by Joseph Carlson
Lone Wolf and Cub is a manga comic that started in the 1970's and then spread over several volumes. It was published in Japan and written by Kazuo Kaike and drawn by Goseki Kojima. In the year 2000, Dark Horse Comics turned the original prints into a small manga size and split it into 28 volumes.
Volume 1 is not so much an origin story. Well, there is that in The Assassin's Road, the title of Volume 1, but mostly this is a way to show how Ogami Itto and his son, Diagoro travel through Japan leaving bodies behind them. This is a good old fashion revenge story, some would argue the best one in a manga. I wouldn't disagree with those people.
Isn't really till the end of the first volume that we understand Ogami's thought process and why he takes his three year old son with him. It's great stuff, and one if you have the time should sit down and read not only for the story, but also how the authors recreate this period in Japenese history in a manga. Twenty-eight volumes seems like a lot, but each one reads pretty quick.
The art although in black in white is filled with detail. From the shines Ogami visits to the desolate villages. It all looks glorious. Welcome to bloody ancient Japan. I have read that both the writer and the artist received accolades for the amount of detail they have put into the series and it shows in every panel.
As not to rush my review and in the interest of brevity I will be grouping the volumes together and giving bulk reviews from now on. I just wanted to touch on the tone and the style of the first volume.
Lone Wolf and Cub is available digitally and on Amazon.
Let me know what you think of Lone Wolf and Cub in the comments below.