Streetfighter Legends: Ibuki #4 Review

More ninja than you can throw a smoke bomb at.

After several months, UDON’s first comic series with Streetfighter III kunoichi heroine Ibuki is done with the release of Issue 4. Saving the big stuff for last, the finale contains a big ninja free-for-all as well as a big reveal before the ninja schoolgirl bids farewell for now.

Jumping right into last week’s cliffhanger with Ibuki, Makoto, Elena and Sarai being captured by the evil Geki clan, Issue 4 sees the bunch fighting back and getting some help from Ibuki’s ninja buddies from the Glade of Ninja. As fists and kunai go flying, we are treated to a quick but meaty revelation of both Ibuki and her ninja ‘family’s’ origins, as well as a nifty little glimpse of Ibuki if she was raised by the Geki… nah, I prefer the kunoichi cutie the way she is.
Anyway, it all ends well with a victory for the good guys, Ibuki going off to a new life as… a NINJA. Oh, and then Ibuki and Makoto FINALLY get to have their long-in-coming, proper fight… and THEN it ends. Darn it! Oh well… If you wanna see Ibuki and Makoto actually fight, you can always just pop out a copy of Streetfighter III Third Strike or Super Streetfighter IV.

As usual, artist Omar Dogan’s panels and pages are consistently clean and colorful, particularly with lots of nice fiery action during the climax. While there’s quite a bit of action as the young heroines and the Glade Ninja take on the Geki, with signature moves being thrown in for fans of the games. It all ended a bit abruptly though- Geki fans will probably be quite disappointed in the off-screen death of the lead baddie. The ending seems to tie in with Ibuki’s own ending from the videogame SF3 Third Strike, and as usual it’s open-ended. I’ve seen on the Udon and Omar Dogan’s Deviantart pages that more Ibuki or perhaps some of the other SF heroines (or a villainess) may be the subject of the next SF Legends series, so who knows… if fans ask for it, they may get more kunoichi in the future.

The first series with Ibuki was fairly enjoyable and does the character well. I certainly would welcome further adventures of the schoolgirl ninja, but I’m also particularly intrigued with perhaps a Makoto-centered series. Or perhaps something with Taekwondo Femme Fatale Juri. Only the future will tell. For now though, if you love ninja or Streetfighter, catch this series, or the trade, it once it sneaks into stores.

Games 2 Comics: Left 4 Dead Sacrifice, Part 1

Lotsa blood in these here panels.

Valve has just opened up the first issue of Left 4 Dead: Sacrifice, an online comic chronicling the momentous events in the recent add-ons to their fast-paced zombie shooter franchise. Connecting the storylines between the story of the original survivors from L4D to that of the new quartet of zombie fighters in Left 4 Dead 2, ‘The Sacrifice’ is a prequel to the previous Add-on, entitled ‘The Passing’.

Confused? Well, that don’t really matter. You don’t have to have played the original L4D or the sequels to be able to like and enjoy the comic version of Sacrifice- it’s a well-written, well-drawn comic and it’s FREE. Heck, it just might get you playing the game. Anyway, there be SPOILERS in this, of course, but if you’ve played the games you know who makes the sacrifice. If you don’t, well, don’t matter. So just read the comic, why dont’cha?

Check out the first installment here. the next three chapters will be posted in the next few weeks up until October.

Bad Girls ROCK! Juri Han Artworks

A bored Juri looking down on someone she just flattened.

I haven’t drawn much recently save the occasional sketch on my iPad, so it’s quite a pleasant surprise for me to suddenly find myself actually producing a couple of full-color artworks out of the blue. Anyway, here are a couple of portraits of Super Streetfighter IV’s resident bad girl, Juri Han, sporting her cow-hair ‘do and leprous evil eye, looking mean and nasty and ready to kick Interpol police girls in the chest. I’ll try to do more game artworks when I can, to supplement the other blogging I do around here. Who knows, maybe I can pull off some Tekken X Streetfighter action scenes while I’m at it. We’ll see.

A very nasty but also very cartoony-looking Juri. I blame watching too many Shank videos for that…

Streetfighter Legends: Ibuki#3 Review

Finally, some action!

After quite a bit of a gap since the last issue’s release, Udon’s Streetfighter Legends: Ibuki #3 finally hit store shelves this week. Though consistent with eye-catchingly colorful art and fun panels, I have my reservations with this first comic feature starring the Streetfighter III girls. Much of it though has to do with the small amount of pages this mini-series has, leading to a distinct shortage of actual action. Issue one could have had at least a bit of a confrontation between Ibuki and her karate rival/friend Makoto, but the fight never happened. Issue 2 was a bit of a disappointment, glossing over action once again more in favor of character relationship moments between Ibuki and girl-buddy Sarai. Really, a Streetfighter comic should have AT LEAST one solid fight or skirmish in every issue, somehow, someway.

