KARATE KID #1 (1976)
by Paul Levitz & Ric Estrada
cover by Mike Grell
Karate Kid’s creation by Jim Shooter in Adventure Comics #346 predates the “kung fu craze” by several years. By the 70s martial arts were all the rage, so to capitalize on the idea they gave Karate Kid his own series that lasted 15 whole issues… and OF COURSE we’re going to cover them!
Two last things before we jump into the story itself.
First of all: the 1984 movie and its sequels had to receive permission from DC Comics to use the title Karate Kid! Look for it in the movie credits.
Second, this is the FIRST Legion-related story written by Paul Levitz. He will only write this issue, but he will return to the Legion to write a legendary 15 year run.
Okay, first chance to introduce Karate Kid to a new audience. That shouldn’t be hard to sell: he’s a super-badass martial artist, all you have to do is have him show off!
Or you can make him really goofy and lose on the first page.
I know Nemesis Kid is supposed to be unbeatable one-on-one, but come on, couldn’t you give Karate Kid someone else to fight on the first page!?
Nemesis Kid teleports away once the Legion arrives to take care of him, via Time Bubble because we’re in the 20th century. And Karate Kid throws a temper tantrum because of it.
As for why Nemesis Kid is in the 20th century: he was put in a cell so inescapable that the only way his powers could let him escape was to bring him to the past!
So, uhm, I’m not exactly impressed with this version of Karate Kid… he’s very annoying.
Though admittedly him dodging Lightning Lad’s bolts is kind of cool.
Honestly I’m really siding with Mon-El on this one.
Karate Kid goes on and on about the fact that none of the others can understand him because he’s the only one without powers. He’s so annoying that they just leave him there (!!!), although weirdly enough Saturn Girl kind of agrees with him.
Yes, in case you didn’t know, this series is almost entirely set in the 20th century.
Specifically a 20th century that has never heard of superheroes, I guess, unless these cops are incredibly dumb (not to mention a bit racist).
To add insult to injury, Karate Kid’s flight ring has been damaged and he ends up scaring a new supporting character half to death.
This is schoolteacher Iris Jacobs, and thanks to her we get some unflattering details about the 30th century education standards.
Okay so far Karate Kid has:
1) lost a fight
2) been a dick to his friends
3) lost his time machine to a dangerous criminal
Well at least Nemesis Kid was kind enough to leave him an obvious lead to a trap.
Just the kind of high-octane kung-fu action the readers wanted.
What is it with this comic and action scenes that suck?
Subtlety, your name is Nemesis Kid.
Nemesis Kid, with all his knowledge of the future, has recruited the worst possible bunch of martial art goons.
This is a MARGINALLY better fight, but still… yeesh.
Well at least the laser dodging is kind of creative…
…but it looks like this comic just refuses to give Karate Kid any badass moment without undermining some aspects of it.
He’s probably referring to the times the Legion has defeated him before, because I can’t see how the this comic is humiliating to anybody except Karate Kid.
As a reminder, Karate Kid is not supposed to have super-strength. But apparently being really good at karate can make you lift an entire floor.
Nemesis Kid throws him off the window, but Karate Kid can apparently do THIS:
THIS MAKES NO SENSE. Even Spider-Man wouldn’t jump back in this way!!!
Karate Kid punches out Nemesis Kid, and apparently this little adventure was all he really needed to feel whole again.
And so we end with Karate Kid sending a message to the Legion: he’s going to stay in the 20th century.
Which is kind true and kind of false, since the chronology between this series and the regular Legion book is all over the place.
Historical significance: 2/10
For the first Legion spinoff, this really doesn’t have all that much impact.
Silver Age-ness: 7/10
Oh boy. We’re past the Silver Age by most metrics at this point; while some Silver Age tropes still show up in the Legion book, this series goes WAY above that!
Does it stand the test of time? 0/10
I can’t believe Paul Levitz wrote this crap. He’s probably THE Legion writer, and during his run he will write some legendary Karate Kid stories… so it’s weird to see him struggle so much here!
Karate Kid just isn’t interesting here. He’s always whining, complaining or he’s confused by something. The idea that he was feeling out of place in the 30th century comes out of nowhere, as does Nemesis Kid randomly building himself a tech company.
I did my own review of this series on Legion World, and I agree: It’s pretty much a wasted series: an attempt to cash in on the karate craze without considering who the main character is or why he would do what does. You can almost see that they had to contrive a reason for him to come to and remain in the 20th century, and, while the reason isn’t revealed for some time, when it is, it isn’t convincing.
KK in this series is whatever the writer wanted him to be. Unfortunately, that identity had little connection to what had gone before.
I want to love this but yeah, Karate Kid is a real jerk, the art isn’t that good, and that stunt KK puled of on p.16 is impossible. This was one of Levitz’s very first professional writing jobs, so I will cut him some slack here.