There’s a new Super-Man soaring in the DC Universe this summer. Kenan Kong is the Clark Kent of China in New Super-Man #1 this July.
This future hero starts out as an arrogant young man. An impulsive heroic act transforms Kenan into a super powered celebrity and attracts the eye of some powerful leaders building a “Justice League of China.”
Acclaimed novelist Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese) became the writer of Superman last year. The son of Chinese immigrants helped tell a new chapter of the most famous immigrant in comic books. Superman’s secret identity was exposed and his powers were taken away.
As DC Comics relaunches it’s entire line with Rebirth, Clark Kent is back to full power but this young man will also be soaring the skies over Shanghai. Yang reveals his reasons for signing up to create the new Asian hero.
“When DC Comics first offered me the chance to write a Chinese Super-Man, my instinct was to turn it down.” Yang shared with DCComics.com.
“My mom’s family left Mainland China when she was just an infant. She spent most of her childhood in Hong Kong and Taiwan. My dad was born and raised in Taiwan. My family hasn’t lived in China for at least a generation.
I’ve only visited China twice, so my understanding of Chinese culture is through echoes.
I would be writing about Chinese life as an outsider, but some American readers would assume that I was an insider simply because of my last name. It seemed like a situation fraught with peril.
But then, I’ve been going around giving these speeches encouraging people to read and write outside of their comfort zones. How could I turn down this opportunity to go outside of mine? (This was yet another instance in which comics-making Gene wanted to punch speech-making Gene in the mouth.)”
As the official New Super-Man #1 preview description came out, fans may have noticed a name change. In the original Rebirth announcement, Kenji Kong was the secret identity. After consulting friends, family, teachers and editors Yang thought Kenji (a common Japanese name) might create confusion so he changed New Super-Man’s official secret identity and explains the translation:
“孔克南 Kenan Kong
南 Nan means “south.” Appropriate for a kid from Shanghai, since folks from Beijing like to call folks from Shanghai “Southerners.”
克 Ke means “to overcome.” What could be more Super-Man than “to overcome”?
Kenan isn’t quite as easy to pronounce (in Chinese, it’s closer to “Ken Ann” than “Key Nan”), but it’s pronounceable enough. And it definitely satisfies constraint #6.”
Kong joins an extended Super family with Rebirth. Along with New-Superman, Clark Kent is back in Superman and raising his super son (Jon Kent) with Lois Lane, Lex Luthor is super powered and wearing his own version of the famous “S” symbol in Action Comics, Kal-El’s cousin Kara is back in a new Supergirl series and Lois Lane is empowered as the new Superwoman. Jon Kent will also team up with Bruce Wayne’s son Damian to co-star in Super Sons.
This isn’t the first time someone else carried on the Superman legacy. In the aftermath of Death of Superman in 1990’s, a new Superboy, Cyborg Superman, the Eradicator and John Henry Irons, aka Steel, the African-American hero, arose in Reign of the Supermen.
New Super-Man #1 Made in China, Part One by Yang and artist Victor Bogdanovic arrives July 13th.
By Editor