Celebrate the release of a new book that dives deep into the pop culture phenomenon of Giant Robot. Author and Giant Robot founder, Eric Nakamura, will be joined by special guests Randall Park, Martin Wong, and Daniel Wu to talk about the zines, stores, exhibitions, and more that redefined what it means to be Asian American.
About the book
Giant Robot: Thirty Years of Defining Asian-American Pop Culture features the best of the magazine’s sixty-eight issue run alongside never-before-seen photographs, supplementary writing by long-term contributing journalist Claudine Ko, and tributes from now-famous fans including Margaret Cho, Daniel Wu, Randall Park, Peggy Oki, Takashi Murakami, Natasha Pickowicz, and Jia Tolentino.
Giant Robot: Thirty Years of Defining Asian-American Pop Culture will be available for purchase at the JANM Store in October.
Not a current member? Join or renew now for free admission and JANM Store discounts.
Bios
Eric Nakamura
Eric Nakamura founded Giant Robot as a photocopied and stapled zine in 1994 and grew the publication until late 2010. Giant Robot magazine reached a multiracial audience interested in Asian popular culture and became known as the premier magazine in the field. Nakamura built on the success of Giant Robot with stores and galleries in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, and has curated over 300 exhibitions. Currently, Nakamura works in and owns the Giant Robot store and GR2 Gallery in Los Angeles, which continues to offer pop culture goods and hold art exhibitions.
Randall Park
Actor, director, writer, and producer Randall Park is best known for his work as Louis Hwang on ABC’s groundbreaking sitcom Fresh Off The Boat; Jimmy Woo in Marvel Studio’s Ant Man and The Wasp and Wandavision; Dr. Stephen Shin in the Aquaman franchise; and several other roles in television and film.
Tamlyn Tomita
Tamlyn Tomita is an actor, singer, and writer best known for her performances in The Karate Kid Part II and The Joy Luck Club.
Martin Wong
After graduating from UCLA and contributing to zines like Fear of Grownups, Flipside, and Dirt, Martin Wong cofounded Giant Robot with his friend Eric Nakamura and edited all sixty-eight issues of the magazine from 1994–2011. In 2013, he and his wife Wendy Lau (who was Giant Robot’s graphic designer beginning with issue 18) started the Save Music in Chinatown series of all-ages punk rock benefit shows, where their daughter, nieces, and friend would eventually play as The Linda Lindas. He still makes and contributes to zines, including Razorcake.
Daniel Wu
California native Daniel Wu is an award winning actor, director, and producer. The Hong Kong film veteran, martial artist, and race car driver was a correspondent for Giant Robot from 1997 to 2011.
Related Article
Eric Nakamura: Celebrating 30 Years of Giant Robot
October 14, 2024
Discover Nikkei talks with Eric Nakamura of Giant Robot reflecting on the 30 years of Giant Robot from a zine to becoming an essential influence on Asian American alternative pop culture.
