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Nunchuck City
You better nun-check yourself before you wreck yourself!Disgraced ex-ninja Nunchuck “Nick” Nikolopoulis just wants to open a drive-thru fondue restaurant with his best friend Rondell. But when an old enemy kidnaps the mayor, and a former flame arrives in hot pursuit, Nick’s going to have to dust off his fighting skills and face his past. Plus an army of heavily-armed ninjas, a very well-dressed street gang, an Australian sumo wrestler with a gnarly skin condition, giant robots, municipal paperwork, and much, much more! From the rooftops to the sewers, Nick and his ex-girlfriend Kanna Kikuchi are in for the fight of their lives!Also featuring the backup story “Curse of the Ninja” by Lucas Mangum!
216 pages, Paperback
Published April 16, 2021
10 people are currently reading
663 people want to read
About the author
Brian Asman
30 books361 followersBrian Asman is a writer, actor, and director from San Diego, CA. He’s the author of the forthcoming expanded edition of Man, F*ck This House (and Other Disasters) as well as Good Dogs, Our Black Hearts Beat as One, I’m Not Even Supposed to Be Here Today, Neo Arcana, Nunchuck City, Jailbroke, and Return of the Living Elves. He’s recently published short stories in American Cannibal, The Dark Waves of Winter, DreadPop, Pulp Modern, Kelp, and comics in Tales of Horrorgasm.
A film he co-wrote and produced, A Haunting in Ravenwood, is available now on DVD and VOD from Breaking Glass. His short “Reel Trouble” won Best Short Film at Gen Con 2022 and Best Horror Short at the Indie Gathering.
Brian holds an MFA from UCR-Palm Desert. He’s represented by Dunham Literary, Inc.
Find him on social media (@thebrianasman) or his website www.brianasmanbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
May 5, 2021
High quality slapstick is so difficult to get these days.
As my personal tastes have grown, it is something I’ve been gradually moving away from. While I loved AIRPLANE, THE NAKED GUN and HOT SHOTS! as a young man, I can barely stand (or get through) slapstick movies these days.
Which brings us to NUNCHUCK CITY – the first book I’ve read by Brian Asman.
Let’s break this one down:
Do you know what nunchucks are? If you don’t, it is the kind of weapon that can do just as much, if not more, damage to one using it as to the opponent/attacker/unlucky bystander…
Other than Bruce Lee, who managed to make it look cool (the bastard!), I don’t know how much it will take to master it, but it can be useful to help determine your son’s future…more accurately than any aptitude test.
How?
Well, here’s what you do. At age 5, roughly, show your son a Bruce Lee movie where he used nunchucks. Trust me, he will think it is cool.
Then you give him a pair and tell him to practice.
• If he tries it once, until he hits himself (probably in the face or nuts), and drops them to the ground, runs to you crying and never want to touch them again, congratulations;
Your son is an intellectual, somebody who will use his brain more than his body. Push him academically.
• If he tries it a few times before he gives it up, congratulations;
Your son shows signs of determination. He will most likely use both his brain and body, and he might become something like an inventor.
• If your son keeps at it, no matter how much blood and teeth he loses in the process, congratulations;
Your son shows signs of become a successful full-contact sportsman someday. Just stop him (for now), so you don’t ruin his looks. And, if he manages to knock himself out and, when he comes to, picks them up and tries again, you have a little boxer on your hands!
Back to the story:
Nunchuck “Nick” Nikolopoulis is an ex-ninja, who just wants to open the first drive-thru fondue restaurant in Turbo City. On the day he tries to get his license, everything turns to shit when Kundarai Saru decides to attack the city and become the new Mayor. Tum-tum-tuuuummmm.
Will Nick be able to stop him, at least long enough to get the Mayor’s signature?
I will be the first to admit it – this story was hilarious. I mean, seriously girl-giggling, stomach grabbing, laugh out loud funny. What a pleasant surprise for me (and anyone who does themselves the favor of reading this!).
Everything worked, no matter how ridiculous it may sound, and this story was like a West-meets-East-karate-action movie done for a universal audience. Such hilarious violence is hard to come by.
Easy 5 STARS!
As my personal tastes have grown, it is something I’ve been gradually moving away from. While I loved AIRPLANE, THE NAKED GUN and HOT SHOTS! as a young man, I can barely stand (or get through) slapstick movies these days.
Which brings us to NUNCHUCK CITY – the first book I’ve read by Brian Asman.
Let’s break this one down:
Do you know what nunchucks are? If you don’t, it is the kind of weapon that can do just as much, if not more, damage to one using it as to the opponent/attacker/unlucky bystander…
Other than Bruce Lee, who managed to make it look cool (the bastard!), I don’t know how much it will take to master it, but it can be useful to help determine your son’s future…more accurately than any aptitude test.
How?
Well, here’s what you do. At age 5, roughly, show your son a Bruce Lee movie where he used nunchucks. Trust me, he will think it is cool.
Then you give him a pair and tell him to practice.
• If he tries it once, until he hits himself (probably in the face or nuts), and drops them to the ground, runs to you crying and never want to touch them again, congratulations;
Your son is an intellectual, somebody who will use his brain more than his body. Push him academically.
• If he tries it a few times before he gives it up, congratulations;
Your son shows signs of determination. He will most likely use both his brain and body, and he might become something like an inventor.
• If your son keeps at it, no matter how much blood and teeth he loses in the process, congratulations;
Your son shows signs of become a successful full-contact sportsman someday. Just stop him (for now), so you don’t ruin his looks. And, if he manages to knock himself out and, when he comes to, picks them up and tries again, you have a little boxer on your hands!
Back to the story:
Nunchuck “Nick” Nikolopoulis is an ex-ninja, who just wants to open the first drive-thru fondue restaurant in Turbo City. On the day he tries to get his license, everything turns to shit when Kundarai Saru decides to attack the city and become the new Mayor. Tum-tum-tuuuummmm.
