Assassinating the King of Qin

"Thirty years have passed since Assassin. Looking back on half a lifetime, some things are forgotten, some are still remembered. These mere images were created with the same passion. The universe of then and today now overlap." – Lee Chi-ching

Assassin, published in 1993, is one of Lee Chi-ching's significant works. Not only is it often hailed as a classic by Lee, but it also shook the entire Asian comics industry at the time. The most distinctive aspect of this work lies in its radical departure from his previous art style—Lee Chi-ching boldly reduced his usual dense line work, and for the first time, wielded the wild brushstrokes of ink wash. This showcased his experimental spirit and creative courage, fusing the grand narrative of Hong Kong comics, its unique atmosphere, and his masterful personal style into a magnificent war epic.

The assassination attempt by Jing Ke on Qin Shi Huang is a famous event destined to fail, and many adaptations exist. Lee Chi-ching's 1993 comic Assassin tells the story of Jing Ke's journey to Qin, preceded by a group of advance assassins from the State of Yan: Bai Ya, Xie Wu, Fang Shi, and Xu Fu. Ostensibly sent to find maps and secret passages to assassinate the Qin King, these heroes and knights from various backgrounds gathered to restrain Xiang Yang, the Qin King's top swordsman. This group of martial artists, entrusted with a perilous mission, ultimately developed a profound camaraderie, but also faced the tragic destiny of師兄弟必然廝殺 (fellow disciples inevitably fighting each other to the death).

After a 33-year hiatus, the universe of Assassin returns, brought back into readers' view as a复刻版 (replicated edition) by veteran media professional Kam Sing. Unlike the old edition from the 1990s, this new edition uses a larger format and presents a total of 288 pages of content that have been thoroughly organized and edited. It also includes over ten newly drawn color illustrations by Lee Chi-ching.