Asian Avenger LADY SHIVA in RICHARD DRAGON: KUNG-FU FIGHTER "Arena of No Exit!" Conclusion

We Have Already Seen...

(Actually, you'll see this in a couple of pages

It hasn't happened in the narrative...yet!)

Richard Dragon meets Sandra Woosan, sister of Caroline Woosan, who was slain by The Swiss, right-hand man to the criminal Guano Cravat while under Dragon's protection!
Though he killed The Swiss, Dragon still wants vengeance on Cravat for ordering Caroline's death, and Sandra provides Cravat's current location!
Note: Though Sandra is Caroline's sister, her reason for aiding Dragon is not as benevolent as it appears to be...

Lady Shiva's history after this tale can be seen below...

...in DC's Who's Who Update 1987 #3 (1987)

Since then, due to constant rebooting of the DC Comics Multiverse, many of these details have been altered, and the numerous animated/live action/video game versions of her bear little resemblance to the character you've just read about!

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Asian Avenger LADY SHIVA in RICHARD DRAGON: KUNG-FU FIGHTER "Arena of No Exit!" Part 1

Along with Marvel's Elektra and the Daughters of the Dragon (Misty Knight and Colleen Wing)...

...she's the best-known female martial artist in comics (including movie/TV adaptations)...and this is her first appearance!

Richard Dragon will be seeing Sandra Woosan again!

As will you, dear dear reader...

NEXT WEEK!

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MARVEL's Kung-Fu Fighter, Richard Dragon?

Though DC gave Richard Dragon his own comic book in 1975...

...the character was initially-presented to comics fans via the Marvel magazine Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #6 (1974)!

A year later, DC would debut Richard Dragon in his own title.

Considering the lead time required to produce a comic, much less one starring a totally-new character, was the book in preparation when the article appeared?

Was it offered to Marvel first, or did O'Neil, who was working steadily for DC, offer it to Marvel's competitor as a counterpoint to Shang Chi: Master of Kung Fu and Iron Fist?

We'll never know...

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RICHARD DRAGON: KUNG-FU FIGHTER "Coming of a Dragon!" Conclusion

When Last We Left Our Martial Artists...

...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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RICHARD DRAGON: KUNG-FU FIGHTER "Coming of a Dragon!" Part 1

With the success of Marvel's Shang-Chi: Master of Kung-Fu and Iron Fist...

...DC sought a concept which could compete, which they found in a paperback novel from author "Jim Dennis"...

The martial-arts mayhem continues...
TOMORROW

"Jim Dennis" was a pseudonym for writers Jim Berry and a creative you're probably familiar with...Denny O'Neil, who was already one of the top scribes at DC!

Apparently, O'Neil sold DC the rights to the Richard Dragon property when an ongoing paperback series didn't materialize.

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