Way of the Rat, Vol. 1: The Walls of Zhumar TPB
Review by Doc Ezra
Story:
Art:

Written by Chuck Dixon
Pencils by Jeff Johnson
Inks by Tom Ryder
Colors by Chris Garcia
Letters by Dave Lanphear

Published by CrossGen
Contents: Collects issues #1-6
Price: $15.95

My advice: Hock what you have to, but don't miss this one.

Boon Sai Hong, the "Jade Rat," is a notorious and talented burglar in the walled frontier city of Zhumar. Working as a member of the Brotherhood of Scoundrels, he is sent on a routine job to steal a couple of very particular items from the house of a magistrate. The magistrate, however, is home...but very dead, apparently of terror. Boon collects what he's been sent for -- a ring and a scroll. After being nearly discovered by the daughter of the now-dead clerk, he escapes in the confusion when the masked soldiers of the town ruler Judge X'ain attack. Unfortunately, his escape doesn't go unnoticed, and he finds himself in a running battle on the rooftops.

In short order, he has acquired a companion -- a talking monkey named Po Po, whose ascerbic wit and utter disdain for Boon makes him an ideal mentor for the young thief. Why would Boon need a mentor? Well, unbeknownst to Boon, he has stumbled into the middle of a much larger plot. The ring and scroll that he has stolen are powerful artifacts -- the Ring of Staffs and the Book of the Hell of Hungry Dragons. While wearing the ring, none can equal Boon Sai Hong's martial prowess, so long as he has a staff in his hands. The book is a portal to hell, and a potent magical artifact older than the Empire itself. The problem is simple: everybody else wants their hands on these artifacts, too. Most notably Judge X'ain, who has struck a deal with the great and powerful Bhuto Khan to trade the artifacts for rulership of the city after the Khan has crushed the Empire.

So Boon is now being chased by his former allies in the Brotherhood of Scoundrels, the deadly troops of Judge X'ain, and a mysterious figure calling herself the Silken Ghost. All the while, Khan's troops make preparations to assail the city, assisted by the infernal cannon of Ygor Zhubokhov, which pounds incessantly at the thick walls of the city. Through it all, Po Po tries desperately to teach Boon enough to survive and rise to the occasion of his destiny before Boon gets himself killed by any of his now-numerous enemies.

If you're a fan of historic anime, wuxia films, or straight-up martial arts action flicks, then Way of the Rat is a must-have. Dixon has crafted an excellently paced, high-octane action story in the tradition of all the great kung fu films of old. His characters are lively and interesting, and the dialogue is snappy and amusing (especially anything from the acid tongue of Po Po). Jeff Johnson's art stylings are phenomenal, and well-matched to the subject matter. The action in the book is fluid and highly detailed, and Ryder's colors make for a dazzling look, page after page.

Grab this book today, and get drawn into the world of Boon Sai Hong and Po Po. Martial arts action is a rare thing in a comic book (at least in this country), and good martial arts stories are even more hard to find. Dixon and CrossGen serve up another unique winner.