The Next Wave of Kung Fu Comics...

[@PLUGO]

So every so often Comics and Kung Fu collide. with some results (jademan comics 1) better than others (that last Bruce Lee comic . . . brrr).

So it seems DC comics is about to get on board with a whole new "Chinese Super Team" called the GREAT 10

preview images and discriptions can be found here. (http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/52/GreatTen/gallery.html)

I'm particularly fond of

Shaolin Robot

Ghost Fox Killer

&

August General


. . . comments . . . ?

[neilhytholt]

So every so often Comics and Kung Fu collide. with some results (jademan comics 1) better than others (that last Bruce Lee comic . . . brrr).
...
I'm particularly fond of

Shaolin Robot

Ghost Fox Killer

&

August General


. . . comments . . . ?


Those are incredibly boring characters. I mean, somebody who spawns super soldiers? Somebody who heals? Somebody who kills men ... okay ... ??? They're scraping the bottom of the barrel on this one.

[jethro]

It's hard to believe, but a ton of people love this kind of stuff. I just stick with looney tunes, but I admit, they are a bit dated:D

[neilhytholt]

It's hard to believe, but a ton of people love this kind of stuff. I just stick with looney tunes, but I admit, they are a bit dated:D

I'm sorry ... but Storm vs. super-mom???

What was that movie a while back, about the loser super-heros, can't even remember the name. It had the guy who throws spoons, the guy who gets really angry, the guy with the shovel, the woman with the bowling ball ...

You don't see the difference between Storm and super-mom? Spiderman vs. guy who heals people?

[jethro]

I'm sorry ... but Storm vs. super-mom???

What was that movie a while back, about the loser super-heros, can't even remember the name. It had the guy who throws spoons, the guy who gets really angry, the guy with the shovel, the woman with the bowling ball ...

You lost me here, but it sounds like "The Incredibles", and you would be the first person I have heard that has ever talked negatively about it. I am yet to see it but it is actually my grandpa's favorite movie.

You don't see the difference between Storm and super-mom? Spiderman vs. guy who heals people?


And spiderman is the only name I recognize from that last sentence. Maybe you though I wsa joking, I am not into anime. My favorite cartoons are looney tunes, spawn, and batman:the animated series.

[PangQuan]

deadpool was always my fav.

a near invincible merc. assassin who constantly talks smack whilst cutting people up with a katana or blowing brains out.

funny stuff

[jethro]

my personal fav from the new age anime would be the cartoon from kill bill:D

[neilhytholt]

And spiderman is the only name I recognize from that last sentence. Maybe you though I wsa joking, I am not into anime. My favorite cartoons are looney tunes, spawn, and batman:the animated series.

Storm? Storm is a character from the X-men. You've read or seen the X-men, right?

Oh, the movie with the loser superheros was called 'Mystery Men'. 1999. Died out pretty soon after it was released.

[jethro]

of course I know of storm. I figured you were talking about new comics and stuff. I use to watch x-men teh cartoon all the time. And mystery men--I didn't make it all the way through. i remember laughing mildy though. Now sin city, that is a movie!!!!!!!!!

[neilhytholt]

of course I know of storm. I figured you were talking about new comics and stuff. I use to watch x-men teh cartoon all the time. And mystery men--I didn't make it all the way through. i remember laughing mildy though. Now sin city, that is a movie!!!!!!!!!

I had read that comic in college but I didn't know it was the same one until I got to the movie.

I still think the comic was better, though. But the movie wasn't bad.

[dwid]

Sin City is good to great, depending on the book. I think the movie did a pretty good job of capturing some of the stories. The performances were pretty decent with the exception of Michael Madsen, who seemed to be phoning it in.
Dark Knight stuff (also by Frank Miller) is also really good, as is Ronin.

Watchmen by Alan Moore is awesome.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore is really good (don't judge it by the crappy movie).
V for Vendetta, Top Ten, pretty much anything by Alan Moore is great.

Walking Dead is a great series about a zombie apocalypse.

Blade of the Immortal is a good MA comic series.

The Lone Wolf and Cub books are pretty cheap and it's a great story.

Wow, looking at the above, I guess I'm a comics geek. Oh well, I likes the books with pittures :D

[Kristoffer]

I liked the mom whit super soldiers. other than that it's the usual DC tripe...

