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Crying Freeman #3
Crying Freeman, Vol. 3: Shades of Death
Crying Freeman is challenged by two formidable opponents! First he must put Ivory Fan, the jealous granddaughter of the former leaders of the 108 Dragons, in her place. Then he must outwit beautiful Kitche, a high-tech killer who dreams of going down in history as the woman who assassinated the master assassin himself!
261 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
8 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Kazuo Koike
562 books296 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 27, 2016
Crying Freeman is bold, confident and grand in its scope. Yet whether it is deliberately done by Kazuo Koike or not, it is also funny. From melodramatic villains to unexpected sci-fi stuff, this volume of Crying Freeman is thoroughly entertaining.
This manga is my guilty pleasure. It has so many sensual scenes that may in fact be cringe-worthy for others (I too, experience such in his other works: Lady Snowblood and Path of the Assassin in particular), but here I embrace such. For one, the women are downright strong here. You should not mess with them or else your life will be sent to the deepest levels of hell!
The other reason why I enjoy reading Crying Freeman so much is its art. Ryoichi Ikegami draws so well, with confidence, detail and finesse. Ryoichi Ikegami's art is certainty. There is so much power and sexiness that manages to come out from each of his illustrations. His style is oozing with 70s to 80s manga and fashion, something that I have just felt and seen from the early years.
The story of Crying Freeman now takes us back to where it all started. The tattooed assassin is now the leader of the 108 Dragons. He unexpectedly made some unexpected alliances and acquired a cursed weapon that her wife has sworn to be her possession. There is also some science stuff that is going on. So everything's even crazier than before!
If you get a copy of this amazing series, read it right away. Treat it as an entertainment piece as what it should be.
This manga is my guilty pleasure. It has so many sensual scenes that may in fact be cringe-worthy for others (I too, experience such in his other works: Lady Snowblood and Path of the Assassin in particular), but here I embrace such. For one, the women are downright strong here. You should not mess with them or else your life will be sent to the deepest levels of hell!
The other reason why I enjoy reading Crying Freeman so much is its art. Ryoichi Ikegami draws so well, with confidence, detail and finesse. Ryoichi Ikegami's art is certainty. There is so much power and sexiness that manages to come out from each of his illustrations. His style is oozing with 70s to 80s manga and fashion, something that I have just felt and seen from the early years.
The story of Crying Freeman now takes us back to where it all started. The tattooed assassin is now the leader of the 108 Dragons. He unexpectedly made some unexpected alliances and acquired a cursed weapon that her wife has sworn to be her possession. There is also some science stuff that is going on. So everything's even crazier than before!
If you get a copy of this amazing series, read it right away. Treat it as an entertainment piece as what it should be.
July 15, 2014
Nejraději bych si dala pár facek, protože vím, jak rychle se to čte, ale další díly jsem si nepořídila. Pár facek. :D
Sice jsem byla místy zmatená a ty lidi se mi tak pořád pletou, ale rozhodně se těším na další díl.
Pořád nemůžu z jejího tetování na hrudi, je tak vtipné!
Sice jsem byla místy zmatená a ty lidi se mi tak pořád pletou, ale rozhodně se těším na další díl.
Pořád nemůžu z jejího tetování na hrudi, je tak vtipné!
April 20, 2024
I’m afraid I’ll quit here with the series. There’s no real stakes-Freeman is virtually perfect in every aspect and unkillable-in an uninteresting and neverending main plot-the 108 dragons must fight every other gang-that feels like a tournament manga.
And there’s way too many naked females- for no particular reason most of the time- and sex scenes. Not that I am prude or anything; they just have no use but satisfying Ikegami’s kink of drawing perfect bodies. And they are perfect. Ikegami is absolutely at the top of his game. But that doesn’t make up for the vacuity of the plot and the characters.
And there’s way too many naked females- for no particular reason most of the time- and sex scenes. Not that I am prude or anything; they just have no use but satisfying Ikegami’s kink of drawing perfect bodies. And they are perfect. Ikegami is absolutely at the top of his game. But that doesn’t make up for the vacuity of the plot and the characters.
May 17, 2019
Táto časť sa mi páčila oveľa viac, ako predchádzajúci diel. Aj keď teda násilie na žene absolútne nie, tu som celkom uvítala, že všetky detaily sú vycenzurované... Čo ma však bavilo, je skrotenie démonického meča úctou. Minulá časť bola skôr intrigánska, táto je vlastne tiež, ale... akosi inak. Konečne vidno, že sa príbeh vyvíja, aký vzťah majú Freeman a jeho žena a nájde sa tu aj filozofovanie (o láske, o obetovaní sa a tak). Konečne sa dozvedám, čo sa stalo s osobami zranenými a nezabitými v predchádzajúcich dieloch (myslia len na pomstu, však na čo iné). A záver je mega. Trojica!
April 13, 2021
Freeman fucks more strange women than he does his wife. I’m pretty sure that piece of pottery he crafted has more personality than this blockhead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2024
Muy buen tomo donde veremos 2 aventuras muy interesantes. La primera en la ciudad emmurallada de Kowloon en Hong Kong y la segunda contra un giganton de 2 metros.
February 23, 2025
3.4/5
Quite ridiculous, but still enjoyable. The Sister storyline in particular made almost no goddamn sense from a logical standpoint. It was absolutely rife with bizarre moments, as was the second half of the storyline that began in the previous volume with African Tusk. Women throw themselves at Freeman for no reason other than the fact that he is a strange man who does strange things during combat with zero charisma.
