EP 126: Gene Luen Yang’s (comic book) American dream
“Being an immigrant kid - your experience and your parents’ and your grandparents’ experiences are in three completely different worlds.”
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Gene Luen Yang is an award-winning cartoonist, storyteller, and teacher - whose been creating comics since the fifth grade. His 2006 graphic novel American Born Chinese will be a 2022 Disney+ TV series by Shang Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton. Two of Gene’s other two books - Dragon Hoops + Superman Smashes the Klan - won the 2020 Eisner (the Oscars for comics), and Raman’s reviewed them on his other podcast Quarantined Comics. Gene’s a former CS + Math teacher - who’s since gone on to work on some of the biggest name in pop culture and comics - including Avatar the Last AirBender, rebooting Shang Chi over @ Marvel Comics (before the hit movie), and having more than a few unique takes on DC’s Superman. Gene was named the Library of Congress’ fifth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and has also received a MacArthur Genius Grant. Gene advocates for the importance of reading diversely - and makes his kids finish all of their projects. Raman tried really hard not to fanboy over one of his personal heroes...
LEARN ABOUT GENE LUEN YANG
Website: geneyang.com
Twitter @geneluenyang // Instagram @geneluenyang
Book: American Born Chinese
Book: Dragon Hoops
MENTIONS
COMIC BOOK: Cyclopedia Exotica
PERSON: Jason Shiga
PERSON: Lark Pien
PERSON: Derek Kirk Kim