Cobra Kai – The Way of the Comic – Adelaide Fringe Festival (2025)

Presented by: Best Of British Productions

Choose your dojo wisely as Dan Willis takes us back through 80’s nostalgia and THAT controversial final kick. A real hidden gem!

Reviewed by Justin Clarke
Sat 08 Mar: 5:00pm
Sat 15 Mar – Sun 16 Mar: 5:00pm
Sat 22 Mar: 5:00pm
Tickets: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/cobra-kai-the-way-of-the-comic-af2025

Type: Stand Up, Pop Culture, Best of British
If you liked: The Karate Kid series, Cobra Kai, Ferris Bueller’s Way Off

4 STARS

The 80’s classic The Karate Kid and its subsequent spin-off series Cobra Kai are the target for British Comedian Dan Willis’ latest comedic offering. Speaking as though to a room of thousands, rather than the much smaller room of sixteen, Willis ensured every customer got the most out of their ticket price. 

Willis’ fast talking Britishisms were abundant as he talked the crowd through the layout of the piece. Today we’d be focusing on Cobra Kai, specifically seasons 1-5, no spoilers here. We’d also be venturing through the Karate Kid universe, but would very quickly be skipping over the despised fourth film The New Karate Kid, and the Jackie Chan starring remake which Willis insists should have been called The Kung Foo Kid. 

For fans of this area of pop culture, this is a sure fire hour of entertainment that will leave you wanting to rewatch the series again. Netflix, if you’re reading this, Cobra Kai – The Way of the Comic should be an official Netflix property. 

Along the journey, Willis found a way to be personal, involving his audience as he went to the point you feel as if you have entered into a film club specifically for fans of the 80’s filmography. The setup would eventually lead through a recount of the five specific times that Willis himself had been involved in a brawl and which dojo he feels he would be accepted into depending on his response. Would it be the peaceful, defense-only Miyagi Do, the attack first, no mercy Cobra Kai, or the new Johnny Lawrence dojo Eagle Fang? 

Featuring clips of the Karate Kid universe through the much loved powerpoint presentation, Cobra Kai – The Way of the Comic is a hidden gem for fans of 80’s nostalgia that is sure to get bang for your buck whether its a two person or sold out crowd.

Want more from the Adelaide Fringe Festival? Explore all the shows on offer this year here.