The Eternal Smile

by Gene Luen Yang, Derek Kirk Kim (Illustrator)

Meet Duncan.
Charming and brave, he's the Princess's favorite—and he's on his way to winning the throne. But lately, the walls of reality in Duncan's kingdom are wearing a little thin...

Meet Gran'pa Greenbax.
Nothing seems to satisfy this greedy old frog's longing for a pool full of gold—until, one day, a mysterious smile appears in the sky. Has his chance at happiness come at last?

Meet Janet.
Her nine-to-five life takes a turn for the romantic when she learns in an email from a mysterious Nigerian prince that she has been chosen to liberate his family's vast fortune. All he needs is her banking information.

In three very different stories, master storytellers Gene Yang and Derek Kirk pit fantasy against reality, for good or for ill. Subtle, surprising, and entirely entertaining, The Eternal Smile delves into our dreams, and the unexpected places they lead.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Young Adult, Fantasy, Fiction, Short Stories, Graphic Novels Comics

170 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2009

About the author

Gene Luen Yang writes, and sometimes draws, comic books and graphic novels. As the Library of Congress’ fifth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, he advocates for the importance of reading, especially reading diversely. American Born Chinese, his first graphic novel from First Second Books, was a National Book Award finalist, as well as the winner of the Printz Award and an Eisner Award. His two-volume graphic novel Boxers & Saints won the L.A. Times Book Prize and was a National Book Award Finalist. His other works include Secret Coders (with Mike Holmes), The Shadow Hero (with Sonny Liew), Superman from DC Comics (with various artists), and the Avatar: The Last Airbender series from Dark Horse Comics (with Gurihiru). In 2016, he was named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow. His most recent books are Dragon Hoops from First Second Books and Superman Smashes the Klan from DC Comics.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st story 3.5 stars
2nd story 2.5 stars
3rd 4 stars.

I read this with a student and so we discussed the stories. The third story really held all of the emotions. A woman with low self esteem and ridiculed at work starts an email conversation with a click bait email sender. In my students words, "this story shows that we all want to be accepted but sometimes we allow fantasy to take us away from reality. "

[Calista · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a graphic novel consisting of 3 short stories in the collecting. They really have nothing to do with each other, it seems to me.

Duncan’s Kingdom = online fantasy story
Gran’pa Greenbax and the Eternal Smile = story about greed and finding the meaning of life
Urgent Request = Miss lonely heart lets herself get scam’d to have someone to talk with.


I am not really very bowled over by any of the stories, but I thought the first story was the most interesting. It had some Star Wars twist in there too. I related most to Urgent Request, but I can’t believe someone would just give their money away and be ok with that. Strange. It was a mellon collic story. I enjoyed the ending most fo Greenbax, but the story felt hollow to me. I was not very taken with any of these. I do love the work of Gene Luen Yang and this just did not impress me.

Oh well, every author needs the leeway to try something new and fail so I will be back for more from him.

[Seth T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Derek Kirk Kim. I adored Same Difference and was enthralled with the abruptly aborted Healing Hands. I liked Good as Lily okay, but couldn't shake the desire to have it redrawn by Kim himself so that the art would be as delectable as the book's cover. His art is just that good to me.



I'm not as familiar with Gene Luen Yang, but I did enjoy American Born Chinese nearly as much as the hype indicated I should. ABC was well-crafted enough that it prompted me to seek out this more recent book. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect with The Eternal Smile, but I expected something worth my time.

And The Eternal Smile delivered on that expectation—though perhaps not as powerfully as I would have hoped. That was my feeling the first time I read the book. I think I may have been expecting too much. Just tonight, I finished reading it for a second time, with perhaps two years intervening between reads and it was a much more enjoyable experience. This time I was well-armed with the knowledge that while The Eternal Smile wasn't as ambitious a story as American Born Chinese, it wasn't trying to be. While it wasn't as straightforward and socially dilapidated as Same Difference, it wasn't trying to be. The Eternal Smile was its own thing and it was happy to be what it was.

