By Wing Shing Ma (DrMaster Publications)
ISBN 13: 978-1-59796-041-0
Unbelievable as it may sound the action kicks into even higher gear in this follow-up collection of martial arts comics in the classic Hong Kong Style. Hero Hua is the latest of his family line tasked with protecting the mystical Blood Sword from the varied forces of evil that want to possess it. With a huge support network of Kung Fu “goodies†to offset the brutal losses to his own family – all tragic victims of the never-ending battle – he thwarts every attempt by such villains as Heart Demon and General Satan to obtain the artefact.
This series is a truly generational saga that spans many lands and many years. After a climactic confrontation Hero Hua goes to America and the focus switches to the son he thought lost. Jian Xiong has been raised in secret and isolation by his grandfather to protect him from enemies. Many years pass, and the child grows into a wayward but good-hearted fifteen-year-old in a desolate fishing village. But one day his life changes forever when the island is invaded by the fearsome hordes of the Death Gate, a martial arts cult looking for the next Young Master, who is their destined leader…
Another magnificent campaign of battles and duels ensues before order is restored, but by the end Jian has triumphed and himself travelled to the United States. Can a meeting with his father be far away? You’ll need to read volume III for that answer.
Crafted in a variety of artistic styles including pen-and-ink, crayon, painted art, even photography, this is an exotic and frenetic comic about fighting, heavily influenced by the mystical component of Kung Fu. If you prefer a semblance of realism in your fiction this rollercoaster romp is not for you. This is Fighting Fantasy.
Superhero fans might be amazed at the variety of powers a lifetime of knuckle push-ups and bowing can produce, but this is a style of comic that is wedded to the concept of training and will creating miracles. It is however, irresistibly exuberant, beautifully illustrated and endlessly compelling. If you’re an open-minded fan, you may find yourself carried away on this relentless tide of shallow characterisation and non-stop action.
© 2007 Yasushi Suzuki. © 2007 DGN Production Inc.