So this is where having an extensive knowledge of Asian art and kung fu mythology comes in handy… This image is part of a series of “Suikoden” prints by the famed Japanese artist Yoshitoshi printed about the time of the US Civil War. In my opinion, his series on the subject is second only to Kuniyoshi’s famous prints. The Suikoden stories are Japanese versions of stories from the Chinese folk novel The Outlaws of the Marsh (aka The Water Margin Novel). The main characters are earthbound incarnations of 108 demons sent to avenge the wrongs of corrupt officials… although some of the characters are based on/named after real historic rebels, most are fictional. I’m not sure which character’s Japanese name is Sangoku Taro (and Yoshitoshi added demonic monsters to his prints that aren’t in the novel) but there are a few Taoist wizards in the group of 108. They are more akin to Merlin or Mandrake than Marco Tempest as they fly and control weather!