Between the beloved comics and the iconic cinematic universe, Marvel has an enormous pantheon of heroes who defend the world from all sorts of threats. Throughout the years, that roster has been blessed with more diversity than ever before. This is especially true for the AAPI audience, who have had the chance to see themselves represented in all sorts of Asian superheroes. From popular movie leads, alternate universe favorites, and everything in between, there’s a wide array of amazing Marvel heroes that put AAPI pride forward. Get to know some of the coolest Asian Marvel heroes out there!
Shang-Chi (Chinese)
Real name: Zheng Shang-Chi (Xu Shang-Chi in the film)
The world got to know Shang-Chi when he headlined the first Asian-led Marvel Comics Universe (MCU) movie in 2021. In the comics, he was introduced as the “Master of Kung Fu.” Having been raised in a secret society and trained to become a living weapon, he later rebukes his father and his legacy of evil. Using the power of the mystical Ten Rings, he sets out to protect the world and put an end to his father’s schemes.
His heroic pursuits often put him in contact with the Avengers. He is also closely associated with the Agents of Atlas, an all-Asian superhero organization.
Wave (Filipina)
Real name: Pearl Pangan
As her superhero moniker suggests, Pearl Pangan grew up by the beach and learned to love the water. In fact, her lolo would joke that she learned to swim before she could walk. When a rep from a tech company called Alontek asked her to participate in a swimming study, she could hardly pass up the chance. However, a mysterious attack on the lab by the Triumph Division resulted in an accident that gave her the ability to control water.
As she tries to get a handle on her new abilities, she learns that the Triumph Division is actually a superhero group that defends her home country. What’s more, Alontek are actually villains. She then resolves to become Wave, the Philippines’ newest hero.
Luna Snow (South Korean)
Real name: Seol Hee
Having first debuted in the 2018 game, “Marvel Future Fight” and gained even more popularity in “Marvel Rivals,” Seol Hee is a Korean pop star. As an up-and-coming musician, she originally wanted to support her grandmother. But when AIM targets a Stark Industries event near one of her concerts, she is kidnapped and locked in a hi-tech freezer. The exposure to its cold fusion energy gives her ice powers. After using them to fight back against AIM and defend innocent civilians, she is dubbed Luna Snow and becomes a superhero pop sensation.
Nico Minoru (Japanese-American)
After the death of her sister, Nico Minoru embraces goth culture as a way to cope with her grief. Unfortunately, her life gets more complicated than she ever bargained for after she and her close friends learn the truth about their families. Every one of their parents is part of an evil cult known as “the Pride,” and Nico’s parents are dark wizards. Using her own bloodline, Nico wields the all-powerful Staff of One as she and her friends run away from home and try to stop their parents’ plots.
Not only is Nico one of few Japanese-American superheroes in comics, but she is also openly lesbian and even falls in love with one of her fellow Runaways.
Ms. Marvel (Pakistani-American)
No one is a bigger fan of the Avengers (especially Captain Marvel) than young Kamala Khan. This peppy Jersey City teen idolizes the superheroics she sees on TV — but she soon gets to live the dream. After Black Bolt of the Inhumans releases a mist on Earth that accidentally draws out latent superpowers in humans, Kamala gains the ability to embiggen parts of her body. Inheriting the alias of her favorite hero, Kamala becomes Ms. Marvel and does her best to live up to her idols.
As the first-ever Pakistani-American superhero, Ms. Marvel is a fan favorite both in the comics and her popular Disney+ streaming series.
Psylocke (Kwannnon; Japanese)
After a duel to the death destroyed the mind of mutant empath Kwannon, the X-Man Betsy Braddock engaged in a mind swap as she recovered. Once Kwannon was officially restored, she inherited Betsy’s alias as Psylocke and joined up with the X-Men. Using her psionic blades and mind-based abilities, she seeks to redeem herself after a life of bloodshed and fights for mutant rights.
Lin Lie (Chinese)
Lin has worn many hats throughout his superhero career. As Sword Master, he draws upon the power of a magical sword known as the Fu Xi to defend people and search for his missing family. Some time later, he gains the power of the dragon Shou-Lao and becomes the new Iron Fist, inheriting the title from Danny Rand.