[Radhnoti]

Looks fairly interesting to me...

Shaolin robots who were stopped from returning Imperial rule by August General...The Socialist Red Guardsman who helped carry out the Cultural Revolution and now is forced to remain inside a containment suit...it sounds like they've worked out a pretty in-depth backstory. I'm guessing this is going to be it's own book, not a guest shot team, right? Otherwise, how would you ever work in the Mother of Champions and The Accomplished Perfect Physician...

[GeneChing]

my personal fav from the new age anime would be the cartoon from kill bill
Seek you Golgo 13.
Tarantino is the master of Asian plaguery and the anime sequence in Kill Bill 1 was lifted straight from an old anime called Golgo 13. It was retitled The Professional for the American market, and there were several installments. One of them, and forgive me since I'm not sure which one, did the whole bullet-vision sequence as the assassin shot through several high rises, following the bullet right into the target's brain. Golgo 13 was also the first I can remember that used the X-ray shot, which was prominent in one of the U.S. made Jet Li movies, was it Romeo Must Die (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=114)? I can't rightly remember. His American efforts haven't left as deep an impression upon me, I fear. Anyway, Golgo 13 was an original, a true maverick of a film at the time, definitely worth checking out if you're into Asian cinema.

[jethro]

The x-ray thing was from Romeo must get the hell outta my dvd player. Ok movie though, one time through.

Ninja Scroll is really the only anime that i am considering checking out one day. But now I got 2 on my list:D

[@PLUGO]

Looks fairly interesting to me...

Shaolin robots who were stopped from returning Imperial rule by August General...The Socialist Red Guardsman who helped carry out the Cultural Revolution and now is forced to remain inside a containment suit...it sounds like they've worked out a pretty in-depth backstory. I'm guessing this is going to be it's own book, not a guest shot team, right? Otherwise, how would you ever work in the Mother of Champions and The Accomplished Perfect Physician...


well the Great 10 as they are called made their Comic Book appearance this week dusting it up In clasic comicbook style with another Superhero, Green Lanturn.

The comic they both appeared in is DC's new weekly series 52 (http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=5459).

cover image here (http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/000520766.cfm?popup=1)

uncolored artwork here (http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/000520766.cfm?popup=3)

words from the artist here (http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/000520766.cfm)

[ZhuiQuan]

Ah... I was reading 52 but I stopped because I'm just not that into it. 52 tells the story of what happend during the year Infinite Crisis was happening (Infinite Crisis was a massive cross over that I didn't read... but heroes died and apparantly the major guys, Superman, Batman, Wonderwoman, Green Lantern and lots of others weren't on Earth).

I'm not so sure this "Great Ten" is meant to be a Kung Fu comic... I think it's more of an attempt to create a new superteam that started up while all the big name heroes were missing. They're trying to sell a new Outsiders or Teen Titans I guess.

Grant Morrison created the team... Grant Morrison wrote New X-Men, which was a big hit. He's a good writer. I think he'll be taking over a Batman title next month.

[Shaolinlueb]

the characters look cool, but uses solar power toi spawn the cultrual revolution or soemthing for the red socialist soldier? wtf lol shaolin robot! cxool design though

[@PLUGO]

the Big 10 will also appear in another new DC comic titled Checkmate. See preview here (http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Checkmate/04/CheckTen.html)

ZhuiQuan, you prettymuch got it. 52 takes place after Infinate Crisis ends (I guess it's finite after all) but before the 1 year later time-line DC comics are currently set in.

[ZhuiQuan]

Well since we're already talking about comics... have you (or anyone who's reading) been following Civil War? I decided not to go crazy over every cross over issue, but I'm reading Civil War, Civil War: Frontline, Captain America, Wolverine (which I've been reading no matter what else is going on) and Amazing Spider-Man. I read lots of other titles from Marvel and other publishers, but as far as Civil War, those are the only ones I'm reading tied in to the cross over.

