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半蔵の門 [Hanzou no Mon] #1
Path of the Assassin, Vol. 1: Serving in the Dark
Path of the Assassin, called Hanzo no Mon in Japan, is the story of Hattori Hanzo, the fabled master ninja whose duty it was to protect Tokugawa Ieyasu. Ieyasu was the shogun who would unite Japan into one great nation. But before he could do that, he had to grow up and learn how to love the ladies! As the secret caretaker of such an influential future leader, not only does Hanzo use vast and varied ninja talents, but in living closely with Ieyasu, he forms a close friendship with the young shogun. · Published in original Japanese format and unretouched which keeps the art intact. · This is a fifteen-volume story starring the legendary ninja and Kill Bill reference Hattori Hanzo. · Each volume comes shrink-wrapped and carries an 18+ content advisory. FOR MATURE READERS
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2014
20 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Kazuo Koike
562 books292 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 41 reviews
May 19, 2016
I admit, I read this manga with assumption it is a lesser work of Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima than Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 1: The Assassin's Road. How wrong I am. At least, it is not so easy to say the Assassin is lesser than The Wolf.
I read Samurai Executioner, Vol. 1: When the Demon Knife Weeps years ago and captivated with the works of Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima. Then I read the first volume of Lone Wolf and could see superior in plots and fighting scenes than Executioner (Executioner felt like slice-of-life manga compared to Lone Wolf's tight action stories).
Lone Wolf and Executioner are stories about samurai/ronin. Assassin is a story about ninja and his master. The fighting on the last chapter on the first volume that won me to give 5 star. The fighting style of ninja (on the story, ninja are called "Suppa") described on manga was so unthinkable for me, so different with samurai fighting in Lone Wolf.
I read Samurai Executioner, Vol. 1: When the Demon Knife Weeps years ago and captivated with the works of Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima. Then I read the first volume of Lone Wolf and could see superior in plots and fighting scenes than Executioner (Executioner felt like slice-of-life manga compared to Lone Wolf's tight action stories).
Lone Wolf and Executioner are stories about samurai/ronin. Assassin is a story about ninja and his master. The fighting on the last chapter on the first volume that won me to give 5 star. The fighting style of ninja (on the story, ninja are called "Suppa") described on manga was so unthinkable for me, so different with samurai fighting in Lone Wolf.
January 28, 2024
Man, I really love Goseki Kojima's artwork. Here is his (I believe... Wikipedia for old manga is not great) third book with Koike after Lone Wolf & Cub and Samurai Executioner. Both of those are in the same Edo period universe. This one is set a bit earlier in the 16th century and is based on historical figures... but it still has the heightened action you'd expect.
We follow the very young ninja Hattori Hanzo who is assigned to protect the also young Tokugawa Ieyasu. Both historical people. Eventually Tokugawa becomes the founder and first shogun and unifies Japan, so I assume future volumes will show that.
This first volume has both characters coming of age and having sex for the first time. Tokugawa hilariously tries to grow the worst mustache of all time. I guess even the shogun has that awkward teenage phase.
Hattori gets a few opportunities to show off his ninja skills. Koike always creates great scenarios for battles. Here Hattori is outmatched by a stronger more skilled opponent but uses his youthful endurance to win the battle.
We follow the very young ninja Hattori Hanzo who is assigned to protect the also young Tokugawa Ieyasu. Both historical people. Eventually Tokugawa becomes the founder and first shogun and unifies Japan, so I assume future volumes will show that.
This first volume has both characters coming of age and having sex for the first time. Tokugawa hilariously tries to grow the worst mustache of all time. I guess even the shogun has that awkward teenage phase.
Hattori gets a few opportunities to show off his ninja skills. Koike always creates great scenarios for battles. Here Hattori is outmatched by a stronger more skilled opponent but uses his youthful endurance to win the battle.
May 1, 2016
One of the greatest disadvantages of reading a writer's masterpiece first before his other works is that the other works have a high chance to be given less recognition than what they deserve. Such is my feeling with Path of the Assassin. Coming from Lone Wolf and Cub, Path definitely pales in comparison with the golden duo's (Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima) Lone Wolf series.
But this doesn't mean that Path of the Assassin is no good. It is in fact another high-quality piece of graphic literature. The first volume has its own charms and like the young protagonists in the manga, has a tendency to be immature in certain subjects. Like there is too much sex amd nudity.
