Shattered: The Asian American Comics Anthology

Secret Identities #2

by Jeff Yang (Editor), Gene Luen Yang, Eric Kim

Three years after the publication of the groundbreaking Asian American comics anthology Secret Identities, the same team is back with a new volume�bigger, bolder, and more breathtaking in scope.

While the first collection focused on the conventions of superhero comics, this new book expands its horizon to include edgier genres, from hard-boiled pulp to horror, adventure, fantasy, and science fiction. Using this darker range of hues, it seeks to subvert�to shatter�the hidebound stereotypes that have obscured the Asian image since the earliest days of immigration: the stoic brute, the prodigious brain, the exotic temptress, the inscrutable alien, the devious manipulator. The eclectic and impressive lineup of contributors includes leading Asian American comics creators Bernard Chang (Supergirl), Sean Chen (Iron Man), Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman), Larry Hama (G.I. Joe), Sonny Liew (Malinky Robot), Takeshi Miyazawa (Runaways), Christine Norrie (Hopeless Savages), Greg Pak (The Hulk), G.B. Tran (Vietnamerica), Gene Yang (American Born Chinese), and many others, as well as such film and literary standouts as Tanuj Chopra (Punching at the Sun), Michael Kang (The Motel), Jamie Ford (Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet), Gary Jackson (Missing You, Metropolis), and Bao Phi (Song I Sing). Their original graphic short stories cover topics from ethnic kiddie shows, China’s AIDS policy, and airline security procedures to the untold backstory of Flash Gordon’s nemesis Ming the Merciless and the gritty reality of a day in the life of a young Koreatown gangster.

Shattered incorporates thrills, chills, and delights while exposing the hidden issues and vital truths of the nation’s fastest-growing and most dynamic community.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Short Stories, Asian American, Fantasy, Anthologies

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 6, 2012

About the author

American writer, journalist, businessman, and business/media consultant who writes the Tao Jones column for The Wall Street Journal.[2] Previously, he was the "Asian Pop" columnist at the San Francisco Chronicle.

Reviews

[Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of the Goodreads reviews I read about this book before I dove in complained about the way this book is structured. Ignore those. If you've ever read an anthology before, that's what this is, and it says so in the title. There's also an overarching story that appears as several installments in the anthology. It's great. Ignore the haters. I love everything this collection does with typical tropes used to depict people of Asian descent in comics and other media. The subversion is so creative. Some stories are stronger than others, but all are at least worth reading.

[Olivia Thames · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the first books to kick off AAPI Heritage Month 2022, Jeff Yang et al.'s "Shattered: The Asian American Comics Anthology (Secret Identities, #2) takes the themes, stereotypes, and lore of the continent of Asia and provides readers (world-wide) an anthology that debunks stigmas, and replaces them with cultural pride.

It did not dawn on me that this was the second installment of a series, however, it does not change many of the thoughts and feelings one had while reading the anthology: except for, "yay, there are more"! If, once I read the first volume I find that it drastically changes the perception of the overall collection, I will let you know.

Although each and every cell is rich with immersive storytelling and character development, and I could easily write a lengthy review of each, there were a handful that left quite the impact on me:

"Ching Shih - Queen of Pirates" (53-58) by Natalie Kim with art by Robin Ha.
"The Date" (72-74) by Amy Chu with art by Larry Hama and ink by Craig Yeung.
"The Death Stalker" (82) by Thenmozhi Soundanarajan with art by Saumin Suresh Patel.
"Camden's Revenge" (99-104) by Keiko Agena with art by Louie Chin.
*"Personal Monsters" (135-138) by Traci Honda.
"Occupy Ethnic Foods" (193-194) by Tak Toyoshima.
*"Shadow Hero" (195-197) by Gene Luen Yang with art by Sonny Liew.
"The Sealing" (198-208) by Jeff Yang, Parry Shen, and Keith Chow with art by Glenn Urieta.
"The Vilcek Story" (209-210) by Jeff Yang with art by Wendy Xu.

The ones that include an astrix (*) were, for me, my favorite of favorites.

Now that I have made room for more books by my bedside table....okay...a little bit more room by my bedside table, I am looking forward to putting the first anthology on hold!