Will Nick be able to stop him, at least long enough to get the Mayor’s signature?
I will be the first to admit it – this story was hilarious. I mean, seriously girl-giggling, stomach grabbing, laugh out loud funny. What a pleasant surprise for me (and anyone who does themselves the favor of reading this!).
Everything worked, no matter how ridiculous it may sound, and this story was like a West-meets-East-karate-action movie done for a universal audience. Such hilarious violence is hard to come by.
Easy 5 STARS!
April 3, 2021
ARE YOU TIRED OF GETTING YOUR ASS KICKED? ARE YOU CONSTANTLY GETTING BEAT UP AT SCHOOL, THE OFFICE, YOUR CHURCH?
And so begins one of the funniest, most The Naked Gun-esque stories I have ever read. I. Loved. It!
Brian Asman and I both have stories featured in the horror anthology If I Die Before I Wake: Tales of Nightmare Creatures, which is how we met. I knew he was a terrific writer from just the little I'd seen of his work. When he sent me his latest novel, I was stoked.
And then I realized it was about ninjas.
I know nothing about them. I was picturing this action-packed, ninja drama...and felt my enthusiasm wane - not really my typical genre of choice.
So imagine my surprise when I began reading and found myself laughing out-loud on the very first page! You all know I typically read ARCs late at night when everyone else in the family is in bed. It's the one time in my life I can truly focus on the writer's words. Unfortunately for my husband, I kept waking him up laughing at Nunchuck, Rondell, Skip, Chad Boner - Chief Bikini Inspector of Turbo City, and a variety of other goofy characters.
If you love great writing, slapstick humor, and a memorable, totally lovable cast...you're going to adore this book. I promise.
Five stars for this unexpectedly charming story; for making me laugh hysterically every time I picked it up; and for lightening up my sometimes heavy, tense days. This is one book I can guarantee I won't be forgetting any time soon.
Brian, you rock.
Available April 20, 2021
You can pre-order a signed copy from Brian's website: https://brianasmanbooks.com/
My heartfelt thanks to Brian Asman for trusting me with his amazing story!
September 22, 2025
First off, I absolutely adore the cover. Right away, I thought of the old Game Gear Streets of Rage disc. And the callbacks to The Last Dragon and American Ninja…perfection. This really nailed the 80s cheese-filled action flick sort of feel to a tee. Now the author went very big with this story. A big city, tons of plot points and characters, and nonstop action and silliness. And that all became hard to keep a handle on after awhile. Almost like it needed an additional portion of the beginning to clue the reader into this world, but there were a lot of times where I felt like Brian Asman was the only one following the story, not the reader. Stories like this are best served in a shorter duration, as to not overstay their welcome, which this did a bit. About fifty pages and some side characters could be trimmed out and it would have been a more focused experience. There was also a very strong opening with Skip Baxter, who was a tremendous character, but really didn’t get much screen time here, which was a big disservice. He could have been the lead throughout and I would have loved it. So, despite some core flaws, it is still well-written, very creative, and incredibly funny.
August 26, 2021
An ex-ninja turned wannabe fondue entrepreneur saves his city, and maybe the world, from a clan of villainous ninjas… Reads like a crazy-ass cut-scene from the greatest open-world RPG Rockstar has yet to make, with more ninjas than you can shake a shuriken at. Fast, funny (very funny), Easter Egged with in-jokes for trash movie connoisseurs, and written with such infectious high-energy that I’m convinced Asman has Red Bull for blood.
January 15, 2023
3.5 Wacky fun action comedy is very silly and filled with wall-to-wall action. The first 40% had me laughing out loud. But kind of runs out of steam and becomes a bit repetitive. And the narrator is prone to phrases like, “and then he punched him in the motherfucking face SON” and feels almost like someone drunkenly recalling a wrestling match. Overall, a tongue-in-cheek good time and a fun read for ninja movie lovers, but tends toward a sloppy stream-of-consciousness style that feels overdone
July 8, 2021
This was so much fun. I read it with a huge smile, and occasional tears of laughter, on my face.
A cracking book.
A cracking book.
May 14, 2021
Hot damn, this whips ass! Nunchuck City reads like a classic beat-em-up arcade game, '80s ninja flick, and classic Simpsons episode rolled into one.
The premise is terrific: in the bustling metropolis of Turbo City, the mayor has been kidnapped by an evil ninja and weapons-grade jerk named Kundarai Saru, who promises to publicly kick his ass. Since an arcane Turbo City law entitles anyone who defeats the mayor in combat to assume the job himself, the city is on the verge of being ruled by this total dick and his army of marauding ninjas. Turbo City's only hope is a disgraced former ninja turned fondue entrepreneur named Nunchuck Nikolopoulis (Nick to his friends), who needs the mayor's signature on his small-business application (he and his best friend Rondell are trying to open a drive-through fondue restaurant called Fond Dudes). On Nick's side is his ex-girlfriend Kanna Kikuchi (also a ninja), and standing in his way is an army of ninja assholes, dapper street gangs, giant robots, and his own long-ago vow against ever again engaging in kick-ass ninja violence.
I know what you're thinking: "damn, that sounds dry as hell. Anything interesting happen, or is this just a restrained look into troubled modern relationships a la Jonathan Franzen?" Well, have no fear--Nunchuck City is a sprightly, hilarious, well-written and supersonically-paced treat that's also mad violent. Every page is bursting with energy and enthusiasm, from its deranged plot twists to its bonkers side characters to its bottomless pop-culture references (which are delightfully understated, in contrast to the kind of memey '80s pastiche silliness this could at first glance be mistaken for--I'm talking about stuff like Kung Fury, Moonbeam City, or whatever Reddit thinks is cool at this very second). The protagonists are lovable, the villains are real douchebags, and the breezy, madcap story has no fat on its bones whatsoever. We zip across the goofy (yet entertainingly well-realized) metropolis of Turbo City in scenes packed with laughs, thrills, and bone-crunching ninja beatdowns.
