Sorry, I’ve got nothing. Which I can also say for the cover, really.
Double Dragon #5
Marvel (November, 1991)
“Hour Of The Dragon!” WRITER: Tom Brevvort & Mike Kanterovich PENCILER: Brad Vancata COLORIST: Kevin Tinsley LETTERER: Pat Brosseau MANAGING EDITOR: Evan Skolnick EDITOR: Fabian Nicieza
After our heroes clean up the attempted prison break after the dragon’s attack, Stan finally reveals his origin, and that of their enemy. After a quick origin for the Dragon Force, Stan tells how he and his friend Shinichi went to study under Sensei, whose daughter, Miranda, was the current keeper of the Dragon Force. In time both men fell in love with Miranda but she chose Stan. After their marriage, Shinichi was tainted by the Counterforce, the dark side of the Dragon Force, and coaxed him into studying forbidden arts in the hopes of winning her heart. It failed so he went after her directly while she was giving birth to Billy and Jimmy. She used a portion of the Dragon Force to protect and bind the twins to it, giving the rest to Sensei before she died. Stan joined Sensei in seeking revenge for his wife’s death and in the battle Shinichi was left for dead. (Unknown to the others he was then fully taken over by the Counterforce and became Nightfall.) Not being able to handle everything that happened, Stan left the boys in Sensei’s care and left while Sensei, disappointed with himself after what he did in the fight, put the Dragon Force in the statue. The story is interrupted by Nightfall’s attack, revealing one more player…he has stolen Miranda’s soul!
What they got right: It’s a fitting enough origin for everyone as well as the Dragon Force.
What they got wrong: I wonder what McDuffie had planned, though, and why he isn’t the writer of the last two issues. He’s not even credited with the plot.
Recommendation: Still a pretty good backstory. Worth getting but it wasn’t as good as McDuffie’s few issues.
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