From a young age, Justin Tan saw the world through a different lens. Diagnosed with autism at the age of three, he found solace and possibility in the world of cartoons. These stories became his gateway to imagination, a place where anything could happen. His parents surrounded him with support, enlisting tutors and therapists to aid his development. In an act of devotion, his mother put her career on hold to become his full-time caregiver. Through her patient guidance, she discovered Justin’s passion: a gift for drawing comics. She saw not just a hobby, but a future, and helped solidify his dream of becoming a cartoonist.
This nurturing world was shattered when Justin was fifteen with the loss of his mother to cancer. Grief did not break his spirit; it strengthened his resolve. Determined to honor her memory, Justin turned to his art. He has since created hundreds of original characters and stories. His creations are deeply personal. “Hotdog Hutchins” features a mother named Annie, created to memorialize his own. Other stories draw from childhood fears, such as a boy who befriends the monster under his bed and discovers a loyal friend. Through these stories, Justin encourages children not to judge others hastily.
Today, Justin strives toward his goal of becoming a published cartoonist. His pursuit is more than ambition; it is a tribute. Every character he draws and every story he weaves is driven by one hope: to make his mother proud.
自小以來，皓之看世界的方式就與眾不同。他在三歲時被診斷患有自閉症，卻在卡通世界裡找到安慰與各種可能性。這些故事成為他通往想像世界的大門，在那裡，一切皆有可能。皓之父母給予他滿滿的支持，為他尋找家教與治療師來幫助他的成長。
他的母親更以一項無私的決定，暫別自己的事業，全心成為他的全職照顧者。 在她耐心的陪伴與引導下，她發現了賈斯汀的熱情所在──畫漫畫的天賦。 她看到的並不只是一個興趣，而是一個可以追尋的未來，並幫助他確立成為漫畫家的夢想。
然而，這個被細心守護的世界，在皓之十五歲時破碎了──母親因癌症離世。悲傷沒有摧毀他的意志，反而讓他的決心更加堅定。 為了紀念母親，他把情感投入畫筆之中。從那之後，他創造了數以百計的原創角色與故事。這些創作都與他的人生緊密相連。
例如《熱狗‧哈金斯》故事中的角色安妮媽媽，就是為了紀念他的母親而創作的。 其他故事則源於童年的恐懼，比方說：一個男孩與床底下的怪獸成為朋友，最後發現對方其實是忠誠的夥伴。透過這些故事，皓之希望鼓勵孩子們不要太快對他人下定論。
如今，皓之正一步步朝成為正式出版漫畫家的目標邁進。他的追尋超越個人志向，更是一種致敬。他筆下的每一個角色、每一段情節，都懷抱著同一個心願：讓媽媽為他感到驕傲。