Gene Luen Yang and Sonny Liew’s The Shadow Hero features the backstory of the Asian American superhero, the Green Turtle. Hank, a typical 19-year old, becomes Chinatown’s own superhero after assuming the turtle spirit that once inhabited his father. Through the personalities of Hank, his mother, and other supporting characters, The Shadow Hero challenges Asian stereotypes while still being an entertaining and well-drawn comic.
Hank defies various Asian stereotypes. Asian men are typically seen as being weak, which goes along with the “hardworking nerd” stereotype that is so commonly associated with Asians, both male and female. Hank, however, is built and muscular, and his physical abilities are what make him so successful in fights – aside from his bulletproof skin. There is also no mention of schoolwork throughout the comic; Hank is portrayed as a normal teenager without the expectation of school being his top priority in his life.
The female characters in The Shadow Hero also challenge Asian female stereotypes of being quiet and subservient. By contrast, women in the comic are portrayed as self-sufficient and strong. Hank’s mother is extremely independent: she has her own job, doesn’t listen to her husband (or even her boss sometimes), and is always ready to take matters into her own hands should family situations go awry. The daughters of Ten Grand are also independent, and when necessary, can be lethal. In the beginning of the comic, the daughter in the red dress ends up saving Hank in addition to protecting herself from street predators. The daughters of Ten Grand are well-trained in fighting, and are by no means vulnerable or subservient.
The Shadow Hero successfully portrays Asians in a non-stereotypical and respectful manner. Hank’s family is an ordinary American family, and Chinese culture is never made shown in a judgmental light. Asian characters are also not drawn in a caricature-like way, which is especially noticeable once compared with the style in which Asians were portrayed in the original comic The Green Turtle. Sonny Liew does not draw overly slanted eyes or extremely yellow skin, yet readers can still differentiate between Asian and non-Asian characters. The Shadow Hero also mentions racism against Asians, an issue that is often overlooked in society. When the detective calls Asians “sneaky, slant-eyed bastards,” readers are taken aback by his words and his surprise that an Asian like Hank could actually be a successful superhero. Stereotypes in The Shadow Hero are often not present, a lack that speaks volumes on the reality behind the inherent racism of racial stereotypes.
