Lone Wolf and Cub Volume 1: The Assassin's Road (Lone Wolf and Cub (Dark Horse)) [Paperback]

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. Read more ›

What makes this comic heads above others is the mature way in which it is handled. Lone Wolf is basically the classic samurai character; quiet, thoughtful, and extremely skilled, but really he is far more complex. He is not perfect either, sometimes his actions (or inactions even) seem questionable. The genius is that, rather than always trying to explain them, the reader is often left to wonder why he acts in a certain way. Through this, it becomes obvious that there is much we don't know about this character, which really draws you into the story. However, sometimes we do get to hear his thoughts and logic, each time adding a new dimension to a very complex character. Particularly fascinating is the unusual relationship he has with his son, which is developed further in later volumes.

This volume on its own can be a little frustrating, as it doesn't go into the ongoing story, and can seem rather directionless. You want to get into the full swing of things right away. These stories do have a purpose though, which is to develop the background and characters.... Although seeming almost pointless, it does serve to heighten involvement in the story later on. In later volumes the stories are longer (this volume contains 9 stories in about 300 pages, others have around 4 or 5 in the same number of pages), and more complex.

Lone Wolf and Cub is a comic book that is truly for adults, regardless of the violence and "mature themes". It should be read by anyone interested in literature, not just comic books, and by people who think comic books are for kids and teenagers. This series alone will change peoples views on comics. Read more ›