The comedy deserves special mention for being a) actually funny and b) well-integrated into the story. Yes, this is a story full of zany happenings and quirky characters, but it never suffers from the trying-too-hard "randomness" that passes for comedy in certain online circles. There are actual jokes, with setups, callbacks, and punchlines, and they enhance and complement the story--what a concept! The humor has a natural, organic feel to it that's almost Pratchettesque, particularly in the way one-note joke characters will be introduced, get a laugh, and then stick around and become kind of endearing presences. Granted, this is a louder, faster, bloodier affair than Pratchett, full of profanity and exclamation marks, but there's a lot of genuine wit bubbling up from the source that recalls the late Sir Terry. I laughed out loud multiple times and cracked a grin on nearly every page.
There's no way this novel was as fun to write as it is to read, but damn, it sure feels like it. Brian Asman clearly loves him some ninja action, and the lovingly described fight sequences have a real "kid going nuts with his action figures" energy to them that I was all about. A book like this shouldn't have somber, stately prose, and Nunchuck City nails the riotous, tongue-in-cheek tone that any cult ninja adventure worth its shuriken should aspire to. It's wild, funny, and fast--like a good DTV ninja movie that does its thing and dips after 90 or so minutes of pure entertainment, the book hits you with 200 pages of rock 'n' roll and leaves you wanting more. Which I do. Asman, if you're reading this, do me a favor and write a sequel, huh? You'd be continuing the legacy of great ninja sequels like American Ninja II, plus, you know, another trip to Turbo City would be hella rad.
Nunchuck City will make you laugh and cry. It will heal the sick and make the blind see. If you're single, it'll get you laid. If you're married, it'll keep the flame of true love eternally burning. It is the way and the light and the truth. 10/10!
STRAY NOTES:
Lucas Mangum’s backup story, "Curse of the Ninja," is ten pages of pure fun that makes a great after-dinner mint to the main story. Mangum is what led me to this book in the first place, and he delivers.
This is one of the most polished small press books I’ve ever read. The layout is clean, the font is easy on the eyes, and I didn’t spot a single typo. Top marks to everyone involved.
Nunchuck City made me laugh harder than A Confederacy of Dunces, so I can only conclude that Brian Asman deserves a Pulitzer Prize.
The premise is terrific: in the bustling metropolis of Turbo City, the mayor has been kidnapped by an evil ninja and weapons-grade jerk named Kundarai Saru, who promises to publicly kick his ass. Since an arcane Turbo City law entitles anyone who defeats the mayor in combat to assume the job himself, the city is on the verge of being ruled by this total dick and his army of marauding ninjas. Turbo City's only hope is a disgraced former ninja turned fondue entrepreneur named Nunchuck Nikolopoulis (Nick to his friends), who needs the mayor's signature on his small-business application (he and his best friend Rondell are trying to open a drive-through fondue restaurant called Fond Dudes). On Nick's side is his ex-girlfriend Kanna Kikuchi (also a ninja), and standing in his way is an army of ninja assholes, dapper street gangs, giant robots, and his own long-ago vow against ever again engaging in kick-ass ninja violence.
I know what you're thinking: "damn, that sounds dry as hell. Anything interesting happen, or is this just a restrained look into troubled modern relationships a la Jonathan Franzen?" Well, have no fear--Nunchuck City is a sprightly, hilarious, well-written and supersonically-paced treat that's also mad violent. Every page is bursting with energy and enthusiasm, from its deranged plot twists to its bonkers side characters to its bottomless pop-culture references (which are delightfully understated, in contrast to the kind of memey '80s pastiche silliness this could at first glance be mistaken for--I'm talking about stuff like Kung Fury, Moonbeam City, or whatever Reddit thinks is cool at this very second). The protagonists are lovable, the villains are real douchebags, and the breezy, madcap story has no fat on its bones whatsoever. We zip across the goofy (yet entertainingly well-realized) metropolis of Turbo City in scenes packed with laughs, thrills, and bone-crunching ninja beatdowns.
The comedy deserves special mention for being a) actually funny and b) well-integrated into the story. Yes, this is a story full of zany happenings and quirky characters, but it never suffers from the trying-too-hard "randomness" that passes for comedy in certain online circles. There are actual jokes, with setups, callbacks, and punchlines, and they enhance and complement the story--what a concept! The humor has a natural, organic feel to it that's almost Pratchettesque, particularly in the way one-note joke characters will be introduced, get a laugh, and then stick around and become kind of endearing presences. Granted, this is a louder, faster, bloodier affair than Pratchett, full of profanity and exclamation marks, but there's a lot of genuine wit bubbling up from the source that recalls the late Sir Terry. I laughed out loud multiple times and cracked a grin on nearly every page.
There's no way this novel was as fun to write as it is to read, but damn, it sure feels like it. Brian Asman clearly loves him some ninja action, and the lovingly described fight sequences have a real "kid going nuts with his action figures" energy to them that I was all about. A book like this shouldn't have somber, stately prose, and Nunchuck City nails the riotous, tongue-in-cheek tone that any cult ninja adventure worth its shuriken should aspire to. It's wild, funny, and fast--like a good DTV ninja movie that does its thing and dips after 90 or so minutes of pure entertainment, the book hits you with 200 pages of rock 'n' roll and leaves you wanting more. Which I do. Asman, if you're reading this, do me a favor and write a sequel, huh? You'd be continuing the legacy of great ninja sequels like American Ninja II, plus, you know, another trip to Turbo City would be hella rad.
