O-Sensei (New Earth)

O-Sensei

In the year 1895 a Japanese army captain stationed in Manchuria faced a Chinese captive in unarmed combat. Fearing his superior officer would lose the battle, a Japanese soldier shot the captive in the middle of the fight. This horrified the captain, who condemned the action, asserting that disgrace had been brought upon the entire Japanese army for this act. To atone, the captain honored the dying man's final request, pledging himself to take the man's place. In memory of the victim, the captain began studying ancient scriptures, practicing the ancient disciplines, becoming a master in many ways. He lived a life pure in its austerity, its discipline and, finally, in its harmony. In 1900 he refused a plea from his wife to return to Japan. He agreed to her last request: "Promise your bones will rest with mine." Almost 100 years later, the O-Sensei, as he was now called, had opened a dojo (in Japan, Pre-Crisis, although it's location is not stated Post-Crisis and may have still been in China) and was teaching a young student named Ben Turner.

One night a thief named Richard Dragon attempted to rob the dojo, but was caught and subdued by Turner. O-Sensei saw a spark in young Richard, and took him in. Bringing out a goodness that lay beneath their surface rage, O-Sensei trained Richard and Ben as brothers; in the space of six years the O-Sensei would create two of the greatest martial artists.Once he felt there was nothing more he could teach them, the O-Sensei left the two. Turner and Dragon would join the service of a law-keeping organization known as G.O.O.D. (Global Organization of Organized Defense), occasionally seeking out their sensei's assistance and advice. At one point the two warriors came into conflict with Lady Shiva, one of O-Sensei's god-daughters, who had been tricked into believing Dragon had killed her sister. O-Sensei has also taught Batman, Wonder Woman, Bruce Lee.

Appearances

• Birds of Prey Vol 1 58
• Detective Comics Annual Vol 1 1
• Green Arrow Annual Vol 2 1
• Question Annual Vol 1 1
• Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter Vol 1 1 (May 1975) First Appearance
• Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter Vol 1 2 (July 1975)
• Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter Vol 1 3 (September 1975) Flashback
• Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter Vol 1 4 (November 1975) Flashback
• Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter Vol 1 5 (January 1976) Flashback
• Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter Vol 1 6 (March 1976) Flashback
• Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter Vol 1 10 (July 1976) Flashback
• Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter Vol 1 13 (February 1977) In a vision
• Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter Vol 1 14 (April 1977)
• Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter Vol 1 17 (October 1977) Flashback
• Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter Vol 1 18 (December 1977) Flashback