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Crying Freeman #1
Crying Freeman, Vol. 1
He is Yo Himomura, deadly assassin for the 108 Dragons, the Chinese Mafia. But to the criminal underworld who fear him, he is known as Crying Freeman, the killer who sheds tears at the fate of his victims. Young, handsome, sensitive, an artist, Yo has been hypnotically programmed by his Dragon masters to kill on he cannot resist his masters'commands to kill, his masters cannot stop his tears of remorse.
Written by the legendary Kazuo Koike, creator of Lone Wolf and Cub , and illustrated by the incomparable Ryoichi Ikegami, Crying Freeman is adult manga at its most dark, violent, morally complex, erotically charged, and regarded worldwide as one of the classics of adult graphic fiction. Dark Horse Manga is proud to present Crying Freeman, yet another of the jewels in the crown of manga classics, presented in its original right-to-left reading orientation.
FOR MATURE READERS
Written by the legendary Kazuo Koike, creator of Lone Wolf and Cub , and illustrated by the incomparable Ryoichi Ikegami, Crying Freeman is adult manga at its most dark, violent, morally complex, erotically charged, and regarded worldwide as one of the classics of adult graphic fiction. Dark Horse Manga is proud to present Crying Freeman, yet another of the jewels in the crown of manga classics, presented in its original right-to-left reading orientation.
FOR MATURE READERS
408 pages, Paperback
First published October 28, 1989
41 people are currently reading
540 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 68 reviews
April 23, 2020
A beautiful young painter witnesses a brutal mob hit - but, instead of being killed herself, the beautiful young assassin lets her live. That decision changes both of their lives as they fall in beautiful young love and go on the run to escape the gangsters after them.
I’ve heard about Crying Freeman since I was a wee lad but this is the first time I’ve read it and I’m glad I finally got around to checking it out. And, while I wouldn’t say it’s an undisputed manga classic, it’s certainly more enjoyable than Kazuo Koike’s other famous (and very overrated) series, Lone Wolf and Cub.
There are a lot of aspects of the story that were too absurd and silly that took me out of it. Does Koike really think the drugs problem in Japan is due entirely to China? Would the Yakuza really work with the Japanese government to stop the drugs trade rather than profit off it themselves? It just seems very naive and strangely jingoistic.
The romance is very cheesy and contrived. Yo, aka Freeman, instantly falls for Hino just because he needs to, unless we’re willing to believe in love at first sight, even for hired guns who’re brainwashed. And the whole reason Freeman blubbers just made me laugh (it’s akin to The Manchurian Candidate but with added wuss). Considering Freeman’s previous profession, he takes to the killer’s life way too easily and why the Chinese mafia would pick him is unconvincing.
All that said, the action is entertaining and the fast-paced story is never dull - I can see why this was a popular series back in the day. Ryoichi Ikegami’s art definitely looks a bit dated - the comic just looks like the ‘80s manga that it is. Freeman looks really cool throughout though and I loved his assassin’s outfit.
If you’re after an unchallenging, fairly superficial but not boring action manga, Crying Freeman, Volume 1 is worth a look.
I’ve heard about Crying Freeman since I was a wee lad but this is the first time I’ve read it and I’m glad I finally got around to checking it out. And, while I wouldn’t say it’s an undisputed manga classic, it’s certainly more enjoyable than Kazuo Koike’s other famous (and very overrated) series, Lone Wolf and Cub.
There are a lot of aspects of the story that were too absurd and silly that took me out of it. Does Koike really think the drugs problem in Japan is due entirely to China? Would the Yakuza really work with the Japanese government to stop the drugs trade rather than profit off it themselves? It just seems very naive and strangely jingoistic.
The romance is very cheesy and contrived. Yo, aka Freeman, instantly falls for Hino just because he needs to, unless we’re willing to believe in love at first sight, even for hired guns who’re brainwashed. And the whole reason Freeman blubbers just made me laugh (it’s akin to The Manchurian Candidate but with added wuss). Considering Freeman’s previous profession, he takes to the killer’s life way too easily and why the Chinese mafia would pick him is unconvincing.
All that said, the action is entertaining and the fast-paced story is never dull - I can see why this was a popular series back in the day. Ryoichi Ikegami’s art definitely looks a bit dated - the comic just looks like the ‘80s manga that it is. Freeman looks really cool throughout though and I loved his assassin’s outfit.
If you’re after an unchallenging, fairly superficial but not boring action manga, Crying Freeman, Volume 1 is worth a look.
November 17, 2017
Although Crying Freeman is not at par with Kazuo Koike's obra maestra The Lone Wolf and Cub (god that series is just amazing), I throughly enjoyed reading this as a guilty pleasure material.
