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Title:  Chun Rhang Yhur Jhun #1

Author:  Sung-Woo Park

Publisher:  Infinity Studios

ISBN:  159697041

May Contain Spoilers

O’Rhang Yung is sent on a mission to China by his martial arts master.  He must deliver a letter to Eldest Brother and bring him back to help defend Goguryeo against the invaders threatening to destroy the country.  Before he even sets out on his journey, his master dies, and he’s branded a traitor by another warrior.  Left for dead, his wounds are tended by Ha-Rhang Whur, a woman seeking revenge for the murder of her master.  When O’Rhang recovers enough to continue his mission, his letter stolen by a group of thieves.  While attempting to retrieve it, he finds himself caught up in a plot to kill the robbers.  Will he be able to keep himself alive long enough to get his letter back?

If you are expecting a plot, stop right there and don’t pick up this book.  It reads like a Hong Kong action flick, with an emphasis on fights and martial arts acrobatics.  I happen to enjoy this kind of thing, so I was pretty entertained by the book, though the silly names for the attacks grew wearying after about the 20th one.  Vast Twirling White Waves!Blue Water Dissociating Palm!  Blue Water Loop Palm Strike!  The names were even more unwieldy than those from Utopia’s Avenger!  It’s a wonder anyone gets any blows in while shouting out these cumbersome movements!

I really liked the art.  It’s a little cartoony at times, especially during humorous scenes, but it really fit the story.  The page layouts helped the action flow along, and it was never difficult to follow along with the battles. 

Infinity Studios did a really nice job with this book, save for a few jarring typos.  The illustration on the dust jacket is what originally caught my attention;  I liked the bold stance of the armor-clad O’Rhang.  There’s a nice color fold-out of Ha-Rhang, as well as historical notes and character design sketches included with this volume.  With everything else looking so good, those typographical errors really stand out.

Grade: B-

Rated for 13+