Lone Wolf and Cub, Omnibus 9

Lone Wolf & Cub #9

by Kazuo Koike, Goseki Kojima (Illustrator)

With waves of warriors seemingly incapable of killing ronin swordmaster Ōgami Ittō, the Shogun opts for stealth and subterfuge to attack the Lone Wolf. Using a network of prostitute spies to corner Ittō, a master poisoner waits in the shadows to accomplish what razor-sharp steel could not!

Created by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, Lone Wolf and Cub has sold over a million copies of its first Dark Horse English-language editions, and this acclaimed masterpiece of graphic fiction is now available in larger format, value-priced editions.

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

672 pages, Paperback

First published July 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

[Roxana Chirilă · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tend to keep this series for relaxing Sundays in cafes, when I can really focus on it. It's beautiful and it's very different from most manga I've read (though sometimes it's not very different from itself).

I find it amazing that, nine omnibus volumes in, this series still has surprises up its sleeve: the assassin Lone Wolf travels through Japan with his very young boy, killing those who deserve it or those who try to kill him. It's bound to get very repetitive, right?

Well, it *is* a bit, but there are always new challenges to face and new enemies with unusual methods or weapons. I find it fascinating.

In these chapters, Ōgami Ittō and his son make it to the capital, where they're hunted not just by their old enemies from a clan of ruthless samurai, but also by the master poisoner and his army of food suppliers and prostitutes who can tail him anywhere and poison him through food, water or smoke.

You can feel the series is starting to draw to a close (although a quarter of it is still left) as all sorts of loose threads are starting to come together (and Ōgami Ittō probably killed half the samurai population of Japan by now).

[Sleepy Boy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ope, yep, there went the kitchen sink thrown into the maelstrom.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

So how badass is Lone Wolf? How about bad enough to kill people in his sleep? Yes. THAT badass.

This volume really turn up the heat as we are introduced to a villain even more vile than the evil Yagyu Clan. He's a master of poisons and he's out to poison Lone Wolf and Cub and he doesn't care how many innocents he kills along the way. He ends up so evil even the Yagyu Clan ends up disgusted with him.

In this volume the plot tightens considerably as the final showdown looms closer.

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

4.5/5

Another superb volume with more wits and sneaky tactics utilized as opposed to brute force, at least until near the end. This volume is marred only by the presence of Abe, the most vile character in the entire saga, and the most persistently obnoxious thing to permeate this series. While his cunning and schemes make a great foil for Itto and Daigoro, he is the embodiment of everything I hate about secondary antagonists, right down to his clear purpose to drag the series on a little further.

Still, despite my woes regarding Abe's personality and the delays the pacing of this final act of the series suffers because of him, Kojima's art is still fantastic and the build-up towards the climax is masterful. Very exciting.

[Zedsdead · Rating 5 out of 5]

First little standalone story in a long time: a slave-prostitute recognizes a passing Ittō as the terrifying Lone Wolf assassin, and realizes that if she follows along in his wake then her pursuers would be too scared to take her.

Then it's a return to form as Ittō once again outwits Yagyu and shogun forces trying to intercept him en route to Edo and a final confrontation. And a new antagonist comes at Ittō and Daigoro from a whole new direction.

Plot points:
--An escaped slave asks to travel with Ittō so that her pursuers won't recapture her. Ittō refuses...but notes that it's a free road. She follows closely, but is killed when she goes off to get water.
--Yagyu dispatches the Shogun's navy to catch Ittō crossing the sea. He outwits them by posting two dummies in his rowboat and swimming to the ship. The ship's captain dropped a safety line in a fit of honor, even though he knew it would cost him his life. "Another true bushi...lost forever."
--Enter an unlikely but terrifying new villain: the shogun's poisoner. This ambitious court official uses his army of humble foodsellers and prostitutes to track Ittō down. He employs one gambit after another from a safe distance, learning more with each attempt: poisoned food, poisoned caltrops, literally poisoning a river they're bathing in...even poisoned toilet paper.
--In the goofiest, most absurd chapter of the entire series so far, Ittō defeats a couple dozen knife-wielding assassins while asleep beside his campfire. He never rises, never wakes; his arm just draws his dōtanuki and kills everyone.
--Yagyu tricks Abe into revealing his plan to eliminate the Yagyus and consolidate power, then follows the fleeing poisoner to Ittō.

[Dave J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Up until now the series has been engaging despite its length, but here in Volumes 20 and 21, things get contrived. Watching Ogami Itto get back up from or avoid life-threatening injuries through sheer force of will is not something new to manga, nor comics in general (think Batman or other heroes), but there are some situations that are too ridiculous to buy into. I won't spoil the moment, but instead of being in awe, I couldn't help but laugh. I understand the kind of effect Koike was trying to produce, how it ties into Itto's ethos, capabilities, and spiritual journey, but... Sometimes you've just got to take a step back and acknowledge a thing's absurdity. (Oh, c'mon! was my immediate reaction. There's also a second instance that's not as ridiculous, but still too good to be true.)

