Sanmao, the Vagrant: Homeless Children of Yesterday and Today

The intensifying globalization has made street survival more brutal and miserable for homeless children, especially in Third World countries. Sanmao, the Vagrant is a wordless picture book which tells of the adventures of a boy named Sanmao in streets of Shanghai during WWII. The essay analyzes how the artistʹs ingenious visual narrative authentically anticipates the omnipresent impact of globalization on innocent children. Sanmaoʹs survival totally relies on his resilience and proactivity. He falls prey to unbridled exploitation and coercive and abusive treatment. Originally a comic intended for adults, the book is the artistʹs furious protest against the indifferent attitude of the adult world.