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Okko #1-10
The Complete Okko
It is the Time of Mists in the Pajan Empire, an era of warring clans struggling for ultimate power. While most warriors shed blood on the battlefield for one clan or another, Okko the Ronin travels elsewhere on a more personal mission, hunting demons across the land. In his company are Noburo, an enigmatic giant who hides his face behind a red mask; Noshin, a whimsical monk and lover of saké with the power to commune with the spirits of nature; and the young fisherman Tikku, learning his way in the world. From master storyteller Hub, The Complete Okko contains all five volumes of his ambitious fantasy series that explores one ronin's journey of redemption across a world that is as beautful as it is violent. In addition, this completed collection includes over 120 pages of previously unreleased Okko story material.
558 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2016
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122 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 18, 2020
The Cycle of Water ★★★★☆
Okko the ronin heads a small group of demon hunters... Noburo, a mysterious giant who hides his face behind a red oni mask, and the whimsical monk Noshin, the saké lover with the power to summon and commune with the spirits of nature.
The young fisherman Tikku enlists the group's help in finding his sister, the geisha Little Carp, who was kidnapped by pirates...
Pretty cool. The beginning was confusing, but the plot developed quite nicely and I like the very colourful artwork. I was satisfied with the story, including the cliffhanger.
At the end, Tikku joins Okko, Noburo and Noshin on their travels, to hunt (their personal) demons...
I wonder, what Noburo hides under that mask?
The Cycle of Earth ★★¾☆☆
Takes a little longer to get going. And there is a lot of traveling from one monastery to the next and the next and the next.... which is actually quite amusing.
The story telling is too wordy and the artwork is sometimes really tiny. I lost interest in the story towards the end. The bad guys were nicely evil, but it was all a bit pointless.
The Cycle of Air Part One ★★★★☆
Ok, that was not confusing at all....
The Cycle of Air Part Two ★★★★½
The boys are not having a good time. Appendages are lost. Ropes are tied. Hm. The plot was good. Nice action, some mystery, some humour, something shocking. Not sure I really got the ending. Why so happy?
The Cycle of Fire Part One ★★★☆☆
Ok. Not sure if it was me or if that story was a little allover the place?
The Cycle of Fire Part Two ★★★½☆
Continuation of the previous issue. The art is still nice, the changing POVs do not make it easy to keep track of what is going on.
The Cycle of Fire is basically a major conspiracy story. Smartly done actually, once you figure it out.
The Cycle of Emptiness Part One ★★★½☆
The Cycle of Emptiness Part Two ★★★½☆
Backstory! Interesting! And as in the previous issues quite a bit of gratuitous violence.
Finally done. Hm. There was closure to it all, the loose ends were tied up. The artwork was good. Unfortunately the characters were pretty unlikeable and the main character Okko was a pretty horrible person. Did he really want or find redemption? Not sure. What am I to make of that last panel showing his face?
Okko the ronin heads a small group of demon hunters... Noburo, a mysterious giant who hides his face behind a red oni mask, and the whimsical monk Noshin, the saké lover with the power to summon and commune with the spirits of nature.
The young fisherman Tikku enlists the group's help in finding his sister, the geisha Little Carp, who was kidnapped by pirates...
Pretty cool. The beginning was confusing, but the plot developed quite nicely and I like the very colourful artwork. I was satisfied with the story, including the cliffhanger.
At the end, Tikku joins Okko, Noburo and Noshin on their travels, to hunt (their personal) demons...
I wonder, what Noburo hides under that mask?
The Cycle of Earth ★★¾☆☆
Takes a little longer to get going. And there is a lot of traveling from one monastery to the next and the next and the next.... which is actually quite amusing.
The story telling is too wordy and the artwork is sometimes really tiny. I lost interest in the story towards the end. The bad guys were nicely evil, but it was all a bit pointless.
The Cycle of Air Part One ★★★★☆
Ok, that was not confusing at all....
The Cycle of Air Part Two ★★★★½
The boys are not having a good time. Appendages are lost. Ropes are tied. Hm. The plot was good. Nice action, some mystery, some humour, something shocking. Not sure I really got the ending. Why so happy?
The Cycle of Fire Part One ★★★☆☆
Ok. Not sure if it was me or if that story was a little allover the place?