Nunchuck City will make you laugh and cry. It will heal the sick and make the blind see. If you're single, it'll get you laid. If you're married, it'll keep the flame of true love eternally burning. It is the way and the light and the truth. 10/10!
STRAY NOTES:
Lucas Mangum’s backup story, "Curse of the Ninja," is ten pages of pure fun that makes a great after-dinner mint to the main story. Mangum is what led me to this book in the first place, and he delivers.
This is one of the most polished small press books I’ve ever read. The layout is clean, the font is easy on the eyes, and I didn’t spot a single typo. Top marks to everyone involved.
Nunchuck City made me laugh harder than A Confederacy of Dunces, so I can only conclude that Brian Asman deserves a Pulitzer Prize.
May 21, 2021
While preparing for this, the third and final book by Brian Asman that I am reviewing this week, I took an expedition to find the grand sensei book reviewer that lives as a recluse in a mountain temple surrounded by books, disciples, and a lot of opinions. I looked for this person for an entire afternoon before deciding to just watch the first half of the movie adaptation of Double Dragon instead. I still might be a little underprepared, but I know I will come out of this fight as a winner.
Nunchuck City is the newest novel by Brian Asman, the second on his own Mutated Media publishing imprint. I have listened to a few interviews about this book and the thing that he reiterate the most is that this is a love letter to the martial arts video games that many of us grew up playing, like Double Dragon, Bad Dudes, and Streets of Rage. I loved playing these side-scrolling, repetitive fighting games growing up, so this really does feel like one of the plots to one of those games. The hero of the story, Nunchuck “Nick” Nikolopoulis, is trying to get the paperwork to open up a drive thru fondue restaurant, and he needs his license signed by the mayor, who has just been kidnapped by an old enemy from his youth. Another ghost from the past, an ex-girlfriend who also has been pursuing this bad guy all over the world, only to circle back to the city where they all grew up to have a final showdown.
The plot and action of this book plays out like a video game or an action movie that you watch on those nights when you want to give your mind some brain candy, and this is what I love most about it. Through the three books that Brian Asman has published and after listening to some of his interviews, I feel like the best thing about his work is that his voice is unique, strong, and very recognizable. It seems like he has an attitude where he says he is going to tell a great story, have as many funny, action packed scenes as possible in it, and make the reader feel satisfied after they have read the last page. This style, where he takes the story telling seriously but makes sure that the story is not serious, is a style that many people try but very few succeed.
Brain Asman is one of those authors that has a game plan, has his next few books already planned, his next book Comic Sans is already an ad in the back of Nunchuck City. The book after this one is a haunted house story tentatively titled Man, Fuck this House, which is the best haunted house title I have ever heard. If you are smart, you should jump onto the Brian Asman train early so you can be “one of those people” who read everything by him before he became a household name.
Nunchuck City is the newest novel by Brian Asman, the second on his own Mutated Media publishing imprint. I have listened to a few interviews about this book and the thing that he reiterate the most is that this is a love letter to the martial arts video games that many of us grew up playing, like Double Dragon, Bad Dudes, and Streets of Rage. I loved playing these side-scrolling, repetitive fighting games growing up, so this really does feel like one of the plots to one of those games. The hero of the story, Nunchuck “Nick” Nikolopoulis, is trying to get the paperwork to open up a drive thru fondue restaurant, and he needs his license signed by the mayor, who has just been kidnapped by an old enemy from his youth. Another ghost from the past, an ex-girlfriend who also has been pursuing this bad guy all over the world, only to circle back to the city where they all grew up to have a final showdown.
The plot and action of this book plays out like a video game or an action movie that you watch on those nights when you want to give your mind some brain candy, and this is what I love most about it. Through the three books that Brian Asman has published and after listening to some of his interviews, I feel like the best thing about his work is that his voice is unique, strong, and very recognizable. It seems like he has an attitude where he says he is going to tell a great story, have as many funny, action packed scenes as possible in it, and make the reader feel satisfied after they have read the last page. This style, where he takes the story telling seriously but makes sure that the story is not serious, is a style that many people try but very few succeed.
Brain Asman is one of those authors that has a game plan, has his next few books already planned, his next book Comic Sans is already an ad in the back of Nunchuck City. The book after this one is a haunted house story tentatively titled Man, Fuck this House, which is the best haunted house title I have ever heard. If you are smart, you should jump onto the Brian Asman train early so you can be “one of those people” who read everything by him before he became a household name.
May 4, 2021
Man, this book. I was lucky enough to get my hands on this one early. 80’s vibe. Ninjas, feels like a side scrolling beatem up video game. Umm, yeah sign me up for that please.
I went into this with zero expectations, because to be honest that pitch sounds like something that wouldn’t translate to written word very well. Having finished the book twice now, I can say I was absolutely wrong. The book is absurd, hilarious, and well paced. I had a blast getting to know the cast of misfits here and there were definitely some scenes that absolutely nailed the beatem up vibe.
I would recommend this to fans of arcade beatem ups, ninjas, comedy, and action.
I went into this with zero expectations, because to be honest that pitch sounds like something that wouldn’t translate to written word very well. Having finished the book twice now, I can say I was absolutely wrong. The book is absurd, hilarious, and well paced. I had a blast getting to know the cast of misfits here and there were definitely some scenes that absolutely nailed the beatem up vibe.
I would recommend this to fans of arcade beatem ups, ninjas, comedy, and action.
August 29, 2023
Deeply silly but very funny and entertaining OTT homage to 80s action movies.
May 26, 2021
This book makes "I'm Not Even Supposed To Be Here Today" look like "I'm Not Even Supposed To Be Here Today 2"!
Seriously, this second outing from Brian Asman has it all. It's a love letter to all 1980s/90s action movies, liberally sprinkled with plenty of references to the Cannon Film Group (and a few Simpson's nods here and there). The action is well paced, the story is well plotted, and the frequent meta humor works the whole way through.
