Way of the Rat (2002) 1

Way of the Rat (2002) 1

Jun 2002

Chapter 1

by Chuck Dixon, Jeff Johnson, Tom Ryder, Chris Garcia, Dave Lanphear

Boon Sai Hong, a thief also known as the Jade Rat, breaks into the home of Wing Yei Sun, a learned man, to steal the Phoenix Heart, a gem. He finds the man dead with no discernable wounds. Boon's search for the Phoenix heart is interrupted by Tei Su, the man's daughter, and Princess Zheng Mai. Boon grabs Wing Tei Sun's ring. It burns like fire when he puts it on. He also takes the scroll the man was studying.

A group of masked men break in to the house in search of the ring. Princess Zheng fights with them. Boon flees. The masked men leave once they realize that Boon took the ring. Princess Zheng does not pursue them because she was wounded during the fight.

Judge X'ain, in another part of the city, learns that his masked men were unsuccessful in their task. They have returned without the Ring of Staffs. Judge X'ain promises Nubotai, a visitor who represents the Khan, that he will have the ring before dawn.

Boon Sai Hong is catching his breath when he is confronted by a group of men from the Brotherhood of Scoundrels. They come as representatives of Boss Tiger for the Phoenix Heart. They attack him when he tells them that he doesn't have it. Boon discovers he is adept with the staff, much to his surprise, and uses it to fight off his attackers. The leader is killed and the others run off.

Boon leaves with a talking monkey whom he met just minutes before he was attacked. The monkey explains to him that the Book of the Hell of the Hungry Dragons, the scroll Boon took, is magical and provides a glimpse into the future. 

The issue ends with three panels. A masked woman, dressed in white overhears three guards talking about what Boon Sai Hong has done. Judge X'ain learns that the Jade Rat is the one who took the Ring of Staffs. Boss Tiger learns that Boon Sai Hong has failed him.

Thoughts

I have the Free Comic Book Day 2003 version of this comic. I also have the DVD motion comic of the first 6 issues of this series. I watched the DVD version of this chapter. It is 13-14 minutes long. There are no credits for the voice actors. I can't tell how many there are but I suspect that (a) none of them are Asian or Asian-American, and (b) some of the actors are probably playing multiple roles.

There's a lot packed into this issue. Everything is new. None of these characters have appeared anywhere else before, to my knowledge. Everything in this issue takes place in the city of Zhumar. It is described as a frontier city of 100,000 people.

This issue has me intrigued. I might watch the rest of the motion comics.