Derek Kirk Kim

Derek Kirk Kim
Kim, photographed at the 2004 Alternative Press Expo (APE) in San Francisco.
Born	Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
Nationality	American
Area(s)	Cartoonist, Writer
Notable works	Same Difference, TUNE, Mythomania, Adventure Time
Awards	Xeric Award, 2002 Ignatz Award, 2003 Eisner Award, 2004 Harvey Award, 2004 Eisner Award, 2010
http://derekkirkkim.com

Derek Kirk Kim is a Korean-American writer, artist and filmmaker. He is a former lead character designer of Adventure Time and currently works as a storyboard artist for Warner Brothers. He is also the writer of TUNE and the writer and director of the spin-off webseries, Mythomania. He won all three major comics industry awards, the Eisner (2004), the Harvey (2004), and the Ignatz Award (2003) for his debut graphic novel Same Difference and Other Stories. (The contents of which were originally serialized on his website, formerly known as Lowbright, and Small Stories). This collection of short stories was first published with the help of a 2002 Xeric Award. Kim has also worked as a character designer on numerous animated shows and animated shorts, including "Sympathy for Slenderman," a Webby Award nominee in 2014.

Kim was born in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. He came to the United States when he was eight. He considers himself fortunate to have received formal training in the visual arts and in the craft of writing. He now lives in Los Angeles, California.

All of his stories reflect, to a greater or lesser degree, his personal experiences. He offers poignant tales with an ever-present dash of humor. His drawing style is realistic and clean, based on the "clear line" school made famous by The Adventures of Tintin creator Hergé. His story lines range from the naturalistic to the fantastic.

Most of the hostility and criticism of Kim's work seems to be self-directed (either explicitly or by skewering protagonists who resemble their creator), perhaps reflecting the influence of Robert Crumb.