A Trip to Comic Con

Growing up amidst comic books and superheroes and the likes by way of literature and entertainment (amongst other things, I assure you!), I paid a visit to the local chapter of Comic Con. It was a trip down memory lane, really. I was amongst a bunch of people who share - and for the most part, far surpass - my love for all things comic book-ish. The numbers were greater than I had imagined! It was refreshing to see that people of all ages still take an interest in the world that I had always been a part of. 

The highlight of the day for me was reconnecting with an icon I had grown to cherish and respect from the time we had first crossed paths. A mighty warrior whose path I had always imagined as my own. A man who had fought many battles under my command. He won with pride. He lost with integrity. The outcome of the duel did little to alter the person that he was, is and (I hope) always will be.

This legend is none other than Ryu. Yes, the Ryu: from StreetFighter. Though I'm not much of a gamer, I do love combat games. StreetFighter 2 was pretty much the game that got me hooked to the genre in my teens. Since then, there have been many games. In them, there have been many fighters who have caught my fancy and made my favourite list. Ryu, however, has a special place in my heart.

Perhaps it is the Karate-do association. Like myself, Ryu is a Karateka. It was his power and strength I had always aspired to achieve. Today, years later, Karate-do is the art I have remained loyal to. I have worked my way up the ranks. I have achieved victories and suffered defeats in the ring. To date, I wonder how it would feel to come face to face with the character who, to me, is still the ultimate warrior - Ryu.  

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