Crying Freeman's protagonist is Yo Hinomura, a talented, kind and morally untarnished man who got into a series of unfortunate encounters with The 108 Dragons; and with acupuncture and training from really old people, he ultimately became the mafia's top assassin. But after each kill, he is filled with guilt and remorse, something that makes him cry, hence Crying Freeman.
I said it is a guilty pleasure read. The material is filled with violence, sex and murder. The plot is what you expect from a mafia-assassin genre: kill contracts, love interest, training, murder and guns. Ryoichi Ikegami perfectly captures all these in his art style which is so detailed and alive. His drawings of cars, buildings and inanimate objects are exact and his characters are full of emotions.
If you are looking for an adult manga about modern mafia and assassinations then look no more. Here's Crying Freeman.
Crying Freeman's protagonist is Yo Hinomura, a talented, kind and morally untarnished man who got into a series of unfortunate encounters with The 108 Dragons; and with acupuncture and training from really old people, he ultimately became the mafia's top assassin. But after each kill, he is filled with guilt and remorse, something that makes him cry, hence Crying Freeman.
I said it is a guilty pleasure read. The material is filled with violence, sex and murder. The plot is what you expect from a mafia-assassin genre: kill contracts, love interest, training, murder and guns. Ryoichi Ikegami perfectly captures all these in his art style which is so detailed and alive. His drawings of cars, buildings and inanimate objects are exact and his characters are full of emotions.
If you are looking for an adult manga about modern mafia and assassinations then look no more. Here's Crying Freeman.
September 24, 2017
Original Rating: Originally, I gave Crying Freeman, Vol 01 3.5/5 stars.
Reread Rating: I’m now giving this manga 4.5/5
This book is about a spiritualist ceramist, Yo Hinomura, that was trained to be an assassin by the Chinese Mafia, the 108 Dragons. His talent as an assassin earned him the name “Crying Freeman” due to his tears whenever he kills someone. However, when Emu Hino, a young painter, is witness to one of his killings, they both begin to feel a connection between each other.
At first, I wasn’t really sure what I thought about this book. It seemed to glorify Yo as a murder, and romanticise the fact that he murdered people, and I now assume this was due to me reading it before so late at night. However, after reading it a second time, I can see this was not actually the case. Although this is the reason that Emu is drawn to him at first – he’s dangerous – their connection deepens and becomes much more than “hunter and prey”. Although still slightly iffy with me, this is enough for me to let it drop and continue on with the manga.
After reading this the second time, I managed to get a lot more from the manga, and was able to enjoy it much more. I was able to delve more into the mafia story line, the story behind Yo and how he became what he has become, the story of everyone hunting him down, and how Emu fits into everything. This was quite… soul wrenching. There was a lot I missed the first time reading it and I am really shocked at just how much I missed. This is a very raw manga, with a lot of real feelings in an almost fictional situation and it shocked me how true to life it is.
The artwork is simple and wonderful. Different to the generic manga style (considering it was first published in 1989, I’m not surprised), which is wonderful to see. Ryoichi Ikegami has done absolute wonders with this art work and it’s a wonderful thing to see just how a simple art work can do so much for a story.
The story line itself is dark, gritty, romantic and gripping. Kazuo Koike has done absolute wonders with this dark story line and I really, really want to read more of his works. Once I’ve finished Crying Freeman, I will definitely be going on to read his other works, more notably, Samurai Executioner, Vol. 1: When the Demon Knife Weeps .
This is a really well done manga, with a lot in place, and I would definitely recommend this to manga lovers. It’s wonderful, and I regret not giving it a second chance sooner.
Reread Rating: I’m now giving this manga 4.5/5
This book is about a spiritualist ceramist, Yo Hinomura, that was trained to be an assassin by the Chinese Mafia, the 108 Dragons. His talent as an assassin earned him the name “Crying Freeman” due to his tears whenever he kills someone. However, when Emu Hino, a young painter, is witness to one of his killings, they both begin to feel a connection between each other.
At first, I wasn’t really sure what I thought about this book. It seemed to glorify Yo as a murder, and romanticise the fact that he murdered people, and I now assume this was due to me reading it before so late at night. However, after reading it a second time, I can see this was not actually the case. Although this is the reason that Emu is drawn to him at first – he’s dangerous – their connection deepens and becomes much more than “hunter and prey”. Although still slightly iffy with me, this is enough for me to let it drop and continue on with the manga.
