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| The Totally Awesome Hulk #15 (2015) by Stonehouse – Shang Chi, Amadeus Cho, Silk, Ms. Marvel |
Here are the ten greatest Asian Marvel superheroes of all-time. Marvel comics has a ton of great Asian characters and they need to use them now.
Marvel is having a hard time portraying Asian characters. There’s the debacle of Iron Fist which pushed yet another white-person-saves-the-Asians trope known as “White Savior”. Then, there’s the controversial decision to change the “Ancient One” in Doctor Strange from an old Asian man to a Celtic white woman. Both could have worked out, but Marvel dropped the ball.
They’ve had some success on television with Agent Melinda May played by Ming-Na Wen. But it’s been hit-or-miss. With Disney’s announcement they’re launching their own TV show an opportunity has come up to right their wrongs.
It’s not a Marvel issue though. Hollywood has trouble casting Asians as anything but a sidekick or a supporting character. “It’s changed in Hollywood, but only so much,” Masa Oka from Heroes and Hawaii 5-0 told The Hollywood Reporter. “You can’t get Asians cast in leads yet. Maybe as a second lead, but the lead is still going to be Caucasian or African-American. But Hollywood is fickle, it follows trends. If a show or a film did well with an Asian lead, then it would take off.”
Marvel should launch a TV series featuring one of their excellent Asian superheroes. Here are 10 they can choose from.
Black Widow (Monica Chang-Fury)
- First Appearance: Ultimate Comics: Avengers #3 (2009).
- Created by: Mark Millar and Carlos Pacheco
- Ethnicity: Chinese American
Who is Monica Chang?
While fans are clamoring for a Black Widow movie starring Natasha Romanoff there’s one that should also get her due. Monica Chang is Nick Fury’s ex-wife in the Ultimates universe. She takes on the mantle of Black Widow after the death of Natasha Romanoff.
I hear you saying “Nick Fury was married?!” Yeah, he was. Chang’s aS.H.I.E.L.D. operative who fell in love with Fury and married him in an alternate reality of Ultimate Marvel. The marriage lasted six months, two weeks and five days. Why? She found out he’d slept with all her friends and relatives. Oh yeah, her mom too. It’s like the worst episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians.
But Monica is more than just Fury’s ex-wife she’s tough-as-nails. Not only is she tough enough to beat up the Punisher but she’s got enough skills to become the new director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Of the 11 directors of SHIELD, there have been only three women so she’s in a unique club.
It’s hard to imagine Samuel L. Jackson being OK with the storyline since it turns him into a jerk, but it’d make an awesome TV series. If that’s too much for him to handle they can go with the current continuity timeline where she’s the chief of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s A.I. Division. Ok, she’s a stereotypical Asian brainiac, but she’s also a devout Muslim so that cancels out the stereotype.
Does Marvel Own the Live-Action Rights? Yes. Marvel has the rights to any Avengers character and has already pulled from the Ultimate universe for Nick Fury. A TV series would be the perfect compliment to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter and continue the themes of female empowerment and intrigue.
Jubilee (Jubilation Lee)
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| Jubilee (Jubilation Lee) |
- First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #244 (1989)
- Created by: Chris Claremont and Marc Silvestri
- Ethnicity: Chinese American
Who is Jubilee?
Jubilation Lee aka Jubilee is a wealthy Chinese-American girl from LA with the mutant ability to make small colorful explosions. She was the 1990s equivalent of Kitty Pryde from the 80s, a viewpoint character for teenage readers. While her ability to make fireworks isn’t the greatest power it’s her brash attitude and spunky personality that makes us love her. Jubilee is loyal, street smart and outgoing and brings a sparkle to everything she does.
The show could be set in California since that state is a big part of Jubilees upbringing. While most Marvel shows are set in New York this would be a chance to show the other side of the Marvel Universe. Plus, while 14.9 percent of the state’s population identifies as Asian television doesn’t reflect that. A show with a young female Asian American lead would go a long way towards balancing the scales.
