Path of the Assassin, Vol. 10: Battle for Power, Part 2

半蔵の門 [Hanzou no Mon] #10

by Kazuo Koike

This volume of Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima's rich series finds Ieyasu both fighting for his life and looking the the future. First, a couple of eerie and mysterious ninja try to take his life, but find themselves foiled by the increasingly able ninja Hattori Hanzo. And then a nationn's tribes face off and spin through intrigue and tactical webworks, all while fascinatingly dark ninja politics weave subtext and sexy action throughout the masterly-drafted pages.

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

296 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

[Jedi JC Daquis · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is one fundamental flaw in how I approach reading Path of the Assassin. That is, whenever I deliberately do it or not, I always compare my reading experience with the Lone Wolf and Cub. Lone Wolf is perfect from start to end. There were no cringeworthy scenes and the information overload from japanese names is almost non-existent. Path of the Assassin is a different read. It is more of a chronicle of history, thus being historically accurate puts a leash on how Kazuo Koike builds the story. And Path of the Assassin just, unfolds. No thrill, no surprises and all.

So to make my reading experience better in the last third of volumes, I must avoid comparisons and see Path of the Assassin as it is.

I just do not know why there were a lot of unnecessary naked women in the series! That may be either a pervy move by the authors or a reflection of society, or both.

[Drew Canole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably strongest with Hanzo is doing one-on-one battles with other Assassins which happens here. Still lots of weird sexual stuff which is just becoming a bit too routine for this series.

The large movements of battles are cool to look at but a bit too confusing for me to follow. Lots of Japanese names get dropped - I imagine lots that are familiar from history textbooks.

Certainly not on the level of Lone Wolf and Cub but its larger scope and historical backdrop may appeal to some readers.

[Ruz El · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still continues to be interesting while mixing heavy duty politics, philosophy and porny action.