Journey To The West In Comics (1987) 西遊記38變

Author: Tsai Chih-chung

Translator: Alan Chong

Illustrator: Tsai Chih-chung

Publisher: China Times Publishing

Format: Paperback

Genre: Comedy

Date: January 15, 1987

Number of issues: 2

ISBN: 9571309699

Language: Chinese

Also known as: Xīyóujì 38 Biàn / Journey to the West: Transformation

Adaptation: Retelling

Summary:

Journey to the West in Comics (西遊記38變, Xīyóujì 38 Biàn or Journey to the West: Transformation 38) is a comic created by famed Taiwanese cartoonist Tsai Chih-chung, based on the novel of the same name.

While the story is mostly faithful to the source material (albeit with some obstacles not appearing and the order of appearances changed up), this adaptation is much Denser and Wackier, with a lot of cartoony humor, No Fourth Wall, Tsai himself occasionally showing up, and some Anachronism Stew and references to 80’s Taiwanese culture and society, creating a much more comedic journey compared to the original text.

This comic ran in Taiwanese newspapers and was collected into 4 volumes in 1987 & 1988. In 2023, Locus Publishing got the license of the comic along with all of Tsai’s catalogue, with a re-released edition, simply called Tsai Chih Chung's Journey to the West in Comics (蔡志忠漫畫西遊記, Cài Zhìzhōng Mànhuà Xīyóujì), released on June 2 of the same year while also including some strips that are not compiled in the original 1980s releases.

Source: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/1472656.Journey_to_the_West_Book_1