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Gene Luen Yang

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In thisChinese name,thefamily nameisYang.
Gene Luen Yang
Yang at the 2024 National Book Festival
Yang at the 2024National Book Festival
Born(1973-08-09)August 9, 1973(age 51)
California,U.S.
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley
GenreGraphic novels
Notable awardsMacArthur Fellow
SpouseTheresa Kim
Children4
Chinese name
Traditional ChineseDương cẩn luân
Simplified ChineseDương cẩn luân
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYáng Jǐnlún
Wade–GilesYang Chin-lün
Website
geneyang.comEdit this at Wikidata

Gene Luen Yang(Chinese:Dương cẩn luân[1];born August 9, 1973)[2]is an Americancartoonist.He is a frequent lecturer on the subjects ofgraphic novelsand comics, at comic book conventions and universities, schools, and libraries.[3]In addition, he was the Director of Information Services and taughtcomputer scienceatBishop O'Dowd High SchoolinOakland, California.[4]In 2012, Yang joined the faculty atHamline Universityas a part of the Low-Residency Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults (MFAC) program.[3]In 2016, the U.S.Library of Congressnamed himAmbassador for Young People's Literature.[5]That year he became the third graphic novelist, alongsideLauren Redniss,to receive aMacArthur Fellowship.[6]

Early life

[edit]

Yang believes he was born in eitherAlamedaorFremont, California.[4]He is the child of an electrical engineer fromTaiwanand a programmer who grew up inHong Kongand Taiwan, both of whom emigrated to the United States.[2]They met at theSan Jose State UniversityLibrary during graduate school.[4]He has a younger brother. He grew up in a Catholic family, and his parents instilled in him a strong work ethic and reinforced their Asian culture.[7]In a speech atPenn State,where he spoke as a part of a Graphic Novel Speaker Series, Yang recalled that both of his parents always told him stories during his childhood.[8]

Yang was a part of a small Asian-American minority in his elementary school. He grew up wanting to be an animator forDisney.In third grade, he did a biographical report onWalt Disney,which is where he says his obsession started.[8]This changed in fifth grade when his mother took him to their local bookstore where she bought him his first comic book, issue 57 of theSupermanseriesDC Comics Presents,a book she agreed to buy because Yang's first choice,Marvel Two-in-Oneissue 99, featured the charactersThe ThingandRomon the cover, which she thought looked too frightening.[8]

Yang attended theUniversity of California, Berkeleyfor his undergraduate degree. He wanted to major in art but his father encouraged him to pursue a more "practical" field so Yang majored in computer science with a minor in creative writing.[9]

Works

[edit]

After graduating in 1995, Yang worked as a computer engineer for two years. However, after a five-day silent retreat, he felt he was meant to teach, and left his job as a computer engineer to teach computer science at a high school.[9]As a teacher, he drew comics afterschool and during weekends. In 1996, Yang began self-publishing his own comics under the imprint Humble Comics. Yang went on to be published withFirst Second Books(an imprint ofMacmillan Publishers),[4]Marvel Comics,DC Comics,SLG Publishing,Dark Horse Comics,HarperTeen,The New Press,andPauline Books & Media.[10]

In 1997, Yang first published comicGordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeksunder his Humble Comics imprint, and it won him theXeric Grant,a self-publishing grant for comic book creators.[9]Yang later published two more installments in theGordon Yamamotomini-series and a sequel,Loyola Chin and the San Peligran Order.In 2010, bothGordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeksseries andLoyola Chin and the San Pelgrino Orderwere published together asAnimal CrackersbySlave Labor Graphics.[11]

In 2006, Yang publishedAmerican Born Chinesewith First Second Publishing.[12]Drawing upon the Chinese folk character of the tricksterMonkey King,the book tells the story of a school-age second-generation immigrant who struggles with his Chinese-American identity. Although Yang drew from his own experiences, the book is not autobiographical.[13]In 2021Disney+ordered production of a television adaptation of the book.[14]

Yang's other works have been recognized as well. In 2009, Yang was awarded anotherEisner Award for Best Short Storyfor his collaborative workThe Eternal Smilewhich he wrote andDerek Kirk Kimillustrated.[3]Yang was nominated for Eisner Awards for bothPrime Babyand his collaborative workLevel Up.[15]

