Cobra Kai the Karate Kid Saga Continues #2
IDW Publishing 2019
Written by Denton J. Tipton
Illustrated by Kagan McLeod
Coloured by Luis Antonio Delgado
Lettered by Neil Uyetake
“JOHNNY’S STORY,” Part 2!
See The Karate Kid in a whole new light in this retelling through the eyes of Johnny Lawrence, two-time All Valley Tournament champion. The new kid continues to make moves on Johnny's girl, and takes the rivalry to a new level with a low down prank at the Halloween dance. Will Johnny get his revenge?
Last issue I stated that I hadn't seen the film (the remake doesn't count as a real film), update—still haven't and have no plans to watch it, however we all know the story. So I came into this with an open mind and from what we see here Denton has made a fan of the story as seen from this angle. I am always a fan of seeing the so-called bully in more detail and his home life and the way his father treats him when he's looking for advice we begin to understand him all the more. I like this as Denton is giving us the kind of characterisation that is rarely seen anywhere else and it's absolutely delightful.
I am thoroughly enjoying the way that this is being told. The story & plot development we see through the sequence of events and how the reader learns information is incredibly well done. I actually like that we see so little of the kid in this and really focuses on Johnny, his life at home, at school and at the dojo it keeps him front and centre and really brings us the story of a teenager who's lost and angry. Which of course is the character development we see here. I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying getting to know why he's the way he is, how his sensei is the father figure he sought out because the one at home is horrid. When kids at home are browbeaten and ridiculed they usually take it out on the kids at school and seeing that here is so expertly done. With the pacing, which is superb, we see how the ebb & flow of the story is created. We don't need a day to day, minute to minute tale here so breaking it up into those moments we need to see is the smart way to let this play out.
I do like the interior artwork here as well. The mid-80's were a weird time in American History or around the world for that matter. Preppie's and their popped collars or kids wearing neon egad it was not a great time for fashion. Kagan however somehow manages to avoid all that here and makes it look rather bland. The linework we see is nicely laid down and the varying weights utilised to create the attention to detail is well rendered. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective show a solid eye for storytelling. The colour work is fantastic! I really like how we see the kind of watercolour painted effect and how the various hues and tones within the colours create shading, highlights and shadow work. There are great moments within the clothing but the hair is where it looks incredible.
For me this is simply the story about a boy who has trouble growing up and needs to find himself. Given the right direction and a mentor who actually really cares, about more than winning and showing no mercy, he could've been the star of the franchise. The work we see here is so impressive all around the writing really is spectacular to see as Denton isn't afraid to make Johnny someone we can understand, relate to and ultimately root for to get his life together. I would support a series of limited arcs telling the rest of his story moving forward, as it stands now I want to see if he finds that person to help him grow, evolve and come to an understanding of what being a man means.
IDW Publishing 2019
Written by Denton J. Tipton
Illustrated by Kagan McLeod
Coloured by Luis Antonio Delgado
Lettered by Neil Uyetake
“JOHNNY’S STORY,” Part 2!
See The Karate Kid in a whole new light in this retelling through the eyes of Johnny Lawrence, two-time All Valley Tournament champion. The new kid continues to make moves on Johnny's girl, and takes the rivalry to a new level with a low down prank at the Halloween dance. Will Johnny get his revenge?
Last issue I stated that I hadn't seen the film (the remake doesn't count as a real film), update—still haven't and have no plans to watch it, however we all know the story. So I came into this with an open mind and from what we see here Denton has made a fan of the story as seen from this angle. I am always a fan of seeing the so-called bully in more detail and his home life and the way his father treats him when he's looking for advice we begin to understand him all the more. I like this as Denton is giving us the kind of characterisation that is rarely seen anywhere else and it's absolutely delightful.
I am thoroughly enjoying the way that this is being told. The story & plot development we see through the sequence of events and how the reader learns information is incredibly well done. I actually like that we see so little of the kid in this and really focuses on Johnny, his life at home, at school and at the dojo it keeps him front and centre and really brings us the story of a teenager who's lost and angry. Which of course is the character development we see here. I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying getting to know why he's the way he is, how his sensei is the father figure he sought out because the one at home is horrid. When kids at home are browbeaten and ridiculed they usually take it out on the kids at school and seeing that here is so expertly done. With the pacing, which is superb, we see how the ebb & flow of the story is created. We don't need a day to day, minute to minute tale here so breaking it up into those moments we need to see is the smart way to let this play out.
I do like the interior artwork here as well. The mid-80's were a weird time in American History or around the world for that matter. Preppie's and their popped collars or kids wearing neon egad it was not a great time for fashion. Kagan however somehow manages to avoid all that here and makes it look rather bland. The linework we see is nicely laid down and the varying weights utilised to create the attention to detail is well rendered. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective show a solid eye for storytelling. The colour work is fantastic! I really like how we see the kind of watercolour painted effect and how the various hues and tones within the colours create shading, highlights and shadow work. There are great moments within the clothing but the hair is where it looks incredible.
For me this is simply the story about a boy who has trouble growing up and needs to find himself. Given the right direction and a mentor who actually really cares, about more than winning and showing no mercy, he could've been the star of the franchise. The work we see here is so impressive all around the writing really is spectacular to see as Denton isn't afraid to make Johnny someone we can understand, relate to and ultimately root for to get his life together. I would support a series of limited arcs telling the rest of his story moving forward, as it stands now I want to see if he finds that person to help him grow, evolve and come to an understanding of what being a man means.
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