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The Four Constables/Four Warriors #2
The Four Constables, Volume 2
With the Emperor's life in the balance, can the four Imperial Constables meet up in time to save him?
- GenresManga
140 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2004
About the author
Tony Wong
283 books124 followersFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wong_Yuk...
Tony Wong Yuk-Long (Wong Jan-Lung), is a Hong Kong based Manhua artist, publisher and actor who wrote and created Little Rascals (later re-titled Oriental Heroes) and Weapons of the Gods. He also wrote adaptations of Louis Cha's (a.k.a. Jin Yong) Wuxia novels such as The Return of the Condor Heroes (retitled as Legendary Couples), Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, and Ode to Gallantry. For his contribution and influencing a generation of artists in the local industry, he is regarded as the "Godfather of Hong Kong comics" or "Hong Kong's King of Comics".
He provided the art for Batman: Hong Kong, which was written by Doug Moench. He has also acted in some films occasionally, including making a cameo appearance in Dragon Tiger Gate (a film adaptation of Oriental Heroes).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wong_Yuk...
Tony Wong Yuk-Long (Wong Jan-Lung), is a Hong Kong based Manhua artist, publisher and actor who wrote and created Little Rascals (later re-titled Oriental Heroes) and Weapons of the Gods. He also wrote adaptations of Louis Cha's (a.k.a. Jin Yong) Wuxia novels such as The Return of the Condor Heroes (retitled as Legendary Couples), Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, and Ode to Gallantry. For his contribution and influencing a generation of artists in the local industry, he is regarded as the "Godfather of Hong Kong comics" or "Hong Kong's King of Comics".
He provided the art for Batman: Hong Kong, which was written by Doug Moench. He has also acted in some films occasionally, including making a cameo appearance in Dragon Tiger Gate (a film adaptation of Oriental Heroes).
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 19, 2019
The Epic Kung-Fu Whodunit continues and keep your wits about you and the other volumes on hand because this is super involved and plot heavy.
So basic premise: our four mystic martial arts constables (Emotionless Cold Blood, Life Snatcher and Iron Hands) work for Master Zhuge - (your standard good wizard Sifu) - They are hunting down (or being hunted by, take your pick) a band of 13 masked assassins who murdered a whole bunch of noble families over the years including all of Emotionless' kin, and leaving him a cripple. Master Zhuge is attempting to solve the mystery of who is behind the assassins pulling the strings.
Emotionless faces Bronze Mask (Yan), who turns out to be his childhood friend (bringing in the character of Ji Yaohua from the film) - It's interesting that the emotional, past tie has been switched to Emotionless rather than Cold Blood - but this could be simply down to the gender switch of Emotionless in the movie. Yan is still a wonderfully complex character - clearly if not good, sympathetic, yet working for the wrong side. It also adds to the mystery since although she is clearly one of the 13 masks, she's too young to have been involved with many of the past massacres.
Cold Blood Faces off against Thousand Chop Mosan and wins but is then swiftly attacked by a double whammy of Ghost Gate Master and Returning Spirit Sword and has to be rescued by Iron Hands. They return to Zhuge to try and piece things together and learn who has captured Life Snatcher -(He was last seen fighting Black Death Palms but has apparently been captured by the enemy) - Master Zhuge thinks that it is the Emperor's Cousin, martial arts expert Duke Zhu Wu -
They rush to his strong hold to confront him, but find the place ablaze and the family under attack. The Duke dies in Zhuge's arms. Iron Hands gives chase and faces off against his new drinking buddy Sima Huang Feng .... cue cliff-hanger music!
So by my count we've now met 10 of the 13 masked assassins and are no nearer to uncovering their mysterious master. Or are we? My money is on Bishop Jing Cai but I have to wonder why Zhuge, who is such a smart man, doesn't have the villainous minister as his top suspect - I mean this guy is far more obvious than the Duke - but hey.
As well as the main masked villains this one also brings in the notion of rival houses. We meet the Tang family (who seem to be the Department Six equivalent) - at least from the movie POV scenes with Department Six are here with members of the Tang family. Though their role is thus far minimal - their heads ending up on pikes outside of the Duke's residence. Though who killed them I'm unsure.
What can I say? Andy Seto's artwork is stunning - Characters are beautiful and the fight sequences have so much colour and energy! Everything you could want for illustration of a kung-fu epic.
Plot-wise we dash about rather a lot - cutting mid fight for a seemingly unrelated character flashback - makes this one quite challenging to follow. There's such a huge cast of highly individual and interesting characters and a complex plot weaving back and fourth between the past and present of the four constables so you do really have to take your time teasing out all the nuances and thinking things through. Still that does give more time to truly appreciate the gorgeous artwork.
A solid 3.5*
So basic premise: our four mystic martial arts constables (Emotionless Cold Blood, Life Snatcher and Iron Hands) work for Master Zhuge - (your standard good wizard Sifu) - They are hunting down (or being hunted by, take your pick) a band of 13 masked assassins who murdered a whole bunch of noble families over the years including all of Emotionless' kin, and leaving him a cripple. Master Zhuge is attempting to solve the mystery of who is behind the assassins pulling the strings.
Emotionless faces Bronze Mask (Yan), who turns out to be his childhood friend (bringing in the character of Ji Yaohua from the film) - It's interesting that the emotional, past tie has been switched to Emotionless rather than Cold Blood - but this could be simply down to the gender switch of Emotionless in the movie. Yan is still a wonderfully complex character - clearly if not good, sympathetic, yet working for the wrong side. It also adds to the mystery since although she is clearly one of the 13 masks, she's too young to have been involved with many of the past massacres.
Cold Blood Faces off against Thousand Chop Mosan and wins but is then swiftly attacked by a double whammy of Ghost Gate Master and Returning Spirit Sword and has to be rescued by Iron Hands. They return to Zhuge to try and piece things together and learn who has captured Life Snatcher -(He was last seen fighting Black Death Palms but has apparently been captured by the enemy) - Master Zhuge thinks that it is the Emperor's Cousin, martial arts expert Duke Zhu Wu -
They rush to his strong hold to confront him, but find the place ablaze and the family under attack. The Duke dies in Zhuge's arms. Iron Hands gives chase and faces off against his new drinking buddy Sima Huang Feng .... cue cliff-hanger music!
So by my count we've now met 10 of the 13 masked assassins and are no nearer to uncovering their mysterious master. Or are we? My money is on Bishop Jing Cai but I have to wonder why Zhuge, who is such a smart man, doesn't have the villainous minister as his top suspect - I mean this guy is far more obvious than the Duke - but hey.
As well as the main masked villains this one also brings in the notion of rival houses. We meet the Tang family (who seem to be the Department Six equivalent) - at least from the movie POV scenes with Department Six are here with members of the Tang family. Though their role is thus far minimal - their heads ending up on pikes outside of the Duke's residence. Though who killed them I'm unsure.
What can I say? Andy Seto's artwork is stunning - Characters are beautiful and the fight sequences have so much colour and energy! Everything you could want for illustration of a kung-fu epic.
Plot-wise we dash about rather a lot - cutting mid fight for a seemingly unrelated character flashback - makes this one quite challenging to follow. There's such a huge cast of highly individual and interesting characters and a complex plot weaving back and fourth between the past and present of the four constables so you do really have to take your time teasing out all the nuances and thinking things through. Still that does give more time to truly appreciate the gorgeous artwork.
A solid 3.5*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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