Aero and Sword Master are two Marvel characters created through Chinese company NetEase. This comes as no surprise with China’s reputation in entertainment revenue. So in addition to publishing popular Marvel characters like Spider-Man, NetEase commissions their own characters for wider audiences. After an appearance in Marvel’s newer Agents of Atlas, both get their own solo titles. Having read both series, I notice similarities with local manhua. As well as how Greg Pak’s time with them would stand out more to Asian Americans.
Aero & Sword Master Solos
Aero combines an urban xianxia protagonist with western superheroes. In her civilian life, Lei Ling is an architect who helped design modern Shanghai’s cityscape. This lucrative job is the result of long cultivation, especially in knowledge of feng shui. It’s part of why she has aerokinetic powers, as the flow of chi empowers her to better control her powers; nature is malleable in Chinese culture. In fact, the way Lei designs her city allows her to sense danger through chi. So when Lei’s former sifu Madame Huang hurts her work, it’s an attack on Lei’s achievements.
Sword Master meanwhile follows the xianxia protagonist with unique skills and equipment. Lin Lie’s father’s disappearance leads to Lin desperately seeking to find him. Only to encounter demons from his ancestors past. With only a magic sword to help him, the reckless protagonist has to work with some people to fight Chiyou, the Daoist war god. Lin has great potential, especially when it comes to solving puzzles and family loyalty; if only he wasn’t so immature.
From reading comics and watching Chinese movies, heroes are the people who take command of their lives. It’s not an easy task when that means trying to find harmony among their fellows. Aero’s boyfriend for example is against her superhero life.
Greg Pak’s Perpetual Foreigners
Greg Pak translates the stories of Aero & Sword Master stories in the US, while also providing backup stories. When reading those stories I notice a cultural difference I come across time and again. Crazy Rich Asians actress Constance Wu probably says it best. Mainstream Chinese entertainment focuses more on the spectacle of Taoism and Confucianism than life’s mundanity. So with Pak at the helm, there’re themes that appeal more to Asian-Americans than NetEase’s target audience.
The central concept is what some people call the Perpetual Foreigner. To oversimplify, no matter the situation, a person just doesn’t fit in. In Pak’s Aero story that really focuses on the Filipino hero Wave, she feels disconnected after her other team forces a leave of absence. She can’t even accept the love of her hometown for being a superhero because her superpowers came from an evil organization. Then there’s the Sword Master story; despite Lin finding an understanding with former Dark Avenger Ares over wanting to get back family, Ares still doesn’t respect Lin. Not to mention, Master of Kung-Fu Shang-Chi has to be the one to keep Lin out of trouble.
Pak makes these character appeal more to different audiences, without them being American. And all for advertising his own work in Atlantis Attacks.
Aero & Sword Master Need Broader Appeal
Between the different stories of Aero and Sword Master, there are appeals in where they come from and who’s behind them. While their creation feels genuinely like a product from Marvel’s partnership, more creators can work with them. Pak proves that even these native Chinese characters can express Asian-American experiences. Also look at Black Knight: King In Black where they bounce off the title character. The culture surrounding characters like Lei and Lin may be important but that can’t be the only thing. Otherwise their only audiences are extremely niche corners where fans obscure them from others.