Lionborne Singapore comic is taking the local superhero scene by storm. We sat down with its creator, Kang Jing (KJ), to find out everything about the story, the characters, and the universe behind it.
About the Interviewee
Kang Jing, better known online as KJ, is the creator behind Lionborne — Singapore’s newest homegrown superhero comic. A seasoned comic, cover, and sketch card artist, KJ has built an impressive portfolio working with major international publishers and licensors, bringing his distinctive traditional inking style to some of the world’s most beloved franchises. With Lionborne, he turns his sights closer to home, channelling his passion for superheroes into a story that is unmistakably, proudly Singaporean.
In his own words:
“Hi everyone, I am Kang Jing, or KJ for short, and I am a comic, cover and sketch card artist from Singapore. I have contributed artwork to projects such as Marvel (Topps), Star Wars (Topps), Power Rangers (BOOM! Studios) and Archie Comics, amongst many others. I work primarily with traditional media, bringing characters to life through pencils and inks.”
Q1: Tell us about Lionborne from a fictional, lore perspective.
Lionborne is a superhero fantasy story set in modern-day Singapore. The story revolves around mythical Spirit Beasts, ancient forces that once protected the world for centuries. However, a devastating war between the Spirit Beasts and the Spirit Devourers ultimately led to the Spirit Beasts abandoning humanity and fading into legend.
At the heart of the story is Jayden Lee, an ordinary teenager trying to balance school, his parents’ expectations, and everyday life. His world changes when he becomes the chosen champion of Simha, the legendary Lion Spirit Beast. Suddenly thrust into a hidden world of ancient powers and forgotten myths, Jayden must embrace his destiny as Lionborne and take on the responsibility of protecting Singapore — and ultimately the world — from the rising threat of the Spirit Devourers.
Q2: From a creator perspective, run us through the thought process that led to the design and concept of Lionborne.
Like many others, I’m a huge fan of superheroes, whether it’s Marvel or DC. Everyone knows iconic heroes like Spider-Man and Captain America from the United States. But our neighbouring countries have their own beloved superheroes too, such as Darna from the Philippines and Keluang Man from Malaysia, just to name a few.
That got me thinking: if Singapore had its own iconic superhero, what would that look like?
The lion naturally became the starting point because it’s deeply connected to Singapore’s identity. It’s a symbol that Singaporeans immediately recognise, and it felt like the perfect foundation for a hero who represents the nation. My hope is that Lionborne becomes a design that Singaporeans can look at and proudly say, “That’s our superhero.”
I also want to give a shoutout to my friends over at Genforcer and Crimson Star, who each have their own unique take on local superheroes. The fact that we’re seeing different creators exploring Singaporean heroes in different ways is incredibly exciting, and I think that variety is what makes this journey so special.
Q3: Simha, the talking cat, is a very cute addition. It feels like it gives a more dynamic interaction between Jayden and Simha. What made you decide to go with this idea?
A lot of stories feature mentor characters, and Simha fills that role in Lionborne as well. However, I wanted to explore that relationship in a more complex and fun way. I thought: how would an ancient and powerful Spirit Beast interact with a modern-day teenager, especially when that Spirit Beast no longer has access to his powers and now has to rely on the teenager to carry out his mission?
Simha serves several purposes in the story. He’s a mentor, a source of comic relief, and occasionally a voice of wisdom. But he’s far from perfect. He’s stubborn, sarcastic, and often frustrated by Jayden’s decisions and lack of experience. At the same time, Jayden doesn’t always appreciate being told what to do by a grumpy ancient spirit.
That contrast between an ordinary teenager and a centuries-old Spirit Beast creates a lot of entertaining moments and gives their relationship room to grow throughout the series. And honestly, who doesn’t love a talking cat? If you have a cat or dog at home, there’s always a chance they might secretly be an ancient Spirit Beast watching over you too!
Q4: In issue #1, we get introduced to other mythic entities and factions, like William Ashford, the champion of Olephis, and the mercenary Ada Tao with the power of the Deer Spirit Beast. Can you tease what the wider “Lionborne-verse” looks like? Are there other ancient Spirit Beasts waiting in the wings to protect or threaten modern Singapore?
Absolutely! What readers see in Issue #1 is really just the tip of the iceberg. If you look back at the opening spread on pages 2–3, Simha is sentenced to endure the same fate as Olephis because he violated the Spirit Beasts’ code. But that immediately raises a few questions — who created the Spirit Beasts’ code? Who are the higher beings with the authority to judge and sentence someone as powerful as Simha?
We also know there was a massive war between the Spirit Beasts and the Spirit Devourers, one so devastating that it changed the course of history. But how did that war truly begin? What secrets have been lost over time? Those are just some of the mysteries that hint at how expansive the Lionborne universe can become. There are many stories still waiting to be told, and many secrets yet to be uncovered in future issues!
Q5: What are the future plans for Lionborne moving forward? And more importantly for the local fandom: will we get to see someone actually suit up as Lionborne at future events down the road?
The immediate focus is to continue growing the Lionborne story through future comic issues and expanding the world that readers have only just begun to explore. I’m happy to share that Lionborne Issue #2 will be launching on Kickstarter in August 2026, and Issue #3 is already in development. Beyond the comics, readers can also look forward to some Lionborne collectibles and merchandise in the near future.
Looking even further ahead, if the stars align, I’d love to see Lionborne one day receive an animated adaptation — or maybe even a live-action one. That’s certainly a big dream and a long-term goal, but I believe creators should never stop dreaming about what their stories can become.
For now, though, I’m focused on telling the best Lionborne stories possible and continuing to build the community around the series.
And as for the cosplay question — if there are any cosplayers out there interested in suiting up as Lionborne at future events, definitely hit us up and let’s work something out!
If Lionborne has got you excited about Singapore’s very own superhero universe, there’s plenty more to discover. Head over to Chiral Comics on Instagram to keep up with KJ’s latest artwork, updates on upcoming issues, and everything happening in the world of Lionborne. And if you’re ready to dive in, Issue #1 is available for purchase there too — trust us, it’s a great place to start. Go show some love to one of Singapore’s most exciting indie comic creators!
Previous Next