NYCC 2026: Chris Choi Reinterprets ‘The Shining’ As A Metaphor For His Identity Struggles In The Graphic Memoir ‘Choi Meets World’
by Gary Catig
Scholastic highlighted their latest and upcoming titles at an off site event during New York Comic Con 2026. One of the interesting graphic novels showcased was the memoir Choi Meets World from creator Chris Choi.
Choi was born in the United States, but life didn’t work out here so his family was forced to return to South Korea when he was still very young. His mother sacrificed, working three jobs to support him after his father left the picture. In order to give her son a better life, Choi was adopted by his aunt, his mom’s youngest sister, and her American soldier husband. Choi Meets World tells his experience growing up as an immigrant adopted child in a military family.
Comics were a big part of Choi’s life. They would transport him to another world and teach him English. The work that left a lasting impact was Calvin and Hobbes, particularly its imaginative side. Readers will able to see its influence, along with other sources of pop culture.
Choi described one particular scene in the graphic memoir.
“I sketched myself drowning in kimchi,” he said. “I felt like if I told people that I am Korean, as the only Asian kid at school, the floodgates will open and I would just be bullied mercilessly. You know, that’s kind of like The Shining with the elevator and the blood, but instead of blood, it’s kimchi. If you know anything about Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids, they love Stanly Kubrick’s The Shining. It was such a stupid idea, but that really got the ball rolling. Oh, I can talk about how I felt through imagination but also I can stick in 90s pop culture to cement the time period as well.”
Working with Scholastic has added meaning to Choi. In his personal story arc, when he first returned to the U.S. as a kid, he went to the Scholastic book fair at his school. Although he was still only speaking basic English. He felt ashamed and ended up not purchasing anything. Fast forward to now as an adult, he can tell his own story which will appear at Scholastic book fairs across the country. A very surreal moment.
Choi Meets World releases February 2, 2027.
