Red Faces After Porn Comics Ordered Off Shelves

[farangsay]

Red faces after porn comics ordered off shelves

A book distributor was ordered to take pornographic comic books off the shelf at the Bangkok International Book Fair yesterday following complaints from parents.

Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham went to the booth of Rung Wattana Panich, which sells a variety of used books at cheap prices, and found hundreds of translated Japanese cartoon books with pornographic images inside, many showing the characters having sex.

Continued at Bangkok Post

[DirkGently]

Comics at a book fair! Give me strenght.

I am utterly convinced that the reason Thais struggle to think and remain rather imature is because of these sodding comics. Everytime I see a uni student in his early 20's reading one on the BTS, I just want to snatch it out of his hand and thrust a book into it.

I have seen them and all too often they contain childish images with purile storylines. Yet they remain a source of entertainment to Thais from 3 to 30.

[alexth]

Comics is what 90% of the thais read, and yes Dirk, this is a spot on. It's difficult to imrpove your brain while reading comics.

[LivinLOS]

Well actually I have to differ.. The graphic novel is a much under appreciated artform.. Theres some extremely clever / subtle / intelligent ones out there...

However I readily admit I havent seen that kind for sale here !!

[DirkGently]

livinlos, I may have to side with your differing. I read Frank Miller's work when i was younger and yes I see your point. No doubt you read a selection of novels along side graphic novels.

However, when a person is only exposed to nonsense cartoons about Issan maids or a time travelling girl that has sex with a pharoh, and they are the ones read by adults here, then your brain will not benifit in the same way as a person that has to imagine the impossible in an Arthur C Clarke novel or have to imagine the horrors of war.

I am certain that along side nonsense TV with constant 'boing' sound effects do stifle imagination and creativity.

[BlackArtemis]

There is nothing wrong with reading Manga or watching anime. The problem is that for a vast majority this is the only reading they do. I read a ton of "comics" yet I have no problem reading a 600pg novel in a day. Just be happy that people are reading in general though, and as Livin said, there are many types of manga out there.

[DirkGently]

Once again I will doff my hat to you. Akira ranks in my top 5 films and I used to own some videos of Legend of the overfiend and ghost in the machine (it was a few years ago now so the names may be off alittle). But my point stands, Thais bury their heads in absolute crap comics and yes i have seen a few and had the 'plots' explained to me and they are nonsense.

Like you I can bury a book in a couple of days, but Thais will not read a book in a lifetime. In any language.

A book fair should be just that. A tool to promote reading. With reading comes knowledge and curosity. With comics, such as the Thais read, comes blank stares as they flick from page to page.

They are utterly banned in my house. When the family stay I take the kids book shopping and reward them if they can tell the wife what it's about.

[birago23]

Come on, it is not true!

It is only farangs who read sex comics....Thai people only read books for education or economy....

[Dakhar]

Come on, it is not true!

It is only farangs who read sex comics....Thai people only read books for education or economy....

and apparently they are learning

[coldcrush]

Hmmmm I prefer The Silver Surfer.....

[astral]

Comics is what 90% of the thais read, .....................

Even at university.

[petercool]

What blatant generalisms abound here.

Apparently many here move in the wrong Thai circles.

Most of the Thais I know do not read those comics.

But they like their own Thai TV soap operas, and why not ?

[solo siam]

Surely reading is reading, whether or not pictures are involved - Most civilisations had hieroglyphics before words, would you have a go at someone reading ancient egyptian tombs?

Can't remember the last time I saw a book without a picture on the front!

[0Mix1up]

Seems an asian thing to do and came out of Japan?

I actually got into the comic porn awhile back with a girl friend, combines womens porn(stories) and mens porn(pictures) in a less in your face manner and allows a bit of common(me and her) fantasy into the bedroom.

This, better to be reading anything than reading nothing debate, well I don't know?

You don't see many people here (Australia) reading much at all and I've been on public trans alot lately.

As a kid the only thing I would read willingly was a comic.

All imo/generalizations of what I've seen/done

[El Taco Loco]

There where other reasons why I so loved Wonder Woman back in the 70s....

I fail to see, however, the difference between these comics read so much here vs. us reading DC comics and Peanuts back way back when. I still read them and Asterix, The Far Side, but they do not manage my life as these other comics manage the locals.

I do agree that they are an obstacle in this society. Someone had a hardon for the seller for the Educ PooYai to come for a visit..

