01

Vol.

Vol. 01

Birth of the Stone Monkey

Created by

WEI DONG CHEN

Wei Dong Chen, a highly acclaimed and beloved artist, and an influential leader in the New Chinese Cartoon trend, is the founder of Creator World in Tianjin, the largest comics studio in China. Recently the Chinese government entrusted him with the role of general manager of the Beijing Book Fair, and his reputation as a pillar of Chinese comics has brought him many students. He has published more than three hundred cartoons, which have been recognized for their strong literary value not only in Korea, but in Europe and Japan, as well. Free spirited and energetic, Wei Dong Chens positivist philosophy is reflected in the wisdom of his work. He is published serially in numerous publications while continuing to conceive projects that explore new dimensions of the form.

Illustrated by

CHAO PENG

Chao Peng is considered one of Chen Wei Dongs greatest students, and is the director of cartoon at Creator World in Tianjin. One of the most highly regarded cartoonists in China today, Chao Pengs fantastic technique and expression of Chinese culture have won him the acclaim of cartoon lovers throughout China. His other works include "My Pet" and "Searching for the World of Self".

Original story The Journey to The West by Wu, Cheng En Editing & Designing Sun Media, Design Hongs, David Teez, Jonathan Evans, YK Kim, HJ Lee, SH Lee, Qing Shao, Xiao Nan Li, Ke Hu Chen, Wei Dong 2011 All rights reserved. Original Chinese edition published by Anhui Fine Arts Publishing House. Scanning, uploading, and electronic distribution of this book is prohibited.

Characters

Volume 01

SUN WU KONG
Born from a stone on Spring Mountain and given the title of the Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wu Kong is the main character of Monkey King (The Journey to the West), which is regarded as one of Chinas greatest novels. It is evident from the start of the story that Sun Wu Kong is very conceited. He seeks to learn the secret of eternal life, but uses the teachings of Master Puti to wreak havoc in various worlds, traveling by cloud and wielding a powerful miracle staff to intimidate other rulers and declare himself the Emperor of Heaven. He is finally stopped by Buddha, who locks him away on Five-Finger Mountain for five hundred years. Upon his release, Sun Wu Kong departs for India in search of the Buddhist scriptures. During the journey he learns patience and a sense of responsibility, defeating the monsters that block his path before becoming one of Buddhas fighters.

MASTER PUTI
One of the ten disciples of Buddha, Master Puti is the mysterious figure who teaches Sun Wu Kong how to perform transfigurations as well as the secret of eternal life. Master Puti is an important and decisive figure in The Journey to the West because it is he who nurtures Sun Wu Kong into a powerful figure who can disrupt not only the earthly world, but the heavenly world as well.

THE EVIL KING

The Evil King agitates the world and literally feeds on its destruction. While Sun Wu Kong was away learning from Master Puti, the Evil King tortured and killed many of the monkeys on Spring Mountain. When Sun Wu Kong returns, he immediately kills the Evil King, and is welcomed home as the savior of the surviving monkeys.

TAI BAI HESPERUS

Tai Bai Hesperus is a heavenly god of Chinese myth who acts as a messenger of Jade Emperor, similar to the manner in which Mercury (Hermes in Greek mythology) acts as a messenger to Jupiter (Zeus). In The Journey to the West, Tai Bai Hesperus is ordered by Jade Emperor to offer Sun Wu Kong the position of Horse Wrangler to keep the Monkey King from causing mischief.

Characters

THE KING OF HELL

The King of Hell appears first in Hindu myth as a ruler of life and death. When the souls of the dead come to the underground, the King of Hell judges them on what has been done during their lifetimes and rewards or punishes them accordingly. Accroding to Veda, the Hindu Script, he was called Yama. He is said to punish those whose deeds he considers evil, but in the Journey to the West he asks the Jade Emperor to punish Sun Wu Kong after being defeated by the Monkey King.