After reading this the second time, I managed to get a lot more from the manga, and was able to enjoy it much more. I was able to delve more into the mafia story line, the story behind Yo and how he became what he has become, the story of everyone hunting him down, and how Emu fits into everything. This was quite… soul wrenching. There was a lot I missed the first time reading it and I am really shocked at just how much I missed. This is a very raw manga, with a lot of real feelings in an almost fictional situation and it shocked me how true to life it is.
The artwork is simple and wonderful. Different to the generic manga style (considering it was first published in 1989, I’m not surprised), which is wonderful to see. Ryoichi Ikegami has done absolute wonders with this art work and it’s a wonderful thing to see just how a simple art work can do so much for a story.
The story line itself is dark, gritty, romantic and gripping. Kazuo Koike has done absolute wonders with this dark story line and I really, really want to read more of his works. Once I’ve finished Crying Freeman, I will definitely be going on to read his other works, more notably, Samurai Executioner, Vol. 1: When the Demon Knife Weeps .
This is a really well done manga, with a lot in place, and I would definitely recommend this to manga lovers. It’s wonderful, and I regret not giving it a second chance sooner.
January 30, 2014
Jednoduché - chtěla bych umět takhle malovat! Jinak se do dalších dílů asi hodně brzo zase pustím, protože jednoduché cesta jak relaxovat. Ani jsem si nevšimla, jak jsem to stihla dočíst ;)
July 9, 2024
The Crying Freeman was a movie I saw by the director Christopher Ganz and it was both stylish, brutal and romantic. Of course I was not known with the source material being manga.
Anyhow I cam across this book and being a fan of the movie I decided to have a look and read.
It is about a man who does make great pottery who falls into the hands of a secret organisation that trains him to be a great assassin , the Freeman, and because hé cries a tear after each kill hé is called the crying Freeman. Simple really.
Hé kilo's a lot of influencial people and one day falls for a witness of one of his killings. Takes her home she and hé love eachother. However she is a beacon in the darkness hé hides and the widow of a Yakusa lord killed by the hand of this assassin finds them through her because she has a face.
The art is actually very good in black and white, the story entertaining and there is plenty of sex to my surprise. While western art would be explicit, the eastern art does leave some to the imagination.
An enjoyable read I must admit.
Anyhow I cam across this book and being a fan of the movie I decided to have a look and read.
It is about a man who does make great pottery who falls into the hands of a secret organisation that trains him to be a great assassin , the Freeman, and because hé cries a tear after each kill hé is called the crying Freeman. Simple really.
Hé kilo's a lot of influencial people and one day falls for a witness of one of his killings. Takes her home she and hé love eachother. However she is a beacon in the darkness hé hides and the widow of a Yakusa lord killed by the hand of this assassin finds them through her because she has a face.
The art is actually very good in black and white, the story entertaining and there is plenty of sex to my surprise. While western art would be explicit, the eastern art does leave some to the imagination.
An enjoyable read I must admit.
May 17, 2019
Moja prvá manga kniha, resp. komix, ktorý sa čítal vemi zaujímavo, odzadu. Inak, príbeh je ľahko predvídateľná detektívka (o zabijakovi, ktorý je plače vždy, keď niekoho zabije), páčilo sa mi aj čierno-biele prevedenie, s trochou erotiky /miestami vycenzurovanej/, ale začiatky kapitol sú úžasne ilustrované.
January 4, 2025
3.9/5
This was a fun if slightly awkward little B-movie in manga form. I've seen the anime adaptation some time ago (it was silly but enjoyable) and so far, the manga is only a slight improvement over that.
That's not necessarily a bad thing. Like I already said, I found the anime version enjoyable. Is it ridiculous and cheesy? Yes. Is it loaded with more sex, violence, and nudity than necessary? Of course! I don't mind that kinda thing at all, if it contributes to the plot or the charm of an old crime classic like this. Especially when the artwork is as good as Ryoichi Ikegami's work in this is. I've read a few manga rendered by Ikegami now (the others being Strain and Sanctuary) and if anything, he's consistent in his skill. He went above and beyond for Strain, utilizing photorealism for the environments and character designs in an effort I found to be admirable and skillful, but completely wasted on that storyline. In Freeman, he's using a more simplistic style that is arguably easier on the eyes. Every page flows gracefully. Every detail and shadow is effectively rendered. The man is an artistic god.
Koike's work I am also familiar with. I've seen many film adaptations of his work (Lady Snowblood, the Lone Wolf and Cub series), and I've read the entirety of the Lone Wolf and Cub manga (which is absolutely brilliant and one of the greatest manga of all time).
To measure Crying Freeman to Koike's magnum opus would be unfair and a disservice to Freeman. This is clearly Koike just having a little fun, and for now, I'm on board with it.