Also, ever hear of Shaolin Cowboy? If you're familiar with Geoff Darrow, you know what to expect. It's basically about a monk (I guess...) in cowboy garb riding a smart-ass donkey who never shuts up, as freaky people, crabs, giant crabs, and wierd demons try to kill him. Graphic violence ensues.

http://www.burlymanentertainment.com/ <---that's who publishes Shaolin Cowboy

"Shaolin Cowboy: He walks the PATH OF THREE ENEMIES. Those of the PAST, still pursuing him. Those of the FUTURE, waiting for him. Those of the PRESENT, learning it ain't so easy to kill him! Or his nagging BURRO! It's a "BUDDY PICTURE" with a BODY COUNT!"-From the website.

[@PLUGO]

we chatted about Shaolin Cowboy (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=595086#post595086) a bit in it's own thread.

Checked out the CIVIL WAR series myself. liking the artowork but haven;t bothered with any other title that I don't already check out. In this case New Avengers and X-factor.

[ZhuiQuan]

Civil War: Front Line is good. There's a few stories being told at once, but it goes into what's happening with Speedball. He was found then immediately arrested... now he gets his ass beat daily at prison, but he refuses to register because he feels it would be admitting that he was guilty.

Do you usually focus mainly on the art in comics? I mean, can you overlook poor art if it has a good script, or does bad art ruin it for you?

[@PLUGO]

Civil War: Front Line is good. There's a few stories being told at once, but it goes into what's happening with Speedball. He was found then immediately arrested... now he gets his ass beat daily at prison, but he refuses to register because he feels it would be admitting that he was guilty.

Do you usually focus mainly on the art in comics? I mean, can you overlook poor art if it has a good script, or does bad art ruin it for you?

Yeah I flipped through FRONTLINE, but I think I'll mainly stick with the Civil War series as it progresses. Maybe I'll pick up a frontline compilation later on. Besides I think I'm more hook on DC comic's 52 at the moment.

As for Art in comics, I'll admit I art it a major factor and can ruin a decent storyline or series for me. However if I'm a big fan of a given writer I'd certainly be more forgiving of por artwork. Alot has to do with the combination of the two... some series (or writers) need a specific artistic feel to succeed; some don't.

Take DC comic's All STAR SUPERMAN (http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=5197) for instance . . . what a great combo of art & writing on a series I would otherwise not even bother with. Meanwhile ALL STAR BATMAN (http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=4547) has popular fan favorates as writer & artist and I can't even bother to flip through the issues. Even though Superman comics usually don't appeal to me as much as Batman comics do.


and I still think Batman would beat Bruce Lee in a fight.

[The Xia]

Marvel's Shang-Chi is a notable American Kung Fu comic. It came around during the 70's Kung Fu craze. I hear they are making a Shang-Chi movie with Yuen Wo Ping directing and Ang Lee producing.

[The Xia]

The old Street Fighter movie with Sonny Chiba had those X-Ray shots.

[ZhuiQuan]

Don't forget Iron Fist! (Who seriously needs a new costume) Who is said to have his own movie directed by Steve Carr.

[GeneChing]

...or maybe not. Sherman's Lagoon (http://www.slagoon.com/) just ran a series of strips on kung fu.

http://www.slagoon.com/dailies/SL100317.gif
http://www.slagoon.com/dailies/SL100318.gif
http://www.slagoon.com/dailies/SL100319.gif
http://www.slagoon.com/dailies/SL100320.gif

[GeneChing]

http://www.slagoon.com/dailies/SL100322.gif
http://www.slagoon.com/dailies/SL100323.gif
http://www.slagoon.com/dailies/SL100324.gif
http://www.slagoon.com/dailies/SL100325.gif
http://www.slagoon.com/dailies/SL100326.gif
kung fu in gis (http://www.martialartsmart.com/uniforms-karate.html) again. :rolleyes:

[GeneChing]

Mr. Magoo Returns in New DVD Feature (http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/11369)
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
By: Thomas J. Mclean

The eyesight-challenged Mr. Magoo is back in Kung Fu Magoo, the first new Magoo production in more than 30 years.

The all-new animated feature will be released May 11 on DVD and through the iTunes store by Classic Media

Kung Fu Magoo sees Mr. Magoo compete against the world’s worst villains in an “Evil-lympics” tournament, with the help of his nephew Justin.

The film features the voices of Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Alyson Stoner, Kenny Mayne and Chris Parnell.

“We’re so excited to work with such a talented cast and crew to produce Mr. Magoo’s most recent action-packed mishaps and misadventures,” said Robert Mayo, senior VP and GM of home video for Classic Media.