Edited April 7, 2007 by sniperteam6

[marquess]

Hmmmm I prefer The Silver Surfer.....

I have the complete set of the orginal of those comics, very good read!

[jayjayjayjay]

Comics at a book fair! Give me strenght.

I am utterly convinced that the reason Thais struggle to think and remain rather imature is because of these sodding comics. Everytime I see a uni student in his early 20's reading one on the BTS, I just want to snatch it out of his hand and thrust a book into it.

I have seen them and all too often they contain childish images with purile storylines. Yet they remain a source of entertainment to Thais from 3 to 30.

why stop at 30 yes!

[jayjayjayjay]

Comics is what 90% of the thais read, .....................

Even at university.

But then again, South Park or The Simpsons!!! Sorry, I question the lot!

[Maxi101]

At least a good english comic "Escape" from the Oxford Bookworms series helped me to convince some people to learn to read in english.

no sex involved at all

[QualityTouristNumberOne]

livinlos, I may have to side with your differing. I read Frank Miller's work when i was younger and yes I see your point. No doubt you read a selection of novels along side graphic novels.

However, when a person is only exposed to nonsense cartoons about Issan maids or a time travelling girl that has sex with a pharoh, and they are the ones read by adults here, then your brain will not benifit in the same way as a person that has to imagine the impossible in an Arthur C Clarke novel or have to imagine the horrors of war.

I am certain that along side nonsense TV with constant 'boing' sound effects do stifle imagination and creativity.

Zing!,well said about both subjects Dirk(hows the detective agency by the way? ),I read voraciously myself,and have read some excellent graphic novels(Sandman,Watchmen,Maus etc),alongside an omnivorous selection of history,sci fi and fantasy books that i read at quite a fast rate,and I couldnt agree more about the brainsucking effects of "trash comix",

its your comment about "Boing" sound effects that got me laughing though...I bet your significant other is watching the same daytime crap as my GF ...why does every action in these cr a p fests have to be accompanied by a madman with a kazoo,or the ubiquitous "Boioioioiiiiiing"?

[sriracha john]

What kind of thread is this??? A thread about porno and NO PICTURES have been posted yet??!?!?!!

[QualityTouristNumberOne]

What kind of thread is this??? A thread about porno and NO PICTURES have been posted yet??!?!?!!

There ya go John !

[peter991]

Have you reached 'the top' when you get a Thai comic book hero?

Source

Ousted Thai premier returns as comic book hero

BANGKOK--Ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who fled to London following last month’s coup, is back as a comic book hero with an unfinished mission to help the poor.

The comic book, titled "Thaksin’s Life," hit bookstores nationwide on Tuesday, with the kingdom still under martial law one month after the putsch due to fears of political unrest.

The 212-page volume chronicles the life of 57-year-old Thaksin, a self-made billionaire-turned-politician, until his dramatic fall from power in the bloodless coup on September 19.

"Thaksin’s mission to help the poor people is not over," a grandfather tells his grandson in the book, 5,000 copies of which have been printed.

"I believe this hero for the poor will not leave the poor behind. I believe he will come back," the old man says when the young boy asked if deposed Thaksin would ever come back as prime minister again.

One chapter tells how Thaksin, one of the richest men in Thailand, lifted poor farmers out of poverty by injecting money into the rural economy with a government loan scheme.

Thaksin was well liked in the northern rural provinces thanks to populist policies that included a health scheme that allowed every Thai to receive medical treatment for just 30 baht (80 cents) per visit.

"For the rich people, my populist policies mean very little, but for the poor, they mean a lot," Thaksin says in the comic book.

During Thaksin’s five-year rule the annual income of farmers, who account for roughly 60 percent of Thailand’s 64 million population, jumped more than 60 percent to 52,320 baht (1,300 dollars) on average.

But in contrast to his solid support in rural Thailand, Bangkok was the scene of months of mass anti-Thaksin protests earlier this year over alleged corruption and abuse of power -- controversies that eventually led to last month’s coup.

Comic book author Posatorn Butr-anan, a 40-year-old woman from Bangkok, said the coup prompted her to write the book.

"I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time, but I finally decided to do it after the coup," she told AFP. Posatorn gave the stories to a cartoonist and asked him to turn them into a comic book.

"I decided to do this book because I like him personally, and I hope people who love Thaksin will buy it," she said, but admitted she did not expect the book to become a bestseller even in a country known for its passion for comic books.

