Gone Case: The Graphic Novel Complete Edition

by Dave Chua, Koh Hong Teng

Set in a Singaporean housing estate, Gone Case is a moving yet unsentimental coming-of-age story. Yong, a 12-year-old boy has to deal with the dreaded PSLE exams while his family undergoes an upheaval. His friendship with his childhood friend Liang also undergoes strain as the exams approach. The novel won a commendation award in the Singapore Literature Prize in 1996 and is regarded as an essential work of Singapore Literature.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics

296 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2016

About the author

Malaysian-born author and freelance writer Dave Chua, who contributes to various publications including The Straits Times, first came to literary prominence in 1995, when he was a joint winner of the SPH-NAC Golden Point Award for English short story. The following year, his first novel Gone Case received the Singapore Literature Prize Commendation Award. A resident of Singapore for most of his life, Dave has long worked the media industry, organising film festivals such as the annual Animation Nation (since 2005) and participating in various TV and corporate production projects. He also teaches ad-hoc and is actively involved with the Singapore Film Society as Vice Chairman.

Reviews

[Andrés Quesada · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something about the tone of this graphic novel that really stands out. Of course, the story and characters are well rounded and endearing, and the illustrations are amazing, but there's an additional element, more abstract, that makes the work feel alive. Probably it has to do with the fact that not everything that happens in the story serves a single dramatic purpose, not everything shown advances the plot, and that seems very much like real life. Which is not me making a case for the work's "realism". Of course that is also there, in the way the characters speak, in the cultural cues from 1990s Singapore... But what I mean is something else; a sensibility of where the gaze is set: on tiny conversations with no evident purpose, on a bicycle covered in stuffed animals, on a particular toy gun, a couple of angel wings. No wonder this is a cult novel in Singapore.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I understand that this is the graphic novel translation of an existing novel. I think some things were potentially lost in the translation, though some flaws (?) may have been present before. This is very much a slice-of-life kind of story: we see vignettes from the life of a 12-year-old Singaporean boy about to take his PSLEs, an exam that will "stream" him into a particular course of secondary education that could very well determine the course of his life. (I have my own thoughts about streaming, but will not clutter up this review with them.) He has to deal with many different things: the tension between his father and mother, which results in his father leaving the house; tension with his own best friend after he throws his weight around as a prefect; the death of his beloved grandmother; etc etc.

My main complaint with the book is that there is just so much going on and pretty much everything is left unresolved: there is a scene involving it, maybe a callback later, and then we don't see what the result is. (Speaking as a Singaporean: we don't even get to know how he did on the PSLEs!!) I guess maybe that's part of the whole slice-of-life genre maybe, but it felt unsatisfying. There were also little visual things that seemed to be significant but I couldn't really place them. For example, they find a bicycle that is piled up with various trinkets, and he finds a piece of a dart embedded among it - but I couldn't remember the significance of the dart other than that he had been playing with a dart gun at the beginning of the book. But was this supposed to be something significant?? I couldn't tell just from the comic version.

On the other hand, the illustrations are lush, and very evocative of a particular period of Singaporean life, that makes this book achingly nostalgic to me and, as I see from the reviews, other Singaporean readers. Whether this is something that will appeal to non-Singaporeans I can't tell but I suspect the answer would be mostly no.

[Joey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are so intricate and beautiful! I was especially touched at the little details, most likely because they resonated with my Singaporean self so much. My favourite panel was *spoiler alert* the Taoist funeral scene. The life-like illustrations really popped out and my eyes couldn't leave the small details and I found myself in awe of the similarities to an actual wake I'm familiar with.

I bought this book with the hopes of discovering a new favourite local pick, since it promises the story of a 12-year-old Yong, dealing with "the dreaded PSLE exams while his family undergoes an upheaval. His friendship with his childhood friend Liang also undergoes strain as the exams approach." I thought it would be a potentially fitting read for the majority of my students who are in this age group, but the plot tended towards an earlier generation, maybe slightly before me, of kids who grew up in the 90s Singapore. A single decade can bring about so many changes to the lifestyle, challenges and the differences in the childhood of a Singaporean kid. From my limited experience the children these days face very different challenges to that of Yong, but not to say which group actually has "easier" problems to deal with.

