Cropper

Cropper's first full appearance

***Cropper*** is the main protagonist of *Dragons of Azuma* web comics. Student to the legendary martial arts master, Momo, he starts his journey to Azuma to become one of greatest warriors of all time.

## Appearance

Cropper is a boy of a medium growth with short, brown hair. He is firt seen in his blue training gi, with dark blue belt and leg-welts, which is stated by him is his 'best uniform'. Later on the gi has a seam, probably made by Cropper himself after he was nearly touched by Taka's Tsumeken. When he starts his journey he also wears a white-darkish blue sweet shirt with a number four symbol on his cuffs and right side of his chest. He also has a orange bagpack form Inu's dojo with 'CROPPER' writed on it's lower pocket.

## History

### At the begining

Not much is known about Croppers past. It is said, that he was in Inu's dojo for two years in the rookies group. He was sent (in secret) to Inu's Dojo, by his brother, Booker, to accomplish, the two's grandfather's dream about having a martial artist in the family. At the day when Inu's former techer was supoused to come, to find a student for himself, Croppers was chased away from the school, to not cause trouble. In the Big Green's forrest he was attacked by a SwordBandits' General named Taka, who was looking for a man named 'Momo'. Cropper managed to defend himself from the bandit. The fight was watched by the legendary martial artist, Momo. Seeing his potential, Momo decides to take Cropper as his student. They both went back to the dojo, for Cropper's baggage and set off to Momo's homeland - Kudamono.

### The Big Green

Not long after they left the dojo, the two are stopped by a mysterious warrior, which is then recognized by Momo as Nashi. After hearing why she is attacking people traveling to Kokkyō Mountains through the Big Green, and that Momo's brother has moved to Honyūrui, Momo decides to take her with them but she refuses to let go Cropper any further, unless he can beat her. After a short fight the three resume their journey to Momo's brother.

### Nikukyū Village

After five weeks (and a bad turn on the road) the group comes to a village called Nikukyū Village, which is occupied by a group of SwordBandits. They are stopped by a bandit, which says, that they won't go through the village, unless they pay. Cropper's prepares for the fight but he's stopped by Nashi. They (after an off-panel fight) come to the bandit's meeting place in the village, where Buta, after seeing that his man is heavy injured decides to fight the intruders. He is stopped by a young boy from the village, called Neko, who decides to fight the bandits by himself. Only watching the fight, Cropper feels that besides him and Momo, there is a third Tamashī energy user in the village. When Neko unleashes his energy, Cropper immediately notes it out. Cropper was only watching the fight to the momenth when Buta started to strangle Neko. Cropper kicked Buta in his crouch, and Nashi kicked the bandit out of the village. When inhabitants of Nikukyū camed out their houses to celebrate the 'end' of the bandit threat, Cropper followed Neko who leaved the crowd. When finding Neko he talked about him joining them in their journey to Momo's brother. The trio (with Nashi, who also followed Neko) camed back to Momo and the crowd, only to be informed that the defeat of Buta and his group will bring a disaster to the village. Cropper decides to follow Nashi's leadership and go to fort Uragiri, to defeat the Swordbandits.

### Fort Uragiri

Cropper along with Nashi and Neko heads to fort Uragiri. On the way they encounter a mysterious bandit hunter who warn them to not to go to the fort, but they ignore his advice. In the fort, after Nashi insults the bandits, Cropper decides to fight as first. He defeats the captain easly (defeatig another one by the way with the body of the unconcious captain). After the bandit hunter once again appears and defeats the fort's commander, Cropper along with Neko decides to fight the powerful captain Zō (who kills Major Shōga with a single hit), but he and the others are defeated by the captain. They are saved by Momo, who invades the fort and defeats the new commander.

> *This story arc/chapter is still published so it may be incomplete.*
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## Strenght

Cropper is shown to be a strong warrior as he was able to smash through a tree with his bare hand and managed to survive the fight with General Taka. He also showed the ability to control his own Tamashī energy, with which he created the Kieruken technique. It is stated by Momo that Cropper is a Tensai, a martial arts genious that lears how to fight by his eyes.

## Fights

* Cropper vs. Taka (interrupted/unfinished).
* Cropper vs. Nashi (won).
* Cropper and Nashi vs. Buta (won).
* Cropper vs. Uragiri Captain (won).
* Cropper, Daikon and four Nekos vs. Zō (lost).

## Inspirations

> *See Suggested japanese name for name details.*
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Cropper mostly is a reimagination of *the Red Dragon* protagonist - Ray. His 'predecessor' didn't have any certain inspiration in any other character. His name is reference to Steve Cropper, guitarist of Booker T. & the M.G.'s.

## Others

* Cropper is a classic representant of 'west meets east' fiction, as 'east' characters (namely Inu and his students especially Rakuda's group) ignores him as a worthy martial artist. Then another 'east' character (Momo) sees him worthy to give him his deserved attention.
* On the cover of 'Legend of the Dragon Warrior' he appears much smaller that he is in the whole chapter and the rest of the series.
* As stated by Nashi, Cropper (in Big Green Arc) is 16 years old.

## References

1. ↑ [1]http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/comics/5
2. ↑ http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/comics/139
3. ↑ http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/comics/140
4. ↑ http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/comics/38
5. ↑ http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/comics/66/
6. ↑ http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/comics/69/
7. ↑ http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/comics/85/
8. ↑ http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/comics/100
9. ↑ http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/comics/128/
10. ↑ http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/comics/151/
11. ↑ http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/comics/169/
12. ↑ http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/comics/238/
13. ↑ http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/comics/282
14. ↑ http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/blogarchive/21764
15. ↑ http://dragonsofazuma.thecomicseries.com/comics/98/