While she’s known for her exuberant personality Jubilee has a pretty dark past. Her parents are murdered by hitmen and she’s sent to an orphanage like little orphan Annie. Like little orphan Annie she’s taken in by mutants and adopted by Wolverine. Ok, that never happened but it would be awesome.
From there she joins the X-Men, becomes a sidekick for Wolverine and has the most awesome adventures ever while wearing her trademark yellow coat and glasses.
Jubilee has the distinction of being the only mutant to appear in four of the movies and be wasted at every opportunity. A TV series would be wondrous and could show a lighter side of the MCU. Plus, did I mention she turns into a vampire and adopts a little girl? It practically writes itself!
Does Marvel Own the Live-Action Rights to Jubilee?
No. She’s shown up in several Fox movies, but never Marvel Studios. Marvel doesn’t own the movie and TV rights to Jubilee since she’s a mutant but if the sale of Fox goes through they’d be fools not to fast-track a series for her.
Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan)
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| Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan) |
- First Appearance: Captain Marvel #14 (2013)
- Created by: Sana Amanat, Stephen Wacker, G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona
- Ethnicity: Pakistani-American
Who says Asian only means people from China or Japan? Kamala Khan is s Pakistani-American teenager who gets exposed to the Terrigen mist that gives Inhumans their powers. She wakes up and discovers she can transform her body at will. Taking on the name of her Hero Carol Danvers she calls herself Ms. Marvel.
Marvel’s first Muslim superhero to headline her own comic book is so popular that fans have been demanding she shows up in the MCU. She’s a natural fit with her confidence, wit, and heart. But a TV series would be perfect to explore her history, family, and beliefs set a heartwarming coming-of-age story as a teenager.
Does Marvel has the Live-Action Rights?
Yes. Joe Quesada, the Marvel Chief Creative Officer told Comic Book Resources that “she will be a part of the future of Marvel in other media.”
Excalibur (Dr. Faiza Hussain)
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| Excalibur (Dr. Faiza Hussain) |
- First Appearance: Captain Britain and MI: 13 #1 (2008)
- Created by: Paul Cornell and Leonard Kirk
- Ethnicity: Pakistani
Who is Faiza Hussain?
Faiza Hussain is a Pakistani doctor with the ability to take apart living things and put them back together. She’s an accomplished doctor, but after getting hit with a Skrull weapon she develops the ability to disassemble and reassemble biological things. Super gross but cool.
It’s a handy power for a doctor to be able to bypass the MRI and just pull the body apart. Can you imagine watching that on TV? Imagine if The Good Doctor had people’s skin and bones flying off their bodies! It’s rating gold, but you wouldn’t want to watch during dinner time.
Later she discovers she’s worthy of wielding the mythical sword Excalibur. So you’ve got a modern-day Game of Thrones going on although without the Red Wedding. This woman is tough enough to fight Dracula and tell the tale. She’s tough enough for a TV series. To keep the character authentic Cornell consulted with a group of Muslim women. Plus he decided that although the character is Muslim he wouldn’t introduce her religion unless most persons would do that in the same situation.
So, no conversations like this:
“Would you like some sugar?”
“Sure. I can eat sugar. You know in my religion all fruit, vegetables and vegetable products except those mixed with alcohol are considered Halaal. That Arabic word means ‘lawful’, and is used as a collective word to describe the Muslim diet. So I can eat sugar.”
While Kamala Khan is better known Faiza would be an incredible hero. Her love and compassion are needed at this time, plus she has a power that’s really valuable. As a healer, she could help fix up Hawkeye when he gets his arms and legs broken off by the Abomination.
Does Marvel Own the Live-Action Rights to Faiza Hussain?
Yes. Because we know they have the rights to Captain Britain. Kevin Feige said Captain Britain’s come up a few times and told Hey U Guys “there are a lot of actors that come in and ask about that part, so we’ll have to see.”
