The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang (review)

Comic-book trivia fans may have heard of the Green Turtle, a superhero from the 1940s who was only seen with his face blocked or masked because (as the story goes) the artist wanted to make him Asian-American but the publisher wouldn’t allow it. Yang and Liew here reinvent this character in a brilliant homage that finally allows the Green Turtle to get his long overdue face time. Hank just wanted to run a Chinatown grocery with his beloved father, but his ambitious mother has much bigger dreams for her boy, to the extent that, among other attempts, she exposes him to deadly chemicals in the hopes of triggering a superpower. However, it takes a horrific tragedy, during which Hank is joined by a shadow spirit, one of four who were born in China and who have protected the country for centuries, for him to find his abilities. Danger, adventure, a hint of romance, and a strong dose of hard justice await—the perfect mix for a superhero comic. The addition of intriguing cultural and historical elements, a vulnerable protagonist, and superb use of spacing, color palette, and panel formatting to heighten impact all combine to make this an exceptional outing, a graphic novel that echoes the episodic format of the comic books that inspired it. A substantial and riveting author’s note breaks down the rumors about the original comic book and explains the approach the Yang and Liew took in their new look at this old character. Bonus material in the form of a sample from the 1940s comic gives readers firsthand material to pore through in all its sometimes offensive, sometimes luminous glory—a rare treat indeed.