Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon #3

Rating:
Summary: the best kung fu comic series(GN) to start your reading...
Review: "CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON VOL. 1-4 TP" by Andy Seto. Superior..., a pillar in kung fu comicbook series dramatization. Superbly executed with customary attention to period detail & cinematic plenitude of point of view. This hubris of a series are all incontrovertibly delectable to relish, & most positively, an approbatory title to embark your enjoyhood of kung fu readership.

This swooning, grandeur of a graphic novel was rudimentarily extracted from the long-deceased author Wang Du Lu original wuxia prose novel. Still and all, fancying to tender the imprint for the turning contemporary, comes this reconstructed rendering via comic book format, re-interpreted & drawn both by Andy Seto. Wang Du Lu (1909-1977), a celebrious Hong Kong wuxia(kung fu) novelist, his "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" was considered by many his crest of a tour de force. In fact, this toiler was basally gleaned from a sequence of five books collectively known as "Crane-Iron pentalogy". Crouching Tiger.... was based on the fourth book of this pentalogy.

As much as I could as to construe Andy Seto words with deferrence, from his missive which is included inside the books. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon vol. 1-4 compose the maiden & the very first storyarc, & more importantly, was stylized-- analogous to a cinematic flick. The skeletal framework of this arc was hammered as follow. Vol. 1 is begin; vol. 2 is continue; vol. 3 is change; & vol. 4 is conclude.

Venting my one cent or two with a succint synopsis & a lenghty critique. This specific arc is purposively a character study exposition more than a plot-centric aim, so to speak. Yet this arc was filled with mass of layers of sub-plots, still it is extremely easy to read. The central plot is about a one-of-a-kind sword names the green destiny, it was thieved & the owner employing every plausible means, leaving no stones unturn, to single-mindedly retrieve this precious sword back to his fold.

The two protagonists-- Li Mu Bai & Yu Shu Lien, are verily engaging characters to follow. The twosome are virtuous, heroic & loyal, yet subtly distant in respect to one's another individuality. They are 2 of the best characters I love I ever came across in comics. Also, else supporting casts merit blaring about are Grand Yu (father of Shu Lien), Golden Spear Cheung (main villain), & Little Lubu (anti-hero).

Though, it plows confidently towards to narrative dramatization & to characterization bent, rather by transfixing on the ancillary gait-- which is the frenetic, rapid-fire, customary Chinese kung fu tableau. Yet this title is absolutely not wanting in actions, it is loaded actually. Vol. 1 & 2 partial more to the soap opera-like recounting & characterization spotlight, while vol. 3 & 4 bend towards to frenzied kung fu.

A forewarning, as much as it differ my taste from other people's--- a sprinkling & sundry comic aficionados may ought to be put off be the book Asian or Chinese flavors. Otherwise, a must read series.

The artwork came out as beauteous as humanly can be, yet one considerable fault is translucent. Andy Seto lacks a general knowledge of laying out exact kung fu fights, such as the basic stances, moevements, sequence, etc. He hinges massively as a form of compensation to the familiar speed lines & elegant art. An immense a fault as it is, it still an obligatory reading for lovers of wuxia. Somehow, with oodles of good things in concern to his art on his side, he manages to atone himself, as he intended it to be.

For those who look to agree to my mind. Another wuxia title "the Legendary Couple" TP by Tony Wong, composes a series of graphic novel volumes & also underlies the placid dramatization & exciting kung fu just like this title. Yet unlike in a way, the author/artist Tony Wong renders the kung fu better & the art is as pretty as this one.

MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!!

Rating:
Summary: chinese kung fu graphic novel; continuation
Review: This is book three or vol. 3. It continues the story of the main protagonists, Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien.This book is purely action-oriented than the previous two, which are more of a set-up story proceeding in a linear fashion.

If you like reading the previous two, buy it as the story has three kung fu fights such as Li Mu Bai vs. Little Lubu, Little Lubu vs. Golden spear cheung, and LI Mu bai vs. Golden spear cheung, althoung this last fight is not finished. It will be on the concluding book or vol.4, which end the first story arc of Crouching tiger...