Cybermancer (Suzi Endo)
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| Cybermancer (Suzi Endo) |
- First Appearance: Force Works #6 (1994)
- Created by: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Tom Tenney
- Ethnicity: Japanese American
Who is Cybermancer?
Suzi Endo aka Cybermancer is Iron Man on steroids. She’s a genius at cybernetics and created her own super-powered armor. The suit is a marvel giving her enhanced strength, durability that rivals the unbreakable adamantium, speed, and flight. Her own knowledge of cybernetics gives her the ability to interface with all kinds of technology including War Machine’s own cybernetic software.
Endo would make an amazing character for a TV series. Besides being an Asian American woman there’s also the reality that most of the Marvel Universe is set up to face physical threats. While it would be awesome to see her beat up supervillains in her high-tech armor it could also open the door to dealing with the increasing threat of cybersecurity. Think what would happen if Thanos got his hands on a computer virus. Without Cybermancer to take Kaspersky out the MCU would be decimated.
If that isn’t enough she also became infused with the Power Cosmic and became the High Evolutionary’s herald named The Seeker. So it would tie into the space adventures of Guardians of the Galaxy or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Does Marvel Own the Live-Action Rights to Cybermancer?
Yes. Her first appearance is an Avenger. Force Works was formed from the remains of the West Coast Avengers.
Hulk (Amadeus Cho)
- First Appearance: Amazing Fantasy #15 (2005)
- Created by: Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa
- Ethnicity: Korean-American
Amadeus Cho the teenage genius is also known as “Mastermind Excello” and “Prince of Power”.
It’s in Cho’s recent series Totally Awesome Hulk that he got mainstream attention but he’s been awesome for years. The guy is an obnoxious loudmouth but he’s got the skills to pay the bills. He’s hacked pretty much everything in the Marvel universe. From the best way to dodge a flying hammer to using a Gameboy to hack Stark’s armor.
Marvel already has a snarky loudmouth with the white savior iron Fist. They can balance the scales by taking Cho and making him a leading man.
Does Marvel Have the Live-Action Rights to Amadeus Cho?
Probably. He’s already shown up in a minor role. In The Incredible Hulk (2008) there’s a “computer nerd” at Culver University that gives Banner visitor access in exchange for pizza. Plus, in Avengers: Age of Ultron Stark is helped out by a tech named Helen Cho which is the name of Amadeus’ mother in the comics.
Melati Kusuma (Komodo)
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| Melati Kusuma (Komodo) |
- First Appearance: Avengers: The Initiative #1 (2007)
- Created by: Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli
- Ethnicity: Japanese American
Who is Komodo?
Melati Kusuma is kind of like Wolverine with green skin. She can transform into a lizard-like creature with an accelerated healing factor and razor-sharp claws.
Kusuma lost both her legs in a brutal car crash. It was her own fault for going Fast and Furious down the street.
But after she lost her legs she got sick of people thinking of her as “that poor girl in the wheelchair”. So she went to college and got an internship with Dr. Connors who eventually became the supervillain Lizard. Connors was working on his serum to regenerate his arm using lizard juice. Kusuma wanted to try it but Connors said it would be too reckless. So what does she do? She steals it and uses it anyway.
Unlike Connors who has no control over The Lizard, Kusuma has full control and uses her mutation to become a superhero.
Komodo is not only an Asian hero but she’s also disabled. so it gives Marvel even more of an opportunity to embrace diversity. Plus, this woman is hardcore and not afraid to get her hands dirty. Her rebellious nature would fit perfectly with Jessica Jones.
Does Marvel Own the Live-Action Rights to Komodo?
Maybe. The character owes its origins to a major Spider-Man villain. So that means Sony, who owns the live-action rights to Spider-Man and Spider-Man characters. But if Marvel can make a deal for Spider-Man then they can get the rights to Komodo. On the other hand, her first appearance is an Avengers comic and that could give them the rights. This one is up-in-the-air.
