Back in my Aug. 31 column, I wrote about A. Magazine and XO. I concluded: This probably sounds like too much praise, but I admit it-overall, I admire what A. Magazine is doing. I say this grudgingly, but these New Yorkers have set a standard that puts any West Coast products to shame. You might as well subscribe!
“There’s another Asian American magazine -Yolk- that I have yet to see. I’ve been promised an issue, however, and if it ever gets printed, I’ll write about it. It’s L.A. based, so I have high hopes for it!”
Presuming you read the Rafu regularly, you may know that Yolk ($3.95, InformAsian Media Inc., P.O. Box 861555, Los Angeles, CA 900068-1555; e-mail: Yolked@aol.com) is now hatched (Sorry!)
Yolk’s incubation (I can’t help it!) has been a long one, but it’s been worth it-Yolk poached its West Coast competition (Transpacific, XO and Face) and scrambles (Somebody stop me!) its real competition, the East Coast-produced A. Magazine. Yolk is a winner!
What stands out most to my eyes is Yolk’s design. Against its West Coast competition, there is no competition. I’ve always maintained that the weakest aspect of Transpacific was its design. As for A. Magazine, I’ve admired its design. It looks good.
Yolk, on the other hand, has just, 1994 upped the design ante by an order of magnitude! It is a visual blow away. The photography is, at long last, professional! I am so glad that the West Coast has redeemed itself in the field of Asian American magazines!
The content of Yolk matches its visual punch. This is a magazine with an attitude-it’s provocative, funny and above all, not boring. Beware, however: Yolk may offend the sensitive. That said, it seems to do so unapologetically, which is fine. It has a point-of view and that’s refreshing.
It’s table of contents include these articles: an interview with Margaret Cho of “All-American Girl” (she’s also on the cover); a feature on actress Vivian Wu; a “members only” article; a quiz titled “How Asian American are you?”; a feature on playwright David Henry Hwang and actor TZI Ma; and lots more.
All in all, what Yolk has done is stepped up to the plate and hit a grand slam in its first up-at-bat. Tommy Tam, Larry Tazuma, Philip Chung, Tin Yen, the writers, photographers and designers and the rest of the crew responsible for Yolk can be proud of an excellent first effort. It is all that it is cracked up to be (ouch!)
The tough part will be following its own act. The sophomore jinx looms! I have a hunch, though, that the Yolk folk will be up to the challenge.
As for subscription info for “The Magazine for the New GenerAsian,” (at least I’m not alone when it comes to bad puns) six issues can be had for $15.