Washington, Feb 26 (IANS): There's a new superhero in town and he doesn't sport a cape, mask or wear embarrassing tights. He wears a turban and he fights the Taliban and is a huge Elvis fan.
Deep Singh or 'Super Sikh' is the brainchild of Oakland-based writer Eileen Alden and Silicon Valley executive, Supreet Singh Manchada, CBS reported.
The pair launched a Kickstarter campaign early this year to "help bring the first turban Sikh super hero to life".
In just 27 hours they had enough to produce the first issue.
By February, they exceeded their original goal of $5,000, raising more than $22,000.
Aldon and Manchada have brought in award-winning illustrator Amit Tayal, whose work has been published internationally.
The Kickstarter money ensures at least three issues of the series.
There are than 28 million Sikhs worldwide and about a half million living in the US.
According to comicbookreligion.com, there are already 20 turban-wearing Sikh heroes and villains in comic books.
The Kickstarter campaign says Deep Singh is a "skillful, smart and very well-trained British Special Air Service agent". That sounds a bit like James Bond. But Deep Singh’s creators promise a new kind of hero - “a modern hero in a turban who loves Elvis and hates bad guys” and “will uphold his Sikh values even while he is living in a modern world with all of its complexities”.
It is hoped that the comic will shed light on this 15th-century religion, perhaps one of the most misunderstood groups on the planet.
Machanda said he was bullied when he was a child, and that was one of the reasons he co-created this comic.
SuperSikh will be printed in English.
A digital version in Punjabi, Spanish and Mandarin will come later.
Super Sikh also has a Facebook page.