Path of the Assassin, Vol. 9: Battle for Power, Part 1

半蔵の門 [Hanzou no Mon] #9

by Kazuo Koike, Goseki Kojima

The world of samurai and ninja is not just killing, politics, intrigue and actioin. It’s also about family, spirit, love and sex. If there were ever an issue of Path of the Assassin that could be entitled "the sex issue," this would probably be it. Not just the act of sex, but the feelings, doubts, methods, results and politics of sex. The results can mean a son or daughter fated to the politics of advantage and danger. The doubts can lead to an unfocused mind. The methods can be a resullt of doubt, but can be there own distraction as well. The feelings can be good, bad, and ugly. And all of these elements amount to the politics of sex. However, if you fear that all this talk of sex means this volume of Path of the Assassin lacks the the expected swordplay, gushing blood, and drama you’ve come to love, well please don’t worry. Rather the sexplay only provides a framework for those standards, making for an oddly exciting volume of our samurai/ninja tale of conquest. As always, pocket size and full of the best in gekiga, Koike and Kojima’s Path of the Assassin continues with a fever.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Japan, Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2014

About the author

Kazuo Koike (小池一夫, Koike Kazuo) was a prolific Japanese manga writer, novelist and entrepreneur.

Early in Koike's career, he studied under Golgo 13 creator Takao Saito and served as a writer on the series.

Koike, along with artist Goseki Kojima, made the manga Kozure Okami (Lone Wolf and Cub), and Koike also contributed to the scripts for the 1970s film adaptations of the series, which starred famous Japanese actor Tomisaburo Wakayama. Koike and Kojima became known as the "Golden Duo" because of the success of Lone Wolf and Cub.

Another series written by Koike, Crying Freeman, which was illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami, was adapted into a 1995 live-action film by French director Christophe Gans.

Kazuo Koike started the Gekika Sonjuku, a college course meant to teach people how to be mangaka.

In addition to his more violent, action-oriented manga, Koike, an avid golfer, has also written golf manga.

Reviews

[Drew Canole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of sex issues and politics in this one which I find a bit less interesting than the assassin action.

[Jedi JC Daquis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt like a long filler chapter and an excuse for those sex scenes. I have to keep up with the names too because characters just pop out of nowhere.

To see that this volume is rated higher than the others, there might be something in me that kept me from appreciating this volume.

The end though promises an interestung fight in the next chapters, so that one thing I look forward to.

[Ruz El · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume has more politics then action, but it's still a damned fine read. The only issue I have is I'm getting confused with the names. :(

[Ig-88 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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