Broken into three short, ostensibly unrelated stories (though there is a panel tying Story I and Story II together, this may just be a cute cameo), The Eternal Smile focuses on the theme of personal identity—not so much ethnic identity, as in American Born Chinese—and what it takes to recognize who one truly is. Yang and Kim explore the idea of how one might find happiness in the skin of someone who until recently may have been a complete stranger. These three tales explore the substance of a person's inner self and motivations. Who one is and who one is attempting to become.



The art is wonderful across the board but finds best expression in the first and final stories. Besides drawing well and pacing his stories gracefully, Kim has one talent that just blows me away. The manner by which he renders expressions is possibly without peer. This is on full display in the first story, where Kim draws his characters to more accurately represent the human form. The third story, while employing more cartoonish character designs, still conveys a strong sense of emotional content through Kim's use of eyes and mouths. It's only the second story where the art loses its ability to express through any great range; homaging the style of Scrooge McDuck comics, Kim necessarily loses one of his greatest tools as a comics creator. (In this sense, I wish his homage wasn't quite so accomplished.)

The writing of these stories themselves stands out less. Each involves interesting twists, but doesn't really make superb use of the short story form. Only the final story is truly excellent. The ideas driving each (beyond just the worthwhile exploration of the theme) are inventive and seem well-planned, but again, it's the final story that shines. Concerning a girl working low-rung in an ISP who falls for a Nigerian banking scam and the separation and bridge between fact and fantasy, this is easily the most heartfelt of the stories and the art here sings. Kim's pacing and positioning of panels is inspiring and watching some of the intricacies of her correspondence take form is a reward for the careful reader.



The Eternal Smile is a good book but not a great book. It's worth your time for 1) the experience of Kim's art (which is almost always* worth your time) and 2) the well-forged final tale (one that stuck with me throughout the two years since I first experienced it). Oh. And I can't figure out the reason why The Eternal Smile got the name it did. Sure, that eternal smile did take on a central role in the second story, but it did so as an element of fraud. I suppose that it is through the mistaken purpose of the smile that one character goes on an unwilling journey of self-discovery, but I'm not sure that's what the authors are telling us through this titling.

Note:
*I will admit to being a bit disappointed in his contribution to Kazu Kibuishi's Flight anthology.

[Review courtesy of Good Ok Bad]

[Nnedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the art of the storytelling. I loved American Born Chinese for the very same reason.

I found Duncan's Kingdom oddly moving. And I loved how it all came together at the end.

I loved Grandpa Greenbax. It had me cracking up. I could almost hear the zany sound effects. I especially enjoyed the sudden moment of violence that pulled me right out of the well-worn groove it had been previously moving in. Loved that. The twist at the end was really really sweet and poignant, too.

Ok, here's the really stinging part. I'm sorry but I just have to say this...

"Urgent Request" really annoyed me. As a Nigerian, I get sick of the stereotype of Nigerian's being scammers. It's really just a small fraction of us doing that nonsense. Still I was intrigued by the use of the 419 scam in a story, so I eagerly read on.

But the story just used the 419 scam in a very shallow way. Plus I've never seen such an inaccurate portrayal of Nigeria in my life. Everything was wrong, from the animals, to the imagined "queendom"... which was ok, I guess, since it was all supposed to be made up but...still. It annoyed me, deeply. The main character totally fetishized and exotified Nigeria...Africa. It wasn't cute, not to me.

Also, she was drawn like a little girl (even with the boobs) and I had a VERY hard time imagining her as a woman. Plus I didn't really WANT to imagine a character who looked like a little girl as a woman.

Phew.

Still, despite all this, I highly recommend this book. It's a fun read.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Eternal Smile" contains three short stories by the brilliant Gene Luen Yang of "American Born Chinese" fame and Derek Kirk Kim. The first two are by Yang - one is about a young knight who goes to avenge the King's death by bringing the head of his murderer, the Frog King, to the princess, thus becoming the new King. The second is about a miserly frog (think Scrooge McDuck but amphibian) who exploits a constant smile in the sky by making it the centrepiece of a Christian Evangelical-like religion only to find the true nature of the Eternal Smile and his own life.

