The Legend of Hong Kil Dong: Outlaw Hero of Korea

With three Korean grandchildren, I am always looking for books to reinforce their Korean heritage. This book is written in comic book style with lively, colorful illustrations and an engaging text (in English). The story is a well-known Korean folk tale about a character who, like our Robin Hood, steals from the wealthy to help the poor.

Great story. Great picture.

The artwork is beautiful and the story is fascinating. I also love the history behind the adapted story.

What an endearing and cute book. I LOVE the artwork. It is in English language.

I enjoyed this version of the story in "comic book" style. The pictures/drawings were entertaining and informative. I learned a little about Korean culture and words. If you collect graphic novels, it's a nice addition to one's collection.

This review is of the hard-cover edition that I have."The Legend of Hong Kil Dong: The Robin Hood of Korea" by Anne Sibley O'Brien is a very attractive hard cover book telling the classic Korean tale from the early seventeenth century in graphic novel format. It is a short book, one that can be enjoyed by children, but one that I also enjoyed myself.This may have been the first story written in the Korean alphabet hangul, which was developed under the rule of King Sejong The Great. Interestingly, this story is set in the period of King Sejong and he is present in the story. The tale is of a young boy who is not entitled to his birthright due to his mother being a commoner. So he goes off to study and eventually leads a band of men against those who oppress the common people, sharing the taken wealth with the poorer villagers.It is a good story, and the illustrations are colorful and capture the Korean era. The final couple of pages include a little about the author/illustrator and Korean culture and history. Along the side of each page is a short passage from the I Ching, an ancient Chinese book. The endleaves of the book feature a facsimile reproduction of an archaic Korean woodblock edition of the tale. All of these add to the attractiveness of this book. If you have an interest in Korea, and Korean fables, you'll enjoy this tale, told in an well illustrated graphic novel format.Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of the DVD Hapkido Hoshinsul and others.

When I first saw this book I was stunned by its beauty and authenticity. The gorgeous colors and graphic art work used in telling the story of this "Robin Hood of Korea" are a feast for the eyes. The author and artist, Anne Sibley O'Brien, grew up in Korea and has drawn upon her knowledge of Korean design, iconography and bold use of primary colors as well Korean history and culture in creating this book. It is a wonderful way to introduce children and young people to Korean culture through the use of an exciting, traditional tale in graphic novel form. My wife is Korean and says that she remembers this story well while growing up in Korea. It is basically the tale of a young man who was the son of a lowly maidservant and a high-born minister who because of his "low birth" was not allowed to acknowledge his father but who went on to become a warrior for justice, defending the common folk who had been cheated and abused by the rich and powerful. His skill in martial arts, magic and divination will most certainly appeal to young readers. At this Christmas season if you are looking for the perfect gift for that young book-lover, this is the one. It is a feast for the eyes as well as the mind. At the end of the book Ms. O'Brien provides an illustrated sequence of her own story in Korea as well as some charming illustrations of Korean dress, language and history. One learns about Korea in a most enjoyable way in reading this book.

I purchased The Legend of Hong Kil Dong after checking out a copy from the local library. My son, who is almost seven and was born in Korea, loves the colorful illustrations and the engaging legend of the Robin Hood of Korea. The story is long, but just right for a child who loves to see justice prevail and a former "underdog" rise to make everything right. With the wonderful story line and illustrations, this book is a keep-forever for our family.