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Shurayuki-hime / Lady Snowblood: 4 volumes edition #3
Lady Snowblood, Vol 3: Retribution, Part 1
Lady Snowblood is a woman born with a singular purpose, revenge. Revenge for the death of her father at the hands of greedy criminals. Revenge for the life of her mother, who birthed her in a prison to continue this demon's path of death. Sometimes this path is odd, sometimes sexy, often painful, and always violent. By means of a world's worth of skills, Lady Snowblood will find her revenge. But who knows what lies at the end of this path. · Skillfully written by Kazuo Koike of Lone Wolf and Cub fame and master-drafted by Kazuo Kamimura, Lady Snowblood is a sexy story of a woman bound by dire desires.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2006
9 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Kazuo Koike
562 books295 followersKazuo 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 1, 2019
Where Koike and Co.’s previous offering is epic in scope, Lady Snowblood works within a far more cohesive and concise spectrum of know-how and style. Best embodied in tales that generally glide into each other in a manner that is truly frictionless. Greased by its tightly bound level of internal connectives, no momentum is lost across its deeply coiled nature.
With Snowblood’s quest for revenge furthered, the values of Japanese culture colorize each and every panel. Burgeoning with excellence, each jot depicting a past era is enflamed for our delight. With gorgeous angulations replicating the poignancy of the Meiji Era, once more everything here glows with stellar excellence.
Koike and Co. have done it again!
With Snowblood’s quest for revenge furthered, the values of Japanese culture colorize each and every panel. Burgeoning with excellence, each jot depicting a past era is enflamed for our delight. With gorgeous angulations replicating the poignancy of the Meiji Era, once more everything here glows with stellar excellence.
Koike and Co. have done it again!
September 26, 2016
Wow, after almost a month of reading other titles (mainly Vertigo and DC comics) I finally got time to read the third volume of Lady Snowblood! It is still the same old revenge plot that I left last month, with Yuki still on the search of the ones who have disgraced her mother.
It starts off right where the second volume ended. And I say again, there is too much female objectification here, so much machismo. And worse, the book gives in to such. In between the contract killings, sake drinks and other things is nudity and violation of womanhood in different levels. Can we just do away with such and get things done?
But in fairness with the writing, I enjoyed this volume. The story may somewhat be eccentric at some point, but it is the way Koike delivers the story that makes the book beautiful, not to mention Kazuo Kamimura's equally beautiful artwork. I cannot deny that he draws the characters' emotions really well and the action scenes with poetic finesse.
Lady Snowblood, right from the start is not a manga for everybody. It is unintentionally offensive, yet a very entertaining read.
It starts off right where the second volume ended. And I say again, there is too much female objectification here, so much machismo. And worse, the book gives in to such. In between the contract killings, sake drinks and other things is nudity and violation of womanhood in different levels. Can we just do away with such and get things done?
But in fairness with the writing, I enjoyed this volume. The story may somewhat be eccentric at some point, but it is the way Koike delivers the story that makes the book beautiful, not to mention Kazuo Kamimura's equally beautiful artwork. I cannot deny that he draws the characters' emotions really well and the action scenes with poetic finesse.
Lady Snowblood, right from the start is not a manga for everybody. It is unintentionally offensive, yet a very entertaining read.
February 26, 2017
The pointless, juvenile nudity and sexual content makes this feel too much like what it is. It's simply an entertaining action book. The story really starts to come to fruition in this volume. I was getting worried because the first two volumes were pretty shallow. This is no Lone Wolf and Cub (which I believe rises out of its genre trappings), but it is entertaining. I'm excited to read the last volume.
December 5, 2024
Continuing the Revenge Trail
Coming from the previous books huge cliffhanger, more great stories unfold from Lady Snowblood. Excellent action, solid revenge, deep choices, and Japanese history to be learned. This series has definitely been one of the top tier mangas I have ever read.
Coming from the previous books huge cliffhanger, more great stories unfold from Lady Snowblood. Excellent action, solid revenge, deep choices, and Japanese history to be learned. This series has definitely been one of the top tier mangas I have ever read.
