Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #2

Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #2 was published by DC Comics in 1975, arriving during the mid-seventies boom of martial arts popularity in American pop culture. The series was created by Dennis O'Neil, who drew inspiration from his own novel 'Kung Fu Master, Jackie Chan'—written under the pseudonym Jim Dennis—and sought to integrate the themes of martial arts philosophy with the traditional DC superhero framework. This issue continued the character's origin narrative, positioning him as a globe-trotting adventurer and martial arts prodigy navigating a gritty, street-level world.

The issue features the artistic contributions of Jim Craig, with pencils that leaned into the visceral, kinetic energy required for fight-heavy sequences. The character's design and narrative direction were overseen by O'Neil, who intentionally avoided the campier tropes of the era in favor of a more serious, grounded tone. While the series was never a top-tier commercial juggernaut, it remains highly regarded by collectors for its role in pioneering the martial arts subgenre within the DC Universe and for its early, sophisticated exploration of moral conflict.