Two Asian Canadians, an Asian American, and an Asian Australian dominate the "Best of 2007" lists posted by last year's Eisner judges at Bookslut.com.

Shaun Tan's "The Arrival" makes two lists -- here's an excerpt from Chris Reilly's blurb:

Sublime and visually stunning, this book tells the wordless story of an immigrants "arrival." The imagery is abstract and beautiful and refreshingly not Photoshopped. The images are alien and so perfectly depict how frightening it is to be a stranger in a strange land, with little more than the clothes on his back and lint in your pockets.... The landscapes, language (there is an unreadable alphabet) and even animals/monster/creatures here are so strange that you really become this guy.

For more about Tan, who grew up in Australia and won the World Fantasy Award for Best Artist, visit www.shauntan.net.

Anne Marie Fleming's "Magical Life of Long Tack Sam" makes Robin Brenner's list. Here's a bit of the blurb:

This book shines for its sense of humor and the way it conveys the grand adventure of digging through your ancestors pasts and discovering how learning a little bit here and a little bit there may uncover a treasure trove of history.

Brenner also cites Jason Shiga's "Bookhunter":

This book is fantastic in the way it takes a look at crimes very close to reality (the most famous book thieves are intriguingly odd characters, and often quite genius in how they commit their crimes) and then cranks it up into a great procedural drama everyone can enjoy. And... there's a climactic chase scene with book carts!

And James Sime cites Bryan Lee O'Malley's "Scott Pilgrim Vol. 4":

If you like rock and roll, half-ninjas, battling ex-boyfriends, rail-slides, failed job interviews, leveling up, and the endless laughs that boy-meets-girl creates, this is a must-read series for you to sink your teeth into.

As an extra bonus, former Eisner judge Whitney Matheson cites both "Magical Life of Long Tack Sam" and Adrian Tomine's "Shortcomings" on her Best of 2007 list at usatoday.com.

Via ComicMix.com.

Tak Toyoshima, the cartoonist behind "Secret Asian Man," went to the Adrian Tomine presentation in Boston -- and wrote about it in his blog! Here's an excerpt:

The best thing I walked away from the presentation (besides a signed copy!) was a better insight into Tomine's views on being Asian American. Artistically he doesn't make it a mission to infuse every story with typical AA issues. Characters may be AA but that does not define them. It may add depth to his characters but beyond that, it's not an issue. He spoke a bit about the expectancies that many AAs had of his work and how he felt pressured to represent the community, like it was his duty.

Shortcomings, as the graphic of a ruler under the book jacket implies, does have some AA themes in it and it seems these themes are increasing. It's like he's going through the opposite experience as me. I started off out of the gate spewing out strips about lack of AA media representation, kung-fu stereotypes and xenophobia. Now I've come to embrace a far wider range of topics which I aim at a broader audience. It'll be interesting to see how Tomine's work progresses in terms of subject matter. All that being said, he has a new fan.

Click here to read the whole thing.

(And many thanks to Toyoshima for adding AsianAmericanComics.com to his links page!)

From the Provincetown Daily Dose:

Drawn & Quarterly artist and New Yorker contributor Adrian Tomine will offer a presentation of his cartooning career, in the RISD Auditorium on Friday, February 29 at 7pm. A book signing of his latest graphic novel "Shortcomings" will immediately follow. "Shortcomings" will be on sale in the Auditorium lobby prior to the presentation.