Finally though, Issue 3 throws in the action we should have been treated to in the previous issues. At the beginning of the comic we see Ibuki sparring with African princess Elena, who made her debut last issue. It was short, but at least things happened. After some drama (which lets Ibuki show off more of the little girl inside as well as the tough ninja warrior), the ninja heroine and company then moves on to meet her final ninja test- a confrontation with Oro, the ancient martial arts master (and fellow fighter from SF3). There’s some bits of action, nice fight scenes from artist Omar Dogan, and your all’s well that ends well resolution. Really though- more pages devoted to the fighting and someone actually getting HIT would have made this TONS better.

A nice touch here though was a bit of drama on the part of Makoto, whose father and dojo were defeated by Oro years ago. The exchange between her and Oro was a nice bit of angst and emotion from the somewhat testy karate kid, and a good way to show off her true character in a more sympathetic light. I really don’t mind seeing Streetfighter Legends: Makoto someday, seriously!

This is far and away the best issue yet of this arc, and I really hope writer Jim Zubkavich wrote a suitably strong, action-filled finale to cap off this mini-series. The cliffhanger ending certainly looks forward to some butt-kicking from our three SF3 babes, so I’ll be hoping for a lot more fight next time.

UltraJumpEgg Tekken Manga Updated!

His power is up to 9000!!!

The latest chapter (Battle 10!) of Ultra Jump Egg’s ongoing Tekken 6 comic is now online and ready for reading. After being used as a punching bag last time, Jin finally unleashes his inner demon to combat his similarly-devilish dad, Kazuya. The fight though is cut short by the timely interference of a certain Girl from Osaka… man, that Asuka is really something… NOTHING fazes her, not even a clash between two supernaturally-powered sorta-villains. While a bit over the top with Asuka facing down Devil Jin and giving him a stern talking to, I actually wish that this was how Asuka’s story mode ending in the game was… it’s far better than her freakin’ losing her lunch to Lili or that sorta crap. The story’s far from over though, as the arrival of Alisa adds a third side to the super-powered free for all.

I’ve learned though to curb my enthusiasm a bit- most probably they’ll either talk their way out or end the battle without too much action within the next issue, and that should be it for the current story arc. It’s intriguing though how Jin reacted to Asuka’s ability to bring him back to normal- ‘investigate her physique’? Yeah, he just wants to learn about her influence over the Devil Gene, but who knows what this could lead to? I really wish they used Asuka more to this effect in the canon storyline. It’s really high time she stepped up as a heroine in Jun’s direction more by now, even with an occasional catfight with Lili every now and then.

Check out the latest Tekken comic update here!

Tekken 6 Comic Updated!

The Tekken manga’s first several chapters are now in printed form (but only in Japan).

The latest chapter or ‘Battle 9’ of Ultra Jump Egg’s Tekken Comic is now online and ready for reading, continuing the action-packed and often comedic (and surely non-canon) adventures of Asuka Kazama, Lili Rochefort, Leo Kleisen and more during the events prior(?) to the time of the Tekken 6 game. After her father’s company was taken away by the Zaibatsu, a now-impoverished Lili persuades Asuka and Leo to accompany her to confront Jin Kazama. They arrive at a devastated Zaibatsu headquarters, which has just been invaded by Kazuya Mishima. As they head deeper into the building, the three are soon separated, each one facing off with a formidable opponent…

Okay, as much as I love this manga for it’s till-now pleasing blend of both comedy and action, this particular chapter I found wanting. Perhaps I was just hyped a bit too much by the cliffhangers of last episode, which set up no less than three promising fights.

Unfortunately all of them have been resolved in this issue, and of the three, Two were only Half-Battles while one was a Non-Battle.
Asuka vs Eddy Gordo is easily the best since it was an actual fight, with Asuka having to find an opening in her kick-happy opponent. However, once she got a couple of blows in, it was over! I guess Eddy’s life bar was set to 10 percent. Next, Leo vs Panda wasn’t a fight at all, with Xiaoyu coming along and putting a stop to what could have been Androgynous Annihilation.
Lastly and most disappointingly, Lili vs Nina actually had a promising start with Nina actually getting the drop on her target. Lili managed to power out of the trap, leading to some pretty cool and limber moves. What could have been an awesome blonde battle was cut short though by Panda, with Nina being unceremoniously and quickly dispatched (poor Nina…). What a wasted opportunity for an epic babe battle.

Anyway, if it seems like Jin’s Tekken Force is turning out to be a paper tiger, the boss himself isn’t faring any better, as we find him bloodied and beaten by Devil (though that was kinda expected). Kaz gets ready to deal the final blow as Asuka and the rest race up to confront the two bosses…

So where is this headed? Will we see a finale in one or more issues? Will the manga end or continue? Will it go beyond or into the game story? Hopefully there’s more Tekken Comic to come, as there still doesn’t seem to be any sign of a fighting sequel yet anywhere. Till next month then, I guess.