The story is set in historic Japan, before the whole country is united by the Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa and way back from the events in the Lone Wolf. This is a story of a young master and a young ninja who serves him.
Path of the Assassin has 15 volumes. I am still interested at how the story unfolds in the series.
But this doesn't mean that Path of the Assassin is no good. It is in fact another high-quality piece of graphic literature. The first volume has its own charms and like the young protagonists in the manga, has a tendency to be immature in certain subjects. Like there is too much sex amd nudity.
The story is set in historic Japan, before the whole country is united by the Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa and way back from the events in the Lone Wolf. This is a story of a young master and a young ninja who serves him.
Path of the Assassin has 15 volumes. I am still interested at how the story unfolds in the series.
October 2, 2008
I know I may not thoroughly understand the culture that serves as the backdrop for this graphic novel but I'm pretty sure that raping a girl that in turn falls in love with you is taboo in any culture and genre.
One word: gratuitous.
Yet I finished it and in context...no...it was still unnecessary.
One word: gratuitous.
Yet I finished it and in context...no...it was still unnecessary.
August 21, 2020
"Ass."
-Big Sean
-Big Sean
July 22, 2017
Given who the author and illustrator are, the marvellous Koike & Kojima, I had expected this to be better, and instead got a tale that is an odd mix of the goofy and the violent in ways that I can't find really enjoyable to read, and I am not sure it goes well with the story of the life of the legendary samurai Hattori Hanzo and the man who'd be known as Tokugawa Ieyasu, the great Shogun.
But despite those gaffes, the book is as fairly well drawn as could be from Kojima-sama, and for that more than for the story I round my rating up to three stars.
But despite those gaffes, the book is as fairly well drawn as could be from Kojima-sama, and for that more than for the story I round my rating up to three stars.
November 21, 2011
With a barebones black pen and culturally accurate dialogue, Path of the Assassin definitely surprised me with its intriguing flow. The story is exciting, informative, and even humorous. The pacing completely blows my mind; it is able to keep a balance between the political frames that drive the story and the human experience frames that accent it. This was a great introduction, thick enough to last you, but definitely makes you want to read on. I honestly loved it.
September 2, 2015
"If the purpose of war is to kill, loot and win, there's no difference between slaughtering one of slaughtering a thousand. It's ridiculous to argue over which method to use.
" Kato Danzó The Path of the Assassin
" Kato Danzó The Path of the Assassin
April 27, 2018
Crude and cruel, and fucked up... there's a scene that will make you want to hit the author, you will know which one... This book is definitely not for everyone but the depiction of the young characters and their flaws is very interesting. This is almost an essay about how power corrupts...
November 17, 2011
Not near the same class as Lone Wolf and Cub by the same creators.
But still enjoyable story about the culture of the Samurai,good action,quality art.
But still enjoyable story about the culture of the Samurai,good action,quality art.
January 3, 2022
Like many of the reads here I came to Path of the Assassin through Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima's Lone Wolf and Cub. That previous work, combined with what I knew of the legend of Hattori Hanzo, my expectation nearly ruined this story for me. For this isn't the story of Hanzo serving a grown Ieyasu as a grown men, but it begins when they are much younger (15 and 16). While Hanzo is powerful physically and his master, Ieyasu is powerful politically, both of them are as ignorant as any 16 year old.
The one saving grace for the two of them is that they both know they're ignorant and are willing to admit it to each other. However, this combination of power and ignorance makes for some truly horrific mistakes (if you have triggers around sexual assault, stay AWAY), which allow for personal growth, but are very difficult reads.
In the end, Lone Wolf and Cub has political dimensions, but is a story of bloody betrayal and revenge. Path of the Assassin shares the same careful recreation of the historical period, but is mainly a tale steeped in Japanese politics of the times, with some action thrown in. So if history and intrigue, rather than action, appeals to you, this could be the book for you.
The one saving grace for the two of them is that they both know they're ignorant and are willing to admit it to each other. However, this combination of power and ignorance makes for some truly horrific mistakes (if you have triggers around sexual assault, stay AWAY), which allow for personal growth, but are very difficult reads.
In the end, Lone Wolf and Cub has political dimensions, but is a story of bloody betrayal and revenge. Path of the Assassin shares the same careful recreation of the historical period, but is mainly a tale steeped in Japanese politics of the times, with some action thrown in. So if history and intrigue, rather than action, appeals to you, this could be the book for you.
