Gene Luen Yang

Gene Luen Yang
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Gene Luen Yang began drawing comic books in the fifth grade. In 1997, he received a Xeric Grant for Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks, his first comics work. He has since written and drawn a number of titles, including Duncan’s Kingdom, The Rosary Comic Book, Prime Baby and Animal CrackersAmerican Born Chinese, his first graphic novel from First Second, was a National Book Award finalist, as well as the winner of the Printz Award and an Eisner Award. He also won an Eisner for The Eternal Smile, a collaboration with Derek Kirk Kim. Recently, he has been working on the comics series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Yang lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.


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Media

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The Making of THE ETERNAL SMILE

Derek's assistant talks about the creation process of making a graphic novel.

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Author on the Web

Author's Latest Blog Entry

Latest Blog Posts

April 25, 2013

Sketchbook: Joan of Arc

This seems to be a week of making art for auctions. A couple days ago, I posted a drawing of Guan Yu that I did for an upcoming auction at ALA Chicago.  Here’s one for BEA 2013 in New York. St. Joan of Arc also shows up in Boxers & Saints, my two graphic novels [...]

Posted by Gene Yang at 9:30 pm     
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Q & A

EIGHT QUESTIONS from GENE LUEN YANG
 
What’s your favorite book that wasn’t written or drawn by you?
I have to pick only one?  I’m gonna say Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. If it weren’t for that book, I wouldn’t be a cartoonist.
 
If you were shipwrecked on a desert island, what one piece of media would you take with you?  If it isn’t your favorite book, explain how you came to this peculiar decision.
A picture of my wife.  Or maybe the Bible.  No, a picture of my wife.  Because she’s so pretty.
 
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
I love all flavors of ice cream, but I’m lactose intolerant so I’ll have to say Rainbow Sherbet.  Not as yummy as Mocha Almond Fudge, but so much better for my stomach.  And for the folks sitting next to me.
 
How are you planning to survive the zombie apocalypse?
I’m gonna develop a taste for zombie flesh.  Then I’m gonna go buy a large carving knife and lots of hot sauce.
 
What’s your favorite word?
“Moded.”  Remember when junior high kids used to use that word to diss on their friends?  So fun.  We gotta bring that back.  A whole generation is missing out on getting “moded.”
 
If you suddenly fell into a dimensional vortex and ended up in 1529, what profession would you adopt?
Ninja assassin!
 
Black or white?  Cats or dogs?  Apples or oranges?  Robots or vampires?
Black vampire apple-dogs
 
What’s the worst fortune cookie advice you ever got?  Did you take it?
You take advice from fortune cookies?  Seriously?  We invented those things as a gimmick to sell you more moo shu pork.  You’re not actually supposed to run your life by them.
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books
by the author

Boxers & Saints Boxed Set

Gene Luen Yang
First Second

Boxers & Saints Boxed Set Edition  One of the greatest comics storytellers alive brings all his formidable talents to bear in this astonishing new work.  In...


Available In:

Available 9/10/2013
Saints
Boxers & Saints
Gene Luen Yang
First Second

China, 1898. An unwanted fourth daughter, Four-Girl isn't even given a proper name by her family. She finds friendship—and a name, Vibiana—in the most unlikely...


Available In:

Book
Available 9/10/2013
Boxers
Boxers & Saints
Gene Luen Yang
First Second

China,1898. Bands of foreign missionaries and soldiers roam the countryside, bullying and robbing Chinese peasants. Little Bao has had enough. Harnessing the...


Available In:

Book
Available 9/10/2013
Level Up

Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by Thien Pham
First Second

A New York Times Notable Children's Book (Young Adult) for 2011 Smackdown! Video Games vs. Medical School! Which will win the battle for our hero’s...


Available In:

Book
Prime Baby

Written & illustrated by Gene Luen Yang
First Second

From the pages of the New York Times and the pen of Printz Award winner Gene Luen Yang comes a tale of math, aliens, and new siblings. Thaddeus doesn’t...


Available In:

Book
The Eternal Smile

by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by Derek Kirk Kim
First Second

A fantastical adventure through the worlds we live in and the worlds we create. From two masters of the graphic novel -- Gene Luen Yang (American Born...


Available In:

Book
American Born Chinese

Gene Luen Yang; Illustrated by the author
Square Fish

Three very different characters, one simple goal: to fit in.


Available In:

Book eBook
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