American Born Chinese- Graphic Novel Review (and thoughts).
In a medium that had been pretty homogenic in portraying powerful white heroes, the past decade has seen a huge rise in representation in mainstream comics. I believe that art is of its time but it can have a long-lasting cultural and societal impact on the world. By encouraging a sense of community and a forum for discussion, change can occur and comics are an excellent medium for showing or even introducing that change.
Over the past few years, in wake of the Covid pandemic there has been a rise in anti-Asian sentiment. There was a huge spike in attacks against this community, especially in America, as Covid ripped through the country. Asian- Americans were scapegoated by some and it led to this community feeling under seige.
In this way, the story of Jin Wang, the main protagonist in American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang may offer some people from that community the same joy I felt at finally seeing a more rounded representation of my faith and culture in Ms. Marvel.
As a longtime comic book fan, I first started collecting when I was 7 in 1988 and Iron Man and Spiderman were my first loves, however I was beyond excited at the announcement of Ms. Marvel in 2013.
The fact that the main protagonist, Kamala, was the child of immigrant parents from Pakistan, Muslim and a millennial changed the hitherto well tilled soil of fertile comic tropes. I had loved comics for years and certain aspects I could identify with; Peter Parker being picked on by Flash Thompson in High School, the various aspects of loss in the Death of Superman and striving to achieve against all odds, which was a common comic book trope but with Ms. Marvel it was different. I could identify with her, even though I'm not a millennial teenage girl I am a Millenial Muslim comic book geek who enjoys pop culture. I remember what it was like as a young teen trying to find my way through school and life where balancing my home life and religious beliefs and practices with those of my mostly white Christian friends was difficult. I wanted to go to parties, go out clubbing and have relationships. Other comics have covered these aspects but the fact that the struggle Kamala has in balancing her home and life outside rings true for me.
In American Born Chinese, we have three tales all dealing with the themes of alienation, discrimination and being true to yourself. The first deals with Jin and his burgeoning friendship with recent immigrant Wei-Chen Sun. The second tale looks at the Monkey King (he of Journey to the West fame) who wants to become more human and attain godhood. The final tale deals with Asian-American Danny and his cousin Chin Kee, who represents all of the worst racial stereotypes about Chinese people that Danny is trying to distance himself from. The stories all weave and support each other and help to reach a highly satisfying and thought-provoking finale.
The artwork is effective, colourful and detailed when it needs to be. Like Raina Telgemeier's work, there is an illusion of simplicity in the images but the emotions conveyed are true but the story is king here.
The theme of the universal humanity in us all is a powerful theme and I hope that the upcoming Disney show captured this essence; I'm sure that with a lot of the cast from Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, it will.
LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East
LINK- The Future Starts Here: An Optimistic Guide to What Comes Next- Book Review
LINK- Nintendo: My One True Gaming Constant
LINK: Let’s All Create a ‘New Normal’.
LINK- Battle Angel Alita: And So It Ends