They Call Us Bruce 201: They Call Us American Born Chinese

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

In this episode, we welcome back Gene Luen Yang, author of American Born Chinese, and actor Ben Wang, who stars as Jin Wang in the Disney+ series adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novel. They talk about some of the tricky considerations when it came to bringing this beloved book to life, how they updated the story for contemporary television (and contemporary Asian America), and how toy robots and Panda Express can bring people together.

First Look Photos of Disney's 'American Born Chinese'

Adaptation of Gene Luen Yang's graphic novel stars Michelle Yeoh, Daniel Wu, Ke Huy Quan and more.



Disney+ has unveiled some new first look photos of its upcoming adaptation of American Born Chinese, based on the beloved graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang. The series has shaped up to be something of a reunion for actors Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu, who also star in Everything Everywhere All at Once, which is currently cleaning up in its awards season run.

Adapted by Kelvin Yu, the "genre-hopping action comedy" series follows Jin Wang (Ben Wang), the son of Chinese immigrants who struggles with assimilating in the United States. Jin escapes into fantasy realms to grapple with his emotions and encounters spiritual creatures from Chinese mythology like Sun Wukong the Monkey King, played by Daniel Wu, and Guanyin, the goddess of mercy, played by Yeoh.

Check out the photos:

Boxers & Saints makes the National Book Awards Longlist

Gene Luen Yang is the first graphic novelist to be nominated twice for the prestigious award.

Awesommmmme! I've already told you how much I love Gene Luen Yang's latest graphic novel Boxers & Saints. It seems that the good people at the National Book Foundation like it too. The epic, two-volume book has made the prestigious 2013 National Book Award Longlist for Young People's Literature.

Boxers & Saints is the only graphic novel to make the list. Gene previously nominated back in 2006 for American Born Chinese, the first graphic novel ever to be a finalist for the National Book Awards. And now Gene is the first graphic novelist to be nominated twice. Double awesome.

Boxers & Saints is a powerful, brilliant work of historical fiction set during China's bloody Boxer Rebellion, told in two parallel stories from opposite sides of the conflict. It balances action, humor and spirituality in a masterful way that has really become Gene Luen Yang's trademark. The longlist recognition is well deserved.

The National Book Foundation will reveal the award finalists on October 16. If you haven't read Boxers & Saints yet, you gotta get on it now. Congratulations, Gene! For further information, check out his website.

More here: 2013 NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS: 'Boxers & Saints' graphic novelist Gene Yang calls long-list honor 'mind-blowing'