Where’s My Noose offers some interesting comparisons between the original version of Lat’s critically-acclaimed Kampung Boy and the First Second edition that came out last year:
More troubling are certain pages that have obviously been redrawn; Lat’s art has constantly changed and evolved throughout his career, and he’s clearly unable to mimic his old style. It’s been at least a decade since I read the original, so I can’t remember what exactly has been changed.
Except for one scene, where young Lat illegally pans tin and excitedly shows off to his generally amiable father, expecting praise. In the original, his father slaps him, resulting in the most shocking scene in the book, considering that the father has, up till now, been portrayed as an easy-going jokester next to Lat’s strict mother. In the American version, however, the scene is removed, replaced instead by comical scenes of his father angrily chasing him around the village. You’re supposed to laugh along with it now.
via Jog
