… Also supporting the scene is the NGO Our Books, which publishes, archives, exhibits comic artists, and runs workshops and events, including a 24 hour comic drawing marathon. Yet founder John Weeks also tells us that financial constraints are a huge block to momentum and spontaneity. “Many artists … don’t see the long-term benefits of exposure”.
Consequently, most artists from the comic boom in the 1980’s no longer draw, and instead work jobs that guarantee a more secure income. This lack of confidence in the industry means that production of new comics is inconsistent. “We try our hardest to encourage artists, but you can’t force a scene to develop if it’s not ready”, says Weeks. French-Cambodian artist Patrick Samnang Mey agrees : “the scene hasn’t found its identity yet”.