June 23, 2009 –

The organizers of the First Annual Asian American ComiCon (AACC), a celebration of the unique contemporary role and historical legacy of Asians and Asian Americans in the world of graphic fiction, have announced the presentation of the Henry Y. Kiyama Award to comics pioneer Larry Hama at the event, to be held on Saturday, July 11, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Museum of Chinese in America (215 Centre Street in New York).

“We want this annual award to recognize the contribution of Asian and Asian Americans to U.S. comic book culture,” says Jeff Yang, co-chair of the event and editor-in-chief of the graphic novel collection Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology. “No one better exemplifies that contribution than Henry Kiyama, whose career represented the convergence of two worlds and industries, and whose work pointed the way to the future of graphic storytelling.”

Kiyama published his breakthrough book The Four Immigrants in 1931. A poignant collection of cartoon stories about life as a Japanese student expatriate in early 20th century San Francisco, it explores the issues these early immigrants faced in a world whose language, culture and traditions were new, strange and confusing. Originally intended for newspaper serialization, Kiyama’s stories were never published in that form; instead, they were ultimately released as a single book-length collection. This publication format, along with the fact that the stories in Four Immigrants featured a group of semiautobiographical characters (based on Kiyama and his friends) who grew, evolved and contended with real historical issues and events, has led some to advocate that it be recognized as the first original graphic novel published in America (arriving a decade before Virginia Lee Burton’s Calico the Wonder Horse in 1941 and nearly two decades before Arnold Drake and Leslie Waller’s It Rhymes with Lust in 1950). Since 1999, Kiyama’s landmark book has been made available by Berkeley, CA–based Stone Bridge Press.

Tickets for the nonprofit Asian American ComiCon are $15 for students, $25 for adults (18 and older), and $75 for a special VIP Pass, entitling the bearer to priority reserved seating at all panels and workshops, a complimentary Asian American graphic novel, signed by its creators, and an original sketch from one of the artists participating in the event’s Artists Alley. Registration will be limited, and is available in advance through the following link: https://www.nycharities.org/event/event.asp?CE_ID=4187 Note: All passes may sell out before the day of the event.

LARRY HAMA, CLIFF CHIANG, & CHRISTINE NORRIE TO HEADLINE SPECIAL “SECRET IDENTITIES” EVENT AT NYC’S MIDTOWN COMICS ON MAY 23!

May 12, 2009 – SIUniverse Media and Midtown Comics in New York City are proud to present a special book signing event featuring the editors and contributors of the groundbreaking SECRET IDENTITIES: The Asian American Superhero Anthology at the Midtown Comics Time Square location on Saturday, May 23 at 3:00pm.

Joining Secret Identities Editor-at-Large KEITH CHOW, Art Director JERRY MA, and Senior Artist JEF CASTRO are three of the biggest names in the comic book industry:

- LARRY HAMA: The legendary writer/artist of Wolverine, Bucky O’Hare and Batman and creator of the G.I. Joe universe is currently writing G.I. Joe: Origins for IDW Publishing. In Secret Identities, Hama is the subject of Tak Toyoshima’s interview piece “S.A.M. Meets Larry Hama” and contributed a one-page teaser for a story called “Her.”

- CLIFF CHIANG: Hailed for his fluid and confident storytelling and sweeping line work and nuanced style, Chiang has worked as an artist on several high-profile projects including Batman, Human Target, Green Arrow & Black Canary, and Grendel: Red, White, and Black. He is currently working on the Neil Young graphic novel Greendale for DC/Vertigo. In Secret Identities, Chiang illustrated “Jia,” a character concept by X-Men 2 actress Kelly Hu.

- CHRISTINE NORRIE: Dubbed a natural storyteller by Publisher?s Weekly, Norrie has earned two Eisner nominations, a Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Nomination, and a 9th Panel and New York City Comic Book Museum Award. Her most noted works include her original graphic novel Cheat, the Oni Press series Hopeless Savages, the Scholastic/Graphix teen drama Breaking Up, and DC Comics? Green Arrow/Black Canary Wedding Special. Along with writer John Kuramoto, Norrie contributed the story “David Kim” to Secret Identities.