The Shadow Hero - Paperback

by Gene Luen Yang (Author), Sonny Liew (Illustrator)

Before capes ruled comics, there was the Green Turtle -- the first Asian American superhero.

In 1940s Chinatown, Hank Chu doesn't dream of becoming a hero. He just wants a normal life. Unfortunately, his fearless mother has other plans. She's determined to turn her son into a legendary crimefighter, whether he likes it or not.

When gangsters, corruption, and dark forces threaten the city, Hank reluctantly steps into the role of the Shadow Hero, discovering that being a hero is far more dangerous -- and far more personal -- than he ever imagined.

Created by bestselling author Gene Luen Yang and acclaimed artist Sonny Liew, Shadow Hero reimagines the little-known Golden Age character with thrilling action, heartfelt family dynamics, and sharp humor.

Perfect for fans of:
- superhero origin stories
- DC and Marvel comics
- pulp crime adventures
- coming-of-age heroes

Author Biography

Gene Luen Yang writes, and sometimes draws, comic books and graphic novels. As the Library of Congress's fifth National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, he advocates for the importance of reading, especially reading diversely. His graphic novel American Born Chinese, a National Book Award finalist and Printz Award winner, has been adapted into a streaming series on Disney+. His two-volume graphic novel Boxers & Saints won the LA Times Book Prize and was a National Book Award finalist. His nonfiction graphic novel Dragon Hoops received an Eisner Award and a Printz honor. His other comics works include Secret Coders (with Mike Holmes), The Shadow Hero (with Sonny Liew), as well as Superman Smashes the Klan and the Avatar: The Last Airbender series (both with Gurihiru). In 2016, he was named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow.

Sonny Liew is a Malaysian-born comic artist and illustrator based in Singapore. He is the author of The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, a New York Times bestseller and the first graphic novel to win the Singapore Literature Prize. His other comics include titles for Marvel, DC, and Image. He spearheaded Liquid City, a comics anthology series featuring creators from Southeast Asia.