Asian Herritage Month Characters of the Day: Justice League of China
2016 series New Super-Man, after 19 issues renamed New Super-Man and the Justice League of China, introduced a goup of teenage superheroes modeled by Ministry of Self-Reliance after classic Justice League members in an attempt at “beating Americans at their own game”. The team initially consisted of Wang Baixi, who passed rigurous tests to become Bat-Man of China; Peng Deilain, a character from a famous Chinese legend (saying more would be a spoiler) as Wonder-Woman; and Kong Kenan, who was imbued with energies left after Superman’s apparent death to become Super-Man of China. The group would later be joined by Avery Ho - a Chinese-American speedster who debuted in 2016 Flash #3-8 before reappearing in this book as Flash of China. And in the final arc they are joined by Ahn Kwan-Yo, a North-Korean refugee bestown with powers similiar to Aquaman by spirt of half-legendary king Munmu. He goes by Dragonson but people often call him Aqua-Man of North Korea.
The book is highly recommended by me, it is a great mixture of funny and thought-provoking, not shying away from serious topic like widespread censorship and information control in China or racist deciptions of Asians in past DC books. Writer Gene Yang does trmendous job conencting the DC mythos, and Superman mythos in particular, to the politica, mythological and philosophical history of China.
Aside the book the team has appeared in the Terrifics #25, Deilain in Wonder Woman #82 and Kenan in Action Comics #981-984, Superman #14-16 (first time meeting between Kenan and Clark), Deathstroke #26-29 and Supergirl #14. Meanwhile Avery has returned to be supporting character in abovementioned Flash book, appearing in issues #39-45, #75-87, #750 and #752
-Admin