This was a fun if slightly awkward little B-movie in manga form. I've seen the anime adaptation some time ago (it was silly but enjoyable) and so far, the manga is only a slight improvement over that.
That's not necessarily a bad thing. Like I already said, I found the anime version enjoyable. Is it ridiculous and cheesy? Yes. Is it loaded with more sex, violence, and nudity than necessary? Of course! I don't mind that kinda thing at all, if it contributes to the plot or the charm of an old crime classic like this. Especially when the artwork is as good as Ryoichi Ikegami's work in this is. I've read a few manga rendered by Ikegami now (the others being Strain and Sanctuary) and if anything, he's consistent in his skill. He went above and beyond for Strain, utilizing photorealism for the environments and character designs in an effort I found to be admirable and skillful, but completely wasted on that storyline. In Freeman, he's using a more simplistic style that is arguably easier on the eyes. Every page flows gracefully. Every detail and shadow is effectively rendered. The man is an artistic god.
Koike's work I am also familiar with. I've seen many film adaptations of his work (Lady Snowblood, the Lone Wolf and Cub series), and I've read the entirety of the Lone Wolf and Cub manga (which is absolutely brilliant and one of the greatest manga of all time).
To measure Crying Freeman to Koike's magnum opus would be unfair and a disservice to Freeman. This is clearly Koike just having a little fun, and for now, I'm on board with it.
April 30, 2014
Like SAMURAI GIRL, I first saw CRYING FREEMAN in its anime form. A few years ago, I got my mitts on the first two volumes of the manga CRYING FREEMAN published stateside by Dark Horse. The anime streamlined much of the story and made it less complex for viewers in comparison to the manga original, which I can enlighten you to here. For those who don't know the story, mix SCARFACE and THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, add a strong dose of ROMEO AND JULIET, and you'll get a sense of what you're in for!
The story begins in Japan, where young beauty Emu Hino suddenly has her life transformed forever when she witnesses the murder of a crimelord and his thugs. The killer is a handsome, quiet man who immediately begins to weep the moment his bloody work is done. He tells the girl his name is Yo, and then he leaves. Fearing rightly that the killer will return one day to murder her because she was a witness, Emu also realizes that she's falling in love with Yo...she never had a lover in her life, and if he's going to kill her, then she will want him to take her virginity first!
From there we're taken on a complex, dangerous and blood-drenched ride through the international criminal underworld and we discover how Yo came to be an assassin. He was once a rising artist before he stumbled upon evidence of the murder of a man by the Chinese mafia organization called The 108 Dragons. Committed to turning the evidence over to the police, Yo ignored both threats to his life and bribes. But somehow realizing Yo had the qualities and potential to be the perfect killer, The 108 Dragons captured him and used acupuncture and hypnotic techniques to program him into becoming their unwilling puppet. In a harsh irony, they give him the code name Freeman. But even from the beginning, in spite of his conditioning to obey his masters completely, he still can't help but cry with remorse when he kills his assigned target.
I'm not spoiling things saying so much about CRYING FREEMAN, since all of that happens in the first part of Volume One, the first of five huge books! The story is an intricate one, and highly stylish in a way that reminded me of the TV series MIAMI VICE. (No coincidence the manga began in the late 80's!) It turns out Freeman's fate isn't quite worse than death, though. We come to discover how once and for all he became part of The 108 Dragons by his own grudging choice -- and no, I won't spoil that! -- and we're shown not only what kind of rigorous training he went through to become a truly peerless killer, but how he earned is iconic dragon tattoo. We also discover why a Chinese criminal organization chose a Japanese artist to become their greatest assassin...and possibly even The 108 Dragons' future leader! The reader can't help but feel for Freeman as we follow him each step of the way on this bloody road, though; we want to root for him and Emu as their love story develops. The supporting cast is just as engaging...like Freeman's masters, the elderly yet nearly mystical Father Dragon and Mother Tiger, and enemies that range from the beautiful and ruthless Kimie Hanada to (in the second volume) the child-like yet lethal Bai-Ya Shan!
The first and second volumes are engrossing and have a brisk pace (a good thing because the books are thick!), thanks to the excellent writing of Kazuo Koike. And I can't praise the art of Ryoichi Ikegami enough, which ranks up there with the very, very best...you won't be able to take your eyes off the pages because of his gorgeous, almost photo-real style. It's a strange kind of crime story, more like a modern and very violent fairy tale about star-crossed lovers and how they came to be in each other's arms. It's a dark world where its central character was a good man who discovers it's his fate to never be free...but can he at least find happiness with the woman he loves? That's what makes CRYING FREEMAN so captivating to me, and I'm sure it'll do the same for you!
