South Korean superhero team Tiger Division stormed Marvel back in November 2022, but if you missed out, you’re in luck, as the trade paperback is out this week. It features an eclectic group of heroes, including its main character Taegukgi who, in many ways, has the powers of Superman. In this new story arc, Emily Kim and Creees Lee explore Taegukgi’s backstory, which connects to the main threat needing vanquishing in the present.
Tiger Division is a competent superhero team book, leaning more into Taegukgi, the powerhouse of the team with a heart of gold. Or is he? Through flashbacks, Kim and Lee explore who Taegukgi was before he got his powers and how the friendship he made at an early age left him with powers but also a dark secret. The hero with a secret trope has been done, but here, at least Taegukgi’s origin propels the story and keeps your interest.
It also helps the team be filled with colorful characters. One is a strange-looking robot man, for instance, and others have a nice edginess to them. These aren’t clean-cut Avengers, but more of a ragtag group with interesting powers. Throw in a major supervillain in the third act, and you’ve got all the elements that make superhero comics work.
Some of these powers are quite unique and fun.
Credit: Marvel
This might have worked better as a team book or as a straight origin for Taegukgi. Instead, it tries to do both while only giving background on Taegukgi. The flashbacks add the humanity and connection we’re looking for but lack character development. Taegukgi seems to have a kind heart underneath it all, and when it comes time to move on from a young criminal lifestyle, his powers give him a convenient way out. Lee makes you believe he’s a kind person deep down, but the flashbacks show it’s all too convenient for him to switch to being a good guy, given the pressures of his friend. One might see this as a lesson to kids who have bad influences in their lives, but here it’s much too easy. Add in that most of the team is colorful in battle but lacks a lot of depth, and the book feels like a bunch of half-measures.
That isn’t to say these characters shouldn’t get more attention in the future. Far from it – a Superman-type of superhero in Marvel is a compelling idea, which was tried with Sentry and could very well work with Taegukgi. At this stage, his origin doesn’t have the spark to set him apart, but he’s pretty solid in his present superhero form. He has the Boy Scout perspective and the charm, plus all the powers. More work on this character could spell a winning future for the character with fans.
Tiger Division is an interesting try at building out the South Korean superhero team. The story leans too much towards its central hero, leaving you wanting more from the team aspect. Add in the fact that the backstory for Taegukgi doesn’t earn his heroism, and it’s a comic that had potential but doesn’t quite land its intentions.
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