I read this fresh off of reading a somewhat similar book, Adam Howe's "One Tough Bastard". That was a great book, but with all due respect, this one is superior. If you have any love for laugh out loud ninja on ninja on fondue action, you can't do any better than "Nunchuck City".
Seriously, this second outing from Brian Asman has it all. It's a love letter to all 1980s/90s action movies, liberally sprinkled with plenty of references to the Cannon Film Group (and a few Simpson's nods here and there). The action is well paced, the story is well plotted, and the frequent meta humor works the whole way through.
I read this fresh off of reading a somewhat similar book, Adam Howe's "One Tough Bastard". That was a great book, but with all due respect, this one is superior. If you have any love for laugh out loud ninja on ninja on fondue action, you can't do any better than "Nunchuck City".
November 18, 2021
Author Asman’s tightly plotted and hilarious send up of ninjas and action adventure scenarios with world altering consequences. Asman’s profanity littered prose is a keen and cutting pleasure throughout, deftly creating hilarious caricatures of the people inhabiting this cartoon world. The whole thing is pleasingly wrapped up with nary a cliche left unskewered. Is it silly? Yes, but Asman’s skill and verve make it all work. I was grinning throughout at the pleasure of it—-because I actually liked all these people, even the evil perpetrators. A vastly likable achievement! I heartily recommend!
September 7, 2021
The ever-trusty Wikipedia defines a sight gag as anything which conveys a joke visually, often without using words at all. If that's the case, then we may need to contest this online encyclopedia entry, because it appears that Brian Asman has done the impossible in his very funny comic novel, Nunchuck City., using words to convey these time-honored staples of the comedy genre. This is a book that is chock full of wacky sight gags that will leave you shaking your head with a smile on your face after each and every page.
How can one summarize this crazy book? The briefest synopsis that I can muster is that it is about a man on a mission in the tumultuous municipality of Turbo City. Nick Nikolopolous is a hard working man that only wishes to get his permit signed in order to get his new restaurant, Fond Dudes, open. Yeah, it's a fondue restaurant. What did you expect?
The only problem with this simple bureaucratic task is that the mayor of Turbo City has been kidnapped Nick's old rival and is currently being held hostage on a blimp floating above the city. It is up to Nick to rescue the mayor and get his permit signed, lest his restaurant dreams crumble.
The novel does kind of lose that old school Naked Gun humor in the final quarter, exchanging the zany humor for more wild action scenes. We've got ninjas galore, car chase scenes, robot ninjas, boss battles, and even a kaiju. I generally have a difficult time with fight scenes as interpreted on the page, so your mileage may vary. Still, these action scenes are often punctuated by cartoonish gore and sometimes even the aforementioned sight gags. In one parking garage fight scene, a pair of truck nuts are castrated by an errant katana.
The book is a fun ride from beginning to end and if the notion of a sumo wrestler with an Australian accent and a colostomy bag doesn't pique your curiosity, then perhaps your curiosity gland is broken. Maybe you should get that looked at.
How can one summarize this crazy book? The briefest synopsis that I can muster is that it is about a man on a mission in the tumultuous municipality of Turbo City. Nick Nikolopolous is a hard working man that only wishes to get his permit signed in order to get his new restaurant, Fond Dudes, open. Yeah, it's a fondue restaurant. What did you expect?
The only problem with this simple bureaucratic task is that the mayor of Turbo City has been kidnapped Nick's old rival and is currently being held hostage on a blimp floating above the city. It is up to Nick to rescue the mayor and get his permit signed, lest his restaurant dreams crumble.
The novel does kind of lose that old school Naked Gun humor in the final quarter, exchanging the zany humor for more wild action scenes. We've got ninjas galore, car chase scenes, robot ninjas, boss battles, and even a kaiju. I generally have a difficult time with fight scenes as interpreted on the page, so your mileage may vary. Still, these action scenes are often punctuated by cartoonish gore and sometimes even the aforementioned sight gags. In one parking garage fight scene, a pair of truck nuts are castrated by an errant katana.
The book is a fun ride from beginning to end and if the notion of a sumo wrestler with an Australian accent and a colostomy bag doesn't pique your curiosity, then perhaps your curiosity gland is broken. Maybe you should get that looked at.
December 12, 2021
HI-YAH!
Nunchuck City by Brain Asman is loaded with more murderous ninja than you cam swing a set of sai at. It's also got some fondue chef ninjas. And a sumo wrestler. A mayor. A blimp. And, a devious plot to take over Turbo City!
Sounds like the acid-induced plot to an 80sxera video game? Good, because that's where the kernel of the premise of Nunchuck City was born. You can help but see this action packed martial arts thriller in 8-bit glory but made into a love action film years later.
That's Asman's strong suit: writing pulpy stories ripe for action movie glory on the big screen. In a way, for me, there was almost too much martial arts action. I kinda wished for a glossary or something to reference all the weapons and terminology getting whipped at me like ninja throwing stars. That's the only drawback to to book, if your not a big time martial arts action fan you may find yourself Googling a lot.
Other than that, Asman delivers what he always does: light hearted action with a punk rock surfer sensibility told with a passion for the subject matter at hand. Brian Asman loves ninjas and video games and you will to after reading Nunchuck City.
Reviewers Note: Have a bowl of fondue ready to nosh on while your read. Trust me.
Nunchuck City by Brain Asman is loaded with more murderous ninja than you cam swing a set of sai at. It's also got some fondue chef ninjas. And a sumo wrestler. A mayor. A blimp. And, a devious plot to take over Turbo City!
Sounds like the acid-induced plot to an 80sxera video game? Good, because that's where the kernel of the premise of Nunchuck City was born. You can help but see this action packed martial arts thriller in 8-bit glory but made into a love action film years later.