GENERAL JU LING
One of heavenly generals under the command of King Li Jing known for his incredible size and strength, General Ju Ling leads a heavenly army to Spring Mountain to get rid of Sun Wu Kong, but is no match for the Monkey King and his miracle staff. King Li Jing orders the beheading of General Ju Ling after the defeat, but others dissuade the king from executing him.

IN THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD, WHEN THE THREE SOVEREIGNS AND FIVE EMPERORS RULED, THE WORLD WAS DIVIDED INTO FOUR LARGE CONTINENTS.

ON THE COAST OF THE EASTERN CONTINENT, THERE WAS A NATION CALLED AO LAI.

IT IS HERE THAT WE FIND THE SPIRITUAL PLACE CALLED SPRING MOUNTAIN.

SH
AT THE TOP OF SPRING MOUNTAIN LAY A ROCK THAT HAD ABSORBED THE ENERGY OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.

REEK

THE ENERGY WITHIN BROUGHT FORTH LIFE.

???

OHOH HO
KA A A

BOO

AA ..

AND GAVE BIRTH TO A STONE MONKEY.

Uugghh ...

Ha ha ha...

TWO BEAMS OF GOLDEN LIGHT SHOT TOWARD HEAVEN FROM THE STONE MONKEY'S EYES.

WOOSH
What the...

Ha ha...

HA

HA HA

HA
HA

HA H A

...AND HIS LAUGHTER SHOOK THE PALACE OF HEAVEN.

WO

OSH

HA

HA HA

HA

THE JADE EMPEROR OF HEAVEN

What is that sound?

Who makes this fuss?

Clairvoyance and Fair Wind! Whats happened?

You won't believe this, but a stone monkey was just born on Spring Mountain.

A stone monkey on Spring Mountain

Animals in the lower world live and perish by the energy of heaven and earth. Leave them as they are!

MEANWHILE, BACK ON SPRING MOUNTAIN...

Whats going on? Theres nothing here.

CH

UAA

K
Got it!

Yes!

Nice shot!

SP

LASH

SP

LAS

Oh, no. He saw us!

RUN!

BOI N

SP
SP

LAS

LAS

SP

LAS

Wow, hes so fast!

What do you want from me?

Who the hell are you?

Who am I? Well, I came down from the top of the mountain

See, it was you!

You must be the cause of the explosion at the top of the mountain. Who are you?

We thought the sky was falling. What did you do?

This is Spring Mountain. It's a paradise for monkeys.

Umm, I think that came from my stomach.

Its our own paradise, with flowers and fruit for all seasons.

Come on-let us offer our hospitality.

It means you're hungry.

THE MONKEYS OF SPRING MOUNTAIN SOON ACCEPTED THE STONE MONKEY AS ONE OF THEIR OWN.
Are these fruits? Theyre so delicious!

FROM THEN ON THE STONE MONKEY LIVED WITH THE MONKEYS OF SPRING MOUNTAIN.

LIKE A PROVERB THAT SAYS NOTHING AGES DEEP IN A MOUNTAIN, THEY LED A COMFORTABLE LIFE, FEELING HAPPY AND CONTENT.

ONE DAY, THE STONE MONKEY AND A THRONG OF OTHERS WENT TO A VALLEY TO ENJOY THEMSELVES.

SW

AH
ZING

Did you see that?

Something just flashed in the waterfall.

You must have seen a reflection from beneath the water.

There is a legend that the waterfall contains precious treasures.

But they are just old wives tales.

Treasure? King?

As you can see, The flow of water is too strong. Those who have attempted to get through are now fish food. But if one can reach the treasure, he will be king.

SP

LAS

Heh, the water flow means nothing to me. I'll get the treasure!

SP

LASH

WHAM
Oww! I guess I don't know my own strength!

Huh?

Whoa! I never imagined there was a cave behind the waterfall.

This is incredible!

SHWA

Jackpot!

Wow, he's still alive! ...The stone monkey must have died. What do you think?

He must have either drowned or smashed.

The poor thing.

You will never believe what I just found!

Follow me!

UM H

He says he found the treasure!

Is it real? Really? Wow! Amazing. He came out alive.

