Definitely Far From Korea....

The Moment Between....

2011-10-28T01:23:00.001-07:00

AGE 26: The Following Takes Place Between Flatulence and Discontent....

2011-10-25T23:03:00.000-07:00

If you're familiar with the show "24", you might get this....

It always amazes me how evil my Mom can be sometimes. This time around, her timing was just impeccable.

AGE 26: "Some ridiculous shit happened on the way to dinner..."

2011-10-21T15:11:00.000-07:00

This situation was ridiculous enough that I had to make it three pages.

It also stuck in mind, because my good crotch destroying friend, Adina Murch is also getting married. So as crude as it is, this strip is obviously dedicated to her and her awesome boyfriend, Nir (soon to be husband). Much love to you both and I will see you both next year when your wedding comes. :)

AT AGE 25: It's the little things....

2011-06-06T16:58:00.001-07:00

AT AGE 24: Sheesh....

2011-06-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

AT AGE 5: In The Air Tonight..

2011-05-16T15:31:00.000-07:00

As far back as I can remember, I'd always wanted to be a cop.

But I became a starving comic artist instead. Reality is merciless. :P

AT AGE 27: An Asian....wha???

2011-05-09T01:05:00.000-07:00

Surprise, surprise. Delayed comic. :)

I'm still at work on my latest comic "This Will Pass". I would like to say it'll be done by June, but I've found that with life getting in way and such, no promises can be made. But rest assured, it will be done.

In the meantime, I've got a small batch of strips which I will posting for the month of May. They appear in the new print collection of Definitely Far From Korea which is being carried at Powells Books downtown and Floating World Comics, both in Portland, OR. So if you're local and interested, you can obtain a copy at either of those locations.

For anyone else who is interested in obtaining a copy, they will be sold via Paypal widget/store or Etsy. I haven't decided yet which option will be available, but a decision on that will be made soon and posted on future updates.

In the meantime, here's a new comic featuring myself and old chum, Ben Piper.

AT AGE 26: Full Blooded Korean

2011-03-16T02:44:00.000-07:00

This is one of the more difficult strips I've done. But it was an important topic to me because it was brought up to me more than once by these relatives that I mentioned who feel like it's their duty to make me feel guilty for enjoying a manga. Along with that, the timing was really weird as I was getting ready to post this, especially with what's been happened in Japan with the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear reactor crises, and when I'm hearing all this rubbish about all that being karma for Japan's role in WWII. Idiots. I swear....

Anyways, I digress....

This will be the last "Definitely..." for a while as I am currently working on a new full length comic called "This Will Pass", which I hope to complete in time for free distribution at Stumptown. "Definitely Far From Korea..." will resume in April. And by May, I am hoping to have a printed collection ready for sale. Details on that hopefully soon. In the meantime, I hope you will find this week's strip not too much of a downer, but at least somewhat thought provoking.

See you in April.

AGE 27: Nocturnal in a Bad Way

2011-03-09T00:40:00.000-08:00

I know I'm going to regret posting this. :P

AT AGE 27: I'm a Supergirl, apparently...

2011-03-02T01:19:00.000-08:00

I have a knack for antagonizing my friends. But sometimes, they gleefully do the same.

Love them dearly though.

.......but nonetheless, ugh.

Update: Live evidence of this travesty....

AT AGE 27: Pet Name

2011-02-23T01:02:00.000-08:00

I'll have you know, she is just as awful as I am. :)

AT AGE 28: Goodbye

2011-02-16T00:05:00.001-08:00

Heya.

As promised, here's a new strip.

I decided to forgo the grey shading and just go for straight black and white from this point on. It's a bit simpler and to be quite honest, I just enjoy how it looks. Especially with how I'd been looking at a lot of Jaime Hernandez's work during my internship at Periscope.

New update will be next Wednesday!

U-Street - Part 5

2011-02-15T23:17:00.005-08:00

This is way late. But here it is. Part 5 is here.

This was difficult to finish for various reasons. But I didn't want to leave it open ended. It's part of my history and it happened. And to tell the truth, despite how things turned out, I'm happy it did. They were still good times.

New pages will be posted tomorrow.

U-Street - Part 4

2010-10-13T18:11:00.005-07:00

Part Four for this week. Last part will be posted hopefully next week. Enjoy.

U-Street - Part 3

2010-10-05T21:40:00.004-07:00

Hello from Portland, OR.

I'm still getting settled here in town. What with the new internship, settling in with a new place (which I have to move out of later - long story), job searching, and making new acquaintances, Definitely Far From Korea updates will be sporadic. But updates will happen.

Here's part 3 of the U-Street situation. Not a particularly exciting one. But it still gives me some chuckles when I think back on it.

U-Street - Part 2

2010-09-03T15:09:00.011-07:00

This was two years ago when I was still kind of a stranger to the U-Street area. In the present, 9:30 Club, the Black Cat, and the Velvet Lounge are three of my favorite hangouts.

I'm going to miss those places. :(

The next two weeks may be lacking an update (Gee, what a shock, right? :P) now that my departure to the west coast is approaching soon. So there'll be a ton of things to attend to, such as packing and looking for housing. That, and I've got a couple of comic projects I've been trying to get off the ground since June which I should get started on as well.

There's just never enough time.

Oh yeah, have to self promote a bit too, don't I? If you enjoy this strip, become a fan on Facebook via the widget at the right of this page. Thanks! :)

U-Street - Part 1

2010-08-25T21:05:00.004-07:00

Hello again.