That's Asman's strong suit: writing pulpy stories ripe for action movie glory on the big screen. In a way, for me, there was almost too much martial arts action. I kinda wished for a glossary or something to reference all the weapons and terminology getting whipped at me like ninja throwing stars. That's the only drawback to to book, if your not a big time martial arts action fan you may find yourself Googling a lot.
Other than that, Asman delivers what he always does: light hearted action with a punk rock surfer sensibility told with a passion for the subject matter at hand. Brian Asman loves ninjas and video games and you will to after reading Nunchuck City.
Reviewers Note: Have a bowl of fondue ready to nosh on while your read. Trust me.
July 6, 2021
Certainly, someone out there found themselves wondering what it might be like if Terry Pratchett had taken the time to focus his considerable talents toward writing an action-packed, ultraviolent ninja story.
Or maybe not?
Either way, Brian Asman's Nunchuck City provides us with a glimpse of what that story might have been. This book is imbued with the same irreverent wit and hilariously meandering narrative elements one might have hoped for from just such a tale.
If you've ever wondered what could have been, if only David Wong (Jason Pargin) had written the screenplay for American Ninja...you need look no further because this would surely be the novelization of that magnificent piece of absurd cinema.
The story begins with Skip Baxter, a middle-aged, delusional sensei who proclaims himself to be The Most Dangerous Man In Turbo City. Imagine that kid from middle school, the one who bragged about being a black belt and how his hands were deadly weapons...now age him a solid 30 years or so, and you have Skip Baxter.
Now, imagine Skip Baxter beaten senseless and hospitalized without even putting up a feeble effort to defend himself.
That's ok.
This story isn't really about him. You'll see him again, though.
This story is about Nunchuck "Nick" Nikolopoulis, a former ninja with a dark past. Nick is a man who studied under two masters, first, to become a formidable ninja and second, to become a stunningly proficient master of fondue.
All he needs to do is get a signature from the Mayor of Turbo City, and his dreams of establishing a fondue restaurant, Fond Dudes, with Rondell (his only friend in Turbo City) will come true.
Nunchuck City would be a painfully short book if it was that simple.
Suddenly, a specter from Nick's past throws the city into turmoil, unleashing devastation and kidnapping the Mayor for the express purpose of beating him in combat and usurping the title for himself.
With another unexpected visitor from his past, Nick must find a way to save the Mayor--and the city--or admit that he failed to get the business license for Fond Dudes filed...and Nick isn't one to accept failure.
Stay tuned after your feature presentation for Lucas Mangum's Curse of the Ninja, a terrific short story about Catholics, ninjas, and exorcism...something you probably don't know you need just yet, but I assure you that you do.
Or maybe not?
Either way, Brian Asman's Nunchuck City provides us with a glimpse of what that story might have been. This book is imbued with the same irreverent wit and hilariously meandering narrative elements one might have hoped for from just such a tale.
If you've ever wondered what could have been, if only David Wong (Jason Pargin) had written the screenplay for American Ninja...you need look no further because this would surely be the novelization of that magnificent piece of absurd cinema.
The story begins with Skip Baxter, a middle-aged, delusional sensei who proclaims himself to be The Most Dangerous Man In Turbo City. Imagine that kid from middle school, the one who bragged about being a black belt and how his hands were deadly weapons...now age him a solid 30 years or so, and you have Skip Baxter.
Now, imagine Skip Baxter beaten senseless and hospitalized without even putting up a feeble effort to defend himself.
That's ok.
This story isn't really about him. You'll see him again, though.
This story is about Nunchuck "Nick" Nikolopoulis, a former ninja with a dark past. Nick is a man who studied under two masters, first, to become a formidable ninja and second, to become a stunningly proficient master of fondue.
All he needs to do is get a signature from the Mayor of Turbo City, and his dreams of establishing a fondue restaurant, Fond Dudes, with Rondell (his only friend in Turbo City) will come true.
Nunchuck City would be a painfully short book if it was that simple.
Suddenly, a specter from Nick's past throws the city into turmoil, unleashing devastation and kidnapping the Mayor for the express purpose of beating him in combat and usurping the title for himself.
With another unexpected visitor from his past, Nick must find a way to save the Mayor--and the city--or admit that he failed to get the business license for Fond Dudes filed...and Nick isn't one to accept failure.
Stay tuned after your feature presentation for Lucas Mangum's Curse of the Ninja, a terrific short story about Catholics, ninjas, and exorcism...something you probably don't know you need just yet, but I assure you that you do.
May 3, 2022
Brian Asman knocks it straight out of the park with this fast paced ninja comedy that reads like a novelization of Airplane! Full of punny restaurant names, shout outs to some trashy cinema, and satirical bro culture (Chad Boner is a guy you'll love to hate). Nunchuck City is a wild and fun ride from start to finish.
September 10, 2021
Honestly, this story couldn’t have come at a better time for me. The world is falling apart, the sky is falling, but I’m backflipping through the 90s to Turbo City where the real stakes are, where the fondue flows like wine. Skip Baxter is the so-called baddest-ass practitioner of Hawk Dragon style in Turbo City, dude’s appendages are registered lethal weapons (that Lethal Weapon spoof, you like it? you’ll love this), until a mysterious dojo destroyer shows up and pounds him and puts him in a full body cast. Enter Nunchuck Nick, a bad dudes prototype who refuses to be pulled back into a life of Heaven Sticking his master to death (or not?). All he wants to do is open Fond Dudes with his buddy Rondell, get a pageant queen major to sign the dotted line on his business license. But vengeful ninja clans don’t forget, neither does the Kerseyshire Hunting Club, and Nick quickly finds himself fighting for his life—nay, for Turbo City and the love of Kanna (just don’t accidentally kill her father).
