teacher association for Renaissance College. She was moved to tears after reading one of Tan’s stories and decided to help him publish.
“The story about people misunderstanding someone who only wants to help reflected so much truth,” she said, explaining that Mr Huggypants, the monster in Tan’s story, was a misjudged soul.
“It’s a powerful message: don’t judge people by appearances. Try to understand what’s underneath.”
Through storytelling, Tan hopes to inspire young readers to have empathy, especially for SEN children.
“Treat everyone fairly, no matter who they are,” he said. “And never give up.”