I won't give away the twists in both tales but the theme throughout the stories is that of finding your true self amidst the fantasy. Yang's drawing style is lush manga in the first story and disney-like cartooning in the second. Both stories are great little reads.

My favourite though was the third story by Derek Kirk Kim. I've never read anything by him but will look out for him based on this story. A downtrodden and shy office worker gets spam mail from a Nigerian Prince but decides to send money. Given you don't know much about the character you're reading on incredulous that someone could be that stupid. Again I won't give away the ending but the main character, like all the characters in this book, finds happiness through finding themselves and rejecting a fantastical life view for a realistic one.

Great little book filled with great art and excellent storytelling by two amazing artists. If you loved "American Born Chinese" as much as me or comics in general you'll love this book.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three short stories, all on the theme of fantasy vs. reality. The first one was heartbreaking. The second one was freaking odd. The third one was adorable and heartbreaking and just my absolute favorite. Worth it for that story alone.

[Colleen AF]

The end of the "grandpa greenbacks" story gets me every time.

[Luthfi Ferizqi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, the graphic novel is really interesting, each of the three stories has a plot twist at the end. For me, the third story was the most touching. Seeing an office worker trying to enter a fantasy world even though she knows it’s all a lie really broke my heart. It was a fun and memorable read.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The big follow up (of sorts) to Yang's Printz award (and National Book Award, and Eisner award...) winning American Born Chinese. The collaboration with Derek Kirk Kim is made up of three different shorts that all explore the idea of loneliness and loss. The art in particular is stunning, especially in the last story, Urgent Request, where everyone looks like a tiny eyed Precious Moments figurine. Urgent Request follows a painfully shy woman who receives a request from a Nigerian Prince in a particularly vulnerable moment. The aftermath is wrenching and beautiful and this is definitely my favorite of the bunch.

Liked this a lot - for teens and adults.

[Sunny Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the "American Born Chinese," this book also tells three stories that seem irrelevant but all have the same theme. The first one tells a story of a warrior who realizes that his glorious life is only a lie. He makes up the phony world to live in so that he doesn't have to deal with his crappy real life, but at last, he chooses to go back to and face the reality. The second little story just reminds me of the movie "The Trueman Show." A mercenary frog lives in a place that is in fact a studio where has hidden cameras recording his every move. Even the "Eternal smile" that has been workshiped by everybody is actually a lid of the studio that serves as an exit to the real world. When the frog finaly finds out the truth, he realizes how small and meaningless his dream become in fantasy. At last,he jumps into a big pond outside the studio without hesitation.
The last story is my favorite. I especially like its drawling style. The artist draws the real world part very distinct with the fantasy part. The former is in dull blue while the latter is in warm and soft colors. Basically, the story tells a girl who has worked for a company for many years wants to get a promotion. Because of her low self-esteen, her boss refuses her aplication and laughs at her behind her back. Afterwards, the girl feels so insignificant that she chooses to believe an obvious Email scam from a fake African prince. By sending emails back and forth, she imagines going to Africa, seeing all the beautiful wild animals there and happily marrying to the prince. All the "experience" in fantasy change the way she looks at herself, and she eventually quits her job. The last page touched me by the instant when she walks in her boss's office. There are a bunch of collorful wild animals following her steps, symbolizing the restoring of her confidence and real life.
I think the reason why I like the last story more than the other two is because it doesn't deny every aspect of people's fantasy. Instead, it tells us that: Yes, we need to live in the real world, but fantasy is not all bad because it makes us realize we deserve better than what we have. Just like what the prince says to the girl who takes an imaginative trip to Africa----"You did not come here to escape, but to see."

[Julia Sapphire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I personally didn't really enjoy this. This consists of three short stories in graphic novel format. The first Story was Duncan's Kingdom and this one was okay. It was definitely the better story out of the three. It had the most plot and I did think the art style was decent. The ending just did not work for me though.

