Creator: Kang Jing
Chiral Comics, May 2026
Kang Jing’s Lionborne #1 knows exactly what kind of comic it wants to be.
The first issue introduces seventeen-year-old Jayden Lee, a Singaporean teenager suddenly burdened with the power of Simha, one of the oldest and most powerful spirit beasts. Long ago, Simha put down a rebellion led by the cobra spirit Olephis by doing something forbidden: separating Olephis’ power from his physical form and reducing him to an ordinary snake. Because that punishment violated the spirit beasts’ code, Simha suffered the same fate. He now exists as little more than a cat, while his power passes from host to host, this time landing with Jayden. Here is the promotional copy:
Jayden Lee is a seventeen year old trying to find a way to pass his exams, but he is also something much greater; He is the champion of Simha, the Lion Spirit Beast. Known as Lionborne, Jayden is the spiritual protector of Singapore and the only one who can stop William Ashford, the champion of Olephis, the Spirit Devourer. William and Olephis seek to use their power to take control of the world, starting with Singapore.
That setup gives the title a very recognisable hook, which we have seen in many other titles – Marvel Comics’ Black Panther, for example. In this first issue, entitled “The Trial of Doves and Deer,” Olephis’ human host, William Ashford, is after an ancient artifact called the Flaming Dove. This is an object capable of creating new spirit beasts. Jayden and Simha have to stop him, all while Jayden is also trying to survive the much more immediate threat of his O-Level exams.
Readers should not approach Lionborne #1 expecting especially deep or sophisticated storytelling. From the bright visuals to the straightforward premise, this clearly skews toward younger readers. But within that lane, it works. The stakes are easy to grasp, the characters are clearly defined even when they lean a little familiar, and the decision to weave Jayden’s school pressures into the superhero material gives the comic a bit more personality than a standard adolescent power-fantasy.
There are a few places where the transitions between scenes are too abrupt. A couple of extra panels here and there would have smoothed things out. Still, even casual readers should have no trouble following where the story is going.
The artwork is the comic’s biggest strength. Mr Jing keeps everything bright, colorful, and clean. The style is simple, but not in a way that feels unfinished. The use of sharp, overlapping panel layouts gives the pages a nice sense of movement. It is also clear that Mr Jing understands comics as a storytelling medium. The dialogue balloon placement feels natural, and the panel composition consistently guides your eye exactly where it needs to go. That sounds basic, but it is something a lot of first-time indie comics struggle with, and Lionborne #1 handles it with confidence. But then, Mr Jing is an experienced artist and a Singaporean pop cultural treasure: from – https://www.chiralcomics.com/kangjing:
In 2022, KJ was appointed ambassador artist for Singapore’s inaugural Comic Embassy. His international breakthrough came in 2024 with his U.S. cover art debut for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #122 (BOOM! Studios), released exclusively for Singapore Comic Con.
Lionborne #1 will not blow anyone away with complexity, but that is not the point. It is a clean, accessible, and energetic opening chapter that knows its audience. For younger readers especially, or for anyone who wants a straightforward supernatural superhero comic with a distinctly Singaporean flavor, this is the place to start. The title was the subject of a successful Kickstarter campaign, which closed in March 2026: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chiralcomics/lionborne-1-the-trial-of-doves-and-deer