My experience of Chinese culture is indirect, through echoes. When I approach the cashier at my local Chinese supermarket, they switch to English before I've even said a word. They somehow know that I'm not quite Chinese enough. Gene Luen Yang approachcashierchinese share on social
My brain subconsciously limits itself to panel compositions that my hand can actually draw. Gene Luen Yang braincompositiondraw Change image and share on social
'The Green Turtle' was created in the 1940s by a cartoonist named Chu Hing, one of the first Asian Americans to work in the American comic book industry. Gene Luen Yang 1940samericanasian Change image and share on social
With my own comics, I try hard to get the vision in my head onto paper, to have one match the other as closely as possible. With the 'Airbender' comics, I'm working with someone else's vision, an already-established vision. I want to stay true to what's come before. Gene Luen Yang airbendercloselycomic share on social
I think every time you work with another collaborator, there's an adjustment process where you figure out the other person's strengths, and that has definitely happened for me. Gene Luen Yang adjustmentcollaboratorfigure Change image and share on social
I grew up on monthly comics. My closet is full of monthly comics. I've always wanted to do a monthly comic, and while I've had a couple of offers, the timing has never worked out. Most superhero comics come into the world as monthly series, so we wanted the same for 'The Shadow Hero.' Gene Luen Yang closetcomiccouple share on social
Dichotomies are an inherent part of comics, aren't they? Comics are both pictures and words. They blend time and space. Many feature characters with dual identities like Bruce Wayne/Batman. Cartoonists also tend to live dichotomous lives because many of us have day jobs. Gene Luen Yang batmanblendbruce share on social
Figuring out a way to balance the Boxer story with the Chinese Christians was difficult. Gene Luen Yang balanceboxerchinese Change image and share on social
Every superhero has this superhero identity and a civilian identity. A lot of their lives are about code switching. Gene Luen Yang civiliancodeidentity Change image and share on social
'Avatar: The Last Airbender' is, to my mind, the greatest American animated series ever produced. The characters lived and breathed. Gene Luen Yang airbenderamericananimate Change image and share on social