The story begins in Japan, where young beauty Emu Hino suddenly has her life transformed forever when she witnesses the murder of a crimelord and his thugs. The killer is a handsome, quiet man who immediately begins to weep the moment his bloody work is done. He tells the girl his name is Yo, and then he leaves. Fearing rightly that the killer will return one day to murder her because she was a witness, Emu also realizes that she's falling in love with Yo...she never had a lover in her life, and if he's going to kill her, then she will want him to take her virginity first!
From there we're taken on a complex, dangerous and blood-drenched ride through the international criminal underworld and we discover how Yo came to be an assassin. He was once a rising artist before he stumbled upon evidence of the murder of a man by the Chinese mafia organization called The 108 Dragons. Committed to turning the evidence over to the police, Yo ignored both threats to his life and bribes. But somehow realizing Yo had the qualities and potential to be the perfect killer, The 108 Dragons captured him and used acupuncture and hypnotic techniques to program him into becoming their unwilling puppet. In a harsh irony, they give him the code name Freeman. But even from the beginning, in spite of his conditioning to obey his masters completely, he still can't help but cry with remorse when he kills his assigned target.
I'm not spoiling things saying so much about CRYING FREEMAN, since all of that happens in the first part of Volume One, the first of five huge books! The story is an intricate one, and highly stylish in a way that reminded me of the TV series MIAMI VICE. (No coincidence the manga began in the late 80's!) It turns out Freeman's fate isn't quite worse than death, though. We come to discover how once and for all he became part of The 108 Dragons by his own grudging choice -- and no, I won't spoil that! -- and we're shown not only what kind of rigorous training he went through to become a truly peerless killer, but how he earned is iconic dragon tattoo. We also discover why a Chinese criminal organization chose a Japanese artist to become their greatest assassin...and possibly even The 108 Dragons' future leader! The reader can't help but feel for Freeman as we follow him each step of the way on this bloody road, though; we want to root for him and Emu as their love story develops. The supporting cast is just as engaging...like Freeman's masters, the elderly yet nearly mystical Father Dragon and Mother Tiger, and enemies that range from the beautiful and ruthless Kimie Hanada to (in the second volume) the child-like yet lethal Bai-Ya Shan!
The first and second volumes are engrossing and have a brisk pace (a good thing because the books are thick!), thanks to the excellent writing of Kazuo Koike. And I can't praise the art of Ryoichi Ikegami enough, which ranks up there with the very, very best...you won't be able to take your eyes off the pages because of his gorgeous, almost photo-real style. It's a strange kind of crime story, more like a modern and very violent fairy tale about star-crossed lovers and how they came to be in each other's arms. It's a dark world where its central character was a good man who discovers it's his fate to never be free...but can he at least find happiness with the woman he loves? That's what makes CRYING FREEMAN so captivating to me, and I'm sure it'll do the same for you!
August 25, 2018
It was good then and good now. The series and characters were well scripted and developed and I enjoyed re-reading the series again. This was the Assassin two enjoyed before Bourne and Rapp.
August 28, 2022
Read this summer after senior year of high school and I just remember being weirded out by the masculinity displays here. Also the portrayal of Chinese people. They’re mafia but still, lmao, let’s tone down the magical thinking a bit.
February 14, 2024
Primer tomo de este manga clásico donde un chico es secuestrado mentalmente por una mafia. El chico tiene dotes innatas para el asesinato y será el sicario involuntario de la asociación criminal ascendiendo poco a poco en ella.
Poco después se enamorará de una chica a la que debería matar, ya que ha visto su cara. Pero será incapaz de hacerlo y luchará por salvarla y salir de la mafia.
Un dibujo precioso.
Poco después se enamorará de una chica a la que debería matar, ya que ha visto su cara. Pero será incapaz de hacerlo y luchará por salvarla y salir de la mafia.
Un dibujo precioso.
May 29, 2022
Kazuo Koike should’ve just stopped after Vol.1 because it, quite literally, goes downhill from there. Good art though, I’ll give him that
2/5
2/5
September 7, 2025
I enjoyed this one so much I barely put it down. This is my first manga experience, and it gave such good impression with all the illustrations and the plot-line. There’s balance between action and eroticism, effectively conveying an intense atmosphere.
Looking forward to reading volume 2.
Looking forward to reading volume 2.
August 28, 2017
ADULT MANGA CLASSIC REISSUED BY NEW PUBLISHER!
I have the Kobo (epub3) edition; looks nice on my Kobo Aura H2O.
