Tag Archives: Derek Kirk Kim

Tune | Book 1: Vanishing Point by Derek Kirk Kim

Tune.Vanishing PointAt 18, Andy Go “had life all figured out,” but then so much for the best-laid plans: “None of it came true, of course. Not a single damn thing.” One morning he wakes fully clothed on his bed, in his room, in his (parents’) house … and as he’s groggily doing his business in the bathroom, he finally realizes “Something was horribly wrong.”

Rewind five months back: at the end of his third year of arts college, Andy announces to his buddies he’s quitting school: “I can draw! I can paint! I don’t see why I have go through another year of watercolor blends and contrapastos just get a piece of paper that says I can.” Two months later, he’s still couch surfing and living with his parents who finally pass him the “Help Wanted” section. Luck isn’t on his side at first – Andy’s thinking “Assistant Editor,” but the employer’s offering mailroom or janitor. Then he walks into an office and meets 481(4)-0427.05.03.D86 and 503(4)-0717.04.23.B101, whose employment contract offers a hefty salary, weekends off, three weeks of vacation, generous pension, health and dental benefits, and they’ll even throw in child support. But the job isn’t exactly local, and Andy’s just found out that the love of his life might not go unrequited after all. To sign or not to sign … Andy’s about to take the ride of his life!

Derek Kirk Kim who won the graphic industry triple crown – EisnerHarvey, and Ignatz – with his debut collection, Same Difference and Other Stories, proves to be an epic jokester in this boisterous adventure, complete with goofy boy bonding, generational culture clash (“ai-goo” indeed!), coming-of-age first romance (queue soundtrack, please!), and intergalactic parallel universe science fiction. Kim’s also having quite the laugh, channeling his fellow buddies (did I mention goofy boy bonding? – page 123 is priceless!) including pop culture maven Jeff Yang and graphic artist Gene Luen Yang with whom Kim co-authored The Eternal Smile.

The “Book 1″ on the cover together with the “To Be Continued” on the final page promises more escapades ahead. I’m definitely (can’t resist …!) staying Tuned.

Readers: Young Adult, Adult

Published: 2012

Leave a Comment

Filed under ..Adult Readers, ..Young Adult Readers, .Fiction, .Graphic Novel/Manga/Manwha, Korean American

The Eternal Smile by Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim

eternal-smileFrom two of the most successful names in contemporary graphic novels – Gene Luen Yang, whose multi-award-winning American Born Chinese was the first-ever graphic novel to be a finalist for the National Book Award, and Derek Kirk Kim, the equally multi-award-winning author of groundbreaking Same Difference and Other Stories – comes an entertaining joint venture that’s actually three stories in one. Being who they are, expect the unexpected, of course!

In “Duncan’s Kingdom,” a young knight fights all sorts of evil characters and is just about to get the gorgeous Princess when reality, uh, interrupts his good fortune. Hey .. isn’t that Gordon Yamamoto (from Yang’s 2004 Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks) hanging out with the common masses on page 35? 

The second story, “Gran’pa Greenbax and the Eternal Smile” is all about greed … and using religion to be even greedier and therefore wealthier! Ultra-evangelical Colorado Springs come to mind? But the Church of the Eternal Smile is not at all what it seems.

And in the third and final “Urgent Request,” overlooked office drone Janet Oh – hoping to meet her Nigerian prince who’s suspiciously named Henry (?!!) – actually answers that scam mail about a family fortune needing to be dispersed pronto … does she know something we don’t?

Review: “In Celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: New & Notable Books,” The Bloomsbury Review, May/June 2009

Readers: Young Adult, Adult

Published: 2009

1 Comment

Filed under ..Adult Readers, ..Young Adult Readers, .Fiction, .Graphic Novel/Manga/Manwha, Chinese American, Korean American, Nonethnic-specific

Same Difference and Other Stories by Derek Kirk Kim

Same DifferenceAfter debuting his comics regularly via website (available in color online!) and then self-publishing this first collection which sold out ever so quickly, Derek Kirk Kim has definitely become a leading name in graphic novels ever since. Same Difference found a permanent home and Kim ended up with the industry triple crown for his first collection: Eisner, Harvey, and Ignatz!  Not surprsing, given that his writing is cheeky, funny, surprising, sometimes downright raunchy, and ever-so-often poignantly bittersweet.

The eponymous story which takes up about 2/3 of the book is a lingering look at 20-something-ish youth, complete with Cherry Garcia Ben and Jerry’s to sweeten the alienation. The shorter stories that follow are fresh and irreverent – with even an embarrassing reference to aMagazine: Inside Asian America, one of my longest writing gigs ever (theater and books) – complete with aliens, Cupid, cursing students, and a broom-wielding Buddha. Obviously, you gotta read to believe.

Readers: Young Adult, Adult

Published: 2004

1 Comment

Filed under ..Adult Readers, ..Young Adult Readers, .Graphic Novel/Manga/Manwha, Korean American