Things are definitely not “back to normal” – whatever the “new normal” looks like – but with longer days in the northern hemisphere and some encouraging news in our global fight against COVID, things did get a whole lot brighter. May was also Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and publishers celebrated in a big way, as you’ll see below. After a long year of uncertainty, instability and change, the comics industry is still standing. With week after week of outstanding work, May 2021 seems to signal a turning point. Creatively, at least, comics are thriving.
Most Impressive Lineup of Protagonists and Comic Creators with Asian Heritage
With over thirty AAPI comic artists and writers and 100 pages of content, “DC Festival of Heroes: The Asian Superhero Celebration” is a fantastic book with something for everyone. There are some great pinups by Jen Bartel, Cliff Chiang and others, a powerful introductory essay by Jeff Yang and a wealth of new stories from some of the best creators on the planet – by any standard.
While the typical page count clocks in at about eight pages, some of the shortest stories are also the best. With illustrations by breakout artist Trung Lê Nguyen and letters by Aditya Bidikar, writer Minh Lê delivers a brief, but lovely story about young Vietnamese Green Lantern Tai Pham. The whole thing is a mere three pages, but it instantly reminds us why last year’s all-ages graphic novel, “Green Lantern: Legacy,” was so great. Similarly, Dustin Nguyen wows us with his signature water color artwork in another 3-page story, telling a quiet, empathetic tale that is sure to stick with you for a while. Arguably, DC saved the best for last with the dazzling debut of the mother-flipping Monkey Prince in Gene Luen Yang’s eponymously titled “The Monkey Prince Hates Superheroes.” It’s a raucous, action-packed introduction to a wild and likable character who is sure to be a fan favorite when the series continues later this year.
Best Reclamation of the Chinese Detective Trope:
Sadly, it’s a well documented fact that anti-Asian hate crimes rose nearly 150% from 2019 to 2020. Statistically, weaponized racist rhetoric and anti-Asian sentiment may be at an all time high in the U.S., but it’s definitely nothing new. Chinese immigrants have suffered institutional racism since they first arrived, as exemplified by the galling Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 and Johnson-Reed Act in 1924.
As noted on the third page of “The Good Asian” #1 – the brilliant first installment of a new creator-owned series from Image by writer Pornsak Pichetshote – Chinese Americans were the first generation to come of age under a sweeping immigration ban. Detective Edison Park, the titular “good Asian,” is part of that legally villainized generation. Unlike the stereotypical hardboiled Chinese detectives who featured in so many pulp novels and movies, however, Park is a fully realized human being. He’s smart as a whip, very observant and almost maddeningly stoic as he endures a seemingly endless barrage of racial epithets. The mood is decidedly noir, but the story is far from formulaic. Pichetshote reexamines the past to shine a light on the present with the hope of building a better future.
Most Anticipated Character Debut:
Yeah, okay. Technically, this is not her debut, but after a handful of appearances in various Future State books, Wonder Girl Yara Flor finally gets her own series. Even better, the book is brought to you by the original superstar team of writer-illustrator Joëlle Jones and colorist Jordie Bellaire. “I was a bit nervous about how she’d be received once she was out in the world,” said Jones in an interview with DC Nation. “I’m really happy that people are enjoying her.” Judging by fans’ reaction, Jones has nothing to worry about. Yara Flor is a smash.
As the daughter of an Amazon woman and a Brazilian river god, Yara never knew Themyscira or even that it existed. In “Wonder Girl” #1, Jones winds the clock back to the very beginning. Yara is on her way to Brazil to reconnect with a past she doesn’t remember. Readers, on the other hand, get a glimpse of Yara’s tragic beginnings in a powerful flashback. We also get a firsthand look at her impulsivity, youthful exuberance and desire to do what’s right. “Wonder Girl” promises to be an exhilarating ride as we watch Yara become Wonder Girl.
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Most Bittersweet Series Finale
Matt Kindt’s “Fear Case” – with art from “Grass Kings” collaborators Tyler + Hilary Jenkins – has been a moody, atmospheric, tantalizing series from the start. The artwork has been spectacular and beautifully in tune with the script. With rock solid, highly compelling visual sequences to carry the story, Kindt has free rein to explore the characters’ innermost thoughts. The book is a philosophical thought experiment as much as a horror comic.
The third installment ended with Winters receiving the Fear Case, but not entirely sure what to do next. By the time fourth and final book opens, Winters has made his decision and we soon learn why. His partner Mitchum is left to pick up the pieces, as he struggles with the loss of his dear friend – who seems to have been more than that.
Finally, we get to see inside the case in a climactic two-page spread that gives us just enough concrete information to feel a sense of resolution, while it also maintains a certain air of mystery. Mitchum and Winters will be missed, but by the final page, Kindt has ended the series in a way that feels inevitable.
Best Colors
Colorist Tamra Bonvillain is one of the best in the business. Her colors are electric without being garish. This May, she brought a whole new look to “Wonder Woman” #772, deftly walking a fine line between going to far afield and injecting the iconic series with a rush of raw energy. The blue-on-blue effect of an airborne Diana Prince is simply gorgeous. Later, she reimagines Valhalla to give us some of her finest and most intense pages of this, or any year. Becky Cloonan’s pacing is impeccable, while illustrator Travis Moore and Bonvillain match her stride for stride. Together, Cloonan, Moore and Bonvillain are breaking new ground with one of comics most enduring characters. Bonvillain’s colors, in particular, feel emblematic of this bold new run.
In the world of comics, at least, May 2021 was stellar with an array of books that should be on your pull list. Be well. Read something new. Introduce a kid to comics.
