What the--
What the--

Oh my god.
Oh my god.

[MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]

Hi, I'm John.
Hi, I'm John.

Watch Marvel make me a hero.
Watch Marvel make me a hero.

Hi, my name is John Hoche, and I am a Broadway actor.
Hi, my name is John Hoche, and I am a Broadway actor.

I had a lot of energy as a kid.
I had a lot of energy as a kid.

And I was always like putting on skits,
And I was always like putting on skits,

and just kind of had a big imagination.
and just kind of had a big imagination.

So that kind of just parlayed into my parents being like,
So that kind of just parlayed into my parents being like,

well, why don't you try doing this, you know, on stage,
well, why don't you try doing this, you know, on stage,

and let's try to focus you a little bit.
and let's try to focus you a little bit.

So then in high school, as they say, the acting bug bit.
So then in high school, as they say, the acting bug bit.

And I've been doing it ever since.
And I've been doing it ever since.

My primary focus in acting is theater.
My primary focus in acting is theater.

It's like, what I really love, and I'm very passionate about.
It's like, what I really love, and I'm very passionate about.

I love that human interaction every night
I love that human interaction every night

with a live audience.
with a live audience.

I kind of fell into puppetry because I was cast in the show.
I kind of fell into puppetry because I was cast in the show.

And then, the first day of rehearsal
And then, the first day of rehearsal

they're like, oh, by the way, the first act,
they're like, oh, by the way, the first act,

you're going to be a puppet.
you're going to be a puppet.

So I was like, oh, great.
So I was like, oh, great.

OK, cool.
OK, cool.

And I kind of just took to it like a fish to water.
And I kind of just took to it like a fish to water.

It's interesting, puppetry is kind of like a relationship
It's interesting, puppetry is kind of like a relationship

that you have to kind of develop with the tool
that you have to kind of develop with the tool

that you're using to act.
that you're using to act.

My cousin really got me into comics, particularly in the 90s
My cousin really got me into comics, particularly in the 90s

got me into the X-Men.
got me into the X-Men.

I remember stumbling upon this cartoon
I remember stumbling upon this cartoon

called "Pride of the X-Men" and be like, oh my gosh.
called "Pride of the X-Men" and be like, oh my gosh.

There's more to this, you know?
There's more to this, you know?

I remember watching it, and being blown away.
I remember watching it, and being blown away.

And then especially, I really latched onto Nightcrawler.
And then especially, I really latched onto Nightcrawler.

Because I'm from mixed descent, my father's German
Because I'm from mixed descent, my father's German

and my mother is Asian.
and my mother is Asian.

She's from the Philippines.
She's from the Philippines.

Being someone who's from mixed background
Being someone who's from mixed background

in suburban New Jersey, you didn't
in suburban New Jersey, you didn't

see a lot of folks like me.
see a lot of folks like me.

So then there was this character who
So then there was this character who

is German, and has a German accent,
is German, and has a German accent,

but also doesn't look like anyone else.
but also doesn't look like anyone else.

So there's a a kinship that I felt with him.
So there's a a kinship that I felt with him.

So from that point on, I just like, loved the X-Men,
So from that point on, I just like, loved the X-Men,

and like, anything I could see with Nightcrawler
and like, anything I could see with Nightcrawler

on it I just tried to absorb.
on it I just tried to absorb.

And everything that's happening for representation in Marvel
And everything that's happening for representation in Marvel

is just like really heartwarming, and something
is just like really heartwarming, and something

that I longed for as a kid.
that I longed for as a kid.

And I kind of found a little piece of it, but now it's--
And I kind of found a little piece of it, but now it's--

you know, the doors are wide open.
you know, the doors are wide open.

I've been thinking about what my Super
I've been thinking about what my Super

Hero would be for a while.
Hero would be for a while.

Being first generation American, I'm very patriotic.
Being first generation American, I'm very patriotic.

So I really latched on to Captain America.
So I really latched on to Captain America.

But also I do have these ties to other countries.
But also I do have these ties to other countries.

So I kind of thought, you know, what
So I kind of thought, you know, what

would like, a Filipino-American Captain America be?
would like, a Filipino-American Captain America be?

So I think the costume would be a lot like what Agent Steve
So I think the costume would be a lot like what Agent Steve

Rogers was-- a little bit of armored,
Rogers was-- a little bit of armored,

but you can do some kicks and some punches.
but you can do some kicks and some punches.

And then, instead of you know a nice white star,
And then, instead of you know a nice white star,

it would be like the sun and moon of the Filipino flag.
it would be like the sun and moon of the Filipino flag.

One of the best haircuts is high and tight
One of the best haircuts is high and tight

and kind of long on the top.
and kind of long on the top.

He would fight with escrima sticks, because, you know,
He would fight with escrima sticks, because, you know,

that's a martial art that started in the Philippines.
that's a martial art that started in the Philippines.

They would be kind of like your classic batons,
They would be kind of like your classic batons,

but take them to the next level, you know?
but take them to the next level, you know?

He could hit a button, and maybe sickles could come out.
He could hit a button, and maybe sickles could come out.

Really great fighting skills.
Really great fighting skills.

You know, he can fight with the best of them.
You know, he can fight with the best of them.

What I would love for this characters for him
What I would love for this characters for him

to be a representative of a bridge
to be a representative of a bridge

between the US and the Philippines here in America.
between the US and the Philippines here in America.

And I think it would be really great
And I think it would be really great

for him to do diplomatic work, standing
for him to do diplomatic work, standing

up for immigrant rights.
up for immigrant rights.

That's what he's doing when he's not fighting
That's what he's doing when he's not fighting

a super huge arch villain.
a super huge arch villain.

All right.
All right.

What the-- oh my god!
What the-- oh my god!

This is absolutely incredible.
This is absolutely incredible.

These escrima sticks are exactly what I was thinking.
These escrima sticks are exactly what I was thinking.

They look like they're made out of like, a vibranium,
They look like they're made out of like, a vibranium,

or an adamantium, right there.
or an adamantium, right there.

And then the blades come out, and then things
And then the blades come out, and then things

are getting really serious.
are getting really serious.

And then it's like, oh, that's not enough.
And then it's like, oh, that's not enough.

I'm going to hit another button, then put them together,
I'm going to hit another button, then put them together,

and then cost of major damage.
and then cost of major damage.

The suit is really great because he's incorporated the sun
The suit is really great because he's incorporated the sun

and stars of the flag of the Philippines,
and stars of the flag of the Philippines,

and the red, white, and blue from the Filipino flag,
and the red, white, and blue from the Filipino flag,

but also the American flag.
but also the American flag.

You can tell that this is someone who can move his body,
You can tell that this is someone who can move his body,

and can be a martial artist, but also
and can be a martial artist, but also

can like run up a mountain.
can like run up a mountain.

This is a man that treats leg day with utter respect.
This is a man that treats leg day with utter respect.

Super Hero gams, right there, sir.
Super Hero gams, right there, sir.

And yes, that is exactly the hairstyle
And yes, that is exactly the hairstyle

that I was thinking of.
that I was thinking of.

Seeing a character like this, who
Seeing a character like this, who

is Filipino-American like me, you know, is really special.
is Filipino-American like me, you know, is really special.

And that's something that I'm going to take with me
And that's something that I'm going to take with me

for the rest of my life.
for the rest of my life.

[MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]

Thanks Marvel, for making me a hero.
Thanks Marvel, for making me a hero.