Story 2: Grandpa Greenbax and the Eternal Smile
This one was okay... The art was bright and colourful. But the story as a whole was pointless.... Again with the ending like what the hell was that?

Story 3: Urgent Request
This one was not to horrible. I liked the art and the narration, it was simple and to the point. The whole sending money thing was stupid though... Like wow some prince asks for money because YA that's legit ? and than she loves him and wants to meet him. Like come on girl, you can't be that naive.

Overall; They were okay. All had stupid endings and art styles that we're all over the place. Plots that would make total sense to than making NO sense whatsoever.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Eternal Smile consists of three short stories. All of them deal with the concepts of fantasy and reality in their truest sense, and about the decisions we make when faced with a choice between the two. All three start off whimsically but take poignant turns.

All three also showcase the greatest strengths of the graphic novel medium. As short stories without art the impact of each plot twist would be blunted; the reader would have to be told things that are far more surprising and moving in illustration. The combination of well written script and well executed design is perfect for these particular stories.

[Mir · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this trio of stories, Yang explores the blurred line between reality and fantasy. Interesting idea but not an engrossing read. Maybe this is what is called a concept piece?

The first story was the best, but once I'd read it and knew the twist, the subsequent two were predictable. I would actually have rated each one alone higher than the collection, but together they reminded me too much of made-for-school story collections, designed to be "thought-provoking" or "thematic" rather than enjoyable or well-written.

And what was up with the frogs? The absence of frogs in the third story was the biggest surprise.

[Nabila Tabassum Chowdhury · Rating 4 out of 5]

লেখকের সবচেয়ে গুরুত্বপূর্ন এবং প্রশংসিত কাজ ভাল না লাগার পরও তাকে আরও একবার চান্স দেয়াটা মাঝেমাঝেই কাজে দেয়। এবার দিয়েছে।

এটা ঠিক গ্রাফিক নভেল না বরং কালেকশন অব গ্রাফিক শর্ট স্টোরিজ বলা যেতে পারে। তিনটা আলাদা আলাদা গল্প। তিনটার ছবি আঁকার ধরণও ভিন্ন। গল্প গুলোর বিষয়বস্তুও সাইফাই হিসেবে খুব নতুন কিছু নয়। রিয়েলিটি ইন রিয়েলিটি। তবুও বেশ ফ্রেশ লাগলো। প্রথম দুটোর প্লটে বেশ মিল আছে, তৃতীয়টা আবার এই দুটোর রিভার্স প্লটে লেখা।

চরিত্রায়ণ, ছবি, প্লট সব মিলিয়ে বেশ ভাল।

[Jessica Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't feel quite as wowed upon re-reading as I did the first time through 10 years ago, but damn, this is so interesting and I have fond memories of talking about the Grandpa Greenbax story through a Marxist lens in grad school.

[Ham · Rating 1 out of 5]

I remember liking American Born Chinese, so I was excited to try this one out. First of all, it's not a children's book. Don't try to read it to anyone under sixteen. Second, for someone who spent his childhood dealing with prejudices of others, Yang is remarkably willing to engage in his own bigotry.

(I know that's a serious accusation, and I'll present my evidence in a moment.)

I actually really enjoyed most of the stories and I loved the art. Very cartoony and satisfying. At points I felt like I was being hit over the head with his agenda, but overall I would've given it three or four stars.

EXCEPT.

That Yang singles out a piece of Mormon doctrine/culture and makes fun of it. At first I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I figured the title was a coincidence.

I should explain. Most active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints wear special "garments" under their clothes to remind them of the promises they made to God...those promises are stuff like stay morally clean, try to do what's right, and repent when you don't. Because a lot of them have a low, scooped collar, you can sometimes see the seam of a man's garment (on his chest) under his shirt. This is euphemistically referred to by some in our faith as The Eternal Smile. It's an little irreverent, but not offensive.

