MY 1/6 TOYLIFE 2026: Bridging Aspirations

With my feature on TOYSREVIL, I'd come across themed-1/6 that bridged my "teen aspirations", "toy hobby" and the media industry I had since been apart of in my adult working-life...!





"The Storm Riders (1998) 風雲：雄霸天下" is a 1998 Hong Kong wuxia film adapted from the manhua series Fung Wan by artist Ma Wing-shing. The story follows two boys – Wind and Cloud – who are trained by the warlord Lord Conqueror to become formidable warriors, but ultimately team up to defeat their evil master.

Directed by Andrew Lau (刘伟强), starring: Ekin Cheng (郑伊健), Aaron Kwok (郭富城), Sonny Chiba (千叶真一), Kristy Yeung (杨恭如), Shu Qi (舒淇), Lawrence Cheng (郑丹瑞), Michael Tse (谢天华), and Anthony Wong (黄秋生).

A sequel, "The Storm Warriors", was directed by the Pang brothers and released in 2009.



I might not have openly spoken about this before (beyond likeminded friends), but Hong Kong artist/creator Ma Wing-shing (馬榮城) was a critical influence in my teenage life to have pushed me to want to become a "comicbook illustrator"!

Having been blown away by Marvel, DC, 2000AD AKA "western comics", having discovered both 風雲/天下 and 中華英雄 ("A Man Called Hero") widened my perceptions and pushed my resolve forth to attempt to embark on the artist journey, but alas got waylaid and had never did come to professional fruition...

But when Dragon Models released 1/6th action figures for both manhua series? OMG! And having the live-action feature films, certainly fueled my fantasy-life, and bridged my aspirations and hobby!



"Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword" is a wuxia manhua series created by Hong Kong artist Ma Wing-shing. It is also referred to as "Blood Sword, Blood Sword Dynasty", "A Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword", and "A Man Called Hero". It was published in English by Jademan Comics in Hong Kong, and by DrMaster in the United States. (Source)



Adapted into a 1999 Hong Kong wuxia film, "A Man Called Hero (中華英雄)" was directed by Andrew Lau, starring Ekin Cheng (郑伊健), Kristy Yeung (杨恭如), Nicholas Tse (谢霆锋), Shu Qi (舒淇), Francis Ng (吴镇宇), Yuen Biao (元彪), and Anthony Wong (黄秋生). Apparently the plot differed largely from the original story.

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