Latest Tekken 6 Comic Update!

UltraJumpEgg’s Tekken 6 Chronicle heats up!

Even though Tekken 6 for consoles came out months ago, Katsuhiro Harada did mention that there will be continued support for the game post-launch. Well, aside from the patch that added online multiplayer support for the game’s Scenario Campaign mode, there hasn’t been much… although I’m still hoping for summer outfit packs. Then again, there’s still the so far quite consistent monthly release of Ultra Jump Egg’s Tekken 6 manga. The latest chapter has just been posted online, making it 8 ‘Battles’ so far.

Some may not like the manga’s somewhat light-hearted and generally comical approach, but I personally love it. Though the sight gags and SD characters appear quite frequently, the story knows when to ratchet it up serious when there’s action or a dramatic moment. The art, while a bit on the simpler side, doesn’t lack when it comes to portraying action, and nicely enough there isn’t a shortage of smackdowns in every issue. It also helps for me that the comic mainly centers on long-suffering heroine Asuka Kazama who finds herself saddled with rival-turned-friend/bedfellow Lili Rochefort, as both are my fave characters in the game. Heheh.

Anyway, so far the story has not only taken Asuka and Lili’s adventures in focus but also spotlighted Miguel and Bob, Zafina, Alisa and Lars. Heavies Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima have appeared in past episodes on the sidelines, but have, as of this issue, finally moved into a direct battle. In fact, there looks to be tons of action for the next few issues as no less than four major fights have been set up.

The comic doesn’t seem to be following the actual in-game series of events strictly- from what I can tell it’s more of a different take on the Tekken 6 storyline rather than a canonical chronicle of the actual in-game plot. It’s still a nice distraction and something for Tekken fans to look forward to every week.

Not sure how long the comic’s intended to run, but I think that it may probably be one of Namco-Bandai’s ways of keeping fans into the game’s characters and plot as we all await the next installment of the actual game. I just hope we don’t wait too long for the inevitable Tekken 7…

Streetfighter II Turbo #12: The End of an Era

The Streetfighter 2 saga ends, care of UDON.

This month marked the release of the final issue to Udon Comics’ telling of the Streetfighter 2 storyline. In a series that has been running for the past several years, starting from the first Udon Streetfighter series to Streetfighter 2 and then finally, Turbo, the long and convoluted adventure of the original World Warriors has finally and definitively been told. As far as I know, Udon’s work IS supported and sanctioned by Capcom, and should be, by all rights, canon (or not, whatever). I hope this leads to both Udon AND Capcom to pushing forward the franchise’s characters and story to unexplored and more exciting arcs and directions.

Of all the big fighting games, Capcom’s SF has always been the one that couldn’t seem to let go of it’s past. If Tekken, Soulcalibur, KOF, VF and even DOA could do it, why not SF? It’s high time we left all the baggage of revenge (Ryu, Chun-li, Guile, etc) behind, so wounds can finally heal and everyone move forward.

As we have seen in the sequel games, we won’t be saying goodbye to the original SF crew beyond SF2. However, I truly hope this means we can go to new chapters. Let’s stop reliving endlessly the pain of a slain master, father or comrade. Surely the heroes of Capcom’s flagship fighter have more to them than that. How empty would their lives be otherwise.

This will hopefully mean the Streetfighter III comic and beyond to come in the near future. SFIV has already seen release last year, so perhaps afterwards will come a comic version of Super Streetfighter IV. From there, where will the road lead?

Surely somewhere out there Streetfighter V, with new fighters, new villains, new heroes and new stories to discover with the strength and skill of our fists. And surely as well, a cool comic telling of the tale will inevitably follow.

Games-to-Comic Review: Streetfighter Legends Ibuki #1

My Life as a Schoolgirl Ninja…

The first issue of Streetfighter Legends: Ibuki from Udon Comics came out last month, so this is a bit late, but what the heck.

Streetfighter Legends: Ibuki is the latest in Udon’s line of mini-series that have so far starred female fighters from Capcom’s flagship fighter (the previous being Chun-li and Sakura). While the teenage ninja may not have starred in as many games as the two other Legendary Heroines, she is arguably the most popular character (female or not) in the SF3 games. Her design is refreshingly unique in how she’s a break from the usual mold when you mention ‘Ninja Girl’. Instead of being a scantily-clad temptress, Ibuki is dressed up in more conventional ninja attire, consisting of a battle-worn ninja gi, baggy pants and the ubiquitous martial-arts bandage wraps so popular in Capcom fighting games.