As I read the comic, it became clear that Yang was definitely referring to the sacred Mormon garments and he made his opinion of our private religious rites abundantly clear.
Allow me to illustrate:



These frames show when the main character (an unscrupulous, greedy frog) decides to make a church for the sole purpose of getting money. Even with most Mormon's paying ten percent of their income to aid in church buildings and programs (clergy doesn't get paid) this also could've been a coincidence. ....Except that he makes the decision after seeing a random "smile" in the air that has nothing to do with anything except to provide a subtle (or not so subtle) backdrop for him to bash Mormons.

Still, I doubted my instincts. Until I read this:



If you can't read the fuzzy writing, the girl is saying "we're just about done sewing the priestly garments."

Then all doubt is removed when he comes out in his "priestly garments" and for all Yang's attempts to make it look catholic, the "eternal smile" is in the exact place it would be if you were wearing a scooped-necked undershirt.



You may say that I'm jumping to conclusions, but there is absolutely no other reason for the smile to be in there if not to reference the religion that Yang must see as the most greedy and oppressive.

That's fine if he feels the Mormon Church fleeces it members. (Especially in a world that places more importance on paper credit than the heavenly kind.) But drawing attention to a specific religion in order to make fun of them or disprove their personal beliefs (whether you name the religion or not) is theophobic and intolerant.

No one would think about making fun of an Orthodox Jew's manner of dress, or others like Mennonites who wear a simpler type of clothing. Obviously Yang felt his satire was subtle enough to avoid a backlash, but I'm sorry to disappoint him.

Even if everyone thinks I'm crazy, Mr. Yang, I know you have some beef to pick with the LDS church. How about instead of filling your graphic novels with your propaganda, you talk it out with a counselor. (Or better yet, a pair of our missionaries. They can resolve whatever issues you might have and they'll do it without belittling you or your personal beliefs.)

[Karyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won't pretend to be an expert on graphic novels, so my opinions are rather uninformed. I do love a great graphic novel, though I'm drawn more to the journalistic books put out by Joe Sacco. Having read American Born Chinese by Yang, I figured this would be a great read as well.

I was not disappointed. It's a quick and fast read, though the reader does take a few minutes to enjoy the art in each story, different as it is from each to another. Each discusses the concept of fantasy vs reality, yet the journeys from one to the other that the authors take us on are so creative and unique. I never would have come up with any of the plot lines in these stories, and I loved the twists in each one.

My favorite story has to be the last one, partly due to the art alone, but I did like how strong Janet Oh turned out to be in the end. The first one tore at my heart a bit and nearly made me tear up. The second one is very strange, yet I feel it has quite a bit of commentary on televangelists and other "religious" icons who are fond of trying to part the gullible from their money.

I know this is strange to say, but I also loved this book for the sheer aroma of the pages. When I was a kid, I loved this book that came with a tape that featured a boy traveling through space with a sentient spaceship, Adventures in the Solar System - Planetron and Me. It had the same super shiny pages that had the same smell, and so while I read The Eternal Smile, I was reminded of my favorite childhood book. It was a sweet feeling.

[John Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The eternal smile is a collection of 3 fantasy stories all vey different from each other. The first being a story of a Prince Duncan, who despite having nearly everything he could possibly desire, is distracted from his glorious life in the castle by a mysterious coke bottle. The second story depicts a cash hungry frog/entrepreneur named granpa greenbax who just can't get enough of that moola. The 3rd story follows Janet, an average joe working an office job who feels terribly unimportant. That is until a Nigerian prince emails her, asking for her bank account information for she is the only hope for saving this Nigerian royal family. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and the powerful metaphors and lessons hidden behind each story. I particularly liked Granpa Greenbaxs statement in the beginning of the story where he cries out, "all I want is for it (his pool of money) to be deep enough so I won't hit bottom when I dive!". I saw this quote as a direct commentary on people's tendencies to lose themselves in mounds of material things when they've lost their sense of direction in life. It is much like manga and other eastern stories in its ability to convey powerful messages in a seemingly simple story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a bit of social commentary in their comics. Does granpa greenbax obtain enough money to eventually satisfy his desires? Will Janet manage to wire her bank account to the mysterious Nigerian prince in time? Read The eternal smile and find out!