Cindy Moon (Silk)
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| Cindy Moon (Silk) |
- First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #4 (2014)
- Created by Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos
- Ethnicity: Korean-American
Remember that spider that bit Peter Parker and turned him into Spider-Man? Surprise! There’s another one. In 2014 Cindy Moon was introduced as Silk. It turns out the spider that bit Parker had the munchies and chowed down on her after biting Peter. She gets similar powers as Peter except she shoots organic webbing from her hands.
Silk was created because Slott noticed there aren’t a lot of prominent female Asian characters in the Marvel universe. And she’s awesome. She was a genius before the bite and she’s an even more amazing woman afterward. Her backstory is that after the spider bites Peter on the hand it bites her on the ankle. Unlike Peter, who knows exactly how to use his powers she accidentally webs up her parents. She’s taken in by Ezekiel Sims who trains her in her powers but then locks her in isolation for years. Moon escapes and becomes Silk. Moon became a fan favorite and had her own series for a while.
She’d be awesome in her own series especially if they can find a way to include her tragic history and emotional issues from the bunker.
Does Marvel Have the Live-Action Rights to Cindy Moon?
No, but there are signs Marvel wants to borrow her from Sony. In Spider-Man: Homecoming one of Peter Parker’s school friends is named Cindy played by Chinese-born American Tiffany Espensen. Fans are speculating that this is Cindy Moon with a modified origin.
Silhouette (Silhouette Chord)
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| Silhouette (Silhouette Chord) |
- First Appearance: New Warriors #2 (1990)
- Created by: Fabian Nicieza and Mark Bagley.
- Ethnicity: Mixed
Silhouette, or Sil’, is a fascinating character and ties in nicely with an existing Marvel show. Sil’s backstory alone would make an amazing mini-series. During the Vietnam war, a cult in Cambodia decided to use selective breeding and powerful energy source called the “Well of All Things” to create a race of superior humans. After she and her twin brother were born her mother hide them in an orphanage in Chinatown. The two discovered their latent powers as teenagers. She developed the ability to teleport through what’s called the “Darkforce dimension” into and out of shadows. She also has enhanced speed, strength, agility, and a type of enhanced sensory perception.
Silhouette and her brother joined a group to stop gang violence and got shot. It paralyzed her from the waist down, but she didn’t give up. Sil uses braces to walk and even developed a fighting style with them. Imagine getting beat up by a girl on crutches. You’d never make it out of prison alive.
I’m looking forward to the Cloak & Dagger series on Freeform specifically for the dark force powers. This is right up my alley.
Does Marvel Have the Live-Action Rights to Silhouette?
Yes. Her first appearance is in a comic that Marvel has the rights to and her powers don’t come from a mutation.
Sunfire (Shiro Yoshida)
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| Sunfire (Shiro Yoshida) |
- First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #64 (1970)
- Created by: Roy Thomas and Don Heck
- Ethnicity: Japanese
Yoshida is a mutant with the ability to generate fire and fly. After the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima his mother suffered from radiation poisoning. He was born with the ability to absorb solar radiation and use to bust out some serious flames. His mother died from her exposure during birth and that makes him understandably resentful of the United States.
Sunfire started out as the definition of the anti-hero when he first appeared and the x-men had to fight to stop him from attacking the Capitol building. Professor Xavier manages to talk some sense into him, but he refuses to join the X-Men. There’s a huge storyline when he’s turned into an agent of Apocalypse and goes around burning up food in the world to try and create world hunger.
The guy is literally a powder keg and would make an explosive tv series or movie. Plus Asian leading men are in short supply and actors are usually relegated to goofy sidekicks. This would be a chance to change the game.
Does Marvel Have the Live-Action Rights to Sunfire? No. But if the Fox deal goes through then Marvel would be able to add him and all the mutants to the MCU.
So the next time you see a new Marvel TV show hopefully they’ll showcase one of these amazing Asian Superheroes.
Which Asian superhero would you like to see a Marvel TV show based on? Which is your favorite?
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