Mr. Magoo first appeared as the star of UPA’s animated short film The Ragtime Bear in 1949. Voiced by Jim Backus, the character appeared in several TV series, specials and a live-action movie.
Zach and Cody..:rolleyes:
Won't be the same without Mr. Howell. ;)
Ever see Stanley Tong's Mr. Magoo (live action with Leslie Nielson)? Tong is another kung fu link. :p

[@PLUGO]

Here's a preview of the latest issue of DC comic's GREAT 10. (http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=1978&page=1)

[ManilaCrane]

when it comes to martial arts and comics stuff, its all about Kenichi: The mightiest disciple and Fist of the North Star. lol

[ittokaos]

You guys ever hear about Shi Long Pang?

http://www.shilongpang.com/?page=1

For martial arts comics I enjoy the following. History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi, Tough, Shamo, All the Baki series, Kenji, Vagabond, Tenjho Tenge, Garouden series, Fist of the Blue Sky(which is the prequel to Fist of the North Star).

All of which can be found here

http://www.mangafox.com

[@PLUGO]

This time featuring SHAOLIN ROBOT (http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=2063&page=1).

[GeneChing]

Remember this (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1004237&postcount=29)?

Enter to win KUNG FU MAGOO (http://www.kungfumagazine.net/index.html). Contest ends 6:00 p.m. PST on 09/02/2010. Good luck everyone!

[GeneChing]

See our Kung Fu Magoo winners (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1038852) thread.

I can't stop saying Kung Fu Magoo. :o

[GeneChing]

Disney sets its sights on new Mr Magoo feature (http://tbivision.com/article.php?category=2&article=1789)
12/10/10

Disney has acquired animated feature Kung Foo Magoo for its boy-skewed Disney XD channel in the US and various international territories.

The show, featuring the classic nearsighted pensioner character, created in the late 1940s, is produced by Anima Studios, Santo Domingo Films and Classic Media.

Classic is distributing and brokered the Disney deal and the show will debut on Disney XD in the US, Germany and Italy.

The plot of the new show follows Quincy Magoo and his 12 year-old nephew as they compete against the world's most notorious villains in a Olympic-style tournament.
http://tbivision.com/large_image/kungfu_magoo.jpg

If this revitalizes the Magoo franchise, I get to say "I told you so. It's all about the kung fu."

[ghostexorcist]

I wonder what Martial Art she's trained in.
That's nice an all, but what did the girl from G-Force ever do to her?

[GeneChing]

For archival sake, I'm cross-posting these three threads

Infinite Kung Fu by Kagan McLeod (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1095369)

How I Killed Your Master by Brian Clevinger (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60177)

Shi Long Pang: The Wandering Shaolin Monk by Ben Costa. (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56298)

[@PLUGO]

BOOM STUDIOS publishes a handful of interesting comics. Mostly licenced titles, the best of which is PLANET OF THE APES (check it out, it's pretty pitch perfect).

This however . . .


One thing THE FREELANCERS (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=39625) have in common is their upbringing in a kung fu orphanage. A what, now? "It's somewhat based on a real thing," Brill told CBR. BOOM!'s editor-in-chief Matt Gagnon (who originated the "Freelancers" concept with writer-artist Felipe Smith) read in Jackie Chan's autobiography about Chan's experience in a performance troupe as part of the Peking Opera School, where Chan met fellow future martial-arts star Sammo Hung. He told Brill about the school, and, "I played around with the idea and worked it around Los Angeles' history of Chinese immigration.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/assets/thumbnail.php?file=/assets/images/articles/1341852773.jpg&w=280


... I'll flip through when it's on the 'stands.

[GeneChing]

There's more to the preview if you follow the link.