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a funky one.
Three short bittersweet stories by Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim.

I liked Duncan's Kingdom the most. It reminded me a bit of American Born Chinese. I liked the art, the fantasy setting (the knights and the Queen) & the trippy reveal (Snappy Cola). And though the ending was a little sad, it was also the most hopeful out of the three stories.

I didn't like the art or story in Gran'pa Greenbax and the Eternal Smile. I get why the art was cartoony, but I really pushed through these pages to get to the reveal.
I liked the last two pages with the gold pond (and Duncan and his mom) -the story tied together nicely in that way, but reading about a gross, selfish, money-grubbing frog was a real struggle.

Urgent Request was the saddest of the three. It was hopeful, and colorful at the end, but it was also really depressing. Maybe because it was the most realistic out of the three stories, but there was something just so sad about Janet being underappreciated in her dead-end job and being swindled out of all her money by an internet scam. The saddest part was that she knew it, and needed it, and went along with it anyway. And yes, it might have helped her get the confidence she needed (we all need some fantasy in our lives), it just made me so sad.

[Arianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of all the three stories my favorite one was the frog story. How it showed how our deepest desire isn't always what it seems to be and how it symbolized people's need for some kind of hope. Though I also really liked the story of Duncan and his kingdom because it made me believe that he was really a royal guard trying to fight for the princesses's hand, when in reality he was just living a dream. Although the last story, in my opinion was kind of a drag. I got really pissed off with Janet, I mean its so obvious that the guy was just scamming her for her money and she didn't even realize it and kept playing along. Then later in the book she meets the guy, so you would think she'd like kick his butt, but no she just brushes it off and pretends it didn't even happen. If that wasn't bad enough, she tells the guys that she knew all along!!! I mean I get that she wants to fantasize of having such a perfect life (who doesn't) but seriously she shouldn't have let the guy get away with something like that. I'm sorry but she was really stupid. She let people hurt her and was going to do nothing about it.

Such a shame though cause you'd think that after reading such good stories that the last one would be the best. Kinda sad cause I had my heart set on ending the book on a good note.

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd enjoyed ABC by Yang and never read anything by Kim. The short stories seem all to be themed around loss and disconnect. Not loss in the sense of losing something or someone, but loss of purpose or will. There is a certain quality of desperation in the stories. In the first story this becomes evident about two thirds of the way, in the second one at the very very end, and the third one is dripping of desperation from beginning to end. The stories explore a wide range of subjects from evangelism/exploitation to internet fraud (sounds hard to believe, when i put it that way) but they are very human, very real, and sad. But they all manage to end in a bit of an up note, which is refreshing. The art work is exceptional, which surprised me, because I usually do not like the super colorful, computer-generated look. But the drawings of humans as well as non-human characters is exceptional. The last story certainly stands out in terms of the art work, with most panels drawn in dreary grays like black and white etchings.
All in all, a good small collection of stories which will surprise as you read.

[Loyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Eternal Smile is a collection of three beautifully written and drawn stories with no common characters or settings, but they all share one thing: they are explorations into the fantasies that intrude into the our daily lives and shape our perceptions of the world.

In one story, a young man comes to grips with his inner demons, trying to decide which is the best path to take. In the title story, a frog becomes a cynical despot until he is seduced the simple joys of life in an average pond, while God, the "eternal smile" watches overhead. The final story takes a simple, common occurrence -- a spam e-mail from a foreign country asking for money -- and turns it on its head.

Like Yang's wonderful, melancholy book American Born Chinese, the illustrations and text blend seamlessly, creating a narrative much richer than either could achieve individually. This collaboration with Derek Kirk Kim (Same Difference and Other Stories) is close to a masterpiece.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed these three stories; they were short and sweet. They were also refreshing insofar as they actually *graphically* told a story without too much text, which is more difficult than people realize, especially when the pictures are deceptively simple.