Published by Creek & River Co., Ltd., with isbn: 6493300000398. First of nine volumes reissued by the publisher, with page count of 231.
I know it is an old manga from creators Kazuo Koike and Ryoichi Ikegami, with a movie adaptation in the 1990s. But it is a classic adult manga and it is free on Kobo ebook store.
Reading it reminds me of "Cole" by Tijan, a story of a young woman who got distracted and fallen in love with a young, handsome man with dangerous connections (mob/mafia). Yes, it felt (to me) like a New Adult/romance with mobster trope but more. So it could have been marketed to adult women with its romance and sex but action and violence with the protagonist, Japanese police/detectives and Yakuza is definitely for the male audience. To say something of the art, Ryoichi Ikegami can draw and paint subtlely beautiful bodies (and faces), even fully-tattooed body; making an erotically engrossing read for adult and/or new adult audience/readers.
And when financial resource allow, maybe i could continue this series until the last volume. And did i say that the first volume is free with succeeding volumes for purchase on cheap price on Kobo.
So that's why it is a four-star rating for me.
Hope you like my review. Thanks!
:-)
I have the Kobo (epub3) edition; looks nice on my Kobo Aura H2O.
Published by Creek & River Co., Ltd., with isbn: 6493300000398. First of nine volumes reissued by the publisher, with page count of 231.
I know it is an old manga from creators Kazuo Koike and Ryoichi Ikegami, with a movie adaptation in the 1990s. But it is a classic adult manga and it is free on Kobo ebook store.
Reading it reminds me of "Cole" by Tijan, a story of a young woman who got distracted and fallen in love with a young, handsome man with dangerous connections (mob/mafia). Yes, it felt (to me) like a New Adult/romance with mobster trope but more. So it could have been marketed to adult women with its romance and sex but action and violence with the protagonist, Japanese police/detectives and Yakuza is definitely for the male audience. To say something of the art, Ryoichi Ikegami can draw and paint subtlely beautiful bodies (and faces), even fully-tattooed body; making an erotically engrossing read for adult and/or new adult audience/readers.
And when financial resource allow, maybe i could continue this series until the last volume. And did i say that the first volume is free with succeeding volumes for purchase on cheap price on Kobo.
So that's why it is a four-star rating for me.
Hope you like my review. Thanks!
:-)
July 7, 2023
Yo Himomura is the most lethal assassin under the employ of a Chinese organized crime outfit known as the 108 Dragons, but is more better known by his moniker - the "Crying Freeman". Turns out Yo is a bit of a "Manchurian Candidate"/"Winter Soldier"-type of assassin who is hypnotically controlled by the 108 Dragons to carry out their dirty work. Yo sheds tears for his victims clearly indicating that he is cognizant of his actions even though he is compelled to carry out assassinations. In this volume, Yo's latest assignment is to carry out a hit on a tortured Japanese artist who witnessed a murder. However, instead of carrying out the job, Yo is able to resist and the two fall in love and attempt to escape the mob.
The story is quite absurd at times, almost to the point of parody, but it was pretty fun to read overall. The romance aspects are also kind of goofy and a bit contrived, and it compounds how silly the whole book is since the entire premise rests on the strength of this romance. The action is pretty engaging though and allows the story to move at a brisk enough pace that Crying Freeman does not get stale (at least for this first volume). Ryoichi Ikegami's artwork nails the 80's B movie aesthetic that fits the vibe of this book, so if you're into those kinds of films this is the manga for you.
The story is quite absurd at times, almost to the point of parody, but it was pretty fun to read overall. The romance aspects are also kind of goofy and a bit contrived, and it compounds how silly the whole book is since the entire premise rests on the strength of this romance. The action is pretty engaging though and allows the story to move at a brisk enough pace that Crying Freeman does not get stale (at least for this first volume). Ryoichi Ikegami's artwork nails the 80's B movie aesthetic that fits the vibe of this book, so if you're into those kinds of films this is the manga for you.
September 23, 2018
Crying Freeman manga arrived in the United States in the early 1990's and took the country by storm. I was very fortunate to purchase the first edition of this beautifully drawn and written manga created by writer Kazuo Koike and illustrated by a brilliant manga artist Ryoichi Ikegami. This crime saga tells an incredible story of a young artists named Yo, who is recruited into the ranks of the Chinese Mafia against his will. Hypnotized to follow their commands, he becomes a gifted assassin who sheds tears for his victims when the killer spell is released. Tasked to murder a beautiful female witness to his latest crime, the killer for the first time in his career refuses to pull the trigger and later falls in love with his intended target. This is a story that makes the reader root for the main protagonist all the way. Beautifully drawn and presented with skill and daring, Crying Freeman Volume 1 will entertain you from first page to the last.
