Lone Wolf and Cub, Omnibus 8

Lone Wolf & Cub #8

by Kazuo Koike, Goseki Kojima (Illustrator)

Yagyu Retsudo’s failure to stop Ogami Itto has brought an ultimatum from the shugun: kill the Lone Wolf or face execution. But Yagyu will not go forth empty handed. To aid his cause, the shugun places the Firewatchers—his own elite bodyguards—under Yagyu’s command!

Collects three stories from Lone Wolf and Cub Volume 17, all of volume 18, and two stories from volume 19.

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

672 pages, Paperback

First published April 14, 2015

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

[Sleepy Boy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now the Yagyu begin throwing every piece of loose cutlery and cookware at our intrepid Meifumado dwellers. The Yagyu have stopped just shy of the kitchen sink but we all know it's coming.

[Roxana Chirilă · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another beautiful volume - the lone wolf is hounded all the way to Edo, everyone going after his head to get the incredibly large ransom, and villagers, people on other quests and so on fall prey to the lust for money and attack him.

It got a bit absurd at times, especially when Itto defeated a small force by himself, but it was still quite fun.

[Zedsdead · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole world has risen against Lone Wolf and Cub. Peasants plot to kill them in their sleep. Bounty hunters turn out in force. Hans send warriors against them and are wiped out. The shogun's personal guard harries them across the sea. Yagyu is reduced to dispatching the retired kurokuwa ninjas, a handful of septuagenarian amputees.

There are no more assassinations. Every story in v8 takes place within the framework of the national hunt for the protagonists. Even when Daigoro catches a deadly fever, and Itto moves heaven and earth to get him an orange.

Kazuo Koike writes and draws with amazingly consistent quality.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bounty on Lone Wolf and Cub is bringing the heat on them from both professionals and amateurs. Entire villages are coming after the pair in hopes of collecting the huge reward. Lone Wolf is slowly making his way to Edo to bring things to head, but he's being hounded the entire way. We also see some of the strange situations Lone Wolf and Cub encounter during their journey.

The suspense just keeps building as we head to the final showdown!

[Alexander Engel-Hodgkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.9/5

Yet another outstanding collection of stories as the climax to the overarching plot looms ever closer. This series continues to exceed my expectations, despite setting them higher with every passing volume. The Will of the Fang and the chapters with the Firewatchers and the Kurokuwa are special highlights. Some of the series' best moments happen here!

[Armando · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily my favorite of the omnibus volumes so far. Twilight of the Kurokuwa was hauntingly beautiful.

[Chris Gifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

In one of the stories Itto purposely separates from Diagoro knowing his son will follow the tracks left by the cart. Itto must face many and does not want his son hurt or preventing him from fighting unhampered. However after they have met up again Diagoro becomes very ill and refuses food. His father asks him what he will eat and the reply is a citrus fruit. It is snowing and Itto blocks the entrance to the cave and sets off to find this fruit at any cost. He has only 3 days before Diagoro dies with each place he comes across he is told to go farther and farther away. With a storm raging on the sea he borrows a boat and waits for a ship that will have the fruit. While on shore many samurai are waiting to arrest on kill him on his return. The weather forces all inside except Itto. He must get the fruit and return to Diagoro before it is too late.

[WIZE FOoL · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is now my new addiction!!!
A beautifully told story with hand drawn animation!
Where you learn about Japanese historical culture and lots of martial arts and political intrigue.
This is perfect for me and I am devouring them!
It's based on a samurai who is politically outplayed and loses his station and family. Just him and his boy are out to seek revenge!
I don't throw 5 stars around much. but this is totally a 10 stars!!! a 100 stars!!!!! a 1000 stars...... it's just great! Don't consider it, just read it!!!!
ENJOY!!!

[Yun Rou · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're wondering what a comic book is doing on a Daoist monk's reading list, then open your mind to a different art form. This is no mere graphic novel, no mere comic book; this is a work of high Japanese literature. The storytelling is stunning, the graphics are powerful, and the message and compelling feel of this masterpiece of graphic fiction will keep you turning the pages and earn the whole omnibus an honored spot in your library, too.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

As everything that's part of the Lone Wolf & Cub saga by Kazuo Koike and Goseiki Kojima, the omnibus 8 is amazing on many levels: artistry, history, depth of stories and characters - and just when you think it repeats itself, it adds another unexpected facet. My favorite story this time around: "Twilight of the Kurokuwa" - what a tale, what an ending.

[Villain E · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Ogami Itto makes his way to Edo, presumably for some final confrontation, Yagyu has put a bounty on his head. Now every random person or group of people is at least tempted to fight him. And Itto is reluctant to fight peasants who are just trying to survive.

The art is mixed quality in this volume.

[Cosmin Leucuța · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunt la 2/3 din saga asta imensă și încep să mă resimt...
Grafica e în continuare superbă, dar poveștile din volumul ăsta sunt mai degrabă niște umpluturi pentru spații goale. Mai puțină acțiune, mai puțină intrigă, mai puține cuvinte, mai puțin Lone Wolf and Cub. Pe alocuri ai realmente impresia că Koike n-a mai știut ce să facă cu cei doi...

[I.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic volume dealing with rising stakes and a few cool villains. Overall you can’t go wrong reading this classic stuff.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't believe this epic is nearing its end. Truly a work of art.