Welcome back to The Pop Quiz at the End of the Universe, a recurring series here on Tor.com featuring some of our favorite science fiction and fantasy authors, artists, and others!
Today we’re joined by Gene Luen Yang, a comics author and illustrator. His award-winning graphic novels include American Born Chinese, The Eternal Smile, and Boxers & Saints.
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His latest project, The Shadow Hero, is a collaboration with artist Sonny Liew. Available July 15th from First Second books, The Shadow Hero revives the character of the Green Turtle, the world’s first Asian American superhero!
Gene would be happy to help us fend off a very specific (and sugary) apocalypse, but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that!
What’s your favorite sandwich?
Reuben
Cast the main characters of your new/upcoming novel (in other words, choose your dream cast for a Hollywood adaptation of your book).
My next graphic novel is a collaboration with the immensely talented Sonny Liew. It’s called The Shadow Hero and it’s about the Green Turtle, arguably the first Asian American superhero. My dream cast:
Green Turtle/Hank Chu: Harry Shum Jr.
Red Center: Jamie Chung
Hank’s Mom: Margaret Cho
Hank’s Dad: Randall Park
Uncle Wuntoo: Jackie Chan
I know three of them are Korean Americans and our story’s set in 1930s Chinatown, but Cantonese can’t be THAT hard to learn, right?
What kind of apocalypse (zombie, robot, environmental, etc.) is most compatible with your survival skills? And what kind of apocalypse would you like to avoid at all costs?
Apocalypse By Doughnut. Doughnuts suddenly gain sentience, grow enormous, and attack our major cities. I’d be super-useful because I’m good at eating doughnuts.
What literary or film science fiction technology do you wish existed in our world right now?
The Mother Box. Although I have to admit, iPhones are pretty close.
Battle to the death, which weapon do you choose: A) Phaser, B) Lightsaber, or C) Wand?
Wand, of course. In a fight to the death magic always trumps technology because magic has no logical limits.
