All right. Another plug for the First Annual Asian American Comicon, happening this Saturday, July 11, 10:00am - 5:00pm at the Museum of Chinese in America in New York City. If you're planning on attending, you can still register at a discounted rate here through July 10. But you've got to act fast -- only 250 total tickets will be available.
The event is described as a "celebration of the unique contemporary role and historical legacy of Asians and Asian Americans in the world of graphic fiction." I'm perfectly content to call it what it is -- an Asian American comic book geek gathering. Confirmed special guests include:
Other special guests of the con will include: Ben Nugent, author, American Nerd; Hua Hsu, professor, Vassar College; Ed Lin, author of Waylaid and This Is a Bust; Monica Ferrell, author, The Answer Is Always Yes; Monica Youn, author, Ignatz (forthcoming); Vyshali Manivannan, author, Invictus; Paolo Javier, author, 60 lv Bo(e)mbs; Jennifer Lee, former editor, Marvel Comics and DC Comics; Kai-Ming Cha, comics and manga reporter, Publishers Weekly; Aimee Bahng, assistant professor, English, Dartmouth College; Ken Okabayashi, founder of Piggy Back Studios; Tyler Chin-Tanner, artist/writer, American Terrorist; Daniel Ketchum, editor, Marvel Comics; Karl Taro Greenfield, author, Speed Tribes; and Arune Singh, sales coordinator, Marvel Comics.Larry Hama (writer, G.I. Joe) Bernard Chang (artist, Wonder Woman) Cliff Chiang (artist, Green Arrow) Derek Kirk Kim (artist, The Eternal Smile) Greg Pak (writer, Incredible Hulk) Khoi Pham (artist, Mighty Avengers) Sean Chen (artist, Iron Man) Christina Strain (colorist, Runaways) Fred Chao (writer/artist, Johnny Hiro) Christine Norrie (artist, Breaking Up) Tak Toyoshima (writer/artist, Secret Asian Man) Misako Rocks! (writer/artist, Biker Girl) Kuo-Yu Liang (VP Sales & Marketing, Diamond Book Distributors) Sharad Devarajan (CEO, Liquid Comics) William F. Wu (writer, Hong on the Range) The Editors of Secret Identities
In addition, the following creators will be participating in the AACC's Artists Alley, and will conduct signing and sketch sessions throughout the day. Each artist will also donate an original sketch for AACC's silent auction, proceeds to benefit the nonprofit Museum of Chinese in America.
The Asian American Comicon will be divided into three tracks: Reading Comics, Making Comics, and Creator Spotlight. Each track includes a diverse range of interactive and immersive panels and workshops, featuring leading Asian and Asian American figures from comics, literature and academia.Jimmy J. Aquino (writer, "Sampler," SECRET IDENTITIES) Jeremy Arambulo (writer/artist, ROGUE SOUP & BUG) Bernard Chang (artist, WONDER WOMAN) Sean Chen (artist, IRON MAN) Tyler Chin-Tanner (writer/artist, AMERICAN TERRORIST) Robin Ha (writer/artist, THE MAGIC 8-BALL) Dongyun Lee (writer/artist, ZOOM) Yali Lin (writer/artist, SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO & JULIET) Jerry Ma (art director, SECRET IDENTITIES) Allan Norico (writer/artist, THINGS I'VE SEEN AT SHOWS) Khoi Pham (artist, MIGHTY AVENGERS) Misako Rocks! (writer/artist, BIKER GIRL) Sarah Sapang (artist, "16 Miles," SECRET IDENTITIES) Christina Strain (colorist, RUNAWAYS) Alex Tarampi (artist, "Gaman," SECRET IDENTITIES) Tak Toyoshima (writer/artist, SECRET ASIAN MAN) Paul Wei (writer/artist, THE ADVENTURES OF MAXWELL & GRANDMA) Ken Wong (writer/artist, SCHRODINGER'S CAT)
Track One: Reading Comics
How do we read comic books today? This track answers this question by putting comic book artists at the same table with novelists, professors and industry professionals. A mash-up of fan convention, Asian American studies conference and literary festival, this one-of-a-kind series of panels and readings confronts pressing issues, such as the globalization of pop culture, the representation of Asian Americans in comics, and, of course, the nature of nerdiness. Sessions Include:
Nerdpop: The Rise of the Nerds!: Asian Americans have long been stereotyped as "nerds," but nerdiness has become something to celebrate. With the rise of digital culture and the mainstreaming of comic books and other once nerdy genres, nerds have gone from persecuted minority to masters of the universe. This panel examines the historical development of nerd identity, particularly among Asian Americans, and the aesthetics of nerd pride. Moderated by Hua Hsu, professor, English, Vassar College, featuring panelists Ben Nugent, author, American Nerd; Derek Kirk Kim, artist/writer, Same Difference & Other Stories; and Keith Chow, senior editor, Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero AnthologyTrack Two: Making Comics
Every Comic Is Asian American: The most prominent Asian American comic characters have typically been slanty-eyed sidekicks and supervillains, speaking in broken English and colored the shade of school buses. This panel starts with an all-star line-up of novelists and poets re-imagining their favorite comic book characters as Asian American and continues with a panel of professors, artists, and journalists discussing how Asian Americans have been represented in graphic novels. Moderated by Ken Chen, executive director of The Asian American Writers’ Workshop, featuring panelists like Ed Lin, author, Waylaid and This Is a Bust; Monica Ferrell, author, The Answer Is Always Yes; Monica Youn, author, Ignatz (forthcoming); Vyshali Manivannan, author, Invictus; Paolo Javier, author, 60 lv Bo(e)mbs; and Karl Taro Greenfeld, author, Speed Tribes
The Asianization of Pop Culture: The rise of the graphic novel could really be described as the Asianization of American pop culture. In fact, the graphic novel renaissance has in many ways been powered by the popularity of manga, Japanese comics that still account for half of the new comics released in the America today. Panelists discuss the influence of manga, manhwa, and anime on American comics and American pop culture more generally. Moderated by Kai-Ming Cha, comics and manga reporter, Publishers Weekly, featuring panelists Aimee Bahng, assistant professor, English, Dartmouth College; Kuo-Yu Liang, VP, Sales & Marketing, Diamond Book Distributors; Ken Okabayashi, founder of Piggy Back Studios; and Misako Rocks!, artist/writer, Biker Girl
The New Villains: Muslim insurgents. Chinese spies. North Korean dictators. Is it just us, or are Asians increasingly being cast in the role of the global evildoer? What's the history of the portrayal of villainous Asians in comics and cartoon art, how does that history shape what we're seeing in those fields today, and what does this mean for Asians and Asian Americans in the real world? Moderated by Jeff Yang, editor-in-chief, Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology, featuring panelists Larry Hama, creator, G.I. Joe mythology; William F. Wu, author, Hong on the Range and The Yellow Peril; Tyler Chin-Tanner, artist/writer, American Terrorist; and Sharad Devarajan, CEO, Liquid Comics.
