May is just around the corner. And what’s so special about that month? May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month! What better way to kick off this celebration and remembrance of Asian & Pacific Islander people’s heritage than taking a look at some of my favorite Asian superheroes, and why I love them.
If you know me, I love superheroes. There’s just something about having mighty powers and the ability to make a significant difference in people’s lives that’s so appealing. Unfortunately, in the Eurocentric society we live in, there aren’t many heroes out there that represent me. Especially when creators go out of their way to use AAPI heritage to tell stories but refuse to have anyone of us be central to the plot. It’s a little discouraging.
So here are some of my favorite AAPI superheroes who have come out within the last couple of years. I’m listing only five, but there are really only a handful other heroes who share this background. Small in number, but important in impact. Let’s dive right in.
1. Hiro Hamada — Big Hero 6, Big Hero 6: The Series
Hiro– the biracial super genius teen of San Franksokyo– made his debut back in 2015 alongside his wonderfully diverse cast of teammates and huggable, squishable health care provider Bayamx. The movie had a lot of emotion, and I can say it’s definitely one of my favorite movies ever. Later this Fall, Hiro will be returning with his friends! Only this time it’ll be on our TV screens. Big Hero 6: The Series will be airing on Disney XD and will have most of the original cast returning, with specifically the reason I loved Hiro in the first place: Ryan Potter, his voice actor. The show has already been renewed for a second season (before it’s even aired) and I can’t wait to see what adventures come out of it.
2. Amadeus Cho — Totally Awesome Hulk, Champions
We have yet another teen super genius, only this one can pack a punch. Amadeus Cho, the Korean-American Hulk. He’s brash, he’s smart, and he’s got a severe lack of impulse control. But I love him regardless of it. With his sister Maddy, they take on monsters and try to keep humankind safe. I will admit his comics don’t have the most complex plots going for them but his character as a whole is very enjoyable to me.
3. Marinette Dupian-Cheng — Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir
She’s part magical girl, part Chinese, but full time superhero. Marinette may be French, but she’s still an Asian superhero that deserves recognition. Plus, there’s not many Asian superheroes so I’ll take what I can get. Miraculous is definitely a formulaic show, akin to the magical girl genre of anime. But each episode is so creatively designed, and each villain of the week brings something fun to the table. Season 2 is due to arrive sometime soon on Netflix, in which the creator promised an actual arc to be prevalent as opposed to one-time villains. I can’t wait to see what unfurls this season!
4. Kamala Khan — Ms. Marvel, Champions
Ready to kick butt and fight for social justice, this Pakistani-American hero quickly became one of my all time favorite characters. The plot lines in Ms. Marvel really sold me because it combines the whole fantasy of superheroism with the reality of being a minority in an urban setting. Although she can get a bit preachy at times, I genuinely enjoy reading her comics because they speak truth about injustice.
5. Arthur Curry — Justice League, Aquaman
I have loved Aquaman since the dawn of time. Before he was showcased to be this badass, all powerful sea king… back when he was just a guy who talked to fish, I loved him. Now with Jason Momoa set to star as one of my all time favorite superheroes on the big screen? No words can capture my eternal giddiness about it.
I always wondered why Aquaman was some blond, blue-eyed guy when he’s from the ocean. My understanding has always been that the king of the sea should be a guy who comes from a place where the ocean is central to life! Yeah, fishing community somewhere in America is pretty close to the ocean, but I always thought he should be like Hawaiian or from the Caribbean. Lo and behold all these years later, and Native Hawaiian and Native American Jason Momoa is the all powerful fish-talker. I’m very excited for Justice League this November followed by his solo movie in 2018.
Outside of these five superheroes, there’s really not much others out there unfortunately. All of these characters mentioned have come out within the last three years! In Western media, AAPI folks are way out in the margins. There’s not much representation of us out there. Even in that regard, there’s more focus on East Asians than Southeast Asians, and even less focus on Pacific Islander characters.
I’m glad of the progress that has been made in terms of making us actual superheroes. Superheroes that don’t need to be reduced to being a stereotype of their culture. It’s progress, but not enough. Not when Asian actors are specifically turned away from projects dealing with their own cultures, not when Asian aesthetics are favored but not the people. There’s a long way to go before AAPI people are properly represented in media.
Perspective in Color 