Yang wrote theAvatar: The Last Airbendercomics series for Dark Horse Comics, the first volume of which was released in January 2012.[10]Yang's graphic novel,Boxers & Saints,which was published by First Second Books in September 2013. In July 2016, DC Comics released the first issue ofNew Super-Man,featuring a separate Chinese character in the Superman mold, written by Yang and drawn byViktor Bogdanovic.[16]In October 2019, Yang created alimited series,Superman Smashes the Klan,a loose adaptation of a famous 1946 story-arc fromThe Adventures of Supermanradio series, "Clan of the Fiery Cross", in which an Asian-American family is threatened by theKu Klux Klanand a young and unsure Superman is determined to protect the children from the terrorists.[17]Making hisMarvel Comicsdebut in 2020, Yang wrote a miniseries starring the martial arts superheroShang-Chi.According to Yang, the series explores the relationship between Shang-Chi and his archenemy fatherZheng Zu,who was originally the infamous villainFu Manchu.[18]In May 2021, in celebration of theAsian Pacific American Heritage Month,DC Comics launched the heroMonkey Prince,created by Yang andBernard Chang.[19]

Yang advocates the use of comics and graphic novels as educational tools in the classroom. In his final project for his master's degree atCalifornia State University, East Bay,he emphasized the educational strength of comics, claiming they are motivating, visual, permanent, intermediary, and popular.[20]As a part of his Master's project, Yang created an online comic calledFactoring with Mr. Yang & Mosley the Alienas a method of teaching math. This idea came from a time where Yang was substitute teaching a math class at Bishop O'Dowd. Due to the position of Director of Information Services[21]he held at the school, he was forced to miss classes and used the comics to help the students learn the concepts in his absence. Positive student feedback inspired him to use the idea for his Master's project.[9]

In 2018, Yang joined the board of directors of theComic Book Legal Defense Fund,a non-profit organization founded in 1986 chartered to protect theFirst Amendmentrights of the comics community.[22]

Awards and recognition

[edit]

American Born Chinesewon the annualMichael L. Printz Awardfrom theAmerican Library Association,which recognizes the year's "best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit".[23]It was the first graphic novel to be a finalist for theNational Book Award,Young People's Literature,[3]and won anEisner Awardfor best new graphic album.[15]It has been on theBooklisttop Ten Graphic Novel for Youth;NPRHoliday Pick,Publishers WeeklyComics Week Best Comic of the Year,San Francisco ChronicleBest Book of the Year, theNational Cartoonists Society Award for Best Comic Book,[24]theChinese American Librarians Association2006/2007 Best Graphic Album – New,TimeTop Ten Comic of the Year, andAmazon.comBest Graphic Novel/Comic of the year.[25]

In January 2016, Yang began serving a two-year term asNational Ambassador for Young People's Literature,a program organized by theChildren's Book Council,Every Child a Reader, and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.[26]In that same year, he served as honorary chair for theAmerican Library Association'sNational Library Week.[27]

Yang was named to the 2016 class of theMacArthur Fellows Program,receiving what is commonly called the "Genius Grant". The MacArthur Foundation that names the fellows said that his "work for young adults demonstrates the potential of comics to broaden our understanding of diverse cultures and people."[28]

In 2020, Yang won twoHarvey Awardsfor his works:Dragon Hoopsfor Book of the Year andSuperman Smashes the Klanfor Best Children or Young Adult Book.[29]At the 2021 Eisner Awards,Superman Smashes the Klanwon bothBest Publication for KidsandBest Adaptation from Another MediumwhileDragon HoopswonBest Publication for Teens.[30][31]

In 2023, Yang was awarded theNSK Neustadt Prizefor Children's and Young Adult Literature.[32]

Personal life

[edit]

Yang is married to Theresa Kim, a development director for an elementary school. The couple have four children.[33][34]

