June 2010

Graphic Novels: Not Just Comics Anymore

American Born Chinese
Gene Luen Yang

This graphic novel weaves together three separate story lines that eventually merge. One is the semi-autobiographical tale of a lonely Chinese-American middle schooler grappling with racism both overt and unintentional in a predominantly white suburb, and more disturbingly, his own internalized racism which emerges when an immigrant Chinese student arrives at his school. The second is the traditional Chinese folk story of the Monkey King, who aspires to transcend his mere monkey status and become a god. The third is a sitcom, complete with laugh tracks, about a blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy and his embarrassing Chinese cousin who intentionally embodies every negative Chinese stereotype possible – he wears a conical straw hat, has buck teeth, and speaks chop suey Chinglish. Yang’s message of transcendence and acceptance won this book a nod as Finalist for America’s National Book Award, the first graphic novel to be recognized by the foundation.


Secret Identities: The Asian-American Superhero Anthology
Edited by Jeff Yang, Parry Shen, Keith Chow, and Jerry Ma

For decades, a huge number of the behind-the-scenes folks writing, drawing, and animating superhero comics have been Asians, but when it comes to the actual characters who populate those comics, well, the best you can hope for is a diminutive sidekick practicing a few kung fu moves alongside some hulking white dude who reaps all the glory (and the girls). Here to save the day comes this collection of original comics conceived by, written, drawn, and most importantly starring powerful Asian superheroes – of both sexes. While some of the stories feel like forced history lessons (the building of America’s railroads, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII), the majority are witty, ebullient, and playful investigations into Asian-American identity, often involving sly send-ups of common stereotypes like Korean laundromat owners and the misperception that all Asians know martial arts. Some of the comics choose not to comment on race at all, simply giving us some good old-fashioned Nazi gremlin butt-kicking. The list of collaborators is an impressive who’s who of Asian-American pop culture, including several writers, inkers, illustrators and animators who have worked on Beavis & Butthead, Star Wars, and such comic-world monoliths as GI Joe, Planet Hulk, Batman, and The Flash; along with actors and other notables like Kelly Hu (Lady Deathstrike from X2) and Keiko Agena (Lane Kim from Gilmore Girls.)