Last week, comic book writer Greg Pak shared a preview of Totally Awesome Hulk #15, which is due out later this month.
It's *possible* that no mainstream superhero comic has ever starred as many Asian American superheroes as TOTALLY A… https://t.co/tU94vDMHrr
The cover art had been known since October, but Pak's tweet confirmed the issue.
In case you aren't familiar with the characters, that’s Shang-Chi, who sometimes hangs out with Iron Fist, Amadeus Cho (the current Hulk), Cindy Moon (Silk), and Kamala Khan (Ms Marvel) – all Asian superheroes, teaming up together in one issue
Pak suggested this might be the largest gathering of Asian superheroes in one issue. He also teased at appearances from S.H.I.E.L.D agents Jimmy Woo and Jake Oh in another upcoming issue.
More Asian American superheroes on the cover of TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #17! Gorgeous cover art by Stonehouse. Story s… https://t.co/r6WWlgG6is
The diverse nature of the issue has been met with huge amounts of praise.
I haven't bought a comic book in over 20 years. But that's going to change really soon! https://t.co/QBqx0RJPHg
Totally Awesome Hulk #15 (out Jan 2017) is about Asian-American heroes teaming up.... Omg this is art
Many have pointed out that the cover art, by Korean artist Stonehouse, really compliments the feel of the issue.
Gonna need this art framed and hung on the wall. https://t.co/ZgiR8PrdXx
Others have praised writer Greg Pak for creating a space where Asian superheroes can team up.
This is so freaking lit. @gregpak changing the game 👍🏼🤘🏼#API https://t.co/bgqy6IWFYd
Other recent issues of Totally Awesome Hulk, also written by Pak, featured Asian American basketball player Jeremy Lin.
:') https://t.co/J76fYHbuQQ
Speaking to BuzzFeed News, Pak said that he felt compelled to bring some of Marvel's Asian characters together based on his own experience of hanging with Asian friends.
"Over the years, I've had tons of dinners and karaoke sessions with fellow Asian American friends and colleagues at various comic conventions and film festivals where we get real and real ridiculous and everything in between," he said. "And I found myself thinking that the Asian American heroes in the Marvel Universe would probably hang out like that every once in a while, right? So what would they do and say? What kinds of bonding and what kinds of conflict would arise? And then what would happen if the other shoe dropped and they had to go straight from a night out to a massive superhero adventure?"