Selected works

[edit]
  • The Rosary Comic Book(Pauline Books & Media, 2003) A graphic novel telling of the stories behind the mysteries of theCatholicrosaryin which each panel represents one of the prayers.[35]
  • Animal Crackers(SLG Publishing,2004) FeaturingGordon Yamamoto and the King of the GeeksandLoyola Chin and the San Peligran Order.[36]
  • American Born Chinese(First Second Books,2006)[37]
  • The Eternal Smile(First Second Books, 2009). A collection of three short stories.[38]
  • Prime Baby(First Second Books, 2010) Thaddeus is upset to discover that not only is his baby sister (whom he hates) an inter-dimensional conduit for peace-loving aliens, but that nobody will believe him.[39]
  • Level Up(First Second Books, 2011) Dennis Ouyang's parents expect him to go to medical school instead of becoming a professional gamer. He finds himself trapped on the path to medical school by four angels and must find a way out.[40]
  • Avatar: The Last Airbender,illustrated byGurihiru(Dark Horse Comics,2012–2017):
  • BoxersandSaints(First Second Books, 2013), Two novels set during theBoxer Uprising,Boxersdescribes the "bands of foreign missionaries and soldiers" who "roam the countryside bullying and robbing Chinese peasants". Little Bao, "harnessing the powers of ancient Chinese gods", recruits an army of Boxers, "commoners trained in kung fu who fight to free China from 'foreign devils.'"[46]Saintsconcerns an unwanted and unwelcome fourth daughter, Four-Girl, who finally finds friendship in Christianity. But bands of young men roam the countryside, murdering Westerners and Chinese Christians alike. She will have to decide whether she is willing to die for her faith.[47]Boxers and Saintswon the 2013Los Angeles TimesBook Prizefor Young Adult Literature,[48]was nominated for the 2014 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Graphic Novel,[49]and was a 2013 National Book Award finalist.[50]
  • The Shadow Hero,illustrated bySonny Liew(First Second Books, 2014) An origin story for the obscureGolden-Age comic bookheroThe Green Turtle,who is thought to be the first Asian-American superhero.[51]
  • SupermanVol.3 #41–50, illustrated byJohn Romita Jr.andKlaus Janson(DC Comics,2015–2016)
  • Secret Coders,illustrated by Mike Holmes (First Second, 2015–)
    1. Secret Coders,2015
    2. Paths & Portals,2016[52]
    3. Secrets & Sequences,2017
    4. Robots & Repeats,2017
    5. Potions & Parameters,2018
    6. Monsters & Modules,2018
  • New Super-Man#1–18, series about a Chinese Superman,Kong Kenan(DC Comics, 2016–2018)
  • New Super-Man and the Justice League of China,the series concludes the adventures of Kong Kenan and the other Chinese heroes (DC Comics, 2018)
  • Free Comic Book Day:Fresh Off the Boat#1 (Boom! Comics, 2017)
  • Superman Smashes the Klan(DC Comics, 2019–2020)
  • The Terrifics#15–30 (DC Comics, 2019–2020)
  • Dragon Hoops(First Second Books, 2020)
  • Shang-Chi(Marvel Comics, 2020–2022)
  • Batman/Superman#16–22 (DC Comics, 2021)
  • Monkey Prince(DC Comics, 2021–2023)
  • Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings(Marvel Comics, 2022)
  • Shang-Chi: Master of the Ten Rings(Marvel Comics, 2023)
  • Lazarus Planet(DC Comics, 2023)
    • Lazarus Planet: Alpha,2023
    • Lazarus Planet: Omega,2023
  • WolverineVol. 7 #33 (Marvel Comics, 2023)
  • Lunar New Year Love Story,illustrated byLeUyen Pham(First Second Books, 2024)

Anthologies

[edit]
  • Up All Night(Harper Collins) – 14-page short story
  • Secret Identities(The New Press) – 12-page short story
  • Strange Tales II(Marvel Comics) – 4-page short story
  • Nursery Rhyme Comics(First Second Books) – 1-page short story
  • Shattered(The New Press) – 4-page short story
  • Open Mic(Candlewick) – 4-page short story
  • Comic Squad: Recess!(Random House) – 12-page short story

