Gene Yang began publishing comics under the Humble Comics name in 1996. He won the Xeric Grant to publish his first adult comic, Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks.

American Born Chinese (2006) won the American Library Association's Michael Printz Prize for young adult novel. It was also a finalist for a National Book Award and the first graphic novel to be nominated for that prize.

He is the director of information services at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, CA. He lives in Fremont, CA with his wife and children.

In an interview in the School Library Journal, Yang says that he was influenced by Walt Disney cartoons and by Bruce Timm's designs for the Batman animated series (Margolis).

Recurring themes in Yang's work include:

• the exploration of ethnic identity
• masking and unmasking and transformations
• food and pastry as a means of sharing a friendship

• American Born Chinese (2006)
• Duncan's Kingdom
• Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks
• The Rosary Comic Book

• Comics and Other Stuff by Gene Yang: the author's official site

• Margolis, Rick. "American born Chinese: Gene Yang's remarkable graphic novel grapples with racial prejudice."  School Library Journal 52.9 (Sept 2006): 41(1). 
• Vizzini, Ned. "High Anxiety." The New York Times Book Review. 13 May 2007: 24.