Wow. Unbelievable!

Did you really find the legendary treasures in there?

I'm not exactly sure. You'll have to see.

Follow me! Youll see.

Whatever it is, it makes this a lucky day for us!

o w~

Wow
~

THE MONKEYS FOLLOWED THE STONE MONKEY TO A PLACE EQUIPPED WITH A WATER SPRING, A KITCHEN, TABLES, BEDS, TABLEWARE, AND POTS ALL MADE OF STONE.

SHUI LIAN DONG

Weve found Shui Lian Dong!!!

This is our nest, called ShuiLianDong, the blessed lair of Spring Mountain!

We will be able to live here forever!

Hey, that's mine!

Do you wanna die? What do you think youre doing? Move over! I saw it first!

Hmm.

Puck~
This is the throne of our great king!

What are you doing?

CR

CK A

Ack!

Stone monkey! Hes looking for you! Stone monkey! Where are you?

Listen carefully!

Why?

As I said earlier, anyone who retrieves the treasure will be our king.

Stone monkey will be our king from now on.

These are your new wenches.

It's our duty to comfort the great king from now on!

All of you, look at me!

Relax--

We will do whatever we can to make you happy.

How embarrassing for you.

Get away! I dont need you!

Go, get outta here.

How dare you touch His Majesty!

Your Majesty!

You must follow my orders from now on!

What should they do?

Hmm...

Enjoy yourselves until you are tired. And then keep right on enjoying yourselves! Ha ha ha!

King!

By the way, Stone Monkey King sounds awkward. Let's try Handsome Monkey King."

That sounds much better.

"Handsome Monkey King"? You're right. I am Handsome!

A toast!

Hurrah! Handsome Monkey King! Hurrah!

To the day we found a home where all of us can avoid the wind and rain!

Cheers!

FROM THAT TIME ON, THE BAND OF MONKEYS FOLLOWED THE HANDSOME MONKEY KING, ENJOYING THEMSELVES DURING THE DAY AND SLEEPING IN SHUI LIAN DONG AT NIGHT. IT WAS A HAPPY LIFE.

TIME FLEW BY, AND 200 YEARS PASSED.

Z z z...

Handsome Monkey King! Wake up! It is urgent!

Hum... What is it?

Look at that!

Wha..? Isnt this the old monkey? Why is he lying on the ground?

He's... dead.

No matter how pleasant life can be, every creature on earth perishes.

Living beings never know when they'll be dragged down to the underworld by the King of Hell.

What? Dead? Really?

No matter how long you live, you can never avoid meeting the messengers from below.

Can we never escape the fate of death in this world?

Only if you can live forever.

If you're not controlled by Buddha, the wizards, or the King of Hell.

Theyve escaped the bridle of Samsara. They haven't been born and will not die.
They will live as long as heaven and earth.

Is that so? Then I will search the world for the answer, beginning tomorrow.

I will discover the secret to eternal life and avoid the disaster imposed by the King of Hell.

Dragon! Take care of my friends! I will return when I find what I'm looking for.

THE NEXT DAY, AFTER A GRAND FAREWELL, THE HANDSOME MONKEY KING LEFT ON A JOURNEY TO DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE WIZARDS.

Good bye, everyone!

Keep watch over Shuiliandong while I'm away.

...Handsome Monkey King! ...Will we ever see you again?... sob

Take care... Please come back quickly.

THE HANDSOME MONKEY KING'S RAFT REACHED THE SOUTHERN CONTINENT BY RIDING THE SOUTHEASTERLY WIND. HE LEARNED THE CUSTOMS AND LANGUAGE OF THE LOCALS AND LOOKED FOR THOSE WHO SOUGHT THE SECRET TO IMMORTALITY.

HE WAS THERE FOR 8 YEARS, AND ALTHOUGH HE MET EACH AND EVERY PERSON LIVING THERE, NO ONE SOUGHT ANYTHING BUT FAME AND WEALTH, SO HE WENT TO THE WESTERN CONTINENT.