This track focuses on the art and business of making comics- from alt-comics and literary graphic fiction to mainstream superhero books and syndicated strips. Featured workshops will include a hands-on demonstration by leading creators; explorations of the business side of comics; and other sessions highlighting comics as a profession, a discipline, an art form and a commercial landscape. Sessions include:
Writers' Bloc: Writers of indie and superhero comics and a syndicated comic strip discuss the craft of scripting sequential art and their strategies for tackling everyday creative challenges. Moderated by Greg Pak, writer, The Incredible Hulk and War Machine, featuring panelists Fred Chao, artist/writer, Johnny Hiro; Larry Hama, creator, G.I. Joe mythology; Christine Norrie, artist/writer, Cheat; and Tak Toyoshima, artist/writer, Secret Asian ManTrack Three: CREATOR SPOTLIGHT Sessions
Visual Storytelling - The Art of Collaboration: Top graphical storytellers share their experiences and tips for making the most of the challenges and opportunities of collaboration between pencillers, inkers, colorists, and writers. Moderated by Greg Pak, writer, The Incredible Hulk and War Machine, featuring panelists Sean Chen, artist, Iron Man; Daniel Ketchum, editor, Marvel Comics; Derek Kirk Kim, artist/writer, Same Difference & Other Stories; Khoi Pham, artist, Mighty Avengers; and Christina Strain, colorist, Runaways
Visual Storytelling-Hands On: A diverse group of acclaimed artists sketch in real time as they discuss their different approaches in making creative choices. Moderated by Greg Pak, writer, The Incredible Hulk and War Machine, featuring panelists Bernard Chang, artist, Wonder Woman; Fred Chao, artist/writer, Johnny Hiro; Cliff Chiang, artist, Green Arrow/Black Canary; and Misako Rocks!, artist/writer, Biker Girl
The Business of Comics: For anyone who's ever dreamed of joining the comics world, here's your chance to get an insider's look at the commercial side of graphical storytelling. Comic book pros from every corner of the biz introduce their fields and discuss breaking in, maintaining a career, and keeping up with what the future has in store. Moderated by Jennifer Lee, former editor, Marvel and DC Comics, featuring panelists Bernard Chang, artist, Wonder Woman; Fletcher Chu-Fong, manager, Events & Retail, DC Comics; Kuo-Yu Liang, VP, Sales & Marketing, Diamond Book Distributors; Arune Singh, sales coordinator, Marvel Comics; Tak Toyoshima, artist/writer, Secret Asian Man; and Sharad Devarajan, CEO, Liquid Comics
In this track top comics creators paired with interesting counterparts (outside of comics) for one-on-one discussions covering craft, inspirations and influences, shared themes and future collaborations. Sessions include:
Similar Differences-SPOTLIGHT on Derek Kirk Kim: A candid discussion with the brilliant author and artist of Same Difference and Other Stories and co-creator, with Gene Yang, of the new graphic novel The Eternal Smile. Moderated by Jeff Yang, editor-in-chief, Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero AnthologyAll tracks are open to all AACC registrants; however, to manage traffic flow and seating, they're asking registrants to tentatively identify which sessions they intend to join upon receiving confirmation of their attendance. Space for some sessions is limited, and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis, with VIP Pass holders receiving priority.
From Chop-Chop to Silver Samurai-SPOTLIGHT ON: William F. Wu: A guided tour with science fiction legend William F. Wu, as he shares samples from his collection of thousands of comics depicting Asian images...good, bad, and definitely ugly. Moderated by Jeff Yang, editor-in-chief, Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology
Hama Time!-SPOTLIGHT on Larry Hama: Catching up with comics pioneer Larry Hama, creator of the G.I. Joe universe and winner of this year's KIYAMA AWARD! Moderated by Keith Chow, senior editor, Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology
Tickets for Asian American ComiCon are $15 for students, $25 for adults (18 and older), and $75 for a special VIP Pass, entitling the bearer to priority reserved seating at all panels and workshops, a complimentary Asian American graphic novel, signed by its creators, and an original sketch from one of the artists participating in the event's Artists Alley.
Registration will be limited to 250 attendees, and is available in advance here. Remember to get your discount registration here. This website is a proud sponsor of the Asian American Comicon.