October 18, 2021
It's not without some regret that I give this a two star rating. The first third I really enjoyed and I thought maybe I'd finally found a manga I would enjoy. And then it suddenly went from being an engaging story to nothing but smut, full of twists designed seemingly for no reason beyond finding an excuse to show more naked women. The first sex scene was excellent, I did enjoy it, tenderly and beautifully illustrated (the quality of the art is the one consistent high point). But then it degenerated and lost any purpose. They seemed to be working overtime to find yet more ridiculous directions to take the story, from the Olympic athletic 99 year old assassin to the tattoo artist who gets raped for failing to kill Crying Freeman. I can't imagine how much worse the next volumes will be and I don't expect I'll ever find out.
January 31, 2023
Well this is a monster of a book. I had grown up knowing what Crying Freeman is and having seen some of the anime, but it was always something taboo and overly adult for the kid that I was at the time. Thanks for a generous Humble Bundle, I can finally get into this series for real.
The art style of the series is really what defines its visual and emotional tone. The level of detail is kind of insane and both our protagonists Hinomura/Freeman and Hino are both depicted so beautifully that it's almost surreal.
This volume sets up the story of Freeman where we first encounter him on one of his assassination missions and later learn about his backstory through flashbacks. Hino gets pulled into things by witnessing one of his missions and him deciding to try to spare her life. You know this is going to be a lingering complication potentially for the rest of the series.
The art style of the series is really what defines its visual and emotional tone. The level of detail is kind of insane and both our protagonists Hinomura/Freeman and Hino are both depicted so beautifully that it's almost surreal.
This volume sets up the story of Freeman where we first encounter him on one of his assassination missions and later learn about his backstory through flashbacks. Hino gets pulled into things by witnessing one of his missions and him deciding to try to spare her life. You know this is going to be a lingering complication potentially for the rest of the series.
October 17, 2024
This series is the epitome of "you'll either love it or hate it". The plot? Absurd. The art? Amazing and definitely the highlight of this series (and any manga with Ikegami at the helm).
If you approach this series expecting the same level of grandiose that Koike offered us with LW&C, you will be very disappointed. If you come in with measured expectations and treat it as satire, you'll have a great time. It's an irreverent, pulpy classic that deserves a read if you're interested in silly 80s action flick satire, but in a manga. Freeman is a larger than life character, and the plot matches his persona.
It's been published by Viz & Dark Horse, with both being very out of print. I'd recommend the Dark Horse release, as it has an updated translation and reads right to left.
If you approach this series expecting the same level of grandiose that Koike offered us with LW&C, you will be very disappointed. If you come in with measured expectations and treat it as satire, you'll have a great time. It's an irreverent, pulpy classic that deserves a read if you're interested in silly 80s action flick satire, but in a manga. Freeman is a larger than life character, and the plot matches his persona.
It's been published by Viz & Dark Horse, with both being very out of print. I'd recommend the Dark Horse release, as it has an updated translation and reads right to left.
April 23, 2022
Jakožto takový menší „jakuzofilik“ jsem spokojena. Z komiksu jdou hned vidět osmdesátá léta, takže akce, erotika, jasňačka. Na mě ty „erotiky“ bylo ke konci moc, ale co mám čekat od „komiksu pro dospělé“ založenýho na příběhu gangsterů.
Zaujalo mě zpracování, co se sazby (letteringu/cleaningu?) týče. V současných komiksech je zvukomalba hezky přepsána česky, tady je jen rámeček pod s významem. Což mi vnuklo myšlenu, že třeba ty nové komiksy už posílají ve vrstvách a není takový problém to přepsat. Tuze zajímavé.
Zaujalo mě zpracování, co se sazby (letteringu/cleaningu?) týče. V současných komiksech je zvukomalba hezky přepsána česky, tady je jen rámeček pod s významem. Což mi vnuklo myšlenu, že třeba ty nové komiksy už posílají ve vrstvách a není takový problém to přepsat. Tuze zajímavé.
March 15, 2025
Dropped it after finishing volume one (out of five). Writing was just painfully bad: the childish romance, assassin's recruitment/origin story, dialogues, and everything else - just uhh. I liked the drawing style though.
Crying Freeman manga has been on my to-read list for quite a few years since watching the film adaptation by Christophe Gans. I enjoyed it a lot and remember it as a stylish atmospheric comic-book movie centered around a love story. Without Gans' direction the source material is mediocre at best.
