Gene Luen Yang, a cartoonist whose name has popped up in a lot in recent times. From his work in numerous Superman titles to the Chinese identity, he’s earned his place in some top lists. But how does he do it? His answer is for a lot of questions “live your faith and write your life”. In that case, what kind of life is it?

Gene Luen Yang: The Beginnings

Yang’s early life involves a lot of influence from different sources. Not least of which was his parents from Taiwan and Hong Kong. They remind Yang about their families Chinese roots about mingling with others and work ethics. Most if not all of these lessons come from stories, likely including the Boxer Rebellion and a few Catholic tales. As such they remind Yang that despite his heritage, Yang and his families are American and be open to changes.

That’s not to say his parents always made full support of his desires. His mom for example bought him a Superman story because she thought Marvel‘s The Thing looked too scary. Don’t worry Ben, Yang still appreciates you. His dad meanwhile encouraged him to do something besides art. But Yang doesn’t hold it against his parents. He instead uses everything they did and taught him to discover what he wanted in life.

The American Born Chinese

While Yang majors in computer science, he minors in creative writing. That quote up top actually comes from his creative writing professor. That teacher becomes a big influence for Yang during his first years as a Computer Engineer. Feeling like he should be a teacher, he decided to teach at a high school. Still wanting to reach a wider audience, Yang self-publishes a few comics on the side. They turn out so well that Yang gets the notice of a few major publishers like Marvel and Dark Horse. However, he decides to stay independent for a long time.

Some of these early stories are very bizarre with Gordon Yamamoto and the King of Geeks appealing to kids but confusing to adults. It does involve a jock having an alien device shoved up his nose. If anything this and Loyola Chin and the San Peligran Order are about Yang’s adolescence. Every teenager’s life is different but individual lives are harder for other people to understand. For adults who let go of their inner child, teenagers look foreign to them. Which is what makes American Born Chinese so unique. It’s three stories coming together about a lesson in cultural acclimation; how neglecting one’s heritage in favor of fitting in makes people unrecognizable to themselves.

Gene Luen Yang: Take Command of Your Life

That however doesn’t just apply to ethnicity, but everyone’s inner child. While kids can be nasty or attention hogging like in Prime Baby, an inner child should not be separated. This however does not mean living in fantasies as this can make people irresponsible and gullible (aka man-children). The Eternal Smile is full of these dour situations. Level Up however displays how if a person lets expectations run their lives, they don’t have much of a life at all. Being a child-at-heart is what allows Yang to choose what he wants out of life.

History Can Hold People Back

A child-at-heart who holds onto themes of openness are elements that make Yang resonate with Avatar: The Last Airbender. The graphic novels that take place after the TV’s seasons are generally about forgiving history. The underlying struggle comes from how much history is ingrained into people’s character. Whether it’s duty, cultural heritage, or family ties, sticking so closely to these result in grudges or toxic perceptions. It’s only by seeing how their actions affect others do these character change for the better.

The interaction between all four is nothing but dynamic

For Aang, it’s about how his responsibilities as the Avatar is more than preserving traditions. The world has changed and good people have made something out of it. Going back to how things were because of how the war started means neglecting these people. The rest of Team Avatar meanwhile have to make peace with their own families in order to lead lasting changes. Because while it’s easy to keep everything as they remember; that also comes with the realization that the old ways are never as good as people think they were.

Gene Luen Yang: Reexamining History

Some pieces of these Old Ways can remind people why their culture is so unique. Boxers and Saints illustrates this by examining both sides of the Boxer Rebellion. On the pro side, it was a time of how traditions and culture invigorate people. With their government not bothering to help the peasants under attack from militant missionaries, the people decide to take matters into their own hands. On the con side however come from how those invigorating traditions are also toxic. Women have had an especially hard life during these times. The ones of unwanted birth have it the worst until Christianity came into their lives. Ultimately, while the event convinces some people to act, others have to hide.

That’s not to say empowerment doesn’t get tiring.

Hiding a part of who you are is quite easily the hardest thing for anyone to do. The Shadow Hero, shows the origin of a character who had to hide his Chinese American ethnicity. Superheroes have a very unique relationship with people who have a closeted identity. Whether its sexual orientation, gender, or ethnicity/culture, the costumes display it subtilely to empower people. But perhaps no character displays this better than the one who started the trend, Superman.

The Humanity and Symbology of Superman

Around the start of the DC’s DC You brand, Yang gets involved with Superman. It was just after discovering a new power that comes with a few drawbacks. The limitations of this new power feels like discovering a part of himself. It’s both scary and little exciting for Clark Kent. It genuinely feels like the steps necessary for coming out. Which is what makes it so hard when people begin to notice him become more human. A group holds his secret identity hostage to blackmail Superman. To save his integrity however, his friend Lois Lane ousts Superman’s secret identity. Unfortunately, Clark doesn’t take it well, expelling so much power he loses his identity as Superman.

With that part of him gone, Clark doesn’t feel like himself anymore. He’s desperate to regain his powers, not because he can’t be Superman without them; it’s because without that part of him, what’s the point of having a public identity if he can’t be himself?

Yang steps it up even further with a more cohesive arc that takes the time to reintroduce Clark Kent. Despite being depowered to the point of only having minimal super-strength, he still wants to do good. One of the problems with the New 52 was a lack of communication between creators. So Yang takes the opportunity to collaborate with these people in order to display how important Superman is. From his relationship with Wonder Woman, to the inspiration he gives Jim Gordon as Batman. Because the mainstream runs of Superman focus far too much on the sensationalism.

A New Symbol

Those sensations however are made relevant through Peter J. Tomasi and his team. Yang meanwhile gets a new chance through a story about secrets coming out. New Super-Man is a coming of age story about a Chinese teenager who gets Superman’s essence. This series was praised for demonstrating steady character development. The immature Kenan Kong starts out a bully who wants his parents’ attention. Those same parents want to better China but are so devoted they don’t bother to consider Kenan.

Please don’t race rage about this picture.

Kenan however has a good heart not wanting others to get hurt. Upon being empowered by Superman’s essence; he has to learn not only to control his power but focus on bettering himself. As before people can better their settings, they need to be better. Winning over foes through self-improvement is actually a Chinese principle that fits the mold of Superman. But that alone is never enough, otherwise Kenan would just be a knockoff. By the end of the New Super-Man run, Kenan surpasses Superman by harnessing magic power. Learning from example is something even Superman does with Yang.

Never Forget Your History

Superman since his very beginnings has always fought for people under oppression. Superman Smashes The Klan demonstrates how these oppressed people inspire him. During the 40s, nobody really knew that Superman was an alien, Clark didn’t even know what he could do. Upon realizing that he is different, Superman has to confront this realization head on. Meeting a Chinese-American family under Klan oppression brings him closer to accepting himself. Comics can definitely teach a lot about humanity, something Yan advocates for.

Gene Luen Yang: Teaching Through Funnies

As both a creator and a teacher, Yang’s view of comics advocate their use in understanding subjects. Whether it’s how people view themselves or how they can apply their knowledge (e.g. Secret Coders), people can find the motivation to visually represent themselves. Just how much can depend on the person. Some people can even misread it. But the thing about comics, is that they can be potentially enjoyed by everyone. Regardless of how you align yourself, there is something that can connect to something wider.

Thanks for coming to the end and as always, remember to look between the panels.

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