I liked the exploration of the idea of reality and escapism through technology and sci-fi/fantasy geekdom, but I felt that in some ways the stories and characters didn't have as much depth as I would prefer. Perhaps it's fine, because the type of people drawn to Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim's work are probably a bit similar to the three main characters and/or would have an enough of an understanding of geekdom to "get" it. However, I'm a bit disconcerted because I get the feeling that, to some readers, the characters just come off as losers even though stories end with the main characters taking ownership of themselves and becoming more assertive.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book of short stories is an adult title with crossover appeal to teens. Yang shows us here that he has a taste for the strange. In these three stories Yang has taken a person's reality and turned it into a fantasy or turned their fantasy into reality, making for stories that end with the infamous twist. I enjoyed all three very much; they were each enjoyable and unusual, as well as making one think about the good or bad consequences of living in a fantasy world and avoiding your own reality. The illustrations are all wonderful. Kim has used different styles for each story to match the theme and mood. The second story has actually been done in the style of an old comic book (one of those "Gold Key" comics from the seventies) complete with fake ads. Very well done book. Recommended.

[Sanum · Rating 1 out of 5]

ABC was much better than this. I don't even get this story. There was not many themes. I simply saw the theme of escapism because one of the characters, Janet just pretended she was talking to the Prince of Nigeria, but she knew she was being tricked, but let it happen to her. She hated her life, and this sense of escape let her be happy. Another story was the one of a (frog) man who only wanted money and killed his partner over money. All the stories in this comic book are of picking the right thing to do. It's all about morality, like when Duncan picked going to his mother over staying in a coma and being in a world of escape in which he could get anything he wanted.

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Eternal Smile is a collection of three stories covering different subjects and even genres. And because each story’s illustration style varies as well, I should give credit to Derek Kirk Kim.

“Duncan’s Kingdom” is fantasy in all its forms and meaning. The twist was kind of too afterschool special for me. “Granpa Greenbox and the Eternal Smile” is a take on Saturday morning cartoons/animation. Think Scrooge McDuck. This was actually kind of deep even with its intended over the top quality. The best was truly served for last. “Urgent Request” was my favorite in terms of story and illustrations. I like the very modern topic mixed with the almost retro-style drawings.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three beautiful stories with commentaries on escape and choice, blurring the line between reality and fantasy. The first is sort of a meta-narrative on how we use books and stories and games as a form of escape, and we sometimes have to make conscious decisions to be more present in real life. The second addresses religion, reality tv, and scientific experimentation. The final story looks at how our perceptions of reality are skewed by global internet culture. All thought-provoking, and the artwork really pulls it all together.

[Iggy D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. I picked it up because it was Gene Luen Yang and I'd read and loved American Born Chinese. I was also really intrigued by the title.
My favorite story was the first one about Duncan, but then I go for messed-up fairytales. The second story about Mr. Greenbax disturbed me a little. I wasn't expecting such violence from a cartoon story like that, but the ending made up for it. The last story was just very sad. Janet Oh reminded me of several people I know, people that don't speak up for themselves when they should.
Needless to say the art is gorgeous, too.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eternal Smile features a collection of beautifully wrought and diverse illustrations. The stories themselves tiptoe the line between reality and fantasy, pushing the boundary between two worlds. Entertaining and beguiling. I particularly loved the page depicting Janet walking down the hallway toward her office door - it was a stunning set of drawings. Each story is too short for me, though, giving the flow a rather clipped feeling. Recommended for fans of the not-quite normal.

[quinnster · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there is anything that all of these stories had in common it's that there is a deeper meaning in most of them that maybe you just don't see coming. Janet's story in Eternal Smile was so sadly poignant. The artwork though was gorgeous. The African scenes were my favorite in all three stories. The line between fantasy and reality and what world you must live in were very central here. All three characters struck a chord in me.