The Shadow Hero

This graphic novel is a standalone story, though it draws inspiration from a historical, unfinished comic strip character. Readers can enjoy the complete narrative without needing to read any preceding or subsequent works.

The book reimagines the Green Turtle, a character from a 1940s comic book that is widely considered to be the first Asian American superhero. Gene Luen Yang and Sonny Liew developed a backstory and modern narrative for this historically significant but largely forgotten figure.

While distinct in its narrative, The Shadow Hero shares Yang's characteristic exploration of identity, cultural heritage, and the superhero genre, themes also prominent in his acclaimed works like American Born Chinese.