A Conversation with Comic Book Author and Screenwriter Amy Chu

Asian American History 101

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 8! Today’s conversation is with Amy Chu, a co-founder and former editor of A. Magazine, screenwriter, co-founder of Alpha Girl Comics, and well-known comic book author. Her latest title is Fighting to Belong! Volume 1 (out now, so go get it), which is a graphic novel focused on the history and contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders in America. Published by Third State Books, Fighting to Belong! is co-written with Amy’s son, Alexander Chang, and illustrated by Louie Chin. It’s a collaborative project with The Asian American Foundation, The Asian American Education Project, and others. The importance of Fighting to Belong! cannot be overstated. Through an engaging story, readers will be entertained, engaged, educated, and empowered. Amy has written a diverse collection of titles that include Poison Ivy, Kiss, Wonder Woman, Red Sonja, Dejah Thoris, and Ant-Man. Two of our favorite works by Amy are the Trot and Cap’n Bill series for teens and Carmilla: The First Vampire graphic novel. Amy is able to weave in diversity and depth to her stories in a way that makes typically underrepresented people (like API) feel seen and heard. In our conversation, we talk about all of these things as well as her journey to comics, the importance of diverse storytelling, the status of Fighting to Belong! Volume 2, what draws her to writing complex characters, and so much more. Whether you like comics, good storytelling, history, or diversity, we highly recommend getting Fighting to Belong! or any of Amy’s other work, but especially the Trot and Cap’n Bill series, Carmilla: The First Vampire, and Poison Ivy. You can learn more about Amy through her website and her work with Alpha Girl Comics. She also has signed copies of her work available. You can follow her on Twitter or Instagram as well.

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