by Joseph Carlson
Ogami Itto is getting closer to discovering what the Yagyu clan are up to and had two confrontations with the leader of the clan, Retsudo. In the course of one of the confrontation Diagoro and Itto become separated. This is a new and interesting way to build tension in these volumes.
Although it's been done before but only for a brief time, in this series they are actually separated for about one whole issue before they are reunited. I wouldn't say that they both go on adventures so to speak but it is interesting to see how they both behave without the other one.
In Diagoro's case he actually sees something more tragic then he has ever experienced with his father. While traveling alone The Cub comes along a family farming and we can tell that although the family is happy that they boy is handicapped. When Diagoro comes upon them they take him in as they are eating diner some assassin's from the Yagyu clan come in to try to kill Diagoro, but the father of the family, a former samurai saves the children's lives. Unfortunately, while feeling some of the assassins chase the handicapped child and he falls offa cliff. This is the first time we ever see Diagoro cry.
For The Lone Wolf himself, we see him actually drawing pictures of his cart that he pushed the boy in for a year. He begins to post them up to try to get his son to come back to him, but instead is embroiled in a feud between a leader of the people and the starving peasants. So Ogami is paid to watch a negotiation between the two and in a strange twist of fate is reunited with his son.
All in all this set of volumes actually furthers the mystery of the Yagyu clan while at the same time giving The Lone Wolf and Cub separately time to develop. I highly recommend reading these.
Lone Wolf and Cub is available at Amazon and digitally.
Let me know what you think in the comments below.