'Kung Fu Noir' Comes To Comic Books With INTERTWINED #1 (http://www.newsarama.com/31333-kung-fu-noir-comes-to-comic-books-with-intertwined-1.html)
By Newsarama Staff
October 4, 2016 12:30pm ET
Intertwined #1 Preview
Here's the first preview of Intertwined #1, which comes from a successful Kickstarter campaign and hits shelves October 5.

http://www.newsarama.com/images/i/000/180/596/original/Intertwined-001-Cov-A-Rev.jpg
http://www.newsarama.com/images/i/000/180/603/original/Intertwined-001-Int6.jpg

Intertwined #1
writer: Fabrice Sapolsky
artist: Fred Pham Chuong
covers: Fred Pham Chuong (a), Fred Pham Chuong “noir homage” (b)
Fans & retailers, order the cover of your choice!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Mature
A murder. A mysterious league of protectors operating in the shadows. A legacy to protect. A city to save from filth, corruption and gangs. A girl who has to pose as a man to protect herself and her heritage. A young Kung Fu student lost in a concrete jungle he never chose to… Welcome to the world of Intertwined. It’s 1971 and for Juan Jin, life is about to become hell! He didn’t ask to be a hero. He didn’t ask to go to Chinatown. He only wanted to follow the way of Wing Chun, the Kung Fu style he masters brilliantly. But destiny had other plans for him!
The first ever Kung Fu Noir series starts here on the heels of its successful campaign on Kickstarter, from Fabrice Sapolsky (Spider-Man Noir, One-Hit Wonder) and hot new French sensation Fred Pham Chuong (who also practices Kung Fu himself)! It’s the creator-owned comic book series you can’t wait to read, even if you don’t know it yet. And it’s from the House of Noir itself, Dynamite Comics!

[GeneChing]

One of these days, Chinese comics will find an audience here...


SEPTEMBER 07, 2017 7:00am PT by Graeme McMillan
Popular Chinese Comics Coming to America for First Time (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/popular-chinese-comics-coming-america-first-time-1036084)

http://cdn3.thr.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/scale_crop_768_433/2017/09/foxspirit-matchmaker-cover_-_jh_2017.jpg
Courtesy of Tapas Media

It's being made possible thanks to a deal between digital comics platform Tapas Media and China's Tencent AC.

A number of popular Chinese comics are making their North American debut, thanks to a new deal between Tapas Media and one of the country's largest producers of original comics and animated content.

The partnership between the digital comics company and China's Tencent AC will see the launch of a number of comics and animated properties in the North American market, starting Thursday. Launch titles include Fox Spirit Matchmaker, Tencent's best-selling supernatural romance series, and monsters vs. humans series Book of Yaoguai.

Other titles releasing this month include the action-adventure Zombie Brother, and romance Cupid's Chocolate-ing. The first chapters of each series, downloadable from the Tapas app or website, will be available for free preview.

The San Francisco-based Tapas Media was founded in 2012, and has published more than 23,000 creators through its comics platform tapas.io, which boasts more than 2 million users and upwards of 2 billion pageviews. Unusually, much of its creator-base, skews female — 63 of the top 30 comics on the platform are from female creators, according to the company. This new deal is the first of its kind for the company, as it moves from self-published material to licensing deals with international content suppliers.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/custom/Graeme/FoxSpirit-Matchmaker-big.jpg

"As Tapas grows its portfolio of content with leading entertainment brands and rising creators, it is with great excitement to be the platform that introduces Tencent AC’s highly popular animated and comic franchises to North America, and other English speaking countries around the world," Tapas Media CEO Chang Kim, said in a statement.

Zou Zhengyu, GM of Animation and Comics Department of Tencent Interactive Entertainment Group added, "Tapas is one of our most important overseas partnerships. The cooperation between Tapas and Tencent AC will be key in helping to connect the global marketplace to the freshest and most popular comic IP from China's growing content industry."

...or not. :o

[GeneChing]

Man, you come right out of a comic book. READ The Kung Fu of Comic Cons 2019 – Silicon Valley Comic Con 2019 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=1505)by Gene Ching and Patrick Lugo

http://www.kungfumagazine.com/admin/site_images/KungfuMagazine/upload/5908_201936SVCC08.jpg

THREADS
Comic Cons (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?70242-Comic-Cons)
Mighty Morphin Power Ranger news (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?38034)
The Next Wave of Kung Fu Comics... (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?41720)

[GeneChing]

N'awlins Ninjas? The Mann Behind The Cat and Mouse Comic Book: Ninjas, Yakuza, and a Demon in New Orleans (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=1510) by Kurtis Fujita

http://www.kungfumagazine.com/admin/site_images/KungfuMagazine/upload/9014_4.jpg

[GeneChing]

Enter to win KungFuMagazine.com's contest for Cat & Mouse Issues #1 & #2 Autographed by Roland Mann & Silverline Wristband (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/sweepstakes-cat-and-mouse.php)! Contest ends 5:00 p.m. PST on 1/2/2019.

http://www.kungfumagazine.com//admin/site_images/KungfuMagazine/images/ezine/1782_Cat-and-Mouse-Sweepstake.jpg

[GeneChing]

See our WINNERS: Cat & Mouse Issues #1 & #2 Autographed by Roland Mann & Silverline Wristband thread (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?71649-WINNERS-Cat-amp-Mouse-Issues-1-amp-2-Autographed-by-Roland-Mann-amp-Silverline-Wristband).

