Gene Luen Yang

Comics in Education: My Trip to Gainesville

gene — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:16:07 +0000

Reporter Jackie Alexander writes about one of my school visits in Gainesville for The Gainesville Sun:

Having an idea for a comic book is one thing, said illustrator and author Gene Luen Yang. Putting it on paper and making money are entirely different.

“A lot of people have great ideas,” he said, “but if you go from the idea to producing something, you’re setting yourself apart from 80 percent of them.”

I quoted myself saying that because it’s true. While doing presentations and conventions, I’ve heard many, many pitches from aspiring cartoonists of all ages. Some of them are great, full of imagination and heart. But to be honest, imagination and heart are cheap. Everybody has imagination and heart. If you really want to impress me, put some panels down on a piece of paper. Write some paragraphs.

And if you need some help with that, check out Tom Hart and Leela Corman’s Sequential Artist’s Workshop in Gainesville! Get trained and start making some comics!

Full article here.

‘Nuff Said Reviews: Red Skull Incarnate

gene — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:28:06 +0000

Red Skull Incarnate by Greg Pak and Mirko Colak
Recommended for High School and Up

The Red Skull’s red skull doesn’t even show up, but it’s STILL GOOD.

‘NUFF SAID!

Sketchbook: What I’m Working On 1/20/12

gene — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:33:04 +0000

Sketchbook: What I’m Working On 1/18/12

gene — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:37:41 +0000

Comics in Education: Strategies for Comics in the Classroom

gene — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:13:21 +0000

In an article for Edutopia, Andrew Miller lists five great strategies for teaching effectively with comics:

I know, we love books and tools, but just like with technology, sometimes we get wrapped up in the tool instead of first thinking about the purpose. Here are some specific strategies to ponder as you select a graphic novel or comic to read, or as you consider how students might create their own. Thinking about them will help you focus your purpose in your instruction. All of them are useful, as long as the purpose is clear to the teacher and the learner.

Full article here.

Twitter Contest!

gene — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:32:53 +0000

Are you an Avatar: The Last Airbender fan AND a comic book geek AND a Lego Maniac? Well, have I got a prize for you.

In an effort to get the word out about the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Promise Part 1 graphic novel, I’m giving away a prize pack that features:

1. A Lego Aang minifig!
2. A Lego Katara minifig!
3. Two minifig stands!
4. A bookplate (i.e. sticker for the inside cover of your copy of A:TLA – The Promise Part 1) with a personalized message and my signature!

That’s right, I’m also an Avatar: The Last Airbender fan AND a comic book geek AND a Lego Maniac.

What do you have to do for a chance to win the prize? Just retweet this tweet by Monday 1/30/12. I’ll randomly select a winner by then.

(In case you’re wondering why the date in the tweet doesn’t match the date listed on Amazon.com, it’s because there are actually two release dates for the book: Wed 1/25/12 for comic shops, Tue 2/7/12 for bookstores.)

All of Twitter’s suggested guidelines for contests apply. Thank you!

Comics in Education: Another Library Guide Comic

gene — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:55:18 +0000

Check out this online comic where classic movie monsters guide you through the library.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/75711259/Monster-Clash-Web-Editio

Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Promise Part 1

gene — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:55:05 +0000

co-written with Mike DiMartino and Brian Konietzko
illustrated by Gurihiru
published by Dark Horse Comics
recommended for Middle School and Up
available 1/25/12 at your comics shop, 2/7/12 at your indie bookstore and Amazon.com

Three or so episodes into the Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon series, I was hooked. When it ended, I cried rivers. When I found out Nickelodeon was making a sequel series called The Last Airbender: Legend of Korra, I hugged everyone I came into contact with for the next 24 hours. And when Dark Horse Comics asked me to write graphic novels to bridge the two animated series, I hyperventilated so hard it was like I was airbending.

Sketchbook: What I’m Working On 12/27/11

gene — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:59:44 +0000

Sketchbook: What I’m Working On 12/26/11

gene — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:14:53 +0000

A panel from one of the pages I’m drawing today.