City of Dragons: The Awakening Storm (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

After the death of her father from cancer, a young girl named Grace and her family move to Hong Kong for a new start. Her stepfather is a researcher studying ways to lengthen one's lifespan and was the head of the clinical trial that Grace's father partook. Hong Kong also happens to be her dad's birthplace. Enrolled at a prestigious international academy of students, Grace learns about the cultural history of her father's homeland, in particular the mythos of dragons.

Hong Kong has a rich history and unique reverence for dragons. For example, many of the modern skyscrapers have holes designed in them so that dragons can safely fly through them. However, it's the landscape of Hong Kong where the real legends rest. The mountains that make up the landscape of the Chinese Special Administrative Region are known as the 9 dragons. Although Hong Kong actually only has 8 mountains. The 9th is actually an Emperor who was told to be a decedent of mixed bloodline of humans and dragons.

That's where Grace comes in. In her first real exploration of the cityscape, Grace meets a mysterious blue eyed elder who gifts her with an egg. Grace thinks that the egg is just a trinket. That is until the next morning when she finds the egg broken and a tiny blue dragon living in her toilet.

With a trio of new friends, Grace will uncover the secret of not just her dragon, Nate, but of her true Hunxue (mixed blood) heritage. Her journey will put her in considerable danger, introduce her to an inebriated shop captain who can predict the weather and take her on a journey to find the missing gem stones of the Dragon Kings. Perhaps the most shocking revelation of them all; Grace will learn that her father's death was not from cancer but from medical testing conducted by her new stepdad!

2021's City of Dragons: The Awakening Storm is the first book in a series that promises to span the globe in search of answers behind Grace's father's death as well as dragons from other cultures. Written by Jaimal Yogis, the next chapter of City of Dragons takes place in Paris. A regular contributor to ESPN Magazine and The Washington Post, this is Yogis' first graphic novel. The artwork of 'The Awakening Storm' was by London based cartoonist Vivian Truong. A frequent artist for Riot Games, Troung is also the illustrator of Cooking With Monsters, a graphic novel series about culinary students who learn the art of cooking from the dangerous and delicious creatures that they battle in the wild.

Book 2 of the City of Dragons series, 'Rise of the Shadowfire' debuted in print in October, 2023.

Completing this review completes Task #43 (A Fantasy with Dragons) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 9

    Today is Kate Middleton's birthday. Now officially known as Duchess Catherine, the wife of Prince William and mother of a future ruler of the UK, turns 34 today. 
   
  The Royal family as always been a big deal across the pond. But for Americans, we didn't really become obsessed with their shenanigans until a young school teacher from Althrop married a big-eared prince from London. From that moment in the summer of 1981, it was all the tabloids, People Magazine, and the public defender on Night Court could focus on. Some even say it's the marriage of Chuck and Di that lead to the 24-hour need for celebrity sleaze that gave birth to outlets like Entertainment Tonight, E!, and TMZ. 

  So in honor of Kate's birthday today, lets take a look at the British royal family in 1977...

The Official Royal Family snapshot, taken in January '77.
Postcard.

     My favorite year was actually a pretty good one for Queen Elizabeth II. The year marked her 25th year on the throne and a gigantic Silver Jubilee was thrown in her honor. (Wow- that means this year with be her 65th year as the monarch of Great Britain!)

A trio of children decked out to celebrate
Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee.

      The past 40 years has seen quite a few changes to the United Kingdom. In 1977, it was a daily occurrence of some sort of terrorism and violence in relation to the occupation of Northern Ireland. Known as the troubles, the conflict in Northern Ireland was basically a Hold War between the native Catholics and the Protestants of England. The desire for self rule and religious freedom resulted in the death of thousands. Thankfully, the early 90s saw a ceasefire and eventual peace accord. 
  

British troops after an attack by the IRA, May 1977.

      England also possessed a very lucrative colony in Hong Kong. But in the Summer of 1997, the UK decided to not renew it's claim over the territory and it returned to Chinese rule. This act is considered by many to be the official end of the British Empire.

Hong Kong Harbor, Summer 1977.

     I think I'm at a good stopping point for today. While I'm not what you would say a devotee of the Royal family, I am a huge Anglophile. Besides, you can't explore things you love without a little background info. See, whether by direct impact or not, the British Monarchy influences everything in Great Britain. The British music (see my article from Day 6), the British comedy and sci-fi, and the British lit I love so are so impacted by the Kings and Queens of England. I'm sure there are some important anniversaries from my favorite year involving my love of England coming up this year. So don't worry, I'll will be returning to Merry Old England again in the future as A Madman Turns 40.