Read
December 7, 2019If you have never read anything by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima you have some homework; masters of Manga comics. I first discovered Koike and Kojima with the Lone Wolf and Cub series and that was some of the best comic book reading ever. The Path of the Assassin follows Hattori Hanzo, a suppa( a ninja that does black ops missions for samurai,) as he becomes a protector of a noble, but in the dark, which means he is never seen. The stories are focused, historically accurate and describe the life in feudal japan with great accuracy, and . . . are violent. The violence is balanced by the grace of the warriors and the way the panels are drawn, black and white but full of motion and emotion. I have the first three volumes and they have been sitting on my shelf for years. What a silly man I have been to leave them for so long. I will definitely be getting the other 12 volumes.
July 4, 2019
El comic de 15 volúmenes describe parte de las guerras Sengoku, y se centra en dos grandes personajes se la época: ieyasu Tokugawa y Hanzo Hattori. Si su obra “lobo solitario y su cachorro” me sorprendió, este comic se queda muy por debajo en historia, claridad y carisma de los personajes. Después de leer varios miles de páginas he tenido que mirar varios videos para enterarme de la historia (unos mapitas de donde están ubicados los clanes y una cronología ayudaría bastante, y entre tanto nombre y cambio de nombre me he mareado bastante).
En resumen, 3 estrellas por la calidad de su dibujo y la historia de algunos capítulos. le quito un par de estrellas por lo anteriormente escrito. Si quereis disfrutar de un gran comic leer su mejor obra lobo solitario.
En resumen, 3 estrellas por la calidad de su dibujo y la historia de algunos capítulos. le quito un par de estrellas por lo anteriormente escrito. Si quereis disfrutar de un gran comic leer su mejor obra lobo solitario.
May 10, 2022
I'm on the fence about this one. I see a lot of potential for character growth over the course of the series. And they also made one of my favorite series, Lone Wolf and Cub, but there is a rape scene perpetrated by one of the main characters. Worse, it is the kind of story where the rape victim falls in love with her rapist and it is the beginning of their love story. I just don't find it realistic or particularly enjoyable to read about. And it is a major scene and plot point. Now, I get the main character is a ninja assassin type and so is not a good guy, but damn. There had to be a better way to portray that. I enjoyed a lot of the rest of the book, and I will give the next book in the series a read. If there is more of the same there, I will stop though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2017
I have yet to find a bad book by these creators. This one, involving two teens about to set on a bloody path, starts off with promise. It is mysterious and violent (there is a rape early on that is sure to offend). It is exactly what one expects from Koike. Where will it all lead? There is no way to tell from the brief chapters here, but one can be sure it will be as surprising as it is bloody.
November 16, 2019
A less-popular cousin of Lone Wolf and Cub, and perhaps for good reason. This series seems to want to focus on court intrigue and assassinations. However, this first volume is heavily concerned with sexual mores, and has some pretty icky sexual assault in it. I'm willing to try a few more volumes, but the opening certainly makes it hard to root for the protagonists.
June 8, 2020
As a huge fan of Lone Wolf and Cub and also Samurai Executioner it is wonderful to find more stories (translated and published for English readers) from this amazing masterful team.
The weird aspect for me is that unlike the previously mentioned series
here there is no moralizing.
Here there is no honor, or righteousness.
Wild.
The weird aspect for me is that unlike the previously mentioned series
here there is no moralizing.
Here there is no honor, or righteousness.
Wild.
May 10, 2022
Great art and much of the story is great. The violence towards women is graphic, so mixed bag.
Read
July 12, 2022Classical Required reading for Japanophiles
I love the author's pacing and ability to balance suspense and wit. The inky black illustrations are dynamic and beautiful.
I love the author's pacing and ability to balance suspense and wit. The inky black illustrations are dynamic and beautiful.
August 24, 2023
Amazing art, but has a very twisted view of women and rape.
July 6, 2025
Had to stop this one midway. When the main character is a rapist and the victim falls for him, ew. Nope.
October 16, 2020
Not too big a fan of the storyline where a ninja rapes a girl so well she instantly falls deeply in love with him.
The artwork is gorgeous, as usual.
The artwork is gorgeous, as usual.
