Monkey King: The Bane of Heaven

Monkey King #2

by Wei Dong Chen

Monkey King is a twenty-volume comics series based on the legendary Chinese novel The Journey to the West. It is a magisterial work that took seventy people over six years to complete. The Journey to the West is at once a comedy, a drama, a satire, a meditation on faith and discipline, and a fantastical dramatization of China's history. Its creation covers many centuries and several dynasties. Begun during the Song Dynasty (10th~13th century), Journey is set against the backdrop of the 7th century Tang Dynasty, and tells the story of a priest named San Zang, who introduces China to the Mahayana Buddhist scriptures of India, and his trio of the monkey king Sun Wu Kong, the gluttonous pig Zhu Bajie, and the quiet but noble sea monster Sha Wu Jing. The San Zang who appears in Journey to the West is a specialist in Tripitaka, and is based on a real priest, named Xuan Zang. Xuan Zang lived from 602 to 664, and have traveled the western lands and traded with other countries along the western border from 627 or 629 to 645. More than three hundred years later, a story based on Xuan Zang's adventures, first appeared. The Journey to the West originated from this story. The Song Dynasty was founded in 960, yet because the only known author of Journey to the West, Wu Cheng en, died in 1582, during the Ming Dynasty, the story is considered the result of collective creation spanning five hundred years. The story also traveled through several countries and includes at least four different timelines. The events of Journey to the West, which include epic battles and threatened palaces and imperiled kings, could resonate with readers during almost any age, but the story focuses on portraying a peaceful society where deviance is ultimately trumped by enlightenment, violence defeated by benevolence. It is this balance, between depicting familiar events of conquest and telling a story about the search for truth, that makes The Journey to the West so beloved today. The author, Mr. Wei Dong Chen, is a highly acclaimed and beloved Chinese artist and an influential leader in the New Chinese Cartoon trend. His company, Creator World in Tianjin, is the largest comics studio in China. He has published hundreds of cartoons, which have been recognized for their strong literary value throughout the world. In 2005, he undertook the monumental effort of translating four classic Chinese novels into serialized comic form. After six years of great and enthusiastic work, he completed his dream, which now consists of 12,800 pages of beautiful drawings and epic storytelling. Monkey King is one of the four novels. Monkey King is a new landmark of comic artistry in China, and is a bold and exhilarating treatment of one of the definitive works of Chinese literature.

Vol. 2 The Bane of Heaven
Sun Wu Kong, having declared himself QiTianDaSheng, or Emperor of Heaven, continues his antagonistic campaign against the Jade Emperor and his allies until the gods surrender and offer the Handsome Monkey King the official title of QiTianDaSheng. Charged with keeping watch over a heavenly peach orchard, Sun Wu Kong cannot help but cause trouble throughout the heavens. When the monkey s antics anger the Jade Emperor for a second time, a new military campaign is launched against the monkeys, which culminates in Sun Wu Kong facing the one being who might bring his mischief to an Buddha himself.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Manga, Fiction, Childrens, Mythology

174 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Jeongmin Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monkey King's second book is The Bane of Heaven. Monkey king was very rude and stupid, he ruined many things in heaven. Finally, he started the war between heaven, but he was so strong. Heaven's soldier cannot win Sun Wu Kong, soon the emperor of heaven called Budda to catch him. Finally, he got caught. As same as first, you can read this book very easily because this book is the graphic novel, also using easy English.

[Yan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it!! Very detailed narration of the battles in heaven. Moving on to book 3 now.

[Ben Nash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. Nothing to add to the review for volume 1.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In which a monkey makes so much trouble for the gods of heaven, they have to call on Buddha to intervene!

[Shin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh yeah this is my favorite book of all. The illustration is so perfect and oh the most interesting part was the speeches they gave. It was hilarious and super serious. Its abt a Monkey who was born very strong and became a monster king of 72 caves. After he caused a ruckus he riled up a goddess, a wizard and the jade emperor. Then he called out the heaven to a death match so he can claim his title as the Emperor of Heaven but he failed when he faced Buddha and was trapped under a magical mountain made by Buddha for 500 years. I love this story soo much this is the only book i could keep reading

[Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, I was born in the year of the monkey and love The Monkey King/Journey to the West. This graphic series by Wei Dong Chen is so good. It's true to the known complete story and gets to the famous parts without treating them like mere checkpoints. Great stuff. His tongue-in-cheek interpretation is thoroughly enjoyable. Can't wait to get volume 3.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books keep getting more awesome. This volume sees the Monkey King finally defeated after all of heaven comes after him. But he's not done yet! Despite being sealed under a mountain, the Monkey King will return.

[Li_jiahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Damon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this story.

[Amos King]

good

[Holly Letson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review Coming Soon.