Bulletproof Monk [Paperback]

Brett Lewis (Author), R.A. Jones (Author), Michael Avon Oeming (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2002

Bulletproof Monk is a Hong Kong action movie on paper. It is the story of a quest for enlightenment along a road fraught with challenge and conflict, from vicious street gangs to affairs of the heart. This collection features an introduction by legendary Hong Kong action film director John Woo, who will be directing the big-screen adaptation of Bulletproof Monk next year

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"The Bulletproof Monk is a mythical hero in a modern world," writes director John Woo in his introduction to this collection. Young Kar, a boy of Tibetan descent, resides not only in a modern world, but the world of Asians in America, which lends a unique flavor to an otherwise conventional action-hero adventure. Kar's ancestors were long ago saved from Nazi scientists by a "Mongolian cowboy" warrior with extraordinary powers. According to legend, this hero, Bulletproof Monk, disappeared once the villagers were safe, but he left behind an amulet now possessed by Kar's family. The Cultural Revolution forced his family to flee to Hong Kong, and Kar's mother sent him away for safety with the amulet and instructions to seek the Bulletproof Monk. Now grown, Kar lives in San Francisco's Chinatown and works for a local gang with ties to China. When the leader of the gang is killed, Kar is forced to find the Bulletproof Monk and confront certain truths about himself. By the end of this volume, Kar is on a hero's journey. The creators of this title are clearly preoccupied with contemporary Asian pop culture, and Kar's introspective monologues and his fascination with food are an emphatic nod to Hong Kong film director Wong Kar Wai as well. Despite the Asian influence, the drawing style is angular and flat and feels very American. Yet this vivid but unfussy style captures action without sacrificing mood. Terrible copyediting is the only flaw in this otherwise fast-moving and well-told tale.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

Gotham Chopra is the son of best-selling new age author Deepak Chopra.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Image Comics (September 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582402442
• ISBN-13: 978-1582402444
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 6.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,557,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book, December 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Bulletproof Monk (Paperback)

Iloved this bok. Oeming is a GOD. The editorial is incorrect. The movie is being PRODUCED by John Woo. Not directed by. It is directed by Paul Hunter.

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Monks belong in Jupiter videos, May 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Bulletproof Monk (Paperback)

I thought the movie increased Jades role and that perhaps she belongs in a jupiter video what with all the sanskrit/tibetan writing on her at the end.

4 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Bulletproof Junk....., September 18, 2002

By 

Daniel V. Reilly (Upstate New York, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Bulletproof Monk (Paperback)

I was mainly drawn to Bulletproof Monk because John Woo, one of my all-time favorite action-movie directors, is helming an adaptation starring Chow Yun-Fat. Woo also wrote the introduction. Along with Mike Avon Oeming's art, that's about all that's worth a look.

The story seems to be patterned after kung-fu movies, but the creators seem to forget that the fun of a kung-fu flick is NOT the dopey plot, or the deep meditations of the tortured characters, but the KUNG-FU. Seeing 2 VERY short action sequences in print is not a thrill....

The characters are all forgettable, and I didn't feel for any of them in the slightest. My sole enjoyment in this waste of money came from the numerous self-congratulatory essays from the various people involved with the book. They practically break their arms patting themselves on the back..
You'd think you were reading about Catcher in the Rye, instead of an overrated amateur-hour piece of junk. Pass at all costs!