Ronin Island, Vol. 3

Ronin Island #9-12

by Greg Pak, Giannis Milonogiannis (Illustrator), Irma Kniivila (Colorist)

THE FINAL BATTLE FOR THE ISLAND IS HERE Hana and Kenichi finally return to the island seeking refuge with their new travel companions, but are denied entry by Elder Jin and the Islanders who fear the newly mutated byōnin. Caught between the Island’s defenses, the Shogun’s oncoming forces, and the deadly new byōnin, Hana and Kenichi must rally their own troops and make one final stand to protect the homeland that has abandoned them, in order to preserve the ideals they know are right and fight for the future they want...together in strength. New York Times best-selling author Greg Pak (Star Wars) and artist Giannis Milonogiannis (Old City Blues) present the final chapter of the critically-acclaimed series as new heroes are forged and legends are born. Collects Ronin Island #9-12.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Horror, Japan

112 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2020

About the author

Greg Pak is an award-winning Korean American comic book writer and filmmaker currently writing "Lawful" for BOOM and "Sam Wilson: Captain America" (with Evan Narcisse) for Marvel. Pak wrote the "Princess Who Saved Herself" children's book and the “Code Monkey Save World” graphic novel based on the songs of Jonathan Coulton and co-wrote (with Fred Van Lente) the acclaimed “Make Comics Like the Pros” how-to book. Pak's other work includes "Planet Hulk," "Darth Vader," "Mech Cadet Yu," "Ronin Island," "Action Comics," and "Magneto Testament."

Reviews

[Václav]

(3,2 of 5 for the expected finale of Kids Island)
The final "book" was also bit better than the previous, still including things and events which didn't make sense and I still had a feeling that the story is just struggling between idea and delivery. It feels like it wants to be both simple and easy, and complicated and deep, both shallow action fun and something with a message. The characters are flat and their states of mind change only for the story's sake. At least it feels like that.
I don't want to trash this, but I had a hard time to enjoy this even if I looked forward to some samurai fantasy adventure.

[Ronald]

I don't know. This final volume might be a little better. There was one mostly coherent story, but it jumps around a lot. The kids are refused entry to the island. Suddenly back on the mainland the kids and other refugees try to kill the Shogun. Only to have the islanders show up and ruin the attempt. Back on the island there is discrimination against the girl and the other non-Japanese. There is a fight, a fake fight, a distraction then the Shogun dies. A month later; The Samurai who had a mortal wound survives, the girl who freaking saved them all is still mistrusted and discriminated against so she is fucking off to the mainland where the demon/zombies don't discriminate. The royal brat chosen one gets to safely stay behind and get clean as a good boy should. It seems like there was going to be another series.

"For the Island!"

[RG]

Decided to finish this knowing this was the end. Wasnt overly fond of the second volume. This was an improvement but the story from the first to the last just felt more juvenile in its approach than adult like

[Rory Wilding]

As we’re approaching the end of this wretched year where we had to cope with a pandemic and the tragically unending imbalance of equality, we need stories, fictional or not, that will remain relevant and speak power to meaningful messages. For me personally, experiencing pieces of media from The Last of Us Part II to BOOM! Studios’ comic book, Ronin Island, has been a bright spot of 2020. Ronin Island has sadly concluded after its twelve issues, but do Greg Pak and Giannis Milonogiannis end the story on a high note in Vol. 3?

Please click here for my full review.

[Francesca Giardiello]

Le dinamiche fra personaggi, la politica, il dovere morale che si scontra con il dovere personale e il bene comune.

Tantissima carne al fuoco che non produce solamente fumo. Una conclusione agevole e soddisfacente, un ritmo coinvolgente e personaggi che inevitabilmente riescono a smuovere emozioni nel lettore (che esse siano negative o positive). Una serie soddisfacente che si fa leggere e crea dinamiche che coinvolgono il lettore.

[Vojtěch]

Stejný problém jako u předchozích dílů. Kromě postav to není nikterak rozpracované a celý příběh by si zasloužil více prostoru. Takto je i ten konec celkem uspěchaný a jako čtenář ve mě nezanechal ty pocity, které nejspíš měl.

[Quentin Wallace]

Not a bad conclusion to the series. Overall I enjoyed it. We need more Samurai vs. Monster stories in comics today!

[James]

Good conclusion to the story. People only change slowly. The island isn't perfect but it belongs to them. Together in strength.

[Andy Hickman]

Ronin Island Vol. 3 brings the series to a tense and emotional conclusion, delivering fast-paced action and key character moments, though not without some narrative strain. As the stakes climb and final allegiances are tested, Hana and Kenichi find themselves caught between personal conviction, cultural identity, and the survival of their people.

This volume leans more heavily into political undertones, particularly through the way Hana is perceived by outsiders. In issue #9, a soldier’s remark—“My lord, look—it’s the Korean girl!”—serves as a reminder of the racial and national divisions that still haunt the story’s world. Hana’s presence becomes a symbol of both defiance and difference, and this moment highlights how others continue to define her by heritage rather than character.

Issue #10 offers a painful turn. As the conflict escalates, not all consequences are avoidable. “I... I TOLD them not to fight us,” one character pleads, caught between regret and responsibility. It's one of the most humanizing lines in the series, hinting at the cost of miscommunication and the futility of trying to control war once it starts.

In issue #11, a surge of hope breaks through the bleakness—“If the WIND changes we’ve got a CHANCE! Now come on!” It’s a fitting metaphor for the series’ core message: circumstances may be harsh, but a shift—however small—can give rise to courage and possibility. It’s moments like this that keep the series emotionally grounded.

