Gene Luen Yang began drawing comic books in the fifth grade. In 1997, he received the Xeric Grant, a prestigious comics industry grant, for Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks, his first comics work as an adult. He has since written and drawn a number of titles, including Duncan's Kingdom (with art by Derek Kirk Kim) and The Rosary Comic Book (Pauline Books & Media).
His graphic novel American Born Chinese became the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and the first graphic novel to win the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award. He recently collaborated on a second book with Derek Kirk Kim, The Eternal Smile, a collection of three stories which explore the ways that the world of imagination can affect real life. In addition to cartooning, Gene teaches computer science at a Catholic high school in Oakland, California. He resides in Fremont with his wife and two children.
Pauline Book & Media: When did your interest in comic books start?
Gene Yang: I started collecting comics in 5th grade – all the American superheroes of the 80s.
PBM: Was it always your dream to be a professional cartoonist?
GY: Actually in high school, I wanted to be a Disney animator. Then in college, I took an animation class and found out that it took about six weeks to do only two or three minutes of footage. Also, most animators are not involved only in the illustrations -- not the story line. This changed my focus to comics. I was taking commuter science classes since I knew I had to have a steady job but I told myself, I would publish at least one comic before I died
PBM: Was the Xeric grant your “breakthrough moment”?
GY: Yes, the grant money enabled me to self-publish my first comic book, Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks. Winning the grant also that a major distributor, Diamond Comics would carry my book.
PBM: Is it correct to say that American Born Chinese was actually the book that gave you name recognition as a graphic novelist? (And of course, won major awards.)
GY: Yes, I started thinking about that project in 2000. Actually it was the same time I started thinking about the Rosary comic book. The two projects summarize the determining factors of my life: my religion and my ethnicity. American Born Chinese highlighted not just an Asian American protagonist but my Asian American identity. I incorporated stories of the Monkey King because my mother had told them to me as a young boy. (My Mom is originally from Shanghai. Her family left when the Communists took over, making their way to Hong Kong, Taiwan and eventually the Bay State area, where she still resides.) Tales of the Monkey King are famous all over Asia – as big as Mickey Mouse is here in the U.S. We study him the way Angelos study Shakespeare. In popular culture, comics and cartoons, etc., he’s our superpower – the equivalent of Superman or Spiderman.
PBM – So, how did the same author who penned dark humor, fantasy and action packed stories come to write a best selling children’s book on the Holy Rosary?
GY – It started as a Lenten project – instead of giving up sweets, I started writing the book. It took me the entire Lenten Season to write the Joyful mysteries and map out the illustrations. Then I contacted Pauline Books & Media. I was familiar with your children’s books since I had several of them on my shelf (probably from my Mom or my wife, who teaches at a Catholic school). Once the project was approved, I wrote and illustrated the rest of the mysteries of the rosary.
PBM: I love the comic illustration style you created for the Holy Rosary. It has a multi-racial feel to them. Was this deliberate?
GY: Definitely, I wanted to reflect the catholicity (universality) of the Church. Both of my parents were converts to the faith and we regularly attended a Chinese Catholic Church in Santa Clara. It was wonderful because we were able to blend our Chinese and Catholic identity into one.
PBM: Your website is called humblecomics.com. Any link to the virtue of humility?
GY: Actually, it does. I was in my early 20s and together with some friends, I was praying about what I wanted to do with my life and that name (Humble Comics) popped into my mind. It’s a good reminder that my self-worth rests in God and not what I write or illustrate on a page. I’ve met others who are so gifted and skilled and I don’t want my life to turn into a competition with them.
PBM: The Master’s Thesis, which you wrote in 2003 was on “Comics in Education.” Do you think that educators are more accepting of this format today?
GY: Yes, I think comics are seeing a resurgence in academia now. They are gaining recognition as more of an ally of reading than an enemy since they encourage reluctant readers. Librarians have especially become more pro-comic since they keep up with popular reading trends. Also, visual literacy is so much a part of our culture. Teachers want to make sure students are thinking critically about what they are seeing – comics are a great way to do that.
PBM: Are you working on any new projects?
GY: Yes, it’s a two volume set of stories which take place during the Boxer Rebellion (1900) and focuses both on the nationalists, which the Chinese consider to be heroes and the Catholic martyrs who were the first Chinese to be canonized as saints by Pope John Paul II in 2000.
PBM: I can’t end this interview without asking you to tell us about your participation in this year’s Comic-Con International* as a special guest and panelist.
GY: It was both fun and exciting. I’ve been to Comic-Con before but it was my first time that they paid my expenses since I was their guest. My events were well attended and I was able to spotlight both my secular and religious views. (Jesus turns up at end American Born Chinese since it is my story).
If you would like to contact Gene Yang for speaking engagements, workshops or questions, check out his website: www.humblecomics.com
* Comic-Con International is THE major event for comic book enthusiast and more! In recent years, major movie studios and TV networks have come to Comic-Con to show previews and make presentations that showcase trendy, favorite and brand new shows.