He put Singapore on an Archie cover
Chiew Kang Jing made history when he put Archie and friends under the Supertrees for an SG60 cover. The full-time biochemist and freelance artist shares how science, creativity and persistence shaped his artistic path.
Text: Wong SY | Photos: Chiew Kang Jing
When Chiew Kang Jing drew Archie and his gang posing for a wefie under the Supertrees at Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay, it was more than a fun crossover between American and Singaporean landmarks. It was a bold visual statement.
That cover illustration for Archie Comics, released in August 2025 as part of Singapore’s SG60 celebrations, marked the first time the iconic American teens had ever appeared on a Singaporean-themed cover.
The exclusive SG60 cover of the first issue of Betty & Veronica: Summer Fun In The Sun was the result of Kang Jing’s successful pitch to the American publishers.
Kang Jing is the man behind the pen. He graduated from NTU with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in chemistry and biological chemistry.
“I pitched the Supertrees cover idea to the publisher in New York, and they loved it,” he says. “That came as a surprise as my comic and anime pitches had been rejected by other publishers in the last few years. So, when Archie Comics gave the green light, I was over the moon. Having it featured during SG60 was the icing on the cake. It’s my small way of contributing to the nation.”
Titled Summer Fun in the Sun, the comic cover was a joint effort between Archie Comics and Chiral Comics, the art studio Kang Jing founded in Singapore. It sold out quickly and has since become a prized collector’s item – an unlikely crossover of pop culture and national pride.
When science meets art
Now 31, Kang Jing lives a dual life. By day, he’s a training manager at a multinational biopharmaceutical firm. By night – and often into the early hours – he transforms into an illustrator, working on comic art and trading cards.
“I love my day job,” he says. “But it’s a very structured environment. Drawing helps me stay creative. I think both sides of my brain work quite well together – science by day, imagination by night.”
He grew up watching Archie and Disney cartoons, reading DC and Marvel comics, and devouring Japanese manga and Chinese wuxia cartoons. His biggest inspiration? Canadian artist Todd McFarlane, known for Spider-Man and the dark fantasy series Spawn.
“But I try to incorporate local content into my art now,” Kang Jing adds. “It’s my way of staying connected to where I come from.”
From molecules to manga
While his academic path was rooted in science, NTU also gave him the space to explore other sides of himself.
“I signed up for electives in football, track and field, and entrepreneurship. If there had been an art elective, I would’ve taken it too,” he laughs. “Those experiences broadened my perspective. They encouraged me to try new things, which is probably why I never gave up on drawing.”
In 2019, while doing his master's, NTU’s entrepreneurship club invited him to showcase his comic art at a university fair. His booth quickly became a crowd favourite. That moment, he says, was a turning point that ignited his self-belief as an artist.
“For the first time, people outside my family and friends took my art seriously,” he recalls. “That gave me a real boost in confidence.”
Soon after, he was invited to run a comic workshop at the NTU Arts Festival. He returned as an alumnus to conduct the workshop. And from there, the idea for Chiral Comics was born.
Chiral Comics started as a passion project but quickly picked up steam. In early 2025, Kang Jing’s studio secured a deal to illustrate Marvel and Star Wars trading cards for Topps, an American company in the booming collectibles market. It was yet another sign that his longtime side hustle was gaining recognition.
At New York Comic Con, a major pop culture event, Kang Jing joins the Power Rangers cast as they show off the Singapore-themed cover he created for the series.
“I’ve faced a lot of rejection over the years, so these small wins really mean a lot,” he says. “The Archie cover was a mini breakthrough for me. It got media attention, and collectors are still talking about it.”
Chemistry in love and life
Kang Jing credits NTU not just for shaping his academic journey but for introducing him to his wife. The two met during their first year in a chemistry lab, drawing endless jokes from friends about “chemical reactions” and “sparks flying”.
“She is always supportive of my artistic passion,” says Kang Jing. “We’ve been married for two years. Weekends are sacred, just time for her, not for drawing.”
A match made in NTU and immortalised on this issue's cover (did you notice?).
Though his schedule is full – he’s currently pursuing a second master’s degree in learning and leadership – he has no plans to quit his day job for a full-time art career just yet.
“I’m not the kind of person who’d sacrifice everything for art,” he admits. “But I’ll never stop drawing. I think of it as seizing the day. Do what you love while you can.”
Even as artificial intelligence transforms creative industries, Kang Jing remains firmly grounded in tradition. His studio’s name is rooted in science. “Chiral” is a molecular property whose name comes from the Greek word cheir, meaning “hand”. It’s a quiet tribute to his biochemistry roots.
“I named it that because, ultimately, I still prefer to draw with my hand,” he says.
“I guess you could say,” he smiles, “you can’t take the chemistry out of the artist. And you can’t take the artist out of chemistry either.”
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This article first appeared in issue 7 of U, the NTU alumni magazine.