By the final issue, the series returns to the spirit of unity that first defined the island’s resistance. The climactic shout—“FOR THE ISLAND!”—captures not just a battle cry, but the reclamation of identity and purpose. It’s a satisfying, if familiar, conclusion to a saga that has always been about protecting more than just land—it’s about protecting a way of life.

Still, Volume 3 suffers from the same issues that have affected the series throughout: a tendency to rush through significant beats, and a reluctance to explore its deeper political and emotional layers with full complexity. The result is a finale that’s entertaining and visually strong, but occasionally thin in substance.

Overall, Ronin Island Vol. 3 is a worthy, if imperfect, ending to the series. It sticks the landing emotionally, even if the execution stumbles along the way. Fans of the characters will find satisfaction in their growth and resolve—but may still wish for a bit more depth beneath the action.

[47Time]

It was worth reading this story after all. Even though I was expecting a happy end, it was enjoyable to read. Many more fall to the mad shogun, but life will go on after the conflict. The island will survive. 'Together in strength.'

With the mutated Byonin on their tracks and infecting people with its deadly spores, Hana and Kenichi reach the island, but are rejected by elder Jin. The two lead their followers back into the path of the shogun, but instead of giving up they will fight for their survival.

The shogun's army's first attack is repelled. The mutated Byonin ae sent next, but are scattered by the islanders who join the fray. The good guys retreat to the island, awaiting the final battle. The shogun himself becomes infected, but Sato finally betrays him and deals a killing blow. Kenichi starts a fire in the village that purges the remaning enemies. With things calmed down again, Kenichi is elected to lead the village, while Hana heads back to the mainland to save the remaning uninfected people.

[Irish Sharky]

I recently started reading Manga again and I saw this on Amazon. It had three volumes so I got them all anticipating a great story. It was ok. There are only two main characters that are of importance. I did not find them to be very memorable. Hana is the best character, since she has a back story and character, but I do not think she was the best character.
The story is a little vague. Apparently, something wiped out most of humanity. People on an island were saved since they were away from the mainland. Ten years later, a warship arrives on the island and a general is there supporting a new Shogun. A group goes out to meet the new Shogun to decide if they will pledge allegiance to him. They find an immature Shogun who is using gas to make people in to monsters to use in war. They get back to the island and stop him. The story is short and I do not know if the incident that wiped out humanity involved the same gas the Shogun is using to create monsters or not. This was not terrible, but I was not impressed.

[عاشور الناجي]

الفصل التالت والأخير من القصة بعنوان: سذاجة الطيبين اللي لما بيقدروا بيعفوا وبيبقي لسه عندهم أمل اللي قدامهم يتغير للأحسن ، وده وهم ، اللي عاش عمره كله في الشر ومبيفكرش إلا في نفسه بس صعب ييجي فجاة ويتحول عشان عملت فيه جميلة هو أصلا مش شايفها جميلة وشايفها حق بما إنه شايف نفسه أحسن منك ، استنتاج يمكن بعيد عن محتوي الكومك اللي غالبا موجعه لليافعين عن ضرورة التمسك بالأخلاق النبيلة للمحاربين القدامي بس هنا الرسالة عكسية لأنه حتي النبلاء دول بيخسروا وبيفقدوا أحبائهم بسبب نبلهم مع ناس لا تستحق أو كمال قال الشاعر: ان أنت أكرمت اللئيم تمردا
القصة حلوة والرسم كان نمطه غربي برضه والقصة مش بطالة

[Abbie]

I’m really disappointed in this 3rd volume. 1 & 2 were great but this was a mess. The pacing was terrible. Every conflict was rushed. Hana was irritating. It was practically comical how stupid her decision making was. The ending of the conflict was anti-climatic. Neither Hana or Kenichi took out the Shogan in the end so what was the whole point of this story?! The whole island is a bunch of racists (even at the very end), so again, what was the point of this story.

[Shannon]

Individual issue reviews: #9 | #10 | #11 | #12

Total review score: 2.5

[Brent Thomas]

Basically same problems as the earlier volumes. Monsters distract more than they add. Bandit and shogun machinations don’t add as much as they should.

Still, art is nice and Pak is a good writer, but their series never lives up to what it should be. Also, ending is a dangle for a second series.

[Jason Scott]

Love the visual style. Story is decent, but suffers from the serialization inconsistency prob where characters aren't consistent when you read it back-to-back without pause. Seemed like there was a lot of BS decision making to have suspense.

[Chad]

This YA zombie/oni story set in feudal Japan just ended OK. The lack of backgrounds made it look more like a generic wasteland than Japan. There are some logic errors and the like too, particularly with the ending that doesn't make a lot of sense. Pak has written a lot better comics than this.

[Robin]

Une petite série bien sympa mais pas exempte de défauts.

[Spikkee R Djinn]

Un cierre decepcionante.

[Erin]

I feel let down by the rushed ending

[D.T. Henderson]

So much back-stabbing and fighting. What’s right and wrong gets muddy for Hana too. Still, I liked this series overall. Zombies and samurai make a surprisingly good pairing.

[Michael]

These are really fun and short.

[Tom Mathews]

I

[M.i.]

A worthy conclusion to a book that deftly explores what it means to belong to a group and the bonds that tie said group together

[Craig]

This whole series was just kind of "meh-" and this conclusion is more of the same. It's all right, but nothing to write home about...

[The_J]

The end of the "Masterless Samuri" Island is unsatisfying but at least there is no reason to mourn over the bloated corpse.

[Naura (natsuyuu brainrot)]

di volume ini sikapnya hana bikin gue bingung "???"