Jilin Edition *Journey to the West* (1983) 吉林版西游记
Author: Xin Li / Lu Chengfa
Illustrator: Xin Li / Lu Chengfa
Publisher: Jilin People's Publishing House
Format: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy
Date: April 1983
Number of issues: 24
Pages: 63 pages
ISBN: 8091-1249
Language: Chinese
Also known as: B型美猴王1
Adaptation: Retelling
Summary:
The Jilin edition of the "Type B Monkey King" picture-story book series comprises 24 volumes. While each volume stands as a self-contained chapter, together they form a complete narrative of the Monkey King's adventures. The cover art features the Great Sage (Sun Wukong) depicted in the style familiar from animated classics like Havoc in Heaven and The Ginseng Fruit—a look heavily influenced by traditional Chinese opera aesthetics. Each cover was thoughtfully designed to reflect its specific storyline, retaining a style that remains modern and avant-garde, blending elements of fashion, cartoon art, folk tradition, and opera. Many assume the series is named "Type B" because the character's face inside the books is shaped like the letter "B," but this is a misconception; in reality, there was a separate "Type A" series consisting of over thirty volumes (in a smaller 40-mo format) that had a much more limited print run and is notoriously difficult to collect in full. This "Type B" series was published between 1982 and 1983 with a circulation of roughly 200,000 to 300,000 copies per volume; as no volumes are missing from the set, it is relatively easy to assemble a complete collection. Please enjoy.
