SAM reviews

Happy to get word from folks that they have received their books. Quick note, even if you didn't purchase the book from Amazon, reader reviews are always appreciated. Please be honest and don't be afraid to exaggerate how cool the book is. And if you thought it was horrible WHO ASKED YOU! I love you.

12/27/09 - The Divided States of America

It really bothers me how divided the country seems to be in a whole lot of ways. Probably the biggest divide is political. But under the political umbrella is a whole bunch of divisions like religion, abortion, government involvement in our lives, environmental policy...it goes on and on. Sometimes I seriously wonder what the country would be like if we split in two and people could choose to move to wherever they agreed with. Don't like abortion, move here. Want some legal weed, go here. But the divisions would quickly devolve into individual preferences. What's a jewish, pro-life, no sales tax, gay married, medical marijuana supporter to do?

Books Available at secretasianman.com

Just set up secretasianman.com so you can buy the book directly from me. I added a few options so if you are interested in a signed copy, or original comic art (daily and big Sundays!) you can add that to your order.

BOOKS ARE IN!

Many, many, many boxes of books showed up today and what a relief. I packed up all the orders I had waiting to be shipped and let me tell you, it felt like a release valve opening up. Amazon.com has also changed the book's status to "In Stock". Yay! Now, I'm going to put it up on my site and and start fulfilling store orders and review copies. Maybe I'll have a beer first...

Where's Daily Days?

Just wanted to quickly say I appreciate everyone's patience with the shipping of Daily Days. Some people ordered it weeks ago when I first put it up for pre-order. I was told last week that a portion of the books were on their way to the Amazon warehouse via UPS Ground and the rest would be coming to me via freight due to arrive today or tomorrow. Nothing today so I'm hoping they will show up tomorrow. If they do I will get them to the post office ASAP and with a little luck they will make it to you via Priority Mail in time for Christmas. Thanks again and keep your fingers crossed! I am!

12/20/09 - Gifts That Insinuate

Every year I tear my brain apart thinking of things to buy people. I'm really bad at buying presents. I start to psychoanalyze everything I see. Hmm, here's a nice foot cream...she's gonna think I think her feet smell! Maybe a new shirt...so he can assume I think he dresses like a slob. Aaahhh!

Secret Angry Asian Man Book Special!

If you're not a fan of Angry Asian Man's blog you should be! Go there to see how you can take advantage of a special we are running. For the first 25 orders of Secret Asian Man:The Daily Days, I will include a piece of ORIGINAL DAILY COMIC ART FREE! All you have to do is follow the directions and it's all yours. Act fast orders are already coming in!

Books on the way!!!

Gave final shipping orders to the printers so they are now on the way. Woohoo! Thanks to everyone who has pre-ordered via Amazon. As soon as they show up I will be posting them on my site as well. Also keep your eyes open for special deals like...oh..I dunno...original art with your book deals! Keep checking in!

12/13/09 - Holiday Saver Screens

Charlie has whipped up another bright idea...mostly because he's a lazy ass. It would be pretty convenience, though. And think of all the storage you can free up without all the boxes of decorations. Hmm...maybe he's on to something.

12/6/09 - Weekend Muslim

A lot of people say the best way to get to know a different culture is to go out and experience it. Don't just read books about them, or worse, Wiki them. But then there are people who experience them and try to play themselves off as experts. Like people who can see other countries from their back porch...Speaking of which, did you hear Sarah Palin's dad said she left college in Hawaii because she felt uncomfortable around so many Asians? Woohoo! We found her kryptonite! Maybe she should have gotten to know us a little better...

Inside The Daily Days

Some people have been curious about what Secret Asian Man: The Daily Days looks like inside. Here are three spreads just to give you a peek. Click for bigger versions.

Twitterbombing CNN

Thanks to everyone who joined in the Twitterbombing fun of CNN's Soledad O'Brien. Let's keep up the pressure and get ourselves an Asian in America special!

11/29/09 - CNN's Asian in America

Yeah, if only they would. For whatever reason, the Asian American experience isn't doing it for Soledad O'Brien. Personally, I don't think she's even thought of it. Here's what I'm thinking. Let's Twitterbomb Soledad and let her know we want our own special!

SECRET ASIAN MAN BOOK NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDERS!

OK everyone, I've been talking about this for a few weeks now but now it's finally become a reality. Secret Asian Man: The Daily Days is now available for pre-orders at Amazon. This 232 page book collects every strip I did while I was syndicated through United Media. I'm very excited to finally have a collection out there just in time for (the tail end of) Black Friday!

This is a self published book which means I'm paying for the whole print run out of pocket. So if you are a fan of SAM or know someone who might enjoy it please order your copy and help support the strip.

