G
Gene Luen Yang
Gene Luen Yang is a master storyteller, bringing us the incredible world of Avatar. He's a brilliant graphic novelist known for his engaging stories that often blend humor and heart.
The Shadow Hero
Synopsis
During the 1940s comics boom, a new hero emerges: the Green Turtle, the first Asian American superhero. In the Chinese neighborhood of San Incendio, young Hank is reluctant to embrace his mother's dream of him becoming a crime fighter. However, when local gangsters threaten his family's grocery store, Hank must step up and discover the hero within.
Genres
Characters
HankProtagonist
Green TurtleProtagonist
Hank's motherSupporting
Hank's fatherSupporting
Frequently asked questions
Is The Shadow Hero part of a series?
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.
What inspired the creation of The Shadow Hero?
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.
How does this book relate to Gene Luen Yang's other works?
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.