Current mood:

good

COMICS EVENT this Saturday night!


This Saturday I will be participating in my second Asian-American event this summer. My first was at the spectacular and very well-informed Asian-American Film Festival where I was exposed to amazing writers and artisans, so brilliant and smart, who center a piece (sometimes largely, sometimes little) of their cultural roots and ethnicity in their work. It's made me consider my own background, since that is an aspect I have never consciously strived for in my work, much less think about except when trolling through my brick of take-out menus. However, in more closely examining my background as a German-born, Thai-Scot, first generation American hapa, I realized that I am a terribly strong advocate of diversity and have been for some time.

Besides my well-travelled biography, my own portfolio and bibliography is also all over the map. From vague sci-fi ethnicities in TEEN TITANS GO, to the "It's a Small World" cast of BREAKING UP and HOPELESS SAVAGES. I've also discovered that the only wholly culturally-specific work I've illustrated is the Mexican-American franchise SPY KIDS. Which, of course felt very familiar to me since I grew up partly in Tujunga, California, where I went to a Spanish/English bilingual school, and in my teens, my favorite comics were by the Los Bros. Hernandez.

So, if you'd like to be enlightened by more of my muddied perspective, please come to Chinatown!


Thinking Inside the Box:
Asian Americans in the Comic Book and Graphic Novel World

Saturday, September 15th at 7:00pm

In the past few years, there has been an explosion of media exposure for Asian Americans in the comic and graphic novel world. Join MoCA for a roundtable with giants of the Asian American comic book and graphic novel world.

Featuring :

Jann Jones is Senior Coordinating Editor for DC Comics who has worked on adding three new titles: Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam, Tiny Titans, and Super Friends to the DC Comics line.

Jae Lee rose to prominence for his work on Marvel's Namor the Sub-Mariner and Inhumans (for which he won an Eisner Award), as well as his character Hellshock. He is currently working with Stephen King on the Dark Tower series for Marvel Comics.

Gene Yang's graphic novel American Born Chinese was named a 2006 finalist for the National Book Award in the young people's literature category. This was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award.

Christine Norrie has worked extensively as an artist and comic illustrator since 2000. Her most noted works include her original graphic novel Cheat, the Oni Press series Hopeless Savages, and the newly released graphic novel Breaking Up.

Larry Hama is a writer/cartoonist/illustrator who works in comics, television, and film. He is best known as the writer of Marvel's G.I. Joe and Wolverine comic book series. He is currently working on Storm Shadow for Devils Due.
Moderated by DC Comics editor Pornsak Pichetshote.

All Programs at:
Museum of Chinese in the Americas
70 Mulberry Street 2nd floor @ Bayard St. NY, NY 10013

Members $3/Non-Members $5
Please call for info and to RSVP:
(212) 619-4785 ext. 106