I'll also be making the book available for purchase directly from secretasianman.com (credit card orders via PayPal) once I get the physical copies in my hands. Thanks everyone and spread the word!

11/22/09 - If You're Gonna Fail, Fail BIG

It's strange how somehow being a failure has become...profitable. The more screwed up a celebrity, the more media coverage they get. The bigger the company the bigger the bail out. The more ridiculous a politician is, the more people think he/she is qualified to run for president in 2012. I guess in the end it's just like slowing down to watch a car accident. You know you shouldn't but you do. The problem is that EVERYONE does and before you know it people are giving birth in the travel lane.

When I really start thinking about it, it does worry me what the long term effects of all this stupidity will bear. It kind of goes back to something I used to call "pity pride". People enjoy being the bottom of the barrel. Try bringing up your crummy job at a party. Guaranteed that someone will come up with reasons why their job sucks more and they'll do it with a weird version of pride. "I get paid crap, work long hours AND my cube mate smell like old fish! HA! I win!" No. We all lose.

11/15/09 - Twitter King

I'm all for social networking but I think some people are getting pretty crazy about it. It's like they think they're going to get some sort of prize if they out-friend/follower everyone. Some of the crap I see people Twitter is downright shameless. Clearly they just want to keep their little Twitter profile at the top of all their follower's update lists. It's kind of sad. Especially when you see people who are already famous Tweet about useless stuff. I guess to each their own. Just make sure to hit the little Tweet This button right there!

Obama in Asia

Obama is off to Asia, starting with Japan then down to Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing and finally working his way up to Seoul leaving Kim Jong Il in North Korea all in a tizzy (insert cartoon of Kim Jong Il with thought bubble "I know they're talking about me! sob...).

Obama's mission in Japan is mainly focused on the environment and nuclear proliferation. But a lot of people have also been bringing up the number of troops that we still have stationed there. Many Japanese feel it is time for the U.S. to leave these bases, mostly because the residences near then suffer from noisy low-flying airplane syndrome. There have also been some recent controversies involving US troops and Japanese citizens, including a U.S. Marine helicopter crashing into Okinawa International University, a rape of a 12 year-old girl by three U.S. servicemen and several reports of disorderly conduct in the areas around the bases. Residents are frustrated because the servicemen are not bound by local Japanese law and therefore making it difficult to prosecute.

Why do we have so many troop there anyway? I know there was a treaty (or several) that set the whole thing up after WWII for the benefit of Japan but now that Japan has been allowed to create a self defense force of their own I'm not too sure why we still need so many troops there.

I'm going to let you in on a private fantasy. Calm down, not that kind. I always thought Japan was working towards a completely robotic army. Think about it. Honda has been working feverishly to create the coolest freaking walking robots that even walk like they want to sneak up on you and kill you! Add to that Japan's shrinking young population. They couldn't create an army if they wanted to. And if these treaties have set up rules about Japan not being able to create a full fledged military force, maybe creating robots is some technical way around it since they are not human soldiers. Convinced yet? Remember when North Korea was conducting long range missle tests over Japan? I was waiting for a real Godzilla to jump out of the water and deflect it away from Japan. That would have been bad ass! Yes, I eat lots of sugar.

11/8/09 - Homeless Marketing

Ever since I was a kid, I've had a fascination/respect for the homeless. I know some homeless are bitter cretins who are unable to make good decisions but there are many out there who have simply fallen into tough times. I work right across the street from a homeless shelter in Boston and I see all types go in and out of there. I created the character Ned a few years ago to give me a opportunity to explore some of these observations.

Major Nidal Malik Hasan

I was watching CNN yesterday as the story of the Fort Hood shooting unfolded. It was interesting how as soon as the name of the shooter was revealed how the direction of speculation changed. It made me wonder if his name was John Smith if people would immediately speculate that the guy might be a white supremacist. I have to admit that I had the same knee-jerk terrorism reaction when I heard the name. Homeland Security is seeping into my head!!! What do you think? Is it justified to speculate Hassan has ties to terrorists? --TAK

Pumpkin Carving Winners

Thanks to the carvers of the very first SAM Pumpkin Carving contest. Can't wait until NEXT Halloween!

11/1/09 - Asians:the Bugs of the World?

This week, Simon says Asians are the insects of the human race. While a lot of people may feel being called an insect is an insult, it may very well be a insult to insects to feel that way! Hey, don't look at me, it was Simon!

banner

Interview @Boston Comic Con

Here's an interview I did by Dave Yang of AuthenticGamer.com. The audio is a little low so turn up the volume. I don't think I'm funny lie Bobby Lee or look like John Cho. Maybe I'm funny like John Cho and look like Bobby Lee.

