Richard Dragon #2

Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter issue #2 was published in 1975, arriving during the mid-1970s fascination with martial arts cinema in American pop culture. The series was created by writer Denny O'Neil and artist Jim Berry, following the success of the 1974 novel Dragon's Fists, which O'Neil had co-authored under the pseudonym Richard<bos>-Hard. The comic was designed to capitalize on the rising popularity of films like Enter the Dragon, attempting to bridge the gap between traditional superhero tropes and the gritty, street-level realism of martial arts storytelling.

The art and character direction for this early issue leaned heavily into the pulp sensibilities of the era, emphasizing a blend of espionage and hand-to-hand combat. Ricardo Villagrán provided the interior art for the early issues, helping to establish the distinct look of Richard Dragon as a wandering martial arts expert. While the title faced the common hurdles of a new series in the mid-1970s, it has since become a cult classic among fans of bronze-age comics, particularly noted for its grounded take on human-level heroism.