Green Turtle

History

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Blazing Comics

The Green Turtle was a mysterious individual who almost never let anyone see his face, the reader included.

Armed only with his wits, combats skills, a remarkable light aircraft (the Turtle Plane; possibly a custom-modified XP-40Q Curtiss Warhawk, incorporating elements of the RAF Percival Proctor and the Gloster E.28/39 turbojet) and a mystic jade dagger, he and Burma Boy, a youngster he saved from the Japanese, flew across Asia battling the Imperial Japanese Army.

While having no obvious powers granted by his jade dagger, he did seem to cast a shadow that had a bright pair of eyes and face. Since five issue debut, The Green Turtle fell into the public domain by the end of the Golden Age of Comic Books.

First Second Books

Shadow Hero

The Green Turtle was given a new lease on life in the Modern Age of Comic Books. He was given a proper origin story in a mini-series called The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang, and his identity was finally established as an Asian superhero. In his new retcon origin story, The Green Turtle’s secret identity is Hank Chu, the son of Chinese-American immigrants.

Thrilling Nostalgia Comics

The Liberty Brigade

The Green Turtle next reappeared in a Kickstarter funded comic book called The Liberty Project. And once again, The Green Turtle was given a new origin story. In this second retcon, The Green Turtle’s secret Identity is Yong Shi, who was born during the time of China‘s Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), a time when the Chinese were a conquered people without hope. Yong Shi prayed to Pangu and Nuwa to give him the power to save his people and they did. For nearly 700 years, The Green Turtle has protected China. The Green Turtle was handed picked by President Franklin D. Roosevelt over Dr. Clewes to join The Liberty Brigade to represent America’s Chinese allies during World War II.

Creators

Created by Chinese-American artist Chu Hing, The Green Turtle was technically the “first” Asian superhero in American comic book during the Golden Age of Comic Books. The first, unofficial Asian superhero goes to Dr. Clewes.

Other Media

Gene Luen Yang and Sonny Liew recreate the hero’s origins in miniseries The Shadow Hero. It makes the Green Turtle’s shadowy figure a Chinese spirit that promises Hank never to be shot like his father. It also makes his identity know to a select few like his mother who actually encouraged him to become a superhero.