Things got crazy busy again, so I had to put this strip on hold, especially with my upcoming move to Portland, OR on the horizon. But I will continue updating once a week to present this five part story about what happened with a friend and I after a concert one night. Afterwards, I'll hopefully be able to maintain a consistent schedule as I have many more stories in comic form to share with you. :)

By the way, "Definitely Far From Korea" now has it's own page on Facebook. If you enjoy reading this comic blog, (despite it's shitty updating schedule) you can become a fan by clicking the button just above the Twitter window on the right of the page.

This week's strip features the Dandy Warhols!

Her Favorite Movie

2010-06-22T15:54:00.003-07:00

I think Braveheart is kind of overrated frankly.

Introducing Leila Baldo!

Updates will be sporadic in the next month or so as I am gearing up to work on a major project that will hopefully see light of day in late July. I will continue to churn out pages for "Definitely" even if its only two updates a month.

But here's hoping I can keep it up to once a week.

Midget Market

2010-06-10T18:52:00.002-07:00

Well, you can buy anything on Craigslist these days...

Introducing Ben Piper!

Your Poem....

2010-06-02T18:05:00.011-07:00

Back with a new strip. Five pages. Oy, this was a nightmare to tone on Photoshop.

Anywho, this week's "Definitely" features the lovely and talented Gowri Koneswaran, doing a slam poetry performance that my friend Kelley (the girl sitting next to me with dreads and glasses) and I went to in February at Almaz Restaurant in the Washington DC area which was hosted by Sulu DC - a local network for performance art/slam poetry for Asian American artists. You can find out more about them here at their Facebook page.

As for more about Ms. Gowri, you can check her blog where you can also purchase a copy of "Still Beating", her self published book of poetry, and even friend her at Facebook if you want to be updated about her latest performances.

Here's a video of that performance which I captured in comic form.

Long time...

2010-05-27T11:30:00.005-07:00

Heya.

I apologize for the lack of updates. Especially when I promised a new strip for the week after the last three I put up. Truth be told, there have been some personal issues which I've had to work through. But I'll spare you the sordid details. All I can say is, as of now, I am currently working on a new five page "Definitely" strip, and will hopefully have consecutive updates from that point on.

There was one positive development in the last two weeks or so that was able to pull me out of my funk. Jamie S. Rich, whose work "12 Reasons I Love Her" (with Joelle Jones), "Love the Way You Love" (with Marc Ellerby) and his most recent collaboration with Ms. Jones and Nico Hitori De - "Spell Checkers"....all of which you must absolutely read, had some nice things to say about my first two comics "Pho Story" and "Parka". This was extremely uplifting as I've been an admirer of his work for a few years. It's just nice to know I'm doing something right with this comic making thing. Thanks again Jamie. :)

I also want to say thanks to those who've been steadily following my comics and for the comments. Matt Graupman and John Kinhart, I'm looking in your guys' direction.

So mushy stuff aside. Update next week. No more slacking. I'm on it. Seriously. :)

Peep show

2010-05-09T19:58:00.006-07:00

Oh, the things I'll do for a laugh.

And thanks Jen, for allowing me to recreate this little moment from back in the day. :P

Retail - Part 2

2010-05-09T18:45:00.005-07:00

I regret not standing my ground that day when they asked me to come in. Working the concession stand while hungover is not very pleasant.

Retail - Part 1

2010-05-09T17:58:00.005-07:00

Retail was fun sometimes. The work wasn't as demanding and co-workers were fun a lot of the time. Of course, I look back on it fondly while working an office job now. I'd probably be missing office work if I was back in retail. I sure do like having my weekends free after all.

K.O.!!!!

2010-05-03T20:15:00.003-07:00

I am so video game impaired it's not even funny. I'm more of an old school arcade game person. Street Fighter, Tekken, X-Men (side scrolling game), Virtua Cop, classic pinball games.

They don't make them like they used to. ;)

Role Reversal

2010-05-03T19:12:00.003-07:00

She is pure evil sometimes.

"The Wire"

2010-05-03T16:42:00.006-07:00

My friend Steph and I were huge fans of "The Wire" when it was on HBO years back. Unfortunately we never got around to viewing seasons 2 and 3 when she got married and moved to the UK. But it's really popular over there from what I hear, so she has no excuse not to get caught up. :)

I haven't really watched any TV shows since that and "Deadwood". Although, I suspect "Treme" will change that real soon.

Pink ice cream? WTF?

2010-04-26T20:43:00.005-07:00

I knew an attack on my masculinity was coming. But I did not expect that. Once the confusion subsided, I took it as a compliment. :)

The funny thing is, she doesn't remember saying that to me at all.

Kim-chi: Friend or Foe?

2010-04-26T20:14:00.001-07:00

Has anyone ever had Korean food? Ever try Kim-chi?

Punk, dammit!!

2010-04-26T17:42:00.004-07:00

This is based on a rant I went on once in front of my friend Adina, who is ridiculously obsessed with Muse. At the time, I hadn't even known who they were, much to her horror.

They're a polka band, right?

Testing, testing...

2009-10-07T19:23:00.000-07:00

First batch of entries coming in March. In the meantime, these are the covers and first pages of my first two comics, Pho Story and Parka: a Red Riding Hood Variation. Check them out in their entirety here and here.