This novel is, I can’t put it any other way, stupidly genius! Asman has a voice and style you haven’t sparred with, trust me, and if you’re a fan of Austin Powers, TMNT, Arcade Fight Games, American Ninja, or laughing out loud while watching the pages fly by faster than a shuriken, this Bud’s for you (even if you don’t, you’ll learn to love it). And that’s not all. The chapter title cards are so unabashedly self-aware that Asman’s meta is like a meta sandwich—Nunchuck City doesn’t take itself serious at all, but it’s so serious it’s scary, if that makes any sense. I love the approach. It’s got Biohazardous Australian sumo wrestlers with colostomy bags (poop jokes are my fav), RAV4s (and yes, Suzuki Samurai is a ninja vehicle, batteries not included) involved with Road Rash chases and motoninjas straight out of Game of Death, a MechaNinZillo that would whop the Iron Giant any day, and an ending that would satisfy even Apollo Creed in Happy Gilmore.
Did I mention Asman managed to squeeze a love story in here too? Yup, it’s all there. There’s even a sewer scene where I prayed to God that Master Splinter would jump out of the shadows. You’ll root the whole time for Nick to finally pick up those damn Sticks of Heaven and wreck some crappy monkey butt (thought he could use them, spin them super-fast, you know, to block bullets). Nunchuck City has a lot of heart, sincerity, laughs, a paragraph at the end of page 147 that’s sublime, and fight scenes that are anything but toys in a sandbox. Oh yeah, there’s always something going ‘end-over-end’ in an Asman story, kinda like the whole thing should be read with 3D glasses. Five stars, easy. It’s been tough going for me lately, and Nunchuck City took the pain away for at least a few hours. Death to alliterations.
This novel is, I can’t put it any other way, stupidly genius! Asman has a voice and style you haven’t sparred with, trust me, and if you’re a fan of Austin Powers, TMNT, Arcade Fight Games, American Ninja, or laughing out loud while watching the pages fly by faster than a shuriken, this Bud’s for you (even if you don’t, you’ll learn to love it). And that’s not all. The chapter title cards are so unabashedly self-aware that Asman’s meta is like a meta sandwich—Nunchuck City doesn’t take itself serious at all, but it’s so serious it’s scary, if that makes any sense. I love the approach. It’s got Biohazardous Australian sumo wrestlers with colostomy bags (poop jokes are my fav), RAV4s (and yes, Suzuki Samurai is a ninja vehicle, batteries not included) involved with Road Rash chases and motoninjas straight out of Game of Death, a MechaNinZillo that would whop the Iron Giant any day, and an ending that would satisfy even Apollo Creed in Happy Gilmore.
Did I mention Asman managed to squeeze a love story in here too? Yup, it’s all there. There’s even a sewer scene where I prayed to God that Master Splinter would jump out of the shadows. You’ll root the whole time for Nick to finally pick up those damn Sticks of Heaven and wreck some crappy monkey butt (thought he could use them, spin them super-fast, you know, to block bullets). Nunchuck City has a lot of heart, sincerity, laughs, a paragraph at the end of page 147 that’s sublime, and fight scenes that are anything but toys in a sandbox. Oh yeah, there’s always something going ‘end-over-end’ in an Asman story, kinda like the whole thing should be read with 3D glasses. Five stars, easy. It’s been tough going for me lately, and Nunchuck City took the pain away for at least a few hours. Death to alliterations.
April 29, 2021
Asman takes us on another humourous, bizarre thrill ride this time taking us into a Ninja-fest in Turbo City where Nunchuck "Nick" is just trying to open a drive thru Fondue restaurant and on the verge of having his business license signed by the mayor, an old adversary kidnaps the mayor with his sights on taking control of the city in the first step to world domination.
Inspired by films and video games, this is an author having fun and writing what he wants to write. There is an absurd cast of characters involved and is filled with awesome action as well as a ton of silliness.
Asman is a refreshing voice with his bizarro takes on genre fare and writes memorable stories and characters with skill that almost defies the craziness of his premises.
Inspired by films and video games, this is an author having fun and writing what he wants to write. There is an absurd cast of characters involved and is filled with awesome action as well as a ton of silliness.
Asman is a refreshing voice with his bizarro takes on genre fare and writes memorable stories and characters with skill that almost defies the craziness of his premises.
June 21, 2021
This is some book! It's wacky; it's disgusting; it's full of lovable but repellent characters; it's a short read that is hard to imagine anyone dreaming up. Bottom line, if this is your type of humor, it's a total hoot.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
June 29, 2021
Nunchuck City is a highly entertaining martial arts comedy and bizarro action tale that drew me in and saw me flipping through the pages to see what madness happened next. Asman is a talented writer who obviously prefers the balls-out approach, and whose wit is a sharp as the weapons wielded by the ninjas in his story. I really liked all of the characters, too, even the ones that weren't supposed to be particularly likable. I give this story five out of five enthusiastic judo chops.
November 29, 2025
Nunchuck city is a wild ride. It’s like if The Naked Gun had a baby with The Karate Kid and then abandoned that baby to be raised by a the Mortal Kombat movie, the 1995 one. The result is an absurd, hilarious mix of tropes and gags that kept me laughing through the entire book.
May 2, 2021
A whacky martial arts comedy homage... with fromage
Billed as an absurdist martial arts comedy by the author, Nunchuck City absolutely delivers. The action scenes are never overplayed and the nods to 80s and early 90s video games like Double Dragon or Jackie Chan movies are great. But what really makes the book so entertaining is Asman's hilarious dialogue and wonderfully over-the-top characters. His whacky sense of humour really works well within this setting (as it does in his other books) and it seems that he has really found a niche that suits him.