10/25/09 - This is Halloween! This is Halloween!

Sorry for the posting lapse. Just came off the Boston Comic Con and my head was spinning from all the merriment. Forgot how hard a con can be on your throat.

What I love about Halloween is hearing all the creative costumes that people come up with. One Halloween when I was still in college I wanted to get dressed up as the tank man from Tianamen Square. But I didn;t want to run in front of traffic stopping cars to show people who I was. I settled for a Chinese protester who was run over by a tank, complete with red tank tread marks on my face. Classy. Oh yeah? What's the weirdest thing you've dressed up as?

In response to the comment from Angel - Funny you went as a punk lawyer, I went as a punk ninja once! Me and my now wife years ago..

Boston Comic Con

It's all going down tomorrow at the Back Bay Events Center in Boston. The Boston Comic Con. I'll be set up with original art, a Sharpie and a six year old helper dressed like a Jedi. If you're in the area definitely swing by. The impressive artist list includes: Geoff Darrow, Walt and Louise Simonson, Herb Trimpe, Time Sale, Khoi Pham, Cliff Chiang, David Mack, Scott Wegener and a ton more!

Typhoon Auction Press

Nice words at the Washington Post's Comic Riffs about the benefit art auction. It's up to 10 bids and slowly creeping up. Someone jump a few bucks!

Charlie's Blog

For those who didn't know, our 7' tall tinkerer friend has his own blog site called Charlie's Bright Ideas. He has a couple thoughts on infomercials, Ghosthunters and Balloon Boy. He really needs a job...

Auction for Typhoon Relief in Philippines

Comic artist Greg LaRocque has organized a comic art auction to benefit the victims of the recent typoons and flooding in the Philippines. I've donated the original art from the Sunday strip from 8/23/09. Please check it out and make a bid. All proceeds will go to the Philippines Red Cross. Auction ends Friday October 23. Thanks.

Here is the strip as it was printed. I guess some specifics are in order as well. The artwork is done in brush and pen with ink on 100lb. bristol vellum. It measures 14" wide by 8" tall. In a world (in my best movie trailer voice) were more and more artists are turning to digital originals, this is a chance to own a one of a kind hard copy.

10/18/09 - The Sleeve Sneeze

Kind of fitting that I'm a little under the weather as I post this. I've always wondered about the logic of the sleeve sneeze. Kind of like the logic of a handkerchief. It's pretty nasty if you think about it. I think I'll take a piece of cloth, blow my nose into it and then put it back in my pocket just in case I might need to do it again. WTF!

Pacific Citizen Interview

Got a great interview in this week's Pacific Citizen. Check it out!

Secret Asian Man's Pumpkin Carving Contest!

INSTRUCTIONS + RULES:
Get a pumpkin and carve any SAM art of your choice into it. It can be the face logo, SAM art from a random strip, an entire strip, different characters from the strip, a SAM hair wig made from a pumpkin...etc. The only rules are you need to use a pumpkin and execute some sort of SAM theme with it. Period. Enter as many different pumpkins as you wish. Entries will be accepted all the way up to midnight of Halloween night.

E-mail all entries to: tak@secretasianman.com

PRIZES:
The creators of the 3 winning SAM-o-lanterns will have their creations posted online and receive original artwork from the strip! Please be sure to include a mailing address for every entry. Get carving!

10/11/09 - Cleaning House

We get a lot of mail order catalogs. One thing I've noticed is the absolute lack of Asian guys in them. Maybe I'm more sensitive to these things than most but has anyone else noticed this? Will the "J" in J Crew ever stand for Japanese? And why do we need paper catalogs anyway? Do people still fill out those forms, stick a check in the SASE and wait for it to get there?

10/4/09 - Swine Flu Can Be Fun!

Is it me or is everyone freaking out about swine flu just a little too much? Don't more kids die from peanut allergies? And speaking of peanut allergies, when did the peanut become so deadly? I don't remember peanut allergies when I was a kid. We even did school projects with peanut butter. I think there's something weird going on either with the processing of peanuts or with our vaccinations. I think the peanut people are getting together with the gluten and lactose intolerance people and planning to take over the world from inside our bodies. I bet the real cure for swine flu is a nice thick peanut butter sandwich on gluten enriched white bread with a tall glass of milk.

9/27/09 - Pick Your Fights

You've got to know when to hold 'em.

A New Home for SAM!

Not giving up the old site yet but while I was tooling around trying to figure out how to provide people with an RSS option I just realized that if I start a Blogspot site I could get the same results.