Ben Turner

Context

Dennis O’Neil entered the whole wide world of comic books in 1966. Over the decades he has contributed to super-hero universes, as a writer or as an editor.

One of his interests was Eastern Asian philosophies and martial arts. That was obvious in his distinctive overhaul of Wonder Woman, in a large chunk of his Batman work, and it was the whole point of his 1975-77 Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter series.

The three protagonists — Richard Dragon, Ben Turner and Lady Shiva — would become three of the greatest martial arts master in the DC Universe.

This here profile specifically follows Benjamin Turner during his 1970s appearances. His better-known 1980s+ appearances are covered in the Bronze Tiger character profile.

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Background

Powers and Abilities

Turner is a master of the martial arts, quite able to defeat any opponent – or even groups of armed men. He is, however, not as skilled as the extraordinary Richard Dragon.

Turner usually eschews weapons.

History

It was presumably during the 1960s that Benjamin Turner came to Japan. There, he became one of the best pupils of the legendary O-Sensei, the greatest martial arts teacher in the world. Some years later Richard Dragon, then a bitter, violent, racist street punk, broke into the school to steal statues of the Buddha. Dragon insisted on a fight, but Turner easily vanquished him.

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As the years went by, Turner continued to study. Dragon demonstrated a meteoric rise in his mastery of the martial arts, and soon became the best student of the O-Sensei. But Turner was highly talented too – nearly as good as Dragon. By 1975, the O-Sensei came to consider that he had nothing left to teach the two men.

Back stateside

Turner and Dragon went back into the world along with the O-Sensei’s goddaughter, Carolyn Woosan. Ms. Woosan was to study at a New York City university.

Before they could leave the ryu, a man called Barney Ling, representing a mysterious organization called G.O.O.D., contacted them and offered them a mission. He wanted to take out a powerful slave trader in Eastern Africa. Eager at the thought of freeing brothers from slavery, Turner volunteered, followed by Dragon.

The mission was a complete success, although Turner was dangerously nicked by a bullet near the end.

Turner and Dragon decided to open a dojo in New York City, using an expansive property Dragon had inherited.

As they recruited pupils, Turner fell in love with a young woman named Jane Lewis. However, while Turner was content teaching classes in various forms and dating Lewis, others around him had a greater, more violent destiny in which he would soon be caught in.

G.O.O.D. deeds…

After several violent attempts, during which Turner received another gunshot wound, Carolyn Woosan was accidentally killed by the international assassin called the Swiss. Following this, Dragon and Turner, along with their fierce ally Lady Shiva, started bouncing from one dangerous case to the next, often through the involvement of the enigmatic G.O.O.D. agency, ran by Barney Ling.

Turned inherited a large acreage of prime logging estate somewhere in the northern USA. This lucrative property attracted more than its fair share of violence. The previous four owners had died under ill-investigated violent circumstances. The last of these had been Ben’s sister.

Turner, Shiva and Dragon flew in and neutralized those responsible for the murders. It was a conspiracy of violent lumberjacks who weren’t inclined to share the revenue from the timberland. Turner also took in his nephew, also called Benjamin but soon nicknamed Junior. Ben Jr. had been living in the streets of the logging town since his mother had been murdered.

… done dirt cheap

The attempts at murdering Ben Turner did not stop, though. In fact, they escalated so far as to involve the dread League of the Assassins. These killers succeeded in hitting Turner with a poisoned dart. As the poison was unknown to western science, Dragon and Shiva had to investigate throughout the world to locate an antidote.

They eventually found the captive O-Sensei, freed him and bought him to Ben’s bedside. The great teacher cured his former pupil.

Those attempts against Turner’s life were not a product of random chance. It was a conspiracy by none other than Barney Ling ! The devious operator had been ordering those hits, reasoning that since the kung-fu disciples were relying on him for intelligence about who was after Ben Turner, he could keep sending them on missions in exchange for information.

The eye of the tiger

The recovered Ben and his paramour Jane were strongly considering marriage. Thus, Turner went to meet Lewis, her father. But Lewis, an officer in a highly secure US naval base, was also an agent of Professor Ojo.

He deceived the kung fu disciples into investigating the supposed “ninja attacks” on the base so as to create a distraction. To make said assaults more credible the masked Lewis attacked his own home, along with a mercenary called the Axeman. During the fray, Jane was accidentally killed by the Axeman in front of Turner.

Turner became manically motivated to murder Lewis. He and Dragon tracked the stolen nuclear submarine to the North Pole, where they assaulted Professor Ojo’s secret base. The formidable kung fu fighters scattered Ojo’s mercenaries and weird weapons, but Ben refused to leave with the others, trying to get Lewis.

After he was left behind, the base exploded. Ben was presumed dead, leaving his best friend Dragon greatly distraught.

Turner was not actually dead. Instead, he was captured by Professor Ojo, brainwashed and handed over to the League of Assassins. The altered Ben became one of the most feared martial artists and assassins in the world – the Bronze Tiger.

Description

Ben dresses as your typical 1970s cool cat, though not in an ostentatious way. Of course, this being a US comic book, he has blue eyes.

Personality

Your standard happy-go-lucky 1970s big city Black guy. Unlike Dragon and Shiva, Turner is not all intense and fierce. He’s more like a college student, mostly after good times, fun and romance.

Obviously, he’ll more than pull his own weight in brawls, and is happy to demonstrate he’s a cool kung fu cat if needed. But he does not go out of his way to fight.

Although he doesn’t enjoy fighting for the sake of it, Ben is young and proud. Therefore, he will resort to violence if provoked. This is especially true when he’s being subjected to racist comments, such as being called “boy”.

He generally is quite impulsive, and is prone to strong passions. After Jane was killed, he was utterly consumed with his thirst for revenge.

Say it loud

Turner is Black and proud of it. Therefore, he will usually care about brothers in trouble and try to help. He’s not political or tied to radical movements. Rather, Mr. Turner simply feels that Black folks get a bum deal and he should help with their problems.

Being the Black guy in 1970s popular fiction, Ben will always be the one who gets wounded, or poisoned, or otherwise taken out so the spotlight can focus on the other characters.

Quotes

“Those four dudes in the Jeep — they been sitting under those trees an hour ! An’ I’m gettin’ vibes of pure nasty ! For my suggestion… I say we go on over an’ rap… friendly like !”

“You cats care to scat… or spar ?”

“Rich, I don’t mean to sound like an establishment type… but don’t you think we oughtta drag the fuzz in on this ?”

“Sorry, brother — you don’t look like a United Fund representative to me !”

“I’m guessing you won’t back off so I may have to be a trifle rough on you ! Since you started it – don’t bother sending me the doctor’s bill !”

“When I have to, I can get my licks in.”

By Sébastien Andrivet.

Source of Character: Richard Dragon Kung Fu fighter (as published around 1975).

Helper(s): Roy Cowan.