From one of China’s most famous epics comes a righteous hero and god of war. Guan Yu, an ancient Chinese warrior, fights side by side with his blood brothers Liu Bei and Zhang Fei to squash the menacing Yellow Scarves. He defends his country and his honor, but his troubles are just beginning. All over China, opponents pose grave challenges, each one more trying than the next. Will Guan Yu prevail against the forces that threaten him? Or will the obstacles prove too much for even the brave warrior to handle?
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Lerner Pub Group)
Booklist Reviews
The Graphic Universe series continues to scour world culture for various heroes of myth and folklore, this time offering a look at Guan Yu, a Chinese superwarrior circa 2,000 years ago. Here chronicled is his first meeting with his "blood brothers" and his various battles both with and against them, battles that helped to shape ancient China. The importance of honor and loyalty are highlighted over Guan Yu's physical and strategic prowess, intrigue is given weight equal to fighting, and the bloodshed is kept (mainly) offscreen, meaning the battles are depicted mostly in single panels rather than in more involving multipanel sequences. Most effective, though, is the unfolding of Guan Yu's life, charted not by his incredible triumphs but by his failures, which provide readers used to infallible heroes with a worthwhile change of perspective. A glossary and further suggested readings are appended. Copyright 2008 Booklist Reviews.