March 18, 2013
To Protect and to Serve
Of course you've read the seminal masterpiece, Lone Wolf and Cub. No? Then do it NOW, and return after you've completed the 28-volume epic saga, probably the greatest manga ever created.
Still here? Ok, then let's talk "Path of the Assassin". As you already know the style of Koike and Kojima, there is not much to be said about that - Koike's quiet, reduced, implicit and yet very intense storytelling is still powerful, Kojima's dramatic, kinematic and expressionist style impressive as ever. You've got to be prepared for gratuitious bloodshed and erotic scenes, the latter more present in this first volume than in "Lone Wolf and Cub", but not as pervading as in Lady Snowblood.
Born as a suppa, a ninja, Hattori Hanzo has to prove his abilities in his first great assignment - to be the servant of the teenage lord Ieyasu. They get to know each other, and Ieyasu's initial juvenile hostility against Hanzo turns into a close bond as he discovers that aside from Hanzo's physical abilities, there is also some useful knowledge of the world within the ninja.
The following stories recount the first meeting of famous master and notorious servant.
Suppa Unsheathed
Serving in the Dark
Mizuki
Oppressive Night of Ass
Technique of Jisatsu
Kite Kato
Who is He in the Rain?
I assume that, similar to the cited works, you cannot rate such a work only by its first volume - if you read it with the expectation of a self-contained work, you'll be somehow disappointed. The power of Koike's works shows itself most spectacularly by hindsight. And this means there'll be plenty of dark fun ahead of me with this series...
Of course you've read the seminal masterpiece, Lone Wolf and Cub. No? Then do it NOW, and return after you've completed the 28-volume epic saga, probably the greatest manga ever created.
Still here? Ok, then let's talk "Path of the Assassin". As you already know the style of Koike and Kojima, there is not much to be said about that - Koike's quiet, reduced, implicit and yet very intense storytelling is still powerful, Kojima's dramatic, kinematic and expressionist style impressive as ever. You've got to be prepared for gratuitious bloodshed and erotic scenes, the latter more present in this first volume than in "Lone Wolf and Cub", but not as pervading as in Lady Snowblood.
Born as a suppa, a ninja, Hattori Hanzo has to prove his abilities in his first great assignment - to be the servant of the teenage lord Ieyasu. They get to know each other, and Ieyasu's initial juvenile hostility against Hanzo turns into a close bond as he discovers that aside from Hanzo's physical abilities, there is also some useful knowledge of the world within the ninja.
The following stories recount the first meeting of famous master and notorious servant.
Suppa Unsheathed
Serving in the Dark
Mizuki
Oppressive Night of Ass
Technique of Jisatsu
Kite Kato
Who is He in the Rain?
I assume that, similar to the cited works, you cannot rate such a work only by its first volume - if you read it with the expectation of a self-contained work, you'll be somehow disappointed. The power of Koike's works shows itself most spectacularly by hindsight. And this means there'll be plenty of dark fun ahead of me with this series...
August 2, 2017
Detestable main characters, nothing of any real interest happening, very graphic . . . I definitely regret this purchase.
April 18, 2010
Excellent start to a series. The style is sparse enough to flow with the simple illustrations, and yet gives you enough detail to feel you really "know" the characters. Historical Fiction always helps me really remember events and dates, and this is a great example. Koike and Kojima stick with the facts for the bare bones of the plot, but the beauty is in the details. All the little things that happen in everyday life that the history books can't tell or show us.
Hattori Hanzo is the youngest apprentice suppa, something of a specialized ninja. Hanzo proves he is more worthy than the older boys and is given the responsibility of serving and protecting the future Shogun, Takugawa Ieyasu. Hanzo is younger than Ieyasu, his new lord, but much more able to figure things out. He can improvise to perform any task, and as so often happens with teenagers, this causes a bit of jealousy and envy on Ieyasu's part.
When we first meet Ieyasu, he is NOT impressive. He's soft, spoiled, has no knowledge of the outside world, and comes across as a bit of a brat. Because we know who he is to become, seeing him portrayed this way as a teen makes him feel more "real". I can't wait to see what Koike and Kojima write of his and Hanzo's future.
Hattori Hanzo is the youngest apprentice suppa, something of a specialized ninja. Hanzo proves he is more worthy than the older boys and is given the responsibility of serving and protecting the future Shogun, Takugawa Ieyasu. Hanzo is younger than Ieyasu, his new lord, but much more able to figure things out. He can improvise to perform any task, and as so often happens with teenagers, this causes a bit of jealousy and envy on Ieyasu's part.
