  derek kirk kim (born 1974) is a korean-american writer, artist and filmmaker. currently, he is the lead character designer of adventure time. 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. ==early life== 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. ==career== 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 hergÃ©. 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. kim had begun serializing healing hands, his follow-up to same difference, on his website lowbright, until he decided to abort the project on july 16, 2006. healing hands was to be published as a print graphic novel by first second books. same difference and other stories has been translated in french and is published in france and di
1974_births Alternative_cartoonists American_comics_artists American_comics_writers American_writers_of_Korean_descent Eisner_Award_winners_for_Talent_Deserving_of_Wider_Recognition Graphic_novelists Harvey_Award_winners_for_Best_New_Talent Living_people People_from_North_Gyeongsang_Province South_Korean_emigrants_to_the_United_States