[@PLUGO]

Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead) is teaming with Eisner winning artist Chris Samnee (Daredevil), to bring fans an all-new, full color, action-packed ongoing series—Fire Power—which will launch in May 2020.


“Getting to create a whole new world with its own mythology and rules is always the highlight of my life. Getting to do that with Chris Samnee is definitely a high water mark in this dusty old career of mine,” said Kirkman. “With a massive cast of characters populating this sprawling globe-spanning epic Chris has proven more than adept at handling anything I've thrown at him in the time we've been toiling away on this series in secret. Kung Fu, Fireballs, Chris Samnee, crazy action, Chris Samnee, Chris Samnee."

Samnee is an excellent artist and particularly good at choreographing action. Hunt down his run on Black Widow for a taste. There are more preview pages here (https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/robert-kirkman-chris-samnee-to-launch-new-ongoing-comic-book-series-fire-power-this-may).

1079910800108011080210803

[GeneChing]

Please support THE ADEPT Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1617982296/the-adept)

I’m serving as the ‘Action Choreographer’ for a new graphic novel called The Adept, the first project from Immortal Studios. Our Kickstarter just launched today and we’d be grateful for your support.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EakhpOfUcAAoHNy?format=png&name=small

“Man, you come right out of a comic book.”

THREADS
The Adept (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?71796-The-Adept-by-Immortal-Comics)
Shaolin Comics (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?55924-Shaolin-comics)
The Next Wave of Kung Fu Comics... (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?41720-The-Next-Wave-of-Kung-Fu-Comics)

[GeneChing]

‘Kung Fu Cavemen’ isn’t racist — just the victim of moral panic by a self-righteous few (https://nypost.com/2021/03/31/kung-fu-cavemen-isnt-racist-just-the-victim-of-moral-panic-by-a-self-righteous-few/)
By Melissa Chen March 31, 2021 | 3:58pm | Updated
https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/gluk1-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=2048
Pages from the Dav Pilkey book “The Adventures of Ook and Gluk Kun-Fu Cavemen From the Future” seen on March 30, 2021.Blue Sky Press

First, they came for Seuss. Then, Ook and Gluk. The Cultural Revolution in our midst.

It’s a story about two cavemen buddies — one black, one white — traveling through time and space to fight an evil corporation stealing natural resources from their hometown of Caveland, Ohio. Along the way, they meet Master Wong, who teaches them kung fu and imparts nuggets of Chinese philosophy, knowledge and training that they eventually use to defeat their nemesis and save their village.

In a world that values cultural pluralism and inclusivity, “The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen From the Future” should be widely celebrated and beloved. Indeed, the 2010 children’s graphic novel spent 33 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller List. But today, cancel culture has come for the scalps of Ook and Gluk — for apparently “perpetuating passive racism.”

In an announcement made last week, Scholastic, with the support of author Dav Pilkey, best known for his “Captain Underpants” series, said that it had removed the book from its Web site, stopped fulfillment of any orders (domestically or abroad), contacted its retail partners to explain why the book is no longer available, and sought a return of all inventory. Plans have also been made to inform schools and libraries to pull the books from circulation. For now, if you want to snag a copy, you will have to fork over several hundred dollars on eBay for the new literary contraband.

All this because of a Change.org petition started by Billy Kim, a Korean-American father of two, who demanded an apology after borrowing “The Adventures of Ook and Gluk” from a library. He complained that the book traded in “racist imagery and stereotypical tropes,” specifically singling out the “kung fu master wearing what’s purported to be a traditional-style Tang coat, dashes for eyes for the Asian characters, stereotypical Chinese proverbs, and a storyline that has the kung fu master rescued by the non-Asian protagonists using their kung fu skills.”

