MANILA -- More than 20 years as a professional comic book artist, Leinil Francis Yu still has these periodic wow moments.

Having drawn literally every popular comic book character and icon from the X-Men, Superman, and the Avengers, to the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, and Wolverine to name but a few, Yu admitted that he thought that illustrating four issues of Star Wars “was one of the coolest moments” in his career ever.

Yet now, he has this other pinch-me moment drawing Captain America with famed writer and novelist Ta-Nehisi Coates.

“When I was asked if I could draw the title, I immediately felt that it was an honor,” Yu shared over dinner at Manam in Bonifacio Global City along with Marvel Comics editor Steve Wacker who was in town for the Asia Pop Comic Con.

“Aside from Superman, Captain America is one of my favorite characters. Both Superman and Captain America are nearly cut from the same cloth – they have this regal bearing about them. Yet they are men of action. Even the way they fight is defined. They aren’t savage or brutal at all.”

“I drew Captain America before as part of the Avengers,” Yu added. “But never in his solo comic and it’s a thrill to work on such an iconic character who has been around for over 70 years. It’s been a virtual who’s who in terms of working on the character that was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and later, Stan Lee. When you think of Marvel Comics, Cap is one of those characters that come to mind."

Yu is working with Coates whose work on the Black Panther comic book has been met with widespread acclaim.

“Yeah, it’s a geek out moment for me,” smiled the popular artist of the opportunity to work with Coates. “I haven’t finished his book, but I am immensely enjoying it. As for the Captain America comic, I like his fresh take on the character because he is writing a character (who is a product of America’s greatest generation) from a wholly different perspective. I enjoy and like reading his scripts. I try my best to make the scripts come alive.”

Also joining the creative team is Yu’s longtime inker, fellow comics professional Gerry Alanguilan who himself has quite a bibliography and resume.

Reflecting on that tandem with Alanguilan, Yu never thought that the partnership would be something akin to the Jim Lee-Scott Williams and Alan Davis-Paul Neary (and later, Mark Farmer) tandems. “It’s definitely cool because we both came up in the comics industry together and we’re Filipinos making names for ourselves in the industry.”

“My take on Cap will be a character more grounded in reality,” pointed out Yu. “It will be more serious than the Avengers where the stories can be star-spanning. This is less fantastic, a little more realistic.”

The first issue of Coates and Yu’s Captain America was intentionally released last 4th of July to coincide with Independence Day in the US. Yu and Alanguilan will work on the title for the first six issues.

You can check out the Captain America title from Coates, Yu, and Alanguilan in local shops such as Comic Odyssey, Filbar’s, Druid’s Keep Collectibles, and Comic Quest. Look for their respective Facebook pages for details.