Jubilee (Chinese-American)
Real name: Jubilation Lee
Growing up unhoused and poor, Jubilee learned how to survive on the streets and became a small rat. When she discovers her mutant ability to create “fireworks” from her hands, she finds herself joining up with the X-Men as their scrappy ally. She even quickly forms a bond, albeit one-sided, to Wolverine.
Peni Parker (Japanese-American)
In an alternate universe, Peni serves as the “Spider-Person” of her futuristic reality. She is genetically bonded to a radioactive spider that powers her SP//dr suit, a bionic set of armor outfitted with advanced tech. While she is still plagued with all the typical struggles of a young high schooler, she also defends her city from all kinds of technological threats.
Armor (Japanese)
Real name: Hisako Ichiki
Hisako is one of the most dedicated mutants when it comes to the X-Men’s cause. As a proud student of the Xavier Institute, she uses her psionic exoskeleton to defend her allies. In the “Ultimate X-Men” universe, she is a major character as she investigates supernatural occurrences at her high school.
Amadeus Cho (Korean-American)
When you’re the seventh-smartest person in the world in a Marvel universe, that level of genius is bound to get you into trouble. As a teenage prodigy, Amadeus Cho caught the attention of a crazed scientist hellbent on destroying anyone who could rival his intelligence. Having been rescued by the Hulk, he began to use his genius to assist various superhero groups. He even invented a way to become the Hulk himself! He temporarily held the title before developing his own superpowered persona in Brawn.
Aero (Chinese)
Real name: Lei Ling
Lei is a gifted architect who founded Sacred Tree Design to improve city infrastructure in Shanghai. But while she is a successful architect in public, she harbors a secret identity as the heroine Aero. She commands the wind to fight all sorts of foes such as the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim.
Silk (Korean-American)
Real name: Cindy Moon
Peter Parker wasn’t the only person bitten by a radioactive spider on that fateful trip. The very same spider also bit his classmate, Cindy Moon. Like Peter, she developed her own spider-like powers. But instead of learning about great power and great responsibility, she’s taken in by Ezekiel Sims, a billionaire with spider-powers of his own. He offered to protect her from evil forces that sought her powers by locking her away in a bunker for over a decade. Here, she received combat training and consistently watched Spider-Man’s heroics on the outside.
Eventually, Peter discovers her existence and breaks her out. Cindy quickly follows in Peter’s footsteps and works as the vigilante Silk to defend Manhattan.
Wong (Tibetan)
Even Doctor Strange requires aid on a regular basis. That’s where Wong comes in. Having been raised in Kamar-Taj, he inherited his family’s duty of protecting the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. He typically maintains the Sanctum Sanctorum and even teaches young new wizards to hone their developing skills. But when a crisis involves the mystical arts, Wong is always ready to answer the call.
White Fox (South Korean)
Real name: Ami Han
As the last remaining member of the Kumiho — a race of shape-shifting nine-tailed foxes — Ami Han bears the weight of her family’s responsibilities to protect humanity. She lives as a human in Seoul and keeps her true nature hidden for some time. But when her friend is kidnapped by a monster disguised as a gang leader, she leaps into action using her extraordinary abilities. From there, she is recruited by the South Korean National Intelligence Service and becomes White Fox to fulfill her birthright and defend the human world.
Honorable mention: Toei Spider-Man
When talking about Asian Marvel heroes, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the cult classic Japanese “Spider-Man” TV series. In 1978, Japanese studio Toei developed their own version of Spider-Man with a completely original story.
In this version, motorcycle racer Takuya Yamashiro encounters an alien who emerges from a warship called the Marveller. There, he meets Garia, the last warrior of Planet Spider, which was destroyed by the evil Iron Cross Army. As a final act of defiance against Iron Cross, Garia injects Takuya with some of his blood to grant him spider-like powers. Armed with a new suit, an array of gadgets, and even a giant robot, Takuya becomes Spider-Man and tries to stop the Iron Cross Army from destroying the Earth.
The series became a massive success during its broadcast and even inspired the ongoing “Super Sentai” franchise to incorporate giant robots in every season from then on. In 2025, Takuya even made his Marvel Comics debut in a special Spider-Man crossover event with a new suit and even a Venom equivalent.
Who’s your favorite Asian Marvel hero? Comment below!
