Marvel Comics Announce MARVEL'S VOICES: IDENTITY #1 to Celebrate Asian Superheroes and Creators
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and to celebrate, Marvel Comics has announced a new comic in the Marvel’s Voices line that will focus on Asian super heroes. Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1 will feature stories written and illustrated by Asian and Asian American creators like Gene Luen Yang, Christina Strain, Marcus To, and Maurene Goo. Based solely on the cover, it looks like we’ll get stories about Shang-Chi, Ms. Marvel, Jubilee, Silk, and Jimmy Woo. I’m very excited to see what stories are told in this compilation book.
The giant-sized one-shot will be full action-packed of stories told in the Mighty Marvel Manner! Eisner Award-winning writer Gene Luen Yang continues his groundbreaking work on the Shang-Chi mythos in an all-new tale with artist Marcus To (Excalibur). Get ready for some fireworks when Generation X writer Christina Strain and artist Jason Loo catch up with everyone’s favorite mutant mallrat Jubilee. Greg Pak takes secret agent Jimmy Woo on another hair-raising mission that will mark the Marvel Comics debut of artist Creees Lee. Also new to Marvel, artist Lynee Yoshii joins critically acclaimed Maurene Goo to weave another unpredictable adventure in the saga of Silk. Plus, an amazing tale starring Ms. Marvel drawn by Mashal Ahmed and some bonus surprises that will be announced at a later date.
Talking about the impact of Asians on Marvel, editor Darren Shan said:
It’s unreal to me that one of Marvel’s first Asian super heroes, Jimmy Woo, was first introduced in 1956. He predates the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and the X-Men. It just goes to show that Asians have been an integral part of Marvel’s history, both on the page and behind it. So I’m incredibly excited to celebrate that with all these amazing creators, new and established, featuring some of Marvel’s greatest (and dare I say it, best) super heroes!
Yang shared his excitement for being a part of the comic:
I'm thrilled to be a part of MARVEL’S VOICES: IDENTITY #1. Asian and Asian American super heroes are such a vital part of the Marvel Universe. Asian and Asian American creators, too. This book proves it.
Strain added her feelings:
Jubilation Lee was an important character for me growing up as an Asian American kid in the 90s, so it's an incredible feeling knowing that I've been able to directly contribute to the development of her character and history.
You can check out the cover for Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1 from Jim Cheung below. Fans will be able to read the book on August 11.