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review is for volume 1, as are half the other reviews on this page, and so is the cover picture. (The copy I read has a photo of the cover of vol 2, and it's different.) Yes, anthologies are often uneven, but this was worse than usual. I don't dislike the superhero genre, but most of these appeared to require the reader being familiar with the various superhero universes, and I am not. I did like a few stories, especially where they addressed stereotypes and discrimination,

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think, knowing how many talented AAPI illustrators and storytellers out there, I had been expecting better. This reads like a high school project with about as much drawing and writing skills to match.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Black and White and Yellow All Over

Asian Americans are no strangers to comics. Head to Comic-Con and you’ll see many Asian American fans. But we aren’t just relegated to the masked and costumed otaku (crazed anime or manga addict) that make up the ranks of comic book fandom, we are also the creators. Many of the tables and booths at these conventions are populated by Asian Americans. And while Asian Americans have a big presence in the mainstream comics industry, there is still a dearth of main characters that look like us between those pages. The Alternative Press Expo, Comic-Con’s cooler indie cousin, fares a little better as the artists who exhibit there are in the independent, alternative, and self-published comics scene.

But what would it look like if Asian Americans ruled the comics industry, mainstream or otherwise? Jeff Yang, Parry Shen, Keith Chow, and Jerry Ma asked themselves that same question. They saw that despite the prevalence of Asian American writers and artists in the mainstream comics industry, a void in representation exists. So they produced and edited Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology in 2009 which put Asian faces and stories into the superhero genre. Their latest book in the Secret Identities series, Shattered: The Asian American Comics Anthology, is more ambitious and broader in scope. In Shattered, the many contributors to the book attempt to smash the stereotypes mainstream media have continually perpetuated. Chapters are divided by what they’ve identified as the five main stereotypes that have hounded Asian Americans in this country -- the brute, the temptress, the brain, the alien, and the manipulator. In the Prologue, these demons are released in gold-rush era United States and stories developed by the four editors launch each chapter. While there are plenty of good vs. evil stories here, this book is full of three-dimensional characters. The contributing artists and writers demonstrate the complicated borders that vilified people inhabit, and they question the idea of who the villains and who the heroes really are.

To read the rest of this review go to Hyphen.

I learned Cup O'Noodles was changed to Cup Noodles in 1993 and in Japan you can get flavors like European Cheese Curry, Hot Caribbean Seafood, and Bacon Soy Sauce.

[Victoria Law]

I wish that there was a note, either at the beginning or the end, that some of the stories are part of an overall narrative arc. I didn't get that until the last story, when I realized that I'd seen at least one character in an earlier story.

The strongest comics are the ones that aren't part of that narrative. I particularly liked Gene Luen Yang and Sonny Liew's Shadow Hero, Howard Wong's Master Tortoise and Master Hare, and Daniel Jai Lee's Tokyo Rose.

[April eclecticbookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good some so-so :) I'm glad I just read the first volume.

[Yue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other than the first comics anthology in this series, Secret Identities, it's quite rare to find another Asian American directed graphic novel. While the multiplicity of narratives arc seems a bit confusing at first, a quick glance at the introduction solves all that. Hyper-reading might benefit the diverse mediums within the novel.

[Raymond Nakamura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the one with the "Ethnic Foods" arguing about the pros and cons of being in a separate aisle versus being assimilated and I supposed that relates to the premise of this book of having Asian related stories, of the super heroic variety. Sometimes I had trouble following what was going on. Either the jumps were too large or I am not used to the style.

[Emilia P · Rating 2 out of 5]

This anthology was trying to do wayyyy too much at once -- having an ongoing super-hero-kind-of story while also featuring other single-episode superheroey stories and personal narratives and social commentary and none of the art was particularly fantastic and sighhhh. I guess there's something to be said for its indieness, but its ambitions were a bit too outsized for me. Alas.

[Roby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm generally a fan of comics anthologies, and I applaud the concept behind this one, but the writing and art was really lacking in most of the stories. Many appeared to be rush jobs - perhaps there was a tight deadline. I'd love to see this redone better.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm generally supportive of these collections and was encouraged to see the overarching theme to this was combating stereotypes about people of Asian descent. Still, despite some gems, this was an over-all middle-of-the road effort. Comic aficionados should jump on board.

[Candice M (tinylibrarian)]

Reviewed for Booklist

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminiscent of American Born Chinese but not as cohesive, which I suppose isn't surprising considering it has multiple contributors. Enjoyed some comics more than others. 3.5 stars.

[Maggie Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting compilation of short graphic stories focusing on stories of Asian super heroes. Some delightful up-and-coming artists featured, and many solid vignettes!