Eric Nakamura graduated from UCLA with a degree in East Asian Studies. He got his start in magazine making through a stint at Larry Flynt Publications. In addition to publishing issues of GR, Nakamura has made an independent movie called Sunsets, shot photos for punk rock bands, and designed t-shirts.
From movie stars, musicians, and skateboarders to toys, technology, and history, Giant Robot magazine covers cool aspects of Asian and Asian-American pop culture. Paving the way for less knowledgeable media outlets, Giant Robot put the spotlight on Chow Yun Fat, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li years before they were in mainstream America's vocabulary.
But Giant Robot is much more than idol worship. GR's spirited reviews of canned coffee drinks, instant ramen packs, Japanese candies, Asian frozen desserts, and marinated bugs have spawned numerous copycat articles in other publications. GR's historical pieces on the Yellow Power Movement, footbinding, Asian-American gangsters, and other savory topics have been cited by both academics and journalists. Other regular features include travel journals, art and design studies, and sex.
Eric Nakamura and Martin Wong launched Giant Robot magazine in 1994 with no budget, no bureaucratic meetings, and no excuses to anyone. Applying knowhow and attitude from the co-editors' punk rock zine background, the first GR was a stapled-and-folded photocopied digest with an edition of 240. Over time, Giant Robot has grown over 100 times larger, and has gained accolades as the best zines according to the L.A. Weekly, L.A. New Times, Wired, and Zine Guide. Giant Robot is now tackling magazine racks around the world.
Although Giant Robot has an Asian pop culture focus, it has earned a loyal readership of all colors. The readers are about half-Asian and half-not. With consistently superior editorial content, innovative design, and a no-hold-barred attitude, Giant Robot has earned notoriety across a diverse crowd ranging from high schoolers to senior citizens.
Look for Giant Robot at Barnes & Noble, Tower, Virgin, Borders, small boutiques, comic book shops, and mom and pop record shops, or use the online store.