Richard Dragon
| Richard Dragon | |
|---|---|
Richard Dragon on the cover of Batgirl (vol. 6) #8 (2024). Art by
Reiko Murakami. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Dragon's Fists novel (1974) |
| Created by | Dennis O'Neil (writer) Jim Berry (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Richard Drakunovski |
| Species | Human |
| Place of origin | Detroit |
| Team affiliations | G.O.O.D. League of Assassins Federal Bureau of Investigation |
| Partnerships | Bronze Tiger Lady Shiva |
| Supporting character of | The Question |
| Notable aliases | Master of Kung-Fu The Dragon |
| Abilities | Master martial artist, skilled thief, accomplished philosopher, and proficiency in qi manipulation. |
| Altered in-story information for adaptations to other media | |
| Partnerships | Batman |
Richard Dragon (or simply Dragon) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Dennis O'Neil and James R. Berry in the novel Kung Fu Master, Richard Dragon: Dragon's Fists (1974) under the shared pseudonym "Jim Dennis". O'Neil later adapted the character for DC Comics. Since the character's creation, he is credited as one of the most accomplished martial artists in the DC Universe.
Having varied backgrounds, Richard Drakunovski was originally a teenage thief in Kyoto raised and trained in martial arts by instructor O-Sensei and alongside long-time friend Bronze Tiger. As adults, the pair used their skills as vigilantes and special agents alongside Lady Shiva to fight for justice. An alternate background depicts him as poor youth from Detroit taken in as a student of Ben Turner, becoming a master in his own right and a trainer to various heroes. Recent stories take aspects of these different histories, making him a hero, instructor, and having been affiliated with the League of Assassins as a benevolent figure until he is killed by one of his former students, who succeeds him and takes his name.
Richard Dragon has been adapted in media, making his first animated appearance in Batman: Soul of the Dragon, voiced by Mark Dacascos with a revised design inspired by Bruce Lee. His successor, Richard Diaz Jr., appears in Arrow, portrayed by Kirk Acevedo.