Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Vol. 1

Based on the series of novels by Wang, follows as Wudan student Li Mu Bai meets Yu Shu Lien for the first time and challenges her kung fu ability, mistakenly believing that he may win Lady Yu's hand in marriage by defeating her.

The film version of Du Lu's novel achieved international fame. Now, the first installment of the epic martial arts tale comes to the comic world. Adapted from the novel, Seto's version features Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien, and establishes a full cast of characters. The story opens on a Beijing rooftop; masked thieves are on the run from the mighty warrior Golden Sword, who has sworn to avenge his father's death. The murderer? Grand Yu, another martial arts master-and Yu Shu Lien's father. Lingering on Golden Sword just long enough to establish that he's a dangerous man on a mission, the action then moves to Shu Lien and her father, as they set out on a cultural excursion. Naturally, Golden Sword's gang appears, intent on revenge, but Shu Lien's mighty fighting moves disperse them. Finally, readers meet Li Mu Bai, a gentle hero who spends time sitting on a rock in the middle of a river, using his mind to direct its flow. Of course, he and Shu Lien are a perfect match, but after an introductory friendly fight, readers learn Shu Lien is betrothed to another. As part one ends, Golden Sword's gang rushes off to perhaps their next battle. Seto's challenge is conveying the speed and motion of the martial arts; while the pages crackle with energy, specifics of fighting technique are simply impossible to discern from still images. Still, lines like "Golden Spear's footwork is of a violent robust type" help, and Seto's art is so glorious, readers will scarcely notice that almost nothing happens for the entire book.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 7-12. This is the first in a comic book series adaptation of the Crane-Iron Pentalogy wuxia novels by Wang Du Lu, part four of which was used as the basis for Ang Lee's Oscar-winning movie. Now ComicsOne brings readers more of Du Lu's story, introducing a cast of new, well-developed characters and presenting events leading up to and beyond the brilliant tale told on screen. Seto's artistic style echoes traditional Chinese illustration while elegantly capturing the fluid movements of the martial artists. The colors are vivid and accentuate Seto's painstaking attention to detail, allowing both the art and the dialogue to move the story forward. Pacing is excellent; the action moves quickly and leaves the reader ready for more. Recommend this to fans of the film, who will enjoy the additional story material, and to teens fascinated by the "wandering hero" archetype. Cathy Buskar
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