"The book has been in the market for two days, but its response is not so good. I don’t think there are many people who like Thaksin and want to buy my book," she said.

Peter

[peter991]

For those with a Mac, you can even download Thai comics.

Peter

[sriracha john]

Have you reached 'the top' when you get a Thai comic book hero?

Source

Ousted Thai premier returns as comic book hero

BANGKOK--Ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who fled to London following last month’s coup, is back as a comic book hero with an unfinished mission to help the poor.

The comic book, titled "Thaksin’s Life," hit bookstores nationwide on Tuesday, with the kingdom still under martial law one month after the putsch due to fears of political unrest.

The 212-page volume chronicles the life of 57-year-old Thaksin, a self-made billionaire-turned-politician, until his dramatic fall from power in the bloodless coup on September 19.

"Thaksin’s mission to help the poor people is not over," a grandfather tells his grandson in the book, 5,000 copies of which have been printed.

"I believe this hero for the poor will not leave the poor behind. I believe he will come back," the old man says when the young boy asked if deposed Thaksin would ever come back as prime minister again.

One chapter tells how Thaksin, one of the richest men in Thailand, lifted poor farmers out of poverty by injecting money into the rural economy with a government loan scheme.

Thaksin was well liked in the northern rural provinces thanks to populist policies that included a health scheme that allowed every Thai to receive medical treatment for just 30 baht (80 cents) per visit.

"For the rich people, my populist policies mean very little, but for the poor, they mean a lot," Thaksin says in the comic book.

During Thaksin’s five-year rule the annual income of farmers, who account for roughly 60 percent of Thailand’s 64 million population, jumped more than 60 percent to 52,320 baht (1,300 dollars) on average.

But in contrast to his solid support in rural Thailand, Bangkok was the scene of months of mass anti-Thaksin protests earlier this year over alleged corruption and abuse of power -- controversies that eventually led to last month’s coup.

Comic book author Posatorn Butr-anan, a 40-year-old woman from Bangkok, said the coup prompted her to write the book.

"I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time, but I finally decided to do it after the coup," she told AFP. Posatorn gave the stories to a cartoonist and asked him to turn them into a comic book.

"I decided to do this book because I like him personally, and I hope people who love Thaksin will buy it," she said, but admitted she did not expect the book to become a bestseller even in a country known for its passion for comic books.

"The book has been in the market for two days, but its response is not so good. I don’t think there are many people who like Thaksin and want to buy my book," she said.

Peter

Contains some of the most disgusting, revolting, vile, filthy, repulsive, sickening, horrendous pornographic images ever created on a Thai printing press:

[sriracha john]

BOOK FAIR

Distributor caught selling porn comics blacklisted

Organisers of the Bangkok International Book Fair have blacklisted a distributor found selling pornographic comic books at the fair from next year's event. The Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand has also dismissed the distributor, Rung Wattana Co Ltd from the organisation for selling porn media, association president Thanachai Santichaikul said. Rung Wattana was caught selling porn comic books at the fair at a discount price of 10 baht each. Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham, who went to inspect booth No. S42 on Thursday, had the comics removed from shelves after receiving complaints from the Foundation of Family Networks.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/07Apr2007_news04.php

----------------------------------

No word yet on barring the Thaksin comic book published for its pornographic content.

[noctiluca]

There where other reasons why I so loved Wonder Woman back in the 70s....

I am glad someone appreciate Wonder Woman character like I do. It's refreshing to hear someone actually remember her, not to mention like her, other than the regular comic characters such as Xmen, Batman, Spiderman or Superman. I just adore her not because of her skimpy dress or her kick ass body, but for what she stands for. I know for a non-US based comic book reader, this may sound strange. But she represents much more than just her look. At the very least, she is the only FEMALE superhero comic book character whose books have been published continuously since her inception way back when (only a few years after Superman's and Batman's).

I wish they made a movie of her already!!

Anyway, back to the topic, I agree many Thais read too much Manga comics, especially the young. Not that it is necessarily bad; it's just that they give too much higher priority to these comics than other types of books, which could have reward their brains more. Not all Mangas are useless, though, but compare to many, they are only a hand full.

If they are gonna publish these comics, porn or not, at least they should assign rating, like in TV or movies. But I guess, with the current Phoo Yai's attitudes in Thailand, we can only dream.

[wpcoe]

I wish they made a movie of her already!!

You do know that she was a TV series many years back?

See: Wonder Woman episode guide for information.