The Cycle of Fire Part Two ★★★½☆
Continuation of the previous issue. The art is still nice, the changing POVs do not make it easy to keep track of what is going on.
The Cycle of Fire is basically a major conspiracy story. Smartly done actually, once you figure it out.
The Cycle of Emptiness Part One ★★★½☆
The Cycle of Emptiness Part Two ★★★½☆
Backstory! Interesting! And as in the previous issues quite a bit of gratuitous violence.
Finally done. Hm. There was closure to it all, the loose ends were tied up. The artwork was good. Unfortunately the characters were pretty unlikeable and the main character Okko was a pretty horrible person. Did he really want or find redemption? Not sure. What am I to make of that last panel showing his face?
March 30, 2018
Okko is amazing story. It builds up with every chapter, both with beautiful art capturing amazing sceneries and incredible story of one fascinating rónin.
This lore is incredible organic mixture of feudal Japan and fantasy based on emphasising Japanese myths and making them real part of this world (ghost, demons and mythical creatures, kami, magic and so on). It's all well thoughtful, both the lore and the story, which goes forward as rónin Okko and his companions wander and in same time it uncovers very naturally the past of characters, mainly Okko's past to bring all of this to one conclusion - great finale (in meaning it all comes together, not some great fight). And all this is actually narration of one of the companions in his elderly age. It looks bit messy in my description, but Hub made it to work very well.
This lore is incredible organic mixture of feudal Japan and fantasy based on emphasising Japanese myths and making them real part of this world (ghost, demons and mythical creatures, kami, magic and so on). It's all well thoughtful, both the lore and the story, which goes forward as rónin Okko and his companions wander and in same time it uncovers very naturally the past of characters, mainly Okko's past to bring all of this to one conclusion - great finale (in meaning it all comes together, not some great fight). And all this is actually narration of one of the companions in his elderly age. It looks bit messy in my description, but Hub made it to work very well.
July 27, 2023
560 pages of brilliantly drawn illustrations, engaging storyline, wonderful characters and a distinct gorgeous world!
"The Caterpillar`s promise is not binding for the butterfly."
This graphic novel covers all the five volumes of the adventurous and eventful travels of Okko, the ronin*. In his company are three interesting characters, the giant Noburo, the monk Noshin and the young boy Tikku.
* Ronin ("drifter" or "wanderer") was a samurai without a lord or master (Source: Wikipedia).
"He who takes the same route twice never moves forward."
With a lot of heart and soul, this graphic novel will take you on an unforgettable journey. The characters display, in a deep sense, many attributes like strength, honour, struggle, commitment, loyalty, the will to survive, overcoming hardships and facing uncertainty. It also gives an understanding and a feel of the culture and history of ancient Japan.
This story of Okka, a wandering hero, is a must-read.
**intended for mature readers.
"The Caterpillar`s promise is not binding for the butterfly."
This graphic novel covers all the five volumes of the adventurous and eventful travels of Okko, the ronin*. In his company are three interesting characters, the giant Noburo, the monk Noshin and the young boy Tikku.
* Ronin ("drifter" or "wanderer") was a samurai without a lord or master (Source: Wikipedia).
"He who takes the same route twice never moves forward."
With a lot of heart and soul, this graphic novel will take you on an unforgettable journey. The characters display, in a deep sense, many attributes like strength, honour, struggle, commitment, loyalty, the will to survive, overcoming hardships and facing uncertainty. It also gives an understanding and a feel of the culture and history of ancient Japan.
This story of Okka, a wandering hero, is a must-read.
"No wind favours the man who does not know what port he seeks."
**intended for mature readers.
February 7, 2021
I haven't read too many comics as an adult, but this is one which stands out the most. Story, characters, setting, art detail. It has it all. Highly recommened.
October 2, 2022
Currently available on Kindle Unlimited, this is the English language omnibus of a French graphic novel series, made up of ten episodes arranged in five two-parters.
The story is very well researched, providing a deep immersion in a feudal Japan that never was, together with its folklore. The plot of the whole arc, as well as of each cycle, is tightly constructed, complex, multi-layered, deeply emotional, as well as spectacularly action-driven.