Would Mr. Kim prefer that our biracial protagonists leave Master Wong to die? Is he ignoring the fact they save him with skills the master taught them?

https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/gluk2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1495
Pages from the Dav Pilkey book “The Adventures of Ook and Gluk Kun-Fu Cavemen From the Future.”
Blue Sky Press
No other export of Chinese culture and identity has arguably been as successful as kung fu at facilitating cultural exchange and understanding between the Far East and the West. It elevated Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan to household names and was so transcendent that it inspired the Wu Tang Clan. American kids of all creeds and ages continue to learn kung fu and its many variations, accompanied by tenets of Chinese philosophy that promote self-empowerment and self-restraint, even in the face of violence. Decrying Master Wong in his traditional garment as a trope is just a cynical, self-important move that is completely divorced from reality.

Mr. Kim’s petition misses the forest for the trees. Master Wong is a prime example of a positive portrayal of an Asian character in literature, and just like Mr. Miyagi in “The Karate Kid,” he comes across as endearing and full of wisdom, wisdom that he communicates via “stereotypical Chinese proverbs.” What could be more representative of Chinese culture than Chinese proverbs?

Wong teaches Ook and Gluk that “the wisest warrior wins without a battle,” and advises them “to walk the path of peace.”

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How can this be interpreted as a bad representation of Chinese philosophy? Or be seen as encouraging passive racism?

The characters are in awe of him and his lessons.

Another objection is the lines used to represent Wong’s eyes. While I understand the hypersensitivity to it in the West, I’ve seen Han Chinese artists use lines in lieu of eyes — and monolids are a defining feature of Asians. The author’s intent is not racial malevolence.

In a groveling apology that harkens to a forced confession extracted from a Maoist struggle session, Pilkey explained that he had “intended to showcase diversity, equality and nonviolent conflict resolution.” He had, in my view, succeeded, but not in the eyes of Mr. Kim and the 289 petition signatories.

Why did it take fewer than 300 people to cancel Ook and Gluk for everybody else? For Scholastic to cease distribution of a popular book that had a sequel in development? This comes right on the heels of the announcement that six Dr. Seuss books will no longer be published for similar reasons, and part of a larger moral panic that is ignited by media narratives surrounding the recent spate of anti-Asian crimes.

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Pages from the Dav Pilkey book “The Adventures of Ook and Gluk Kun-Fu Cavemen From the Future.”
Blue Sky Press
Mainstream media have mostly pinned the allegedly white-supremacist, anti-Asian “kung flu” rhetoric from the Trump administration as the main driver of ongoing anti-Asian hate (unlikely to those who have eyes and can see who is perpetuating these crimes and where), fomenting a climate that is extra-sensitive to any book, film, news article and speech that can be construed as remotely stereotyping of Asians.

This is how two esteemed children’s authors known for their messages of pluralism and tolerance have had their works canceled for racism in recent weeks. Media narratives shape perceptions, and perceptions can shape reality, which is exactly how a small group of race-baiting activists can exert such an outsized influence on our institutions.

In a closing monologue on “Real Time” weeks ago, Bill Maher weighed in saying, “You know who doesn’t care that there’s a stereotype of a Chinese man in a Dr. Seuss book? China. But the left cares very much. It’s another opportunity for performative outrage, which fuels the media business and another opportunity to construct the facile illusion of an irredeemably bigoted country in need of total scrubbing. It’s hardly the end of the world, but ceding the left’s argument that several Dr. Seuss books are so racist they should no longer be printed sets a standard.”

He’s absolutely right. We don’t need the firemen that Ray Bradbury described in “Fahrenheit 451” to carry out book burning. There’ll be no books to burn when publishers and authors cancel their own books, seemingly on their own volition, but really because of Twitter mobs and busybody Change.org petitions.

And there’ll be no books to read when writers, who will learn to anticipate market power, resort to self-censorship.

If only the cancel mob had internalized the profound message that Master Wong conveys to Ook and Gluk of the need to see past surfaces in order to know what is real in themselves and others. They might actually have abandoned their mission.


Melissa Chen is the US editor of The Spectator.
If the government 'cancels' something, that's censorship.
If the public complains and the private enterprise producing the product shuts it down, that's capitalism.