REVIEW: The Good Asian - Deluxe Edition

When I first started reading The Good Asian, it was hard not to have high expectations. The Eisner and Harvey award-winning series from breakout writer and former editor Pornsak Pichetshote has received heaps of praise and positive reviews. Thankfully, this suspenseful, slightly dark, classic noir tale far exceeded my expectations by being the most honest, clever and thought-provoking story I’ve read in a long time.

The story is set in 1930’s San Francisco. It follows Edison Hark a Chinese American Detective, as he investigates the disappearance of the Asian housemaid who worked for his white millionaire adoptive family, the Harks. As the mystery unfolds, so does the history of Edison’s complicated relationship with his adoptive father and siblings. And when a white guy ends up on the wrong side of a hatchet in Chinatown, the pressure mounts up, and Edison sets out on the killer’s trail.

Set amidst the tensions between the Chinese immigrants and the dominant US culture that refused to accept them, the story spills tension out of every page. Edison Hark, perfectly embodies the cynical wise-ass detective persona as he slowly realises that the mystery connects to his own immigrant story in more ways than he could have imagined.

The story’s beating heart is the main character’s struggle with his identity. Issues of cultural identity, racism and acceptance are interwoven into the broader narrative as The Good Asian shocks and rewards you in equal measure until the last satisfying pages.

The Good Asian works well on a few different levels. Mostly it’s a solid detective story. Secondly, it depicts a critical moment in American cultural history. But, most importantly, it makes an essential statement about issues of racism and the clash of cultures inherent in mass immigration. The level at which this is achieved without compromising the story is beyond impressive.

The superb writing of Pichetshote expertly balances all the varying elements. From the very first page, The Good Asian draws you into a slowly unfolding mystery with first-class dialogue and well-defined characters that shine with authenticity.

The Art from Alexandre Tefenkgi has a cinematic elegance that beautifully blends tender characterisation and mystery-tinged drama. Every background and character pops with early 20th-century charm. The clever arrangement of panels allows for a smooth transition between the main timeline, frequent flashbacks and the first-person view of Edison Hark

And then there are the colours.

Lee Loughridges color work is nothing short of spectacular! Crucially, the colors define the different periods of Edison’s life in shades of blue, purple, and yellow. The sheer range of the color schemes across the series is so impressive. It could have easily disrupted the storytelling continuity but is executed with an expert level of balance and precision.

This is undoubtedly one of the standout comics of the last few years, delivering a high-level mystery and offering up a variety of new and exciting characters. Many other comics have been praised for tackling social issues, but The Good Asian does with the most class, bags of style and one heck of a good story!

Writing: 5
Art: 5
Colors: 5

Overall Score: 5/5

Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
Art: Alexandre Tefenkgi
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Publisher: Image Comics