Oriental Heroes

Oriental Heroes
Cover of Oriental Heroes vol. 288,
art by Tony Wong
龍虎門
lung4 fu2 mun4 (Cantonese)
Lóng Hǔ Mén (Mandarin)
GenreKung Fu
AuthorTony Wong Yuk-long
PublisherJade Dynasty
English publisher
Original run1970 – Present
Oriental Heroes
Traditional Chinese龍虎門
Simplified Chinese龙虎门
Literal meaningDragon Tiger Gate
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLóng Hǔ Mén
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationLùhng Fú Mùhn
Jyutpinglung4 fu2 mun4
Little Rascals
Chinese小流氓
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXiǎo Liúmáng
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationSíu Làuh Màhn
Jyutpingsiu2 lau4 man4

Oriental Heroes is a popular Hong Kong–based manhua created by Tony Wong Yuk-long, a writer/artist responsible for also creating a number of other popular manhua titles. It was created in 1970, and it continues to be published today. The book was the first Hong Kong manhua title based on action and fighting, often borrowing from the wuxia literary world. It established a new action genre of Hong Kong manhua and spawned many imitators. The theme of its stories often revolves around brotherhood and the fight for justice.

Connie Lam, the director of the Hong Kong Arts Centre, stated that the manhua was "the icon for jungle survival" and a "fantasy" in which people of lower socioeconomic backgrounds improve their standing through physical combat.[1] Wong Yat-hei of the South China Morning Post wrote that this work was "the first manhua to feature action and fighting".[2] Lee Wing-sze, also of the SCMP, described the series as "Wong's most crucial work."[3]

Jademan Comics published the comics in English, and these were distributed in the United States.[4] The U.S. National Coalition of Television Violence (NCTV) rated this series "XUnfit" due to the violence it has.[5]

The 2006 movie Dragon Tiger Gate was based on this manhua.[6]

  1. ^ Lam, Connie (15 October 2009). "Hong Kong Manhua after the Millennium". International Journal of Comic Art: 417 (PDF p. 8/12) – via Ebscohost.
  2. ^ Wong, Yat-hei (23 September 2013). "'King' still packs a punch". Young Post. Hong Kong. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  3. ^ Lee, Wing-sze (7 March 2006). "CALL IT A STRIP SEARCH". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Hong Kong Comics Debut in U.S.". Black Belt. Vol. 28, no. 5. Burbank, California: Active Interest Media, Inc. May 1990. p. 74-75 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Thomas, Keith L. (30 May 1989). "Gore, Bloodshed More Common in Comic Books". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta. pp. D1, D4.Clipping of first page and of second page at Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Lee, Wing-sze (24 June 2006). "Re-enter the Dragon". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 8 June 2023.