The Comic Adaptation of Lao She’s Short Story “Vision”: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

Abstract The short story “Vision” stands as a singular romantic narrative within Lao She’s (1899–1966) literary repertoire. Wang Shupeng undertook the adaptation of this tale into gouache comic strips, a rendition that garnered acclaim by securing the Second Prize in the Third National Comic Strip Painting and Creation Contest in China in 1986. Lao She held a particular fondness for this narrative, as it drew inspiration from his own experiences of first love. Adopting a first-person perspective, the author elegantly narrated a tale of love imbued with tragedy, employing a poetic language and employing a stream-of-consciousness narrative technique that underscored its creative ingenuity. In adapting the script for the comic strip rendition, Wang Shupeng accentuated the poignant fate of the protagonists alongside their unwavering perseverance. Through his evocative brushwork, the artist adeptly conveyed the characters’ distinct personalities and internal thoughts, thereby setting a gloomy tonal ambiance for the comic strip’s color palette. Such meticulous efforts culminated in the transformation of “Vision” into a masterpiece within the realm of comic strips.