February 25, 2025
" Una donna che si incammina lungo le strade della vendetta, ha già da tempo rinunciato al suo cuore"
Continua il viaggio di Yuki alla ricerca degli ultimi colpevoli, tra nuove amicizie e nuove imprese da affrontare decisa a fare giustizia
Continua il viaggio di Yuki alla ricerca degli ultimi colpevoli, tra nuove amicizie e nuove imprese da affrontare decisa a fare giustizia
October 17, 2021
Easily the best volume yet. The entire passage along the railroad tracks is a work of art and the mix of action, revenge, history, and beauty are so well done. Its a short series, so the kind of depth some manga are able to acheive over twenty volumes isn't here but its definitely like a great movie, or two great movies. It's divided into two arcs, with two volumes each, really, and again, it is so much like Kill Bill. Obviously. I just needed to say it.
I see a lot of criticism of the violent sexuality present in the book, and its always from men? I think the point is exactly to make that demographic uncomfortable. It's a violent series in many ways, but it takes place in a world dominated by men, a place where its clear women don't belong and are seen as less than. This is addressed in the story a lot, especially the way men underestimate Oyuki constantly. It's her story, there is no male protaganist, and her destiny is to chip away at an omniprescent patriarchy and seek vengence for what's been done to her mother. Yes, its tough to read sometimes, but I've been surprised how thoughtfully its been depicted, and I don't think it's without merit, unlike so many manga series I can't even get into because of how immature they are about sexuality and gender. This violence isn't something created in a vacuum, its a world we continue to live in, sadly, and that's what makes this series a masterwork, imo, because it still feels relevant reading it today, almost fifty years later. It's ironic that it was initially published in Japan's Playboy magazine, as it both panders to and confronts that audience, often within the same page.
I'm looking forward to reading the final volume, as this one sets up a gripping conclusion in an unexpected way.
I see a lot of criticism of the violent sexuality present in the book, and its always from men? I think the point is exactly to make that demographic uncomfortable. It's a violent series in many ways, but it takes place in a world dominated by men, a place where its clear women don't belong and are seen as less than. This is addressed in the story a lot, especially the way men underestimate Oyuki constantly. It's her story, there is no male protaganist, and her destiny is to chip away at an omniprescent patriarchy and seek vengence for what's been done to her mother. Yes, its tough to read sometimes, but I've been surprised how thoughtfully its been depicted, and I don't think it's without merit, unlike so many manga series I can't even get into because of how immature they are about sexuality and gender. This violence isn't something created in a vacuum, its a world we continue to live in, sadly, and that's what makes this series a masterwork, imo, because it still feels relevant reading it today, almost fifty years later. It's ironic that it was initially published in Japan's Playboy magazine, as it both panders to and confronts that audience, often within the same page.
I'm looking forward to reading the final volume, as this one sets up a gripping conclusion in an unexpected way.
October 11, 2023
"Retribution, Part 1" starts by concluding the "Blackmailer Genjirô and the song of the phantom" story from the previous volume. Though a strange cliffhanger for a story, the resolution is even more odd. With only twenty pages needed to wrap up that story, it seems odd to have split this story up like that. The ending of the first part to this story had Oyuki at Genjirô's mercy, with him preparing to sexually assault her. Oyuki turns the tables on Genjirô and deals a fatal blow to him. But for some inexplicable reason, Oyuki decides to sleep with her dying enemy. I get that Lady Snowblood is leaning heavy on exploitation tropes, but this was a bit too jarring of a choice.
The subsequent stories are a fair bit better. "Unveiling a Pretty Woman and a Strange Story" follows Oyuki on a job to take down a group of Yakuza who control an area, with the hopes that the liberated place can one day become a museum. And "Master Crook, the Wanderer" has Oyuki working alongside a mercurial writer to chronicle her life story in hopes that it will flush out the two remaining targets on her hit list. The stories aren't as strong as the previous entries to the series, but Kazuo Kamimura's artwork is noticeably cleaner and the compositions look even more kinetic here. Lady Snowblood may not be the strongest example of revenge thrillers or exploitation stories, but it's entertaining in a pulpy kind of way.
The subsequent stories are a fair bit better. "Unveiling a Pretty Woman and a Strange Story" follows Oyuki on a job to take down a group of Yakuza who control an area, with the hopes that the liberated place can one day become a museum. And "Master Crook, the Wanderer" has Oyuki working alongside a mercurial writer to chronicle her life story in hopes that it will flush out the two remaining targets on her hit list. The stories aren't as strong as the previous entries to the series, but Kazuo Kamimura's artwork is noticeably cleaner and the compositions look even more kinetic here. Lady Snowblood may not be the strongest example of revenge thrillers or exploitation stories, but it's entertaining in a pulpy kind of way.
