By Ellen Ma
Staff Writer
REVIEW
PANG Volume 1 is a collection of the ongoing historical fiction webcomic about a Shaolin monk attempting to search for his monk brothers who had survived the destruction of the Shaolin temples when the Qing rulers came into power.
PANG Volume 1 is a collection of the ongoing historical fiction webcomic about a Shaolin monk attempting to search for his monk brothers who had survived the destruction of the Shaolin temples when the Qing rulers came into power.
Writer and artist Ben Costa explains in the afterward there are very few historical details about the Shaolin in general, with the word “Shaolin” conjuring images of the incredible monks in action films. But Costa puts the protagonist, Pang, in a more realistic and relatable position to the reader –– a young Buddhist monk on a journey to preserve his teachings while facing obstacles that may cause him to stray from his path. Also, Pang is very endearing and innocent as he travels within a country going through political changes. Still, he continues to remain kind-hearted with a strong sense of justice.
The beauty of this graphic novel rests not only in the historical setting but also how well Costa weaves and integrates the messy history of the Shaolin temple within the story. Furthermore, Costa also delivers a generous helping of kung fu action, drama, adventure, and comedy.
Get this in your classroom, now.
AGE RECOMMENDATION
All ages
BE AWARE
I had to re-read the first few pages to become familiar with the layout of the pages. I felt slightly overwhelmed with the number of panels, speech bubbles, and text all packed together in the beginning, but taking the time to break down everything one at a time led me to be engrossed with the rest of the story.
IN THE CLASSROOM
If you missed it the first time: Get this in your classroom, now. What I appreciate the most is that Costa included footnotes addressing the historical references he makes as well as Chinese words. I could already picture some great activities (researching the history of China during 1675) to get students prepared to dive into this graphic novel. I could also see myself using this graphic novel for an entire semester; the history, Shaolin monks, and even the kung fu genre could be analyzed and explored.
MY RECOMMENDATION
Highly recommended
OTHER INFORMATION
Author & Illustrator: Ben Costa
Publisher: Iron Crotch University Press
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 188
Color: Full color
ISBN-13: 978-0-9845013-0-4
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