01 Jul / Same Difference and Other Stories by Derek Kirk Kim
After 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 surprising, 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