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^"Dương cẩn luân: Mỹ sinh trung quốc nhân đích biểu thuật."(Archive)Government of the United States.Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  2. ^abAntonucci, Lisa; Xochitl Ayon; Justin Beck; Cassandra Ulrich; Yahaira Vega; Alnas Zia (March 23, 2012)."A Biography of Gene Luen Yang".Archived fromthe originalon October 18, 2011.RetrievedApril 14,2012.
  3. ^abcd"Hamline University".RetrievedApril 12,2012.
  4. ^abcdChen, Alice C. (May 11, 2008)."The Humble Comic: Gene Yang's Christian take on being American-born Chinese fuels his emerging comics career".San Francisco Chronicle.RetrievedApril 3,2012.
  5. ^George Gene Gustines,"Library of Congress Anoints Graphic Novelist as Ambassador for Young People’s Literature",The New York Times,January 4, 2016.
  6. ^"Meet the 2016 MacArthur Fellows".John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.RetrievedSeptember 22,2016.
  7. ^Rozema, Robert (2013)."Gene Luen Yang on Iconography, Cultural Conflict, and his New Graphic Novel, Graphic Novel, Boxers and Saints Boxers and Saints".Language Arts Journal of Michigan.RetrievedMay 23,2023.
  8. ^abcYang, Gene."Gene Yang Speaks as Part of Graphic Novel Speakers Series".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on December 13, 2021.RetrievedMarch 20,2012.
  9. ^abcd"Story Hour in the Library: Gene Yang".December 2, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon May 19, 2012.RetrievedApril 18,2012.
  10. ^abYang, Gene."Comics".RetrievedApril 23,2012.
  11. ^"Animal Crackers".RetrievedApril 21,2012.
  12. ^Yang, Gene (2006).American Born Chinese.01 First Second Books. pp. back cover.ISBN978-0-312-38448-7.
  13. ^"Interview with Gene Luen Yang".Winter 2007. pp. 84–88. Archived fromthe originalon August 2, 2012.RetrievedMarch 10,2012.
  14. ^Andreeva, Nellie (October 4, 2021)."Disney+ Greenlights 'American Born Chinese' Series From Melvin Mar, Kelvin Yu & Jake Kasdan; 'Shang-Chi's Destin Daniel Cretton To Direct".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedOctober 4,2021.
  15. ^abYang, Gene."About".RetrievedApril 10,2012.
  16. ^"Naming Super-Man".April 14, 2016.
  17. ^Pinion, Kyle (July 10, 2019)."The long-awaitedSuperman Smashes the Klandebuts this October ".The Beat.Archivedfrom the original on July 11, 2019.RetrievedJuly 11,2019.
  18. ^Gustines, George Gene (March 12, 2020)."A Shang-Chi Comic for Summer, Ahead of the Hero's Marvel Film".The New York Times.
  19. ^"Meet the Monkey Prince: Yang and Chang Introduce DC's Newest Hero".DC.May 12, 2021.RetrievedMay 18,2021.
  20. ^Jacobs, Dale (January 2007)."More Than Words: Comics as a Means of Teaching Multiple Literacies".English Journal.96(3): 19–25.doi:10.2307/30047289.JSTOR30047289.(registration required)
  21. ^"Comics in Education: About Gene Yang".RetrievedApril 23,2012.
  22. ^Gomez, Betsy (June 22, 2018)."Gene Luen Yang Joins CBLDF Board of Directors".ICv2.RetrievedJuly 6,2020.
  23. ^
  24. ^"National Cartoonists Society".www.reuben.org.RetrievedDecember 6,2017.
  25. ^"Awards and Honors - First Second".First Second.Archived fromthe originalon December 7, 2017.RetrievedDecember 6,2017.
  26. ^"Yang Named National Ambassador for Young People's Literature".
  27. ^American Library Association (2016)."Celebrate National Library Week".American Library Association via archive.org.Archived from the original on March 5, 2016.RetrievedMarch 9,2023.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  28. ^"MacArthur Foundation".www.macfound.org.