One shortcoming of the book may be that these feel like (or, are?) stories cobbled together in one "complete edition" - I was lost at times by the sudden jump to a parallel or seemingly unrelated plot line. Perhaps some indication that time has passed (3 days later, later in the day...), or chapters could help understanding? Then again I'm no expert at graphic novels and it may just be my novel-reading brain too used to the need for structure or chapter breaks.

A Singaporean classic IMO, because it captures our life so realistically. :")

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gone Case is a creative adaption of author Dave Chua’s coming-of-age novel about a 12-year-old boy named Yong and the curveballs life throws at him. The narrative is peppered with Singlish that exudes a uniquely Singaporean charm that is equal parts comforting and delightful to read.

I love that the storyline begins in the setting of a humble HDB estate - the quintessential motif of Singapore’s landscape. Although the layout of Yong’s flat was not revealed in its entirety, tiny details like how the communal wash basin is located in the kitchen beside the dining table, and the wooden 3-seater sofa set made me reminisced my early childhood years with my grandparents.

However, the transition in certain bits of the graphic novel felt abrupt. I personally have not read the novel which might have been a more effective channel in delivering subtlety. The ambiguous ending left me especially perplexed. Still, I enjoyed Gone Case for its down-to-earth portrayal of Singapore in the 90s through the lens of a primary six schoolboy.

[mantareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Achingly, quietly luminous, in ways few Singaporean writers and artists have been able to capture. not many of these writers have written about life in Singapore's Hdb housing estates either, but Chua and Koh capture the everyday textures, sorrows and joys of living in this space with a vivid, aching clarity and poignancy. I guess it resonates with me a lot more because i grew up, and still live in a hdb housing estate; but the episodes recounted here - ranging from the attempted conversion of the old parent; the grandchild living with the grandparent - and longing for them long after they have passed on; the prefect-kid who has to struggle with his new position and his old friendships in school - all strike home, and strike home deeply, in a manner no other Singaporean text really has for me. This is a beautifully, lovingly composed story, both narratively and visually.

[Guan Jie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't often see comics like this. With its characteristically Singapore scenes of HDBs, void deck funerals, and school canteens.

The story, adapted from a 1990s novel with the same author, felt the same way too. But it did feel like this comic was trying to cover too much ground (funerals, damaged friendships, PSLE stress, family fighting).

The artwork was great and it is comforting to see plain-old Singapore (no Marina Bay Sands) in comic strips. However, sometimes I found the artwork confusing and couldn't make out what certain drawings were supposed to be.

Overall, I'm glad I got to pick this up at the library for a quick, easy, and nostalgic read.

[David Poon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally got to read this Singapore graphic novel and did not regret it. There's so much in here that reminds me of 90s Singapore indie Tv but there's just a bit more depth somehow when presented in this beautifully drawn graphic novel form. Maybe its the framing, or just the pauses between the dialogue, but the story comes across as authentic and real, and the little details that we often take for granted stands out and even seems interesting.

A simple coming of age story of a Singaporean boy that was really enjoyable.

[JoAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An endearing, sort of coming-of-age Singaporean story; there are things about PSLE (one of our major examinations), school, friendships, family and loss, all of which are framed in the background of the 1990s.

I love the characters and all the little moments present here, regardless of whether they drive ‘the plot’ or not. I also love how it paints Singapore as it is without any of the nostalgia-fueled sensibilities.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reality of growing up in HDB in Singapore.
And like that it dwells a bit into the fantasy and thinking of the 12 yr old .
Graphics could have been a little more attractive. Things seemed flat but there are some scene where the transitions are neatly done!

[Alessio]

Reading this, I'm reminded of Erwin Panofsky's observation about how early Netherlandish art was at once telescopic and microscopic. This graphic novel is a Singaporean classic.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the art and the singlish more than the story.

[R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars*

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has many fond & relatable storylines and a strong wave of nostalgia.
Definitely see the reason why this book is considered a Singapore literature.