The Monkey King in Chinatown: Soo Lee

A freelance comic artist and illustrator living in NYC, Soo Lee is the illustrator and co-creator of the Bram Stoker Award-winning graphic novel Carmilla: The First Vampire; the creator of the graphic novels, Disney Villains: Maleficent and the upcoming Wizard of Oz; and the writer of Thundercats: Cheetara. She has also been published by various companies such as Dark Horse, BOOM, DC Comics, Dynamite, Skybound, and Ahoy.

What does the Monkey King mean to you?

For me the Monkey King is one of the biggest cultural icons ever. Journey to the West is what I've grown up with and it's becoming such a widely adapted icon all over the world now. It shows how incredibly interesting our culture is and I hope it catches onto the mainstream more.

What’s one thing you hope viewers get from your work?

I want to showcase the different styles and stories of people who may not fit the mold of the American comic book industry. 

Who's your favorite superhero and why?

I would say Sailor Moon but the entire Sailor Scouts really. They all rely on their friends and family to get through the hard stuff and know when to get down to business. They show you can be vulnerable and do cute girly things, all while fighting monsters and celestial demons. The costumes are fabulous too!