EP 211: Gene Luen Yang’s (comic book) American dream

Written By Modern Minorities

“Being an immigrant kid - your experience and your parents’ and your grandparents’ experiences are in three completely different worlds.”

Gene Luen Yang is one of the most celebrated Asian American comics creators - an award-winning cartoonist, storyteller, and teacher - who's been creating comics since the fifth grade. And his 2006 graphic novel AMERICAN BORN CHINESE comes out as a live-action Disney+ streaming series on May 24, 2023 - by the filmmakers from “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Shang Chi” - Michelle Yeoh and many others. For AAPI Heritage month, we’re sharing past conversations with amazing Asian comics creators AND a few days later - a Quarantined Comics companion episode on their graphic novels.


Many of Gene’s graphic novels - American Born Chinese, Dragon Hoops, and Superman Smashes the Klan - have won the Eisner Awards - comics greatest honors. 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



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Modern Minorities
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EP 212: Reading (into) American Born Chinese
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