September 19, 2024
Holy crap! Well, that cliffhanger was resolved entirely unexpectedly. The rest of the volume is one detour and one pile of crap. Surely we can't do worse.
December 27, 2021
Regressar a Lady Snowblood, esse ponto alto da estética da violência estilizada. As histórias seguem as aventuras da assassina a soldo, motivada por uma vingança para a qual foi preparada ainda antes de nascer. Mas o que dá a este manga a sua beleza é a forma como o ilustrador colide o estilo clássico do desenho japonês com a ação pura das artes marciais. Lady Snowblood é isto, é tanto contemplarmos uma prancha que parece saída da arte japonesa clássica, como ficarmos sem fôlego com enquadramentos de ação num ritmo cinematográfico. Visualmente deslumbrante, imparável, com um toque de sensualidade, sempre num ritmo narrativo fluído e cinemático.
November 2, 2018
Lady Snowblood gets tasked with destruction of powerful Yakuza organization. Although initially they could not believe woman would even try doing something like that, Yakuza get drawn into open conflict and immediately they are disposed by the very motivated and determined femme-fatale.
On the revenge plan (ongoing comic story line) she is advised to get help from one rather picturesque character - con-artist/novelist. After she manages to get him interested into publishing her life story everything is ready to flush out the remaining criminals that caused such grief to Lady Snowblood's family.
Trap is ready.
Recommended to all fans of action and adventure.
On the revenge plan (ongoing comic story line) she is advised to get help from one rather picturesque character - con-artist/novelist. After she manages to get him interested into publishing her life story everything is ready to flush out the remaining criminals that caused such grief to Lady Snowblood's family.
Trap is ready.
Recommended to all fans of action and adventure.
May 9, 2021
So the Story goes...
Successfully, eliminating two targets. She was unable to find the last two, one of the crooks suggested writing a book. She doesn’t need to write one herself, but hire a writer who can, and so she did. Just to draw out the enemy. Remains to be seen how that worked.
Successfully, eliminating two targets. She was unable to find the last two, one of the crooks suggested writing a book. She doesn’t need to write one herself, but hire a writer who can, and so she did. Just to draw out the enemy. Remains to be seen how that worked.
May 24, 2020
I'm still not sure whether this series is meant to be taken seriously or not. It often reads like a parody of the cliched revenge epic, but the humor doesn't seem to be intentional. That said, it's just compelling enough to make me keep reading...
May 23, 2021
Oh koike
Every time I think Kazuo Koike is making a return to the quality of amazing work he did in Lone Wolf and Cub, he's always gotta throw in unnecessary sexual assault and random nudity
Every time I think Kazuo Koike is making a return to the quality of amazing work he did in Lone Wolf and Cub, he's always gotta throw in unnecessary sexual assault and random nudity
November 10, 2017
Loved this installment! A lot more beautiful scenes and the plot picks up.
June 12, 2018
Aside from the incredibly random character “turn” in the first issue, this series is starting to find its stride. Very ahead of its time.
April 12, 2021
Όου. Λίγο καλύτερο ακόμη. Η ιστορία με τον συγγραφέα ήταν απίθανη.
August 19, 2023
Me parece increíble como llevan el ritmo de la historia
Y en este tiene personajes muy intrigantes
Y en este tiene personajes muy intrigantes
May 4, 2024
Buenas historias cortas de Lady Snowblood haciendo mas encargos.
Pero fuera de la del escritor de la novela, pues no avanzan la historia principal de la venganza.
3.4 stars
Pero fuera de la del escritor de la novela, pues no avanzan la historia principal de la venganza.
3.4 stars
August 23, 2024
3,5 estrelas
March 2, 2025
More humorous than the previous volumes. Had me chuckling.
March 9, 2021
Refreshing to have a female protagonist and this one was my favorite in the series so far. Their plan to use a famous author to write her story to bring the two people she's hunting out of hiding is neat, but the author that she is looking for is not easy to find and even more difficult to persuade to write "his next masterpiece". Excited to read the final installment of this series and excited to get back to Lone Wolf and Cub.
August 7, 2025
I never read any books concerning assassins but I have to say that I really like this one. This book is thicker than most manga but it was an interesting story to follow.
The story is about a woman named Oyuki who is on a path of vengeance towards the ones who killed her family and raped her mother. The action is pretty cool. Here a beautiful woman is able to find the people she's looking for, using an infinite amount of resources, and kills them pretty ruthlessly.
