Gene Luen Yang
This is Part 2 of Lunar New Year Love Story creators interview.
I got to meet Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham at a book signing for LNYLS and they both had fascinating behind-the-scenes tidbits and stories to share. Sidenote, if you are ever in a position to have Gene lead a discussion, jump at the chance. He did a fantastic job of guiding the conversation with fun and insightful questions.
If you’re not familiar, Gene has quite the resume. He’s written Superman for DC, Shang–Chi for Marvel, and The Last Airbender for Dark Horse. But he’s probably most known for his own work including Dragon Hoops and American Born Chinese which was turned into a TV show for Disney+. He’s been nominated and won numerous awards including an Eisner (comic book equivalent to the Oscars) for American Born Chinese.
Why comics? (What compels you to create in this medium?)
I love the interaction between words and pictures. I feel that I’m a mediocre writer and a mediocre artist. The medium of comics allows me to cover up my weaknesses in one with my strengths in the other. Beyond that, the relationship between the words and the pictures and comics can be complex. They can support or contradict each other, and they can vacillate between the two. The result can be some really sophisticated storytelling.
What was the book/comic that you fell in love with when you were a kid/teen?
I love Carl Barks’ and Don Rosa’s Disney Duck comics. Barks took Donald Duck, a fairly two-dimensional character from animated shorts, and used the power of comics to make him into a protagonist with thoughts and feelings and a deep interior life. Plus, he gave him a colorful supporting cast that rivals (in my humble opinion) Batman’s. Don Rosa continues Barks’ tradition with wit and heart and a dash of science. Brilliant stuff.
What is your favorite part/step of the process?
My favorite part of making comics has to be inking. I find writing soul-wrenching and drawing physically draining. Both are deeply satisfying but also painful. When it’s time to ink, all the difficult decisions have been made. It’s all about allowing your hand to move across the pages as freely and expressively as possible. It’s almost like you have to turn off your conscious mind to allow something deeper to take over.
You can find Gene online at:
If you missed it, check out Part 1 of the interview with LeUyen Pham.
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