Trung Le Nguyen

In this Vietnamese name, the surname is Nguyễn, but is often simplified to Nguyen in English-language text. In accordance with Vietnamese custom, this person should be referred to by the given name, Trung.

Trung Le Nguyen (Vietnamese: Nguyễn Lê Trung, born June 2, 1990),^[1] also known as Trungles, is a Vietnamese American cartoonist. He is best known as the author of the graphic novel The Magic Fish, published by Random House Graphic in 2020.

Trung Le Nguyen
Trung in 2022
Born	Nguyễn Lê Trung (1990-06-02) June 2, 1990 (age 34) Palawan, Philippines
Nationality	American
Other names	Trungles
Education	Hamline University
Occupation	Cartoonist
Notable work	The Magic Fish
Website	trungles.com

Biography

Early life and career

Trung Le Nguyen was born in a Vietnamese refugee camp somewhere in the Philippines Province of Palawan and moved to the United States as a child in 1992.^[2][3] He began drawing comics in middle school but gave up the pastime in college, stating, "I never really thought to make it a career. It always seemed like this fluffy way for me to pass the time".^[4] He graduated from Hamline University with a bachelor's degree in studio art with a minor in art history in 2012.^[5][6][7] Originally planning to pursue a career in arts administration, he instead chose to pursue a career in comics.^[4] Trung's art is noted for its use of traditional inking and penciling and references to Vietnamese imagery,^[8] shōjo manga, and classic children's literature.^[9] He cites Rose O'Neill, Heinrich Lefler, and Harry Clarke among his influences.^[4]

In 2017, Trung was a jurist for the Ignatz Awards.^[10][11] Also in 2017 his coloring book Fauns & Fairies was published by Oni Press under their erotic comics imprint Limerence Press.^[12] In 2018, he was an artist on the Image Comics romance comics anthology Twisted Romance, written by Alex de Campi.^[13] In 2020, Random House Graphic published Trung's debut graphic novel The Magic Fish.^[14] The book, which follows a young Vietnamese gay immigrant and his parents who bond and learn English through fairy tale books, was inspired by Trung's upbringing.^[9][15]

In 2022, it was reported that Trung's second graphic novel titled Angelica And The Bear Prince would be published by Random House Graphic in 2025.^[16][17]

Personal life

Trung is gay,^[2] non-binary, and uses pronouns he/they.^[18] He resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota.^[19][20]

Bibliography

Title	Year	Publisher	Identifier	Ref.
Fauns & Fairies: The Adult Fantasy Coloring Book	2017	Limerence Press	ISBN 978-1-62010-403-3	[21]
Twisted Romance #4	2018	Image Comics	ASIN B077XKXFGY	[13]
Adventure Time Marshall Lee Spectacular		Boom! Studios	ASIN B01M07CJBI	[22]
Star Spinner Tarot	2020	Chronicle Books	ISBN 978-1-4521-8006-9	[23]
The Magic Fish		Random House Graphic	ISBN 978-0-593-12529-8	[24]
Aquaman: 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1	2021	DC Comics	ASIN B09DGR27M3	[25]

Accolades

Trung was nominated for a 2021 Eisner Award for Best Writer/Artist. The Magic Fish won two 2021 Harvey Awards for Book of the Year and Best Children or Young Adult Book. It was also named a top book on the American Library Association's Rainbow List in 2021,^[26] and was selected as one of the best books of 2020 by The Globe and Mail,^[27] the New York Public Library,^[28] and Nerdist.^[29]

Organizations[a]	Year[b]	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
British Fantasy Award	2021	Best Comic/Graphic Novel	The Magic Fish	Finalist	[30]
Delaware Library Association	2023	Blue Hen Book Award for Graphic Novels for Teen Readers		Nominated	[31]
Dragon Con	2021	Dragon Awards for Best Graphic Novel		Finalist	[32]
Eisner Awards	2021	Best Writer/Artist		Nominated	[33]
GLAAD Media Award	2021	Outstanding Comic Book		Nominated	[34]
Harvey Awards	2021	Book of the Year		Won	[35]
		Best Children or Young Adult Book		Won
International Literacy Association	2021	Young Adult Fiction		Won	[36]
Lambda Literary Awards	2021	LGBTQ Young Adult		Finalist	[37]
Mare di Libri Book Prize	2023	Best Graphic Novel		Won[c]	[38]
Romics del Fumetto Award	2023	Best Children's Book		Won[c]	[39]
South Dakota Library Association	2023	Teen Choice Book Awards for Middle School		Honored	[40]
The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents	2022	Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award		Finalist	[41]
Virginia Library Association	2021	VLA Graphic Novel Diversity Awards for Youth		Won	[42]

Notes

1. Awards, festivals, honors and other miscellaneous organizations are listed in alphabetical order.
2. Indicates the year of ceremony.
3. The prize was awarded to the Italian version of the book titled Magic fish. Le storie del pesce magico.