Oyuki, sadly, is not much of a character but is just the plot itself. I admit, she does more than most heroine's that I've read. She has resources, is smart, beautiful, and kills the people she's hired to kill and that's about it. There's nothing that interesting about her. But characterization aside, when I picked up this book I just wanted to see her kill people. I'm sorry but that's the honest truth.
Not only is the action very entertaining, but the things that Oyuki does in order to kill her targets are just freaking incredible. I have to say, even thought she doesn't have much of a personality Oyuki can kick some ass!!!
There's not much else to say. There's not much to the story but I will say I did enjoy it.
The story is about a woman named Oyuki who is on a path of vengeance towards the ones who killed her family and raped her mother. The action is pretty cool. Here a beautiful woman is able to find the people she's looking for, using an infinite amount of resources, and kills them pretty ruthlessly.
Oyuki, sadly, is not much of a character but is just the plot itself. I admit, she does more than most heroine's that I've read. She has resources, is smart, beautiful, and kills the people she's hired to kill and that's about it. There's nothing that interesting about her. But characterization aside, when I picked up this book I just wanted to see her kill people. I'm sorry but that's the honest truth.
Not only is the action very entertaining, but the things that Oyuki does in order to kill her targets are just freaking incredible. I have to say, even thought she doesn't have much of a personality Oyuki can kick some ass!!!
There's not much else to say. There's not much to the story but I will say I did enjoy it.
December 19, 2011
The third volume in the Lady Snowblood manga series, and the beginning of Oyuki's actual revenge, is filled with its usual collection of episodic moments, sex, and violence.
I enjoyed this third volume to the Lady Snowblood series, mostly because the set-up that filled the first two volumes in the series started to pay off with some actual revenge. It's not nearly as good as the last volume, but it's definitely getting there, and Oyuki's character continues to be fleshed out from the cold, distant personality apparent in the first volume of this series.
I won't go into the story, mostly because I want to avoid spoilers, but both it and the art continue to remain engrossing, and thankfully, finally, are going somewhere. 4-4.5/5
I enjoyed this third volume to the Lady Snowblood series, mostly because the set-up that filled the first two volumes in the series started to pay off with some actual revenge. It's not nearly as good as the last volume, but it's definitely getting there, and Oyuki's character continues to be fleshed out from the cold, distant personality apparent in the first volume of this series.
I won't go into the story, mostly because I want to avoid spoilers, but both it and the art continue to remain engrossing, and thankfully, finally, are going somewhere. 4-4.5/5
February 23, 2017
So, disappointing.
She shouldn't have given mercy.
Koike and Kamimura seemed to hit their stride again with the devious yakuza, a complex plot and great fight scenes, but with the last scene it's going off track again
She shouldn't have given mercy.
Koike and Kamimura seemed to hit their stride again with the devious yakuza, a complex plot and great fight scenes, but with the last scene it's going off track again
June 8, 2016
Y es aquí, en este tomo, que la estela de la influencia de Kill Bill (a mi parecer) si bien se mantiene poco a poco desaparece; para que se entienda mejor, esta obra (al menos, su versión en el cine) fue buena parte de lo que motivó a don Tarantino a escribir la película arriba mencionada.
Considero que también tuvo algo estilo Don Quijote, con la aparición del singular escritor que quiere escribir la historia de Oyuki; pero lo mejor de la entrega fue todo lo referente al gran padrino yakuza y todo los problemas que eso trajo
Considero que también tuvo algo estilo Don Quijote, con la aparición del singular escritor que quiere escribir la historia de Oyuki; pero lo mejor de la entrega fue todo lo referente al gran padrino yakuza y todo los problemas que eso trajo
March 28, 2008
The start of Retribution was a bit of a turn off, but with this particular man [part of the gang that she's enacting her pay-back on]it was bound to be an exploitive battle, no matter what. *rolls eyes*
After that, the series gets back on track...again, kudos to Dark Horse on their production values!
After that, the series gets back on track...again, kudos to Dark Horse on their production values!
February 14, 2011
Interesting story path - with story writer writting her story
July 4, 2011
Lady Snowblood continues her violent and tragic quest for revenge. The story becomes more haunting and poignant, yet no less sexual or violent.
September 27, 2024
some lesbian gangsta slayin bodies type shit
August 13, 2025
Disfrutable, pero me perturbó mucho el tipo de humillaciones que hacen a las mujeres en la Era Meiji. Espero Yuki tenga un final feliz, aunque el camino de la venganza no termina bien nunca.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews