Rating: 
Summary: Lone Wolf and Cub beginning walking the Assassin's Road
Review: "The Assassin's Road" represents the first nines stories in the 7000 page epic of "Lone Wolf and Cub" ("Kozure Okami") by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima. It ends up constituting something of a prologue to the epic because we do, eventually, get around to finding out the origin of the mysterious ronin assassin who travels around the Japan of the Edo period with a cart containing his infant son, Daigoro. The first several stories are somewhat formulaic; Lone Wolf is hired to kill someone who is a difficult target and uses his cunning and gile to get the job done. There appears to be an attention to detail in the samurai swordplay of the fighting sequences, but it is certainly beyond my understanding to truly appreciate. However, the calculated precision with which Lone Wolf turns seemingly impossible situations to his advantage is to me the more attractive part of these initial narratives, especially as the father keeps using his son as the key part of a brilliant strategem to position his target for death. More importantly, from the first appearance of Lone Wolf and the cart bearing the banner "Son for Hire, Sword for Hire, Suio Schoool, Itto Ogami" there is clearly a mystery to be solved. Yet as you read these first stories it is certainly hard to tell what might be clues to the secret of Lone Wolf and Cub. By the end of "The Assassin's Road" the secret is revealed, but you get the feeling that this is but the beginning of something that will become much bigger as the story continues. I lived in Japan for several years at the end of the Sixties and had the opportunity to visit some of the Edo period castles. Add to that the fact that "Shogun" is still one of my favorite all-time miniseries (and the novel was pretty good too), and the only surprise is that I should have waited this long to beginning read this classic epic comic book story. These volumes from Dark Horse Comics are published in the Japanese format, which means these volumes are the traditional size of a Japanese paperback, which is about an inch shorter from top to bottom than its American coutnerpart. Included in this first of two dozen volumes are: "Son for Hire, Sword for Hire"; "A Father Knows His Child's Heart, as Only a Child Can Know His Father's"; "From North to South, From West to East"; "Baby Cart on the River Styx"; "Suio School Zanbato"; "Waiting for the Rains"; "Eight Gates of Deceit"; "Wings to the Birds, Fangs to the Beast"; and "The Assassin's Road." The back of the book has a Glossary, profiles of the two creators, and the first installment of "The Ronin Report," which provides historical details on this period of Japanese history.
Rating:
Summary: A compelling historical drama set in graphic novel form
Review: (Note: For reader convenience, Western nomenclature is used - given name first, family name last.) The Western world's exposure to the Samurai culture has been rather limited - the most popular venues to the mass public have been the movies *Shogun Assassin* and *The Seven Samurai*. Both are fine examples of the film genre, but because the nature of film, neither really delves into the bushido mindset as deeply as I would like. It is in the arena of the comic book that the best explorations of the samurai legend have been achieved. Two titles come to mind - Stan Sakai's *Usagi Yojimbo* and Kazuo Koike's *Lone Wolf and Cub* (*Shogun Assassin* was based on the latter's film adaptation). The title reflects the content manner - Itto Ogami, the protagonist, is a highly-skilled ronin who travels with his toddler son, taking assassin's work whenever it comes but always assuring (sometimes indirectly) that the job upholds his strict sense of bushido. Some might say that the idea of an assassin with bushido is self-contradictory. However, under the skillful pen of Koike, Ogami's methods allow him to follow his chosen path and hold on to his honor simultaneously. His requirements regarding his assignments are simple - cash money and complete disclosure about the nature of the assignment, including the often compromising details. In this first volume (~300 pages of more than 8000), we are treated to tales of Ogami's skill and prowess as a swordsman and strategist. His is an unorthodox approach to the samurai arts, and he is absolutely merciless to his victims. His son often collaborates in the assignments, usually as a set-up ploy. While ruthless to his opponents, he is also capable of great compassion and does have a very human side; one chapter, in particular, explores the reasons he left the prestigious post of the Shogun's personal executioner (the one chosen to assist in ritual suicide by decapitation) in order to journey down 'the path to Hell.' Those familiar with manga will no doubt find the ink stylings of Goseki Kojima familiar; it is similar to that of Sanpei Shirato's *The Legend of Kamui,* but Kojima's work is more articulate. Eschewing typical manga character design and expanding on traditional concepts of sequential movement, Kojima draws sensitive and articulate portraits while simultaneously transporting us directly into the middle of dramatic battle. Horror; amusement, contempt, compassion; anger; longing - none are beyond the reach of his pen. I recommend *Lone Wolf and Cub* to any who wish a good read. With much to offer a diverse audience - drama, mystery, action, plot, and character development - it is a series that reads and presents itself well. You need not be a comics enthusiast or a Japanophile to enjoy this work - its execution is that well wrought. Drawing on historical fact, East Asian military classics, an eye for detail, and an innate sense of drama, Koike and Kojima give us something that will surely become a great classic.
Rating:
Summary: A timeless classic
Review: After purchasing this volume out of curiosity, I have decided that the Lone Wolf and Cub stories by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima are among the very best comic books ever created. Their mix of action, drama and history make each episode unforgettable. Each page has iconic imagery, heroism, cinematic silences, and breathtaking layouts that immediately bring Akira Kurosawa to mind. While every volume in this collection is a must own, I would suggest reading this volume first. This way, you will understand who the lead characters are-- the world weary samaurai and his son in the wooden stroller loaded with the samaurai's secret weapons. You'll also witness unforgettable moments in their lives (such as when the father realizes he must run from his fellow warriors and wordlessly demands that his son choose between a ball or a gleaming sword). The stories in this volume are well-drawn, dramatic, and timeless. This is why the they have served as the basis for a popular television series during the late 1970s, the Hollywood classic Shogun Assassin, and Frank Miller's groundbreaking graphic novel, Ronin. Once you read this first volume, you'll want to own them all.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic series, but probably the worst entry...
Review: Currently at 10 volumes, LW&C is probably the best thing you can buy on the shelves of your local comic book store. Unfortunately, volume 1 is a bit of a let down. Only the last story is truly a Lone Wolf and Cub installment, while the remaining material seems to have been done before a clear idea of the story had been established. Itto Ogami even smiles! There have already been some excellent descriptions of this series by other reviewers, so I won't go into a lot of detail. Note that if you just want to read a big hack and slash comic, LW&C really won't fill that need, though at times it is insanely violent. There does seem to be a general pattern--some aspect of Japanese history is explained to us that somehow leads to Ogami killing a bunch of people--but as simple as that sounds, the stories are elegant and often display a rugged sophistication that is unheard of in modern comics. LW&C also manages to keep a continous thread going through several individual stories. By the time we get to volume 10, it sometimes seems as though it is just one big story--but when the pace slows, I'm sure it will return to a more episodic narrative. This is nice touch as you can generally just loan a volume to a friend without needing to start from the very beginning (volume 2 for instance makes a far better introduction than volume 1!)
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic series, but probably the worst entry...
Review: Currently at 10 volumes, LW&C is probably the best thing you can buy on the shelves of your local comic book store. Unfortunately, volume 1 is a bit of a let down. Only the last story is truly a Lone Wolf and Cub installment, while the remaining material seems to have been done before a clear idea of the story had been established. Itto Ogami even smiles! There have already been some excellent descriptions of this series by other reviewers, so I won't go into a lot of detail. Note that if you just want to read a big hack and slash comic, LW&C really won't fill that need, though at times it is insanely violent. There does seem to be a general pattern--some aspect of Japanese history is explained to us that somehow leads to Ogami killing a bunch of people--but as simple as that sounds, the stories are elegant and often display a rugged sophistication that is unheard of in modern comics. LW&C also manages to keep a continous thread going through several individual stories. By the time we get to volume 10, it sometimes seems as though it is just one big story--but when the pace slows, I'm sure it will return to a more episodic narrative. This is nice touch as you can generally just loan a volume to a friend without needing to start from the very beginning (volume 2 for instance makes a far better introduction than volume 1!)
Rating: 
Summary: No Left handed Samurai...