The art was beautiful: clear, dynamic, with enough manga influences and comedic elements to give a lightness of tone, and deeply researched in every detail. However, the publisher’s format clearly was a straight jacket for the artist as so many panels were too small for their contents. Each of these episodes would have been improved had they been given the freedom to sprawl and display their riches.
I think that’s the one thing that held back a five star score - as this is an impressive work - because the constraints of format sometimes made the story telling a little unclear when following an ensemble of characters, each with their own complex stories to tell. That and an iffy translation from the French, leading to confusion here and there.
Reading this bande dessinée on an iPad really does not do it justice. I’ll have to find a good print copy in the original French at some point. I’m sure to reread this omnibus in the meantime.
My score is a 4/5, but may well rise to a 5/5 in time.
The story is very well researched, providing a deep immersion in a feudal Japan that never was, together with its folklore. The plot of the whole arc, as well as of each cycle, is tightly constructed, complex, multi-layered, deeply emotional, as well as spectacularly action-driven.
The art was beautiful: clear, dynamic, with enough manga influences and comedic elements to give a lightness of tone, and deeply researched in every detail. However, the publisher’s format clearly was a straight jacket for the artist as so many panels were too small for their contents. Each of these episodes would have been improved had they been given the freedom to sprawl and display their riches.
I think that’s the one thing that held back a five star score - as this is an impressive work - because the constraints of format sometimes made the story telling a little unclear when following an ensemble of characters, each with their own complex stories to tell. That and an iffy translation from the French, leading to confusion here and there.
Reading this bande dessinée on an iPad really does not do it justice. I’ll have to find a good print copy in the original French at some point. I’m sure to reread this omnibus in the meantime.
My score is a 4/5, but may well rise to a 5/5 in time.
September 22, 2020
I wish that I liked this more than I did. All the elements are there, but they just don’t come together in awhile that ever becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Part of this, honestly, feels like a failure of my American mind to fully appreciate French creativity, for this is not the first time I have encountered a French graphic novel that just feels not quite on my frequency. So I dare not say this is bad - the art is solid, and the story has an interesting take on medieval Japanese demon hunters. But the composition feels jerky jerky more often than not. Kokomo doesn’t quite capture the grandeur and glory of any Japanese manga worthy of remembering, but nor does it bring enough Western energy to this to make it something that really feels new. This is a near miss of the most heartbreaking kind, for had it landed, it would have been unforgettable,
March 13, 2025
I deeply enjoyed this graphic novel, a rag tag group of travelers going on quests in an alternate reality of feudal Japan called Pajan. A half-demon, a ronin, a drunk monk, and a monks apprentice, each of them unique characters with well-thought out backstories. Each "cycle" which is what the stories are broken up into, follows its own storyline and each cycle is linear and follows a broader story. The attention to detail in each page is impressive, and the colors are bright. This novel follows the themes of vengeance, redemption, stoicism, and purpose. To be able to make the reader feel immersed and connected to the story in a relatively small amount of pages is a difficult task which was executed well here. Highly recommend.
August 7, 2022
Hub is very possibly our greatest living comic artist, behind only Fiona Staples and Sana Takeda. Every page of this is a feast for the eyes. Every page.
Which makes it such a shame that this is the greatest publishing travesty I’ve ever seen. Letters replaced with a special character error? Yep. Full pages printed at an angle, one so egregious it cut off the edge of a label? Yep. Coloring so atrocious that from page to page identical items changed not only shades but full-on hues.
What a crime against art. I’m still kind of stunned.
Still Hub is a master and can overpower even this grotesque of a presentation.
Which makes it such a shame that this is the greatest publishing travesty I’ve ever seen. Letters replaced with a special character error? Yep. Full pages printed at an angle, one so egregious it cut off the edge of a label? Yep. Coloring so atrocious that from page to page identical items changed not only shades but full-on hues.
What a crime against art. I’m still kind of stunned.
Still Hub is a master and can overpower even this grotesque of a presentation.
April 17, 2022
I finally read all 10 Okko books. This is the story of a monster hunter in a fantasy world that is just Japan but with all the monster legends and magic true. The country is called Pajan though :-)
We follow Okko and his entourage through several key adventures in their lives involving monsters but also a lot of interaction and character building. This reminds me a lot of the Witcher books. The monsters are just a vehicle to tell stories about human nature. The art is beautiful and the stories are a bit predictable but still very enjoyable.
