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Preview: Cat Mask Boy

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Cat Mask Boy

(W/A) Linus Liu

In 1970s Hong Kong, a mischievous and clever cat-masked boy ventures into the lawless Kowloon Walled City to retrieve his lost report card before his mom finds out.

Tiger is a seven year old boy, growing up in 1970’s Hong Kong. He prefers being clever to working hard, gets terrible grades in school, and dreams of being a superhero. One day, his world is turned upside down when his report card somehow ends up in one of the most dangerous areas of Hong Kong: Kowloon City! Armed only with his homemade cat mask and determination in his heart, Tiger must dive into the twisting chaos and shadowy street corners of the Walled City to recover the document.

Can Tiger and his streetwise new friend Dragon find his report card before his mom calls him home for dinner? Or will he be lost in the dangerous maze of Kowloon forever?

Cat Mask Boy is a kinetic journey into another time, full of cultural flavor, warm-hearted humor, and nostalgic urban realism. This thrilling coming-of-age graphic novel explores themes of friendship, self-discovery, and growing up with a touch of retro whimsy.

Cat Mask Boy

A New Hero Emerges in Cat Mask Boy – And He’s Still in Primary School!

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From the Mad Cave Studios imprint Nakama Press comes Cat Mask Boy—the award-winning graphic novel, previously honored by the 1st HK Comics Support Programme! 

This heartfelt and offbeat debut graphic novel from Hong Kong indie comics creator Linus Liu is set amid the vibrant chaos of 1970s Kowloon. It follows a schoolboy named Tiger as he ventures into the city’s lawless underbelly—armed with nothing but a homemade cat mask, a pocketful of snacks, and an unshakable sense of determination.

Drawn in Liu’s signature analog textures and bold ink lines, the book is steeped in local color and childhood imagination. His work combines slice-of-life storytelling with pulpy urban legend, offering a stylized lens into a vanished version of Hong Kong that feels both deeply personal and instantly universal.

In 1970s Hong Kong, Tiger, a secondary school student at Resettlement Area Rooftop Primary School, spends more time having fun than studying for his classes. His only ambition is to become a superhero, so he makes himself a cat mask. On report card day, he wants to show his mom his academic progress, but his report card is mistakenly taken by someone else. With no other choice to avoid punishment from his mom, he sets out to retrieve it and ventures into Kowloon Walled City, a notorious shantytown where no rules apply except those of the mafia. All kinds of illicit businesses flourish: gaming rooms, opium dens, and undercover trading. There, he meets a new friend named Dragon, who offers to help. Together, they must confront their fears and recover the lost report card!

This marks the English-language debut of Cat Mask Boy, translated and lettered by Book Buddy Media and published Nakama Press—Mad Cave Studios’ imprint devoted to bold, manga-inspired storytelling from around the world.

A great title for fans of Goodbye, Eri, and City of Darkness, this is a spirited, scrappy, and utterly endearing ride through the streets of memory and myth. Cat Mask Boy will be available in bookstores and comic shops on October 14, 2025.

Cat Mask Boy