Review: I am a student of Iaido (Japanese Sword) and I love these stories as well as the Movies on VHS. They have great historical accuracy. The only detail that irks me is Lone wolf is sometimes shown using his left hand as his dominant hand. This is wrong for a number of reasons but to be quick I'll just say that because the majority of people were right handed ALL swordsmen handeled their swords as their right hand was their dominant hand. Again the reasons for this are many but most importantly if a left handed swordsman came up against a right handed swordsman he was already at a disatvantage because in a left handed stance he would be exposing his heart. Beside that one artistic flaw the books are FANTASTIC. The people, titles, weapons information are accurate and informative. I love the Ronin reports and glossaries in the back of each issue too. If you're interested in Samurai culture in aincent Japan you'll love these stories.
Rating:
Summary: Don't be discouraged -- keep reading
Review: I found that the first 2-3 volumes of this Dark Horse reprint weren't as good as the First Comics translations from several years ago, but don't be discouraged. The quality picks up in volume three, and enough cannot be said about this series. It is one of the finest comic series ever written: a violent, visceral, absorbing story that deserves to be read rather than read about.
Rating:
Summary: Quite possibly the greatest comic ever written.
Review: I heard about this series from a friend, who had only heard that it was "supposed to be amazing", and so i purchased it out of curiosity. I was immediately hooked. Koike and Kojima manage to combine stunning (and often times gory) action with heartwrenching drama better than most supposed classics of "real literature." It is a shame that comics are not taken seriously by many, for while it is true that many are base forms of silly entertainment, other such as LW&C, i feel should be considered literature. Koike and Kojima recreate the period of the Tokugawa Shogunate's rule with unrivaled attention to detail.
Aside from being a great read, it can teach you volumes about Edo-period Japan, such as the Confucian caste system, traditions followed, and even the Zen mind set of Ogami Itto and those he encounters on his journey. Itto is a masterless samurai, a ronin, who has become an assassin for hire. As the story progresses his back story is slowly unfolded. He is accompanied by his three year old son, Daigoro, who is a fascinating character in his own right, and occasionally steals the show from Itto. Daigoro is one of the most amazing characters I have ever encountered, and i have read quite a lot in my short life. His own story, and how he deals with being so young and subject to so much violence, having an assassin father, and the dynamic between the two is yet another of the myriad of reasons to read this remarkable tale. The character development is rich almost beyond comparison, a far cry from the often shallow one-sided characters found in some comics and other literature. The reader really gets a sense of all the many facets that make up Itto and Daigoro.
"The Tale of Genji" is often said to be the great Japanese epic, and it is a title that it truly deserves. Lone Wolf and Cub would have to be a close second, for it is a saga of Japan that is at once educational, entertaining, and unforgettable. If you are at all interested in Japanese culture, I urge you to give this volume a read, it's worth the dollars for the 300 or so pages of action packed into it. I myself am on volume eight, and i can't read them fast enough. You'll want to have the other 23 volumes right away, I can practically guarantee it.
Rating:
Summary: Great story
Review: I love this series. I've read the first 9 books, out of sequence. I'm now going back and re-reading in sequence. You can see the development of Ogami Itto's character thru the books. He's a bit more brash and open in the early books. He becomes more stoic as the storyline progresses. Great art. Highly recommended
Rating:
Summary: Review for the entire series
Review: I wandered into the bookstore one day and saw this little tiny book. I opened it and saw interesting art. It is done with Japanese brushing-very beautiful. It less than ten bucks, so I bought it. The story didn't make much sense, because the story doesn't start at the beginning, but in the middle of an ongoing conflict. Every month a new book came out, and every month I picked one up. Around book 6, the story began to make sense.
Why did it take so long? Because this story is complicated. It isn't just betrayal and honor. It explains Bushido -- a Samurai's way -- and and love between a man and his son. It explains death and meaning of life found in death. In the end, it becomes a story of a man and his life's path.
I gave my whole collection to countless people to read, and everyone of them loved the series.
It is brutal. It is definately NOT for kids. (This book shouldn't be read/seen by anyone younger than 18 years old. It is a STRONG rated R.)
|