Then there's the villain. He's cartoonish, so he makes for an odd fit in this series, and has plot armor for seemingly no other purpose than to drag the story out (Koike also uses the villain as a scapegoat for his fetishes--two birds, one stone, eh?). Perhaps this was a lull induced by writer's block, but it's still poor, borderline insulting writing. Koike also tries to get us to pity the villain, which works for a short while, but we already know that he's just another hurdle for Itto to eventually overcome (I'd be surprised if he plays a bigger role in the upcoming storm of conflict).

The artwork is still up to par--Kojima's epical silent and sequential sweeping panels and mastery of grayscale make parts of this omnibus a joy for the soul. Hopefully the next volume's writing will be business as usual: remarkably subtle and focused.

[Chris Gifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retsudo finds some unexpected assistance from the head food tester. He is a master of poisons.
The Shogun trusts him because he tastes everything before the Shogun eats it. He begins to target Itto with women in the hopes of poisoning him first. He soon learns that Itto is too much of a warrior and can not be duped. So the Abe the taster/poisoner decides to go for Diagoro. First with poisoned sweets and drinks, but since he has never had sweets he does not know what he is missing, thankfully. then it is poisoned paper to wipe his bum, bur Diagoro knows the best leaves to use. Eventually Abe tries to poison them directly through food he has poisoned. Howvever they have already changed into their white burial robes. The tailor infused the fabric with a scent. When Abe gives them the poisoned soup, Diagoro spills a drop on his new robe which then turns black on the stain. Which alerts Itto to the poiosn. He does not kill Abe, but he and Diagoro go to await Retsudo and leaves that message with the poisoner.
Everything is coming together, it is inevitable that Resudo and Itto will end up sword fighting to the death...but something occurs that stops the battle.

[Ewan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tempting to knock a star off because I never liked the Abe-no-kaii character or storyline; it even includes the most far-fetched Ogami Itto moment, where he kills people in his sleep. As outrageous as the series can be at times, that was the one moment where I wasn't really buying it. However, this is Lone Wolf & Cub, so I can't do it. Also, the last chapter in this volume makes up for it, as one of the mysteries around Itto's plan is masterfully revealed, and the final act of the story is set up.

[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, well, I suppose I can see why. But this is no mere graphic novel; 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.

[Villain E · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a little more traveling, Ogami Itto arrives in Edo, but he doesn't immediately execute his plan. We finally get another recurring character. Abe-no-kaii is the Emporer's taste tester which means he's also the Emporer's poisoner. This guy is Baron Harkonnen; every kind of gross the author can think of. Someone finally goes after Ogami Itto with underhanded tactics instead of their honor getting them killed.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

My least favorite volume by far. The bulk of the story is about a poisoner who is gross for no particular reason. But the worst was 3 different events that were too ridiculous to believe (or just physiologically impossible) even in a word where samurai semi-magical. And a lot of this seems like filler. But the final chapter was really good.

[I.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still love this series but the poisoner stuff was gross at times (piss drinking) and there was so much of a focus on him that the narrative slowed down. It’s nearing its end though and still keeping a strong level of art and detail. On to the next one!

[Jessie B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very compelling

[Kevin Blondel · Rating 5 out of 5]

LONE WOLF & CUB (PRESTIGE EDITION)

PRINTING:
- Hardcover;
- Dust jacket;
- Bookmark;
- Large format.

CONTENT:
- Introduction;
- Eleven chapters;
- Historical articles;
- Gallery of covers;
- Glossary;
- Approximately 800 pages.

PROS:
- Chapters made of independent stories built around a central plot;
- Controlled narration constantly renewed to avoid repetition;
- A perfect balance between plots and action scenes;
- An expressive artwork highlighting sumptuous scenery and fierce combat;
- A documented historical context with great educational virtues.

CONS:
- Some chapters more dispensable and less engaging than others.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- Series in twelve volumes;
- Suggested for mature readers;
- Adapted into films in the 1970s;
- Frank Miller's inspiration for "Ronin";
- Quentin Tarantino's inspiration for "Kill Bill";
- Jon Favreau's inspiration for "The Mandalorian."

TARGET AUDIENCE:
- Seinen readers;
- Fans of graphic novels.
- Feudal Japan enthusiasts;

RELATED READING:
- "Kamui Den" by Sanpei Shirato;
- "Lady Snowblood" by Kazuo Koike and Kazuo Kamimura;
- "A Tree in the Sun" by Osamu Tezuka.

RECOMMENDATION:
* * * * *

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this excellent series has not been shy with certain subject matters, I have to say this is perhaps the one that was the most unsettling. A new villain has emerged and he is a despicable, downright disgusting character who makes the Yagyu look noble and charming.