...fifteen years earlier, orphaned teen thief Richard Dragon tried to steal a jade figurine from a retired martial arts master.
It does not go well for Dragon, who's decked by both the man known as O-Sensi and his pupil, Benjamin!
Seeing potential in the kid, O-Sensi offers to teach him.
Six years later, the old man is about to send both his students out into the world when they encounter several intruders on the property, whom Rich and Ben trash easily.
They were sent as a test by the O-Sensi's ex-employer, Barney Ling, who's the head of an international undercover peacekeeping force called G.O.O.D. (Global Organization of Organized Defense).
He recruits them to battle evil on a global scale!
Now, let's join them on their first mission...
Despite Kung-Fu Fighter lasting only 18 issues, many of the characters introduced in it became part of the fabric of both the DC TV/movie and comics universes!
Dragon himself would train a number of major characters in martial arts including Lady Shiva (who debuted in Kung-Fu Fighter), The Batman, Batgirl/Oracle, both of the characters called The Question (Vic Sage and Renee Montoya), The Huntress, Robin/NightWing/Target/Agent 37, and Green Arrow II.
Lady Shiva, a major character in DC Comics, though she's never had her own strip, debuts in Kung-Fu Fighter #5.
Ben's full name is Benjamin Turner, who eventually becomes the hero/villain Bronze Tiger!
Richard Dragon, Lady Shiva and Bronze Tiger have made multiple appearances in both live-action and animated DC series, though never together!
Denny O'Neil wrote this fascinating "bio" about "Jim Dennis" (a pen name for himself and Jim Berry)...
Tomorrow:
Richard Dragon's Premiere Appearance...
...in a Marvel Magazine!
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Pop Culture Martial Arts
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Kung-Fu Master: Richard Dragon
Dragon's Fists
Richard Dragon's Premiere Appearance...
...in a Marvel Magazine!
Please Support
Pop Culture Martial Arts
Visit Amazon and Order...
Dragon's Fists