3.0/10
Crying Freeman manga has been on my to-read list for quite a few years since watching the film adaptation by Christophe Gans. I enjoyed it a lot and remember it as a stylish atmospheric comic-book movie centered around a love story. Without Gans' direction the source material is mediocre at best.
3.0/10
August 26, 2023
Gorgeous art and a decent story that was, sadly, marred by Dark Horse’s decision to reverse the pages to reverse them for the American release. Had the panels been fully cut & pasted so the reading order was left to right, it would have been fine. But this chopped up job of left to right pages with right to left panels is jarring every time. There was even an instance of a two page spread being hacked up and put in out of order. Really disappointing.
February 13, 2024
Crying Freeman é un’opera potente intrisa di sesso e violenza, ma dotata di una poetica cruda che pervade tanto il racconto, quanto gli splendidi disegni. Un assassino bellissimo che piange dopo ogni omicidio, gli intrighi della triade e della yakuza, ispettori determinati, arti marziali ed abilità inverosimili, donne stupende e anche spietate: i topoi di un certo tipo di manga di fine anni ‘80/inizio ���90 ci sono tutti, ma qui il tutto ha un quid superiore che porta il manga negli annali.
May 14, 2021
So it begins...
Emu Hino was preparing her death in the hands of Mr. Yo aka Crying Freeman. It was because she witnessed the killing. And also she became fascinated by him. When he showed up,the two made love instead of assassination. Their relationship got complicated by the Yakuza and the cops. Yo tried to get rid of her but couldn’t, he was only human.
Emu Hino was preparing her death in the hands of Mr. Yo aka Crying Freeman. It was because she witnessed the killing. And also she became fascinated by him. When he showed up,the two made love instead of assassination. Their relationship got complicated by the Yakuza and the cops. Yo tried to get rid of her but couldn’t, he was only human.
August 28, 2021
Ke knize bych se zřejmě nikdy nedostala, kdybych nebyla na táboře a nedošlo mi čtení. A tak jsem si z nudy a ze zvědavosti přečetla svou první mangu, kterou jsem si vypůjčila od mé kamarádky a spolubydlící - Áji Peckové.
Kniha se četla strašně rychle a na japonský styl psaní jsem si zvykla okamžitě. Příběh byl strašná shitka, ale zabavilo mě to, takže hádám, že kniha svůj účel splnila.
Kniha se četla strašně rychle a na japonský styl psaní jsem si zvykla okamžitě. Příběh byl strašná shitka, ale zabavilo mě to, takže hádám, že kniha svůj účel splnila.
January 4, 2022
Despite the age of this story, it still felt like an original premise on this genre.
The art was very good, I loved accuracy of all the early 80s cars.
A lot of fairly realistic nudity but generally blurred below the waist. I certainly never expected to see a naked 99 year old woman like this...
Very quick read.
The art was very good, I loved accuracy of all the early 80s cars.
A lot of fairly realistic nudity but generally blurred below the waist. I certainly never expected to see a naked 99 year old woman like this...
Very quick read.
July 21, 2023
Pulpy to the point of almost parody, Crying Freeman follows the crime noir exploits of the eponymous assassin for the Chinese mafia. Near superhuman physique, irresistibility to women, and sci-fi hypnosis techniques turned him into their premier assassin. Saturated with tough gangsters, corrupt cops, and naked women swooning, it checks most clichés for the genre.
August 19, 2025
Koike has a lot of work to recommend him, start with Lone Wolf and Cub.
This has a very detectable 80s popular portrayal of drug kingpins, mobs, and that whole seedy underlife. It's a little giggle inducing.
Given space the art is fantastic. Given limitations, and there is a lot limitations the art is not so good.
I'm unsure about continuing. I think I want the giggles.
This has a very detectable 80s popular portrayal of drug kingpins, mobs, and that whole seedy underlife. It's a little giggle inducing.
Given space the art is fantastic. Given limitations, and there is a lot limitations the art is not so good.
I'm unsure about continuing. I think I want the giggles.
April 8, 2019
Must be read Japanese style.
I saw this decades ago as an anime . The color of the anime was impressive. The graphic novel is in black and white for a noir effect. An all time favorite of mine. A hit man who cried from psychological relief. Stunning.
I saw this decades ago as an anime . The color of the anime was impressive. The graphic novel is in black and white for a noir effect. An all time favorite of mine. A hit man who cried from psychological relief. Stunning.
September 2, 2021
Great character twist of the ruthless, preprogrammed assassin who seems indestructible. I've vol 2 to fall back on to continue with. Not a great deal of depth to the plot, but it does move at pace, jolted along with the things that the parental advisory label warns you about.
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