The Amazing World of Gumball #2, or "Karate" as the story is called in the Voiume 1 collection, is the second issue of The Amazing World of Gumball comic books.
Synopsis[]
Gumball and Darwin might have done of lot of things that could be considered immature and dangerous in the long years that they've been alive, but none of that even comes close to what they're about to do in this issue. May Anais have mercy on their souls...
Plot[]
SPOILER AHEAD! Important details about the plot or story are up ahead |
The issue begins with Gumball and Darwin on the couch playing a street-fighter like video game, the former mad at Darwin for using the same scoot-kick combo move over and over. Darwin claims he can't help it, leading to Gumball accusing him of practicing without him. Asking what's wrong with that Gumball explains that trying to be good at something is lame and you're just supposed to naturally be good at them. He then reveals to Darwin that being bad at video-game karate means you're good at real karate, and that he has a dark past in which he practiced such a martial art. He became a master at karate, but gave it up after he grew too strong and hurt the people he loves. Darwin asks if Gumball will teach him karate, to which the latter immediately agrees.
Outside Gumball tasks Darwin with beating up Nicole's car because hes seen people in video games do so for no reason all the time. Darwin attempts to do so, breaking off and getting hit in the head by one of the door handles, which knocks him to the ground. Feeling bad Gumball admits he lied about being a karate master and doesn't actually know what he's doing. Darwin admits he knew this already and just wanted Gumball to embarrass himself. As they're talking Nicole walks up with bags of shopping, asking what they're doing. When she realizes they aren't getting into trouble she decides that she should reward them, and offers to pay for them to get karate lessons at the mall, much to their delight.
Outside of the mall Gumball and Darwin enter the "Budget Kara-T" dojo and meet their karate instructor. Asking him to demonstrate the basics, Banana Joe tries and fails to break a concrete block with his head. Asking for any other volunteers Darwin steps forward and, to the instructor and Gumball's awe, breaks the block with a single karate chop. Tobias meanwhile is jealous. Moving on to actual fights the instructor asks Gumball to fight Carrie. The former complains he doesn't know how to fight, before being knocked down in agony by a single karate chop from Carrie, one that didn't even touch him due to her being a ghost. Before they can continue any further the lesson is dismissed due to Miss Simian. Mr Small amd Rocky arriving for their zum-bo class.
On their way back home in the car Nicole asks how the boys first lesson was. Gumball says he's really bad at it, and Darwin says he's so powerful that he's too afraid to continue practicing in fear of hurting someone, so both decide to quit. Nicole refuses to let them do so however as she has already paid for ten lessons. To all three's concern the car rumbles slightly.
The next day after school, as they're walking home, Tobias calls out Gumball's name before suddenly and forcefully karate kicking him to the ground, jealous at him and Darwin for trying to be better than him at karate. Darwin, in tears as he holds the injured Gumball, vows to make him pay.
Back at the dojo Gumball is reluctant to go back in, scared of getting hurt again, but Darwin promises to protect him. Their instructor suddenly runs out alarmed and informs the two that Tobias has defected to the rival dojo Cobra Guys and is beating everyone up. Now at the Tournament of the Fist the instructor explains that it's up to Darwin to win to save their dojo's reputation. Complaining he's only had one lessons the instructor reveals that Darwin is the only person to have ever broken the concrete block in the history of karate, and thus he is the chosen one. Gumball asks if he's special too, and the instructor explains he is going to send him out first to get beaten up by Tobias in order to tire him out. Accepting his fate Gumball proudly prepares for the first round against Tobias, immediately getting knocked out by him.
Stepping up to defend his dojo and brother's honor, Darwin prepares to fight Tobias. He attempts to karate chop him, only to fall face first onto the ground. As all seems lost Darwin sees a vision of Beat Fighter Ben, the character he was playing as in the video game earlier on, who reminds him to use what he taught him. Using his scoot-kick combo Darwin eventually trips over Tobias and wins the fight, much to the small crowd's delight.
On the way home Nicole remarks how terrible that whole fight was, and decides she isn't going to pay for any more lessons, much to Gumball and Darwin's delight. Suddenly, the car begins to rumble again before falling to pieces, ending the story.
| End spoilers |
Characters[]
Main characters[]
Supporting characters[]
Minor characters[]
Parody advertisements[]
Cover only[]
Gallery[]
Cover variations[]
Preview pages[]
Trivia[]
- Gumball is referred to as a "cat-rabbit boy" by the instructor.
- Beat Fighter Ben may be named after series creator Ben Bocquelet.
- This issue accidentally uses an early synopsis that was released alongside many others before the comic's release[1]
Continuity[]
- The plot of this comic is similar to "The Gi," except Gumball and Darwin actually attend karate classes instead of just wearing gi for fun.
Cultural references[]
- The issue has a few references to Street Fighter:
- The game Gumball and Darwin are playing at the beginning is named Beat Fighter and heavily resembles Street Fighter.
- Gumball asking Darwin to "beat up" the car is a reference to the bonus stage in Street Fighter.
- The karate instructor resembles Chop Chop Master Onion from PaRappa the Rapper.
- The karate tournament between Gumball, Tobias, and Darwin is similar to the climax of The Karate Kid.
Goofs/errors[]
- Nicole is missing her Rainbow Factory button throughout the comic.
| v • e The Amazing World of Gumball Comics |
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| Issue 9 | Issue 10 | ||