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The Eternal Smile: Three Stories (2009)

by Gene Luen Yang(Favorite Author)

3.61 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1596431563 (ISBN13: 9781596431560)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

First Second

review 1: I am officially a fan of Gene Luen Yang's art style, but I didn't enjoy The Eternal Smile as much as American Born Chinese. The Eternal Smile is a graphic novel of three stories that play with reality and break down the fourth wall through bright pictures and clever dialogue. I felt the stories were clever, but each ending was too abrupt. I plan to read more Yang and didn't like the collaboration of two authors.
review 2: Printz award winning author Gene Luen Yang teams up with Derek Kirk Kim to create a graphic fiction work unlike the popular Manga genre of Japanese authors. In this Americanized version of the graphic novel, three distinct stories are told—each in their own unique way. The art and settings for each story are representative of three different... more fantasy worlds and each have underlying commentary about today’s youth culture.Duncan’s Kingdom begins like any other medieval comic with Duncan, the lowly knave, courting the princess, having the opportunity to avenge her father’s death and winning her hand in marriage. The exquisite drawing of the characters, combined with the familiar technique of onomatopoeia/lightning bolt combinations drive the story line. Just when it seems that the hero has it all, he is drawn by a desire to have more, and sacrifices all to pursue the new object of his desire. Fantasy collides with reality, and our knave enters modern day life and comes to grip with what is really important.The Eternal Smile has a Sunday comics feel to the art and dialogue. Reminiscent of Scrooge McDuck and the young Huey, Dewey, and Louie of Disney fame, the main character in this story seeks riches above all else. Gran’pa Greenbax and his adoring and supportive grandchildren rely on his underpaid assistant, Filbert, to create ever increasing money making schemes to fulfill the fantasy of having a pond of gold deep enough to dive into without hitting bottom. As the story unfolds and Filbert introduces the greedy family to his source of inner peace, the Greenbax clan tries to capitalize on this by creating a religious experience intended to fleece unsuspecting flocks of believers. As in Duncan’s Kingdom, 21st century reality intrudes into the comic and reveals the true nature of the characters.Urgent Request is set in modern day corporate life. Devoted, naive, and demure Janet is introduced when she is called into her supervisor’s office for a performance evaluation. After being on the job for seven years, she timidly asks for a promotion. This story introduces the reader to the reality and possibility of living two lives. Online interaction with an African prince, who bilks Janet out of all of her financial resources, provides her an online relationship with thisr virtual friend. Eventually, Janet decides to confront her “prince” at the local university dormitory. She declares that she has known all along about his farce, but inwardly admits that she was desperate for friendship. This story exists on many levels of self-realization and exposes virtual reality scams. Eventually facing her fantasy friend emboldens Janet to conquer her fears and become a stronger person.These stories will appeal to young adults and savvy parents alike, as they provide food for thought. Stories within stories, concepts within concepts, and commentary on modern life invite the reader to visit the story multiple times, each reading revealing something new. less

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