Oh, that panel where the Monkey King’s quest winds up with him as a sidekick to the Three Wise Men was certainly jarring. I saw that and was like, “Wait, how the heck did he end up in Bethlehem?” Going to learn more about Yang, and finding out that he’s also done a comic-book “adaptation” of the Mysteries of the Rosary, though, it makes a little more sense.

(And I have to say that, even as a not-particularly-devotional person, the very idea of a Rosary comic book is so awesome…an excellent mutation of the very structure of the Stations of the Cross found along the walls of just about every Catholic church.)

Congrats to Gene.

I really liked ABC as a tale of Asian Am identity. Though, as a non-Christian Chinese person, I’m disappointed that the Buddhist tale of the Journey to the West portion was transformed into a Christian allegory. It’s a minor thing, and most people unfamiliar w/ Chinese lit may not even notice it.

For YA librarians, this list of nominees is one of the best slates I’ve seen for the NBA.

Both Yang and First Second have done a phenomenal job producing this book. But content-wise, I have to say, I would have never thought that a comic narrative portraying the Chinese experience in this country would capture the attention or command the respect of something like the National Book Awards.

Growing up on Chao Hung-pen and Chein Hsiao-tai’s comic adaptation of Wu Cheng An’s Monkey King/Journey to the West, it never dawned on me that 20 years later these stories would reach a wider audience.

While the diplomatic side of me wants to say that a nomination alone is enough, the comics fan in me is just waiting for ABChinese to kick more literary butt.

Bravo Gene Yang!