The violence is still gratuitous. The nudity is still insanely pervasive. The art by Ikegami is as gorgeously detailed as ever. Same old Freeman, only it's gotten even sillier than it was in the previous volumes. Still looking forward to the next two.
Quite ridiculous, but still enjoyable. The Sister storyline in particular made almost no goddamn sense from a logical standpoint. It was absolutely rife with bizarre moments, as was the second half of the storyline that began in the previous volume with African Tusk. Women throw themselves at Freeman for no reason other than the fact that he is a strange man who does strange things during combat with zero charisma.
The violence is still gratuitous. The nudity is still insanely pervasive. The art by Ikegami is as gorgeously detailed as ever. Same old Freeman, only it's gotten even sillier than it was in the previous volumes. Still looking forward to the next two.
October 8, 2021
I first read the Crying Freeman series while in college, as I went through everything with art drawn by Ryoichi Ikegami. It still reads well 20 years later, as a crime story with rough moments and beautiful art.
Freeman is trained as an assassin by a shady underworld syndicate, and against his will. When he completes his missions, he releases his angst, and weeps — hence the name. As a seinen manga, it is second only to Sanctuary and the short Samurai Crusader in my book.
Freeman is trained as an assassin by a shady underworld syndicate, and against his will. When he completes his missions, he releases his angst, and weeps — hence the name. As a seinen manga, it is second only to Sanctuary and the short Samurai Crusader in my book.
February 14, 2024
Ok, in questo numero si spinge un po’ il piede sull’assurdo, partendo dalla figura del capo della Zanna D’Africa e poi passando tra spade maledette, samurai wrestler giganteschi con il vizietto dello stupro e capi di sette dotate di tecnologie futuristiche. Il protagonista dimostra di non essere esattamente fedele dal punto di vista sessuale, e ogni donna naturalmente cade ai suoi piedi. Il risultato complessivo è inferiore rispetto ai numeri precedenti, ma sempre godibile.
May 15, 2021
Others Tried So hard...
Someone sends the cursed sword, the Muramasa, to Freeman. But his wife took ownership of it. Dark Eyes aka Bugnug the leader of African Tusk was incapacitated by the wrestler of a giant. Naturally, Freeman showed up for her. He discovered the other two were behind it, the yakuza woman and the cop. They should’ve forgotten it.
Someone sends the cursed sword, the Muramasa, to Freeman. But his wife took ownership of it. Dark Eyes aka Bugnug the leader of African Tusk was incapacitated by the wrestler of a giant. Naturally, Freeman showed up for her. He discovered the other two were behind it, the yakuza woman and the cop. They should’ve forgotten it.
November 26, 2017
Bugnug is on the scene! Even more craziness in this volume with a cursed sword, a vengeful, giant wrestler and a freaky bear cultist. Emu does an interesting naked rooftop sword dance and Freeman enters the wrestling ring. Guess it is good for people to try new things!
September 11, 2020
Why am I reading this? Freeman is a cipher, his wife is a cardboard cutout, and the values it promotes, as it seems committed to the idea that it has something to say, are either opaque or ridiculous. Oh well. A rare case of the movie, despite the stupid ending, being better than the book.
August 25, 2018
Asi zatím nejslabší díl s hodně šíleným koncem.
November 22, 2018
Rating: 3 stars.
January 12, 2022
Rapey and stupid and the art is really bad. In this world people are anywhere between 1 and 15 feet tall depending on whether the artist can manage basic perspective on any given day?
November 27, 2023
Vol 3 is still a strong continuation of the manga and leaves me wanting more.
November 22, 2009
This excellent series continues. This one has a couple of stories in it. One is the story of the cursed sword. The other of a cult leader who is trying to infiltrate the 108 Dragons with an impostor and armed with a legendary cache of weapons. The action is good, and there is plenty of sex. The stories move one after the other, and though they may seem separate, they are connected, creating a nice continuity. Overall, this is a strong series, and I am going to be looking for the next volume to see how things move along. Very good art as well. Overall, this is becoming one of my favorite series.
July 3, 2016
It seems that as this series about an assassin who is now the head of a Chinese crime organization goes on, the stranger (and sillier) it gets. There are still great moments of action, erotica and characterization (not to mention the incredible art), but some of the elements being added leave a lot to be desired.
If I didn't have faith in Koike, I would have probably abandoned this series after this one. I know he rarely disappoints, however, and I can see this tale leading somewhere very interesting. I just hope and pray that things like giant wrestlers are soon to be forgotten about.
If I didn't have faith in Koike, I would have probably abandoned this series after this one. I know he rarely disappoints, however, and I can see this tale leading somewhere very interesting. I just hope and pray that things like giant wrestlers are soon to be forgotten about.
October 4, 2012
Another interesting series with artwork by Ryoichi Ikegami. Once again he delivers realistic renderings of his characters and backdrops. Story revolves around the assassin "Crying Freeman" and the Chinese mafia "108 Dragons". NOT for kids!!
June 20, 2014
Baffling Manga tale that I couldn't follow at all.
Seemed to involve a submarine painted to look like a dragon, a morbidly obese woman, a tattooed couple, a secret society and a fair amount of nudity.
I'm still none the wiser.
Seemed to involve a submarine painted to look like a dragon, a morbidly obese woman, a tattooed couple, a secret society and a fair amount of nudity.
I'm still none the wiser.
April 23, 2013
Loved this series...great manga.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews