With the news of Marvel’s forthcoming Korean superhero, the publisher is not only continuing to bring new colour to its characters, but is also diversifying its creative bullpens after some recent scrutiny. And for this next assignment, Amadeus Cho meets Frank Cho, the acclaimed Maryland-area artist.
Amadeus Cho has always had one of the most brilliant minds in the Marvel Universe despite his young age. Now, his uncanny noggin is about to get a lot more incredible. After online teases as to the identity of Marvel’s next big green strongman, it was revealed that Cho, a Korean American teenager, will be the post-Secret Wars Hulk in a new title, Totally Awesome Hulk, set to debut in December.
Over the long history of Incredible Hulk runs in the comics, the self-proclaimed “strongest there is” has been a burden for frequent Hulk alter-ego Bruce Banner. But in the words of Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso in announcing the new Hulk, Amadeus Cho will carry the burden of transforming into one of the most powerful forces in the Marvel Universe “like it weighs a feather”.
And speaking of Bruce Banner, just because there’s a new Hulk in town doesn’t mean he won’t be a part of the story. Marvel says that what happened to Banner in the eight months that will pass from the end of Secret Wars to the beginning of the new Marvel universe will be a mystery in the storyline of Totally Awesome Hulk.
Frank Cho and writer Greg Pak were announced as the duo behind the forthcoming Hulk title. Because they are Korean American — Pak is half-Korean; Cho was born in South Korea — the two men represent something Marvel hasn’t had much in force of late: a diverse creative team to go along with the diverse heroes (Miles Morales/Spider-Man, Kamala Khan/Ms Marvel, Sam Alexander/Nova, Jane Foster/Thor) brought to Marvel’s pages since Alonso took the company reins.
Marvel’s efforts to diversify and modernise their comic book universe, while met with praise, recently came under scrutiny, of course, when critics on social media questioned why the diversity didn’t extend to the creative teams.
For the moment, Totally Awesome Hulk, whether it was intended to or not, is a step in the right direction toward addressing those criticisms beyond simple assurances.
As to whether Cho’s Awesome Hulk can become a mainstay similar to how the Red Hulk did a few years back, the answers to that begin this winter.