Billed as an absurdist martial arts comedy by the author, Nunchuck City absolutely delivers. The action scenes are never overplayed and the nods to 80s and early 90s video games like Double Dragon or Jackie Chan movies are great. But what really makes the book so entertaining is Asman's hilarious dialogue and wonderfully over-the-top characters. His whacky sense of humour really works well within this setting (as it does in his other books) and it seems that he has really found a niche that suits him.
May 1, 2021
If you like Cobra Kai but think that it takes itself too seriously, and they should have more ninjas, robots, and fondue, this is the book for you.
From the very first chapter I was laughing so hard that tears came to my eyes. This book is just bonkers fun. Do yourself a favor and read this f**king book! And after you finish it, and silently thank me, go out and by Brian Asman's other books because they are crazy fun as well.
From the very first chapter I was laughing so hard that tears came to my eyes. This book is just bonkers fun. Do yourself a favor and read this f**king book! And after you finish it, and silently thank me, go out and by Brian Asman's other books because they are crazy fun as well.
April 17, 2021
Thank you to Brian Asman for providing me with a copy of Nunchuck City in exchange for an honest review!
I understand how this one might not be for everyone, especially if you’re not a fan of in-your-face humor, but hear me out: Nunchuck City has ninjas, it has fondue, it stars a fun cast, it has romance, and it has a never give up on your dreams message. It has everything a good story needs.
One thing for certain is that there is not a second of dullness in this ninjitsu adventure. Every page has something happening & some kind of ridiculous laugh-out-loud line. My copy of Nunchuck City is extremely tabbed up, because I just had to mark all of the moments that had me cracking it down. Brian Asman’s writing is so casual and entertaining, it felt as if a friend was rehashing a story to me IRL. Also, Asman’s casual writing style includes a lot of “fucks” & personally, I vibed with it.
I have absolutely no complaints when it comes to Nunchuck City, because even what one could consider “bad” is absolutely phenomenal to me. No doubt Nunchuck City is ridiculous and there are time when the story and characters are flat-out-dumb, but that’s what I’m here for. Life’s too short to not read about an ex-ninja going on an adventure to open up a fondue shop.
Warning: It’s possible that you will have “Paradise City” by Guns n’ Roses stuck in your head before, while & after reading Nunchuck City.
There’s also a bonus short story at the end written by Lucas Mangum titled “Curse of the Ninja,” which is just as entertaining as Nunchuck City & is a perfect bonus for the horror audience!
I understand how this one might not be for everyone, especially if you’re not a fan of in-your-face humor, but hear me out: Nunchuck City has ninjas, it has fondue, it stars a fun cast, it has romance, and it has a never give up on your dreams message. It has everything a good story needs.
One thing for certain is that there is not a second of dullness in this ninjitsu adventure. Every page has something happening & some kind of ridiculous laugh-out-loud line. My copy of Nunchuck City is extremely tabbed up, because I just had to mark all of the moments that had me cracking it down. Brian Asman’s writing is so casual and entertaining, it felt as if a friend was rehashing a story to me IRL. Also, Asman’s casual writing style includes a lot of “fucks” & personally, I vibed with it.
I have absolutely no complaints when it comes to Nunchuck City, because even what one could consider “bad” is absolutely phenomenal to me. No doubt Nunchuck City is ridiculous and there are time when the story and characters are flat-out-dumb, but that’s what I’m here for. Life’s too short to not read about an ex-ninja going on an adventure to open up a fondue shop.
Warning: It’s possible that you will have “Paradise City” by Guns n’ Roses stuck in your head before, while & after reading Nunchuck City.
There’s also a bonus short story at the end written by Lucas Mangum titled “Curse of the Ninja,” which is just as entertaining as Nunchuck City & is a perfect bonus for the horror audience!
April 15, 2021
Review forthcoming but ninjas are cool is a little sneak peak for fans!
July 20, 2023
A fun, enjoyable read. Leans heavy on the comedy side which isn't quite my thing anymore, but a decent read overall.
May 22, 2021
This book will kick. Your. Ass.
February 24, 2023
Nunchuck City is the most fun I've had reading a book in quite a while. Not only is the plot ridiculous, not only are the characters both comical and captivating (I mean, you gotta love a character named CHAD BONER), but the writing style is completely hilarious. Every chapter heading is a gag or a reference to make the reader laugh. I only have one criticism of the book, and it's the author's use of ninja terminology, weapons and accessories without defining them. I mean, some readers are not going to know what a tekagi-shuko or kasurigama is (but not me, man; I saw AMERICAN NINJA in the theater when it first came out in 1985, I wrote fan letters to Sho Kosugi, and I paid good money for a subscription to BLACK BELT magazine; but not everyone is hip to the ninja tip as me). Other than that minor issue (which isn’t really a problem), this book slaps. Someday I hope there's a sequel that features the Kerseyshire Hunting Club because those dandy highwaymen would kick Adam Ant's ass. Kiai!
June 29, 2021
This may seem like a strange comparison, but Nunchuck City reminds me so much of the old webcomic I used to read, Doctor McNinja. I mean, besides the obvious, that both revolve around ninjas, of course.
The webcomic used to run on two rules: the rule of cool and the rule of funny. Basically, whatever the author thought was bad-ass or hysterical was written into the plot. And that's what Asman gives us here with Nunchuck City. It's slapstick and over-the-top action combined together, with giant fighting robots, a monocled street gang, and the best political rule ever where if you beat the mayor up, you become the mayor!
Just lots of fun from start to finish.
The webcomic used to run on two rules: the rule of cool and the rule of funny. Basically, whatever the author thought was bad-ass or hysterical was written into the plot. And that's what Asman gives us here with Nunchuck City. It's slapstick and over-the-top action combined together, with giant fighting robots, a monocled street gang, and the best political rule ever where if you beat the mayor up, you become the mayor!
Just lots of fun from start to finish.
January 31, 2022
Brilliantly absurd
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