When we first meet Ieyasu, he is NOT impressive. He's soft, spoiled, has no knowledge of the outside world, and comes across as a bit of a brat. Because we know who he is to become, seeing him portrayed this way as a teen makes him feel more "real". I can't wait to see what Koike and Kojima write of his and Hanzo's future.
September 23, 2007
A young Japanese emperor has a younger albeit highly talented spy/assassin paired with him to help smooth lifes little bumps on his path to conquor the world (of Japan).
(My comments here apply to the first six books in the series Path of the Assassin) Fairly good; rather adolescent, however (at one point the spy is asked to watch his masters fiance having sex in order to teach him how to turn her on - at another two of the main characters are magically able to have continual sexual relations while under unrelenting attack from an evil foe. Wish I had that kind of concentration).
I think if I had more of a background on Japanese fuedal politics it would be pretty good; as it stands there is not much explanation - or if there is I missed it in the beginning.
A tad disappointing after reading Kazuo Koike's excellent Lone Wolf and Cub series - possibly the best graphic novel series I've read (the next best would be the Batman The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller).
(My comments here apply to the first six books in the series Path of the Assassin) Fairly good; rather adolescent, however (at one point the spy is asked to watch his masters fiance having sex in order to teach him how to turn her on - at another two of the main characters are magically able to have continual sexual relations while under unrelenting attack from an evil foe. Wish I had that kind of concentration).
I think if I had more of a background on Japanese fuedal politics it would be pretty good; as it stands there is not much explanation - or if there is I missed it in the beginning.
A tad disappointing after reading Kazuo Koike's excellent Lone Wolf and Cub series - possibly the best graphic novel series I've read (the next best would be the Batman The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller).
January 30, 2008
I love me some ninjas! But I'm a real shinobi snob - I'm not looking for irreverent humor or tired pirate gags. I'm also not looking for 'serious' martial arts-based treatises.
The creators of "Lone Wolf and Cub" created arguably the best of the high road ninja manga here - the years-spanning saga of Ieyasu Tokugawa and his personal 'shadow' Hattori Hanzo, starting in the early teen years and following the legendary ruler through his greatest conquests.
More than an historical bio, the series centers on the relationship of the two men as they grow up in extraordinary times. There are as many moving philosophical discussions between the two as their are violent military battles. Peppered throughout are superb 'historically credible' ninja-in-action sequences, too. A great balanced mix of human interaction and black-suit intrigue.
Temper your love of Naruto or chambara flicks or Sho Kosugi with this series, a super-ego of sorts for the ninja genre.
The creators of "Lone Wolf and Cub" created arguably the best of the high road ninja manga here - the years-spanning saga of Ieyasu Tokugawa and his personal 'shadow' Hattori Hanzo, starting in the early teen years and following the legendary ruler through his greatest conquests.
More than an historical bio, the series centers on the relationship of the two men as they grow up in extraordinary times. There are as many moving philosophical discussions between the two as their are violent military battles. Peppered throughout are superb 'historically credible' ninja-in-action sequences, too. A great balanced mix of human interaction and black-suit intrigue.
Temper your love of Naruto or chambara flicks or Sho Kosugi with this series, a super-ego of sorts for the ninja genre.
Read
October 1, 2011This series is quite surprising to me. It starts off a little choppy and confusing (boy, it really needs to start with an intro to all the characters. The glossary on the back doesn't seem tor really help.). However, it's really sucking me in. The characters here are more realistic than the other series and we often also see the same character from several different perspectives.[return][return]I'm really getting hooked. I'm on volume 5 now and so tempted to read all of the ones I can get my hands on this week.
August 18, 2008
This seems to be a great series. It combines some of the quasi historical fiction of Lone Wolf and Cub and some really great character work. I always love to see people working with the Hatori Hanzo character, and this book does some superb work with revealing the odd machine that is the mind.
July 25, 2012
This is somewhat better than the 1st Scot Harvath book. Still the character of the hero has not been formed and developed well enough. Compared to the later books with the same hero, it would appear, Brad Thor is still experimenting and testing the waters.
The only improvement is that the element of Islamic Terrorism has been introduced for the action hero to pursue.
The only improvement is that the element of Islamic Terrorism has been introduced for the action hero to pursue.
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