  29. ^McMillan, Graeme (October 5, 2020)."2020 Harvey Award Winners Revealed".Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedOctober 5,2020.
  30. ^Pantozzi, Jill (July 23, 2021)."SDCC 2021's Eisner Award Winners: Klan Smashing, Rabbit Samurai, & More".Gizmodo.RetrievedDecember 21,2021.
  31. ^"Eisner Awards 2021: Three Awards for Gene Luen Yang".ICv2.July 23, 2021.RetrievedDecember 21,2021.
  32. ^Vollmar, Rob (October 25, 2022)."2023 – Gene Luen Yang".Neustadt Prizes.RetrievedJanuary 3,2024.
  33. ^Fuchs, Chris (January 7, 2016)."New Literature Ambassador Gene Luen Yang Lives Life, Builds Culture Through Stories".NBC News.RetrievedMay 23,2023.
  34. ^Gustines, George Gene (January 4, 2016)."Library of Congress Anoints Graphic Novelist as Ambassador for Young People's Literature".The New York Times.RetrievedMay 23,2023.
  35. ^Yang, Gene Luen (April 1, 2003).Rosary Comic Book: Includes the Luminous Mysteries.Pauline Books & Media.ISBN978-0819864796– via Amazon.
  36. ^Yang, Gene Luen (October 23, 2012).Animal Crackers: A Gene Luen Yang Collection.SLG Publishing.ISBN978-1593621834– via Amazon.
  37. ^Yang, Gene Luen (December 23, 2008).American Born Chinese.Square Fish.ISBN978-0312384487– via Amazon.
  38. ^Yang, Gene Luen (April 27, 2009).The Eternal Smile: Three Stories.First Second.ISBN978-1596431560– via Amazon.
  39. ^Yang, Gene Luen (April 13, 2010)."Prime Baby".First Second – via Amazon.
  40. ^Yang, Gene Luen (June 7, 2011).Level Up.First Second.ISBN978-1596432352– via Amazon.
  41. ^Yang, Gene Luen; DiMartino, Michael Dante; Konietzko, Bryan; Gurihiru (February 20, 2013). Marshall, Dave (ed.).Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Promise.Dark Horse Books.ISBN9781616550745– via Amazon.
  42. ^Yang, Gene Luen; DiMartino, Michael Dante; Konietzko, Bryan; Gurihiru (February 5, 2014). Marshall (ed.).Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Search.Dark Horse Books.ISBN9781616552268– via Amazon.
  43. ^Yang, Gene Luen; DiMartino, Michael Dante; Konietzko, Bryan; Gurihiru (February 24, 2015). Marshall (ed.).Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Rift.Dark Horse Books.ISBN9781616555504– via Amazon.
  44. ^Yang, Gene Luen; DiMartino, Michael Dante; Konietzko, Bryan; Gurihiru (September 21, 2016). Marshall (ed.).Avatar: The Last Airbender – Smoke and Shadow.Dark Horse Books.ISBN9781506700137– via Amazon.
  45. ^Yang, Gene Luen; DiMartino, Michael Dante; Konietzko, Bryan; Gurihiru (October 25, 2017). Marshall (ed.).Avatar: The Last Airbender – North and South.Dark Horse Books.ISBN9781506701950– via Amazon.
  46. ^Yang, Gene Luen; Pien, Lark; Yang, Gene Luen; Yang, Gene Luen (December 6, 2017).Boxers & saints.OCLC825754024.
  47. ^Yang, Gene Luen; Pien, Lark (December 6, 2017).Saints.Macmillan.ISBN9781596436893.OCLC823897885.
  48. ^Kellogg, Carolyn (April 11, 2014)."The winners of the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes are..."Los Angeles Times.
  49. ^Cavna, Michael (August 18, 2014)."Small Press Expo: Here are your nominees for the 2014 SPX Ignatz Awards…".The Washington Post.RetrievedAugust 18,2014.
  50. ^"National Book Awards 2013".National Book Foundation.RetrievedMarch 3,2020.
  51. ^Yang, Gene Luen (July 15, 2014)."The Shadow Hero".First Second – via Amazon.
  52. ^"Exclusive: Gene Luen Yang'sSecret Coders,Vol. 2 Cover Reveal - Nerdist ".August 13, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon July 1, 2016.RetrievedMay 26,2016.
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