Even under the ninja outfit though, she’s definitely got star quality. She’s got the hot ninja acrobatics and high kicks down pat, and artist Omar Dogan renders her pretty face with big, beautiful manga-esque eyes that brim with emotion even if half her face is concealed in a mask.
Ibuki’s story should be well-known to any SF fan; she yearns for a normal life even as she has to live the abnormal fare of a ninja warrior-to-be. Cellphones, carefree school life, malling… all these are things that Ibuki wants to have. But all too often she also gets things par for the course for her vocation- like ambushes from rival ninja assassins and getting challenged to a duel by hot-headed fighters!

In the first issue we are introduced to Ibuki’s enemies- the Geki Ninja, before being shown her nearest and dearest- her ninja comrades in her home- The Glade of Ninja– which includes the strapping young male co-pupil, her somewhat strict sensei and her girl buddy Sarai. We find out that Ibuki’s just raring to become a full ninja so she can be her own girl, out in the real world. For now though, she’s on a short leash so to speak, but that doesn’t mean she’s leading a sheltered life. A quickie good deed leads to her being challenged to a fight by the newly-transferred and apparently battle-hungry Makoto (also from the SF3 game). But sadly we’re not treated to a ninjitsu vs karate battle, as a Geki ninja ambushes Ibuki leading to a sudden rescue from an unknown new shinobi. As the issue ends we find out that another SF3 hottie- African kickfighting princess Elena– will be joining the fracas.

What can I say? On the bright side, the brightly-colored art is attractive, clean and pleasant to look at, with manga-esque characters and panels from artist Omar Dogan. The writing by Jim Zubkavich is to the point and at the very least does the job of portraying these otherwise so far 2D (literally and figuratively) characters as fans would expect (although perhaps Makoto is written much too over the top, perhaps).

The down side is pretty much the simple fact that there just isn’t enough to this comic. It does what it needs to- introduce Ibuki and the characters around her, and the bare-bones story with some scant action, and that’s it. I guess it’s a limitation to the size of the issue, but there’s painfully little action or fighting, even if this IS a fighting game-based title. What I would have wanted to see was a fight between Ibuki and Makoto, but sadly it never happens.
Which brings me to the simple fact that this comic once again makes that mistake of trying to fit in too many characters in just so few pages. Why was there a need to have to fit in the Geki ninja as antagonists, and add in another mysterious ninja (who isn’t in any SF canon anyway, so he does not matter), when we can already have more than enough story and conflict just with Ibuki and Makoto. If the comic had concentrated on their brewing rivalry maybe we could have had a decent fight, and at least made a good basis for their inevitable friendship/friendly rivalry, which you can see coming miles away. But nope, we get a fast-forwarded all-too-short romp which really can’t ever get as deep or as involved as we could have wanted.

If this was done by a real manga artist and writer, it probably would have been funnier or have more physical stunts, and at cooler action (and probably more of it). But this is pretty much yet another SF done by Udon, which isn’t bad by any measure… just not as great as it could be.

That all said, I can’t hate or resent this ’cause… man, there’s probably no other comic that features my favorite SF3 babes to be found anywhere else. Against one such as I- a fan of the character and the series- the comic wins the victory by default. I can’t help but like this and love it whatever. What else is there but to await issue 2, which is due at the end of the month (alongside the release of SSFIV!). Then again, I could always just make an Ibuki and Makoto fan manga project…. nah.

Here’s a Peek at Streetfighter Legends: Ibuki#3 Cover Art!

Streetfighter Legends: Ibuki Issue 3 Cover B by Adam Warren.

Okay, here’s a small look at the cover art for Issue 3 of Streetfighter Legends: Ibuki from UDON Comics. While the ‘Cover A’ art is always done by the comics’ main artist Omar Dogan, a guest artist is always taken on to do an alternate Cover B. This time it’s from US mangaka Adam Warren, known for his work in Dark Horse Comics for Dirty Pair and most recently for his own original character, Empowered.

While I’m usually a fan of Warren’s works, I have to say I’m not that hot with his cover. While it has his customary flair for action, I find various elements of it iffy- I mean, what’s with Ibuki’s pants? Yeah, they’re supposed to be baggy but making them look like a Shar Pei’s skin is a bit overdone. Plus why is Ibuki in the background as well as being in the foreground? Odd bit of composition there… perhaps it would have been better if the character looking ominously from the back is someone else- either the Geki ninja antagonists or perhaps Oro, who is supposedly Ibuki’s final test in the issue. Oh well.

Anyway… that said, I’ll probably still pick this alternate cover over Omar Dogan’s usual minimalist white background regular cover. I liked Issue 1, even if it was much too damn short, so I’ll be picking up the rest of the issues as well. Hopefully issue 2 will be out this month, and perhaps I’ll do a back-to-back review for the meantime. More as I get it, then.

Series’ main artist Omar Dogan does Cover A.