Black Phoenix vs. Ninjas by Lim

As those of you who have followed me for some time know, Ron Lim was one of the first artists I purchased a commission from -- and, because he's a talented artist *and* an all-around great guy in general, I've been a frequent customer of his ever since.

This latest commission from Ron (done at this year's Wizard World Sacramento) -- featuring a young Black Phoenix throwing down with some ninjas -- is, IMO, one of the coolest pieces he's produced for me. 

The story behind the action here is that the exploits of Black Phoenix, folk heroine and champion of the common people in late Qing Dynasty-era China*, have gotten the attention of a greedy and corrupt provincial governor. Angered by the masked maiden's repeated attacks on his enforcers and tax collectors, he imports a pair of Japanese assassins in an attempt to dispose of her once and for all...

Semi-Relevant Mood Music HERE   
_{*and beyond, but those are stories for another day.}