Usually when you pick up an independent comic series it is quite obvious whether it is an amateur project. Whether it be in the lackluster art, incoherent story lines, or the poor layout you know what you are getting into from cover to cover. And despite what many anti-mainstreamers claim about independent works, let’s face it not many independent artists take the time to deliver a quality product to the public like mega corporations do, unless your are Benito Llanos, a graduate of New York City’s School of Art and Design (My sister’s alma mater).
Borrowing heavily from the cult martial arts films of the 60s and 70s Llanos concocts a brilliant mixture between these marital arts and the New York City landscape that makes for one hell of a situational comedy. The hero of Dragon Cookies is the buffoonish, yet skillful martial artist, Sai Sai. He immigrated to America after the murder of his master, Master Dragon Fly. Before over-dramatically departing to the next world, Master Dragon Fly alerts Sai Sai that the Locust Clan attacked him in order to obtain the sacred and powerful martial arts secrets known as The Last of the Dragon Strikes. Master Dragon Fly instructs Sai Sai to flee to America with six fortune cookies called the Dragon Cookies, and to stay with his friend in America until he can avenge his death. However, Sai Sai, was too focused on funky his dying masters’ breath is (which he compares to “rotting eggs, arm pits and hot ass”), forcing his Master to smack him back into reality and off to America. This is just one of the many moments of sincere drama that become suddenly funny throughout the three volumes.
Sai Sai’s new home in America is far from the beautiful home he trained in as he finds himself in Brooklyn, New York City in the middle of the hood. Turns our Master Dragon Fly’s friend Chi Chi (who has the same feisty and no nonsense attitude of Goku’s Chi Chi) owns a Chinese Take Out place and Sai Sai is the very unsanitary cook and delivery boy. Still wearing his martial arts gear (no shirt, pants, and shoes) he miserably wonders when he will have the chance to avenge his Master’s death, hone his skills, and hook up with the owner’s granddaughter, Chun who thinks Sai Sai is a jerk. Little does Sai Sai know his life is about to change as members of the Locust Clan have tracked him to America to take his life and the Dragon Cookies, not to mention the local thugs and Chun’s Chinese Mafia beau who all want to whoop Sai Sai.
Dragon Cookies delivers one hundred and fifty percent! From story to action, readers will not be disappointed. The artwork, while a little rough still relays a comedic yet graphic story telling edge. The fight scenes alone are worth the price of the books; a la Dragonball, there are plenty of memorable moves, like The Sting of the Flying Locust and the searing heat of the Dragon’s Breath. Also, expect blood, violence, and senseless attempts at nudity courtesy of Chun who can’t seem to keep fifty percent of her clothes on around Sai Sai.
Where can you find Dragon Cookies? That might be hard as there is no specific website selling the series, which is a shame considering all the work it is obvious that was put into this series. The comic has been compiled into a trade paperback, but I encourage potential fans to buy the separate issues to get the bonus comic strip Jellybean featuring a Dennis the Menace meets Home Movies-type protagonist named Jellybean and his everyday yet completely uproarious family antics. For those interested in picking up the series you should send an inquiry to the author at the address given at the end of this article. Don’t forget to tell them that YBFREE.com sent you!
Mustard Seed Comics 141-48 85th Road #4H, Briarwood, NY 11435
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