We follow Okko and his entourage through several key adventures in their lives involving monsters but also a lot of interaction and character building. This reminds me a lot of the Witcher books. The monsters are just a vehicle to tell stories about human nature. The art is beautiful and the stories are a bit predictable but still very enjoyable.
July 16, 2023
Terrific
Best comic I’ve ever read. Convince me otherwise. The series begins with so many mysteries but the journey through the story never disappointed. I hope this isn’t a spoiler, but I went from hating to loving to hating certain characters through the story. Well worth the read.
Best comic I’ve ever read. Convince me otherwise. The series begins with so many mysteries but the journey through the story never disappointed. I hope this isn’t a spoiler, but I went from hating to loving to hating certain characters through the story. Well worth the read.
May 5, 2019
This was frickin great
Loss of fun in this weird alternate history Japan. The title character didn't do much for me, but the world was expertly realized and beautifully rendered. I read all six hundred or so pages in one sitting.
Loss of fun in this weird alternate history Japan. The title character didn't do much for me, but the world was expertly realized and beautifully rendered. I read all six hundred or so pages in one sitting.
January 21, 2024
Haunting tales of a samurai and entourage
This graphic novel had good characters and stories. My only disappointment is that there are no more. Captures the spirit of the old samurai movies and samurai manga like Lone Wolf and Cub.
This graphic novel had good characters and stories. My only disappointment is that there are no more. Captures the spirit of the old samurai movies and samurai manga like Lone Wolf and Cub.
June 14, 2018
I loved the art and stories were quiet good too.
August 12, 2018
Review to come :)
July 7, 2020
I read this by chance and it wasn't exactly my kind of story, but it also kinda grew on me.
I especially enjoyed the last of the five stories. So yeah, I liked it.
I especially enjoyed the last of the five stories. So yeah, I liked it.
July 19, 2020
the art style? chef kiss. the characters?? chef kiss. the world building? chef kiss!!!!
June 11, 2021
Great Series, if you are into anything Samurai, give it a go.
August 24, 2022
Amazing Samurai-fantasy epic!
November 5, 2023
Sublime
May 31, 2018
The Complete Okko by Hub follows the story of a young boy named Tikku as he meets and joins the traveling party of the ronin, Okko. If you’re like me, you might be going into this book not knowing what a ronin is. A quick online search explained that a ronin is a masterless samurai. The series is divided into five cycles, each more or less representing an element. The cycles are divided into two parts and were originally each published separately. We first meet Tikku in The Cycle of Water. He’s sitting in a tree watching his geisha sister, Little Carp, as she meets with a man. Shortly after this scene, Tikku’s sister is kidnapped and he embarks on a mission to save her. So how does he end up with the legendary Okko? Tikku pledges himself to the ronin Okko in exchange for his help in saving Little Carp.
Read my full review on No Flying No Tights.
Read my full review on No Flying No Tights.
February 28, 2024
For the ones who know , this tale immediately made me think of the universe of Ninja Scroll.
What i liked most about this book was the importance of the side characters in the plot and the development of the story, the autor made them with a light of their one ,even if some have short lifes or aperences in the book.
The main protagonists are not perfect or invicible,they have flaws and somethimes they learn lessons in the hardest way,the real heroes wont be the ones you might expect.
Great action presented with great art with a solid plot ,that here and there has a moral in the background,if you add it all up, you will get a perfect package.
Has i finished the book , i was left wondering how it would be the rest of the lives of these characters,what happen to them...i still do somethimes,and that ,in my opinion ,is the perfect proof of the quality of this book.
6 stars
What i liked most about this book was the importance of the side characters in the plot and the development of the story, the autor made them with a light of their one ,even if some have short lifes or aperences in the book.
The main protagonists are not perfect or invicible,they have flaws and somethimes they learn lessons in the hardest way,the real heroes wont be the ones you might expect.
Great action presented with great art with a solid plot ,that here and there has a moral in the background,if you add it all up, you will get a perfect package.
Has i finished the book , i was left wondering how it would be the rest of the lives of these characters,what happen to them...i still do somethimes,and that ,in my opinion ,is the perfect proof of the quality of this book.
6 stars
January 1, 2018
Rating is for Volume 5 - The cycle of emptiness
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews