The Asian male has gotten a bad rap in mainstream American media. If he’s not depicted as some kind of caricature, then he’s often stereotyped as being humble and unassuming, the sort of guy that sticks around in the background, isn’t especially outgoing, and is the living opposite of the words “sexy” and “handsome.” This idea, perhaps popularized by the fact that there are few famous Asian men in the United States today, is only amplified by the film industry. In most movies, if an Asian man isn’t some kind of stereotypical martial artist, then he’s a backdrop, consigned to a supporting role while a leading man (usually a Caucasian one) takes center stage. Even movies that take place in Asia and deal with stories that would logically call for Asian actors end up starring non-Asians. One only has to look at The Last Samurai--arguably a very good film that probably would have been even better if it had been called something else, especially seeing as how the “last” samurai is played by Tom Cruise.

What does this say about Asian American masculinity in America, and what about the thousands of young Asian American boys who want role models that look like them? With Asians either stereotyped in the media or stuck in bit roles in movies, it’s a sad fact that the nine-year-old boy of Chinese descent growing up in Ohio could use someone famous to look up to. Deborah Enrile Lao, a San Francisco-based artist, realized this truth. Instead of just accepting it as a sad reality, however, she decided to challenge it head-on with her “Manhood” series, a collection of posters featuring iconic Asian American males that defy anti-masculine stereotypes and have all in some way made an impact on the landscape of both the United States and the world.

The figures on display in the “Manhood” series read like a list of Asian superheroes: Star Trek mainstay George Takei, civil rights activist Richard Aoki, movie legend Bruce Lee, Filipino hip-hop pioneer DJ Qbert and basketball golden boy Jeremy Lin. This collection’s resemblance to an Asian version of the Avengers wasn’t accidental, with Lao pointing out that “by exuding strength, creativity, leadership and masculinity, these five icons buck characterizations of Asian American men as meek nerds who never get the girl (or guy). Bold paper colors and a minimal illustration style reclaims the one dimensional space into one that portrays these men as ‘superheroes’ that young boys and men can aspire to be like.”

With her younger brother serving as the initial inspiration for this poster series, Lao became compelled to create images that were iconic, that “represented the ideals behind the people more than just the people themselves.” Beginning with Bruce Lee, Lao intentionally chose well-known Asian American figures like Jeremy Lin and George Takai, but also decided to focus on lesser-known icons such as Richard Aoki, an Asian American who served in the Black Panther civil rights group, and DJ Qbert, probably one of the most famous hip-hop disc jockeys that for some reason hasn’t gotten enough mainstream recognition yet. By portraying both mainstream and underground icons, Lao’s series paints a complete representation of the Asian American male--an image not marred by prejudice or hidden in a Caucasian shadow. While Asian American males undoubtedly still face challenges in the way the media portrays them, and while it would be nice to see more films out there with male Asian leads, at the very least, Deborah Lao’s “Manhood” series shows that there are real-life Asian American superheroes in this world. And these superheroes are both manly and positive role models for any young boy to look up to, admire, and aspire to one day surpass.

If you like Deborah Lao’s work, please support her by purchasing limited prints of the “Manhood” series on her online store. Also visit her website to see her other pieces.