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子連れ狼 [Kozure Ookami] #27
Lobo Solitario #27: La Noche Previa
Daigoro ha quedado a cargo de proteger las espadas de su padre y de Retsudo, pero un incendio cercano amenaza el lugar que está custodiando. Mientras padre e hijo disfrutan sus últimos días de tranquilidad, Retsudo reúne a los suyos para preparar la batalla final. ¡Empieza la pelea entre Itto Ogami y los Kusa del clan Yagyu!
Mass Market Paperback
First published November 22, 2002
5 people are currently reading
294 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 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 6, 2022
Only one album left to read!
It’s been such a long and eventful journey that I am pulled in two opposite directions: I am glad to have finally reached the finish line, and I wonder where will I go from here because for sure I will miss the story of honour and revenge written by Kazuo Koike and the amazing artwork of Goseki Kojima.
To Protect and Defend
The penultimate album debuts with one of those wordless episodes that focus on the young boy Daigoro. His father, who went to the Edo palace to remind his adversary that they have a duel coming up, has left Daigoro to guard the two samurai swords buried point down into the ground – according to bushido a solemn promise to come back and finish the battle.
Daigoro may be small, but his determination is equal to that of his father. Neither wild dogs, nor artisans with solid reasons to dig around can budge the boy from his post.
When a major fire in Edo sends a multitude of refugees across the field of battle, Daigoro is trampled underfoot, but he has already managed to impress the many witnesses of his bushi heart.
When the Lone Wolf eventually returns, he acknowledges the heroism of his son and the kindness of strangers.
For Whom to Die
Meanwhile, in the Shogun’s palace, Retsudo Yagyu puts in motion an elaborate ruse to prove his loyalty to the absolute master of Japan. Retsudo, a master of spies and assassins, has no scruples about deceiving the man he claims to serve – not when his driving obsession is to destroy the Lone Wolf and to save his diminished clan, by any means necessary.
Way of the Warrior, Way of Man
Pardoned by the Shogun and returned to his clan residence, Retsudo takes charge of his ‘grass’ [the secret spies embedded over generations at the courts of the lords of the realm] and gives them their marching orders:
We must bury him!
We must re-plant the great tree of the Yagyu for all time!
The secret ninjas, also known as ‘grass’ and ‘shibumi’, are living and dying on the word of their leader, but even they start to question the twisted reasoning of Retsudo, who claims it is honourable to send others to fight his own battle.
How painful deceit when the warrior turns his back on fealty.
Wouldn’t the assassination attempt cast a stain on the honour of the Yagyu, who has promised to fight his own duel against Ogami Itto?
According to Retsudo, the answer is No, because he and his shibumi are ONE!
A coda to this episode shows us Daigoro spending a few precious hours playing with the children of the refugees from the Edo fire.
Alas, when the people gather their belongings and leave the field of battle, Daigoro is reminded by his father that they live in Meifumado and that they have pledged their lives to one purpose only.
Battle’s Eve
The grass comes to the place of the two swords wearing huge wicker headgear that hides their identities and playing on reed flutes a dirge: for them or for the lone samurai waiting?
Itto has a choice about accepting the grass as adversary in place of Retsudo, but we already know from past episodes that he never backs down from a challenge, so he draws his doitanuki sword from the ground and accepts the fight.
It is a very short duel, because his very first adversary is only a teenage boy, taking the place in the line that was reserved for his father. Both the Lone Wolf and the other ‘grass’ interrupt their fight in order to honour the young life that was wasted [ the greenest shoot ] and to bury the boy that has not shirked his duty.
The episode ends with a curious encounter with a sword sharpener sent by Retsudo to help Ogami Itto prepare his sword for the coming battle.
Is this a sign that the Yagyu are honouring the code of bushido, or yet another attempt at deceit and treason?
Grasses That Never Flower
The shibumi return to the fight, more determined than ever to help their master avoid a direct duel with Itto by killing him and his son by any means necessary.
I thought the authors of the manga have explored all the available weapons and all the available techniques in previous albums, so it is kind of thrilling to discover what they have kept up their sleeve for the grand finale.
Just like the Japanese aviators in the last world war, the final gambit is a sort of exploding suicide divers – making the final sacrifice in a desperate attempt to destroy their adversary.
How can Itto and Daigoro dodge exploding bits of ninja?
We do know that there is one more album in the series, so I guess even the kamikaze ninjas were not enough to help Retsudo avoid the last duel with Itto.
It’s been such a long and eventful journey that I am pulled in two opposite directions: I am glad to have finally reached the finish line, and I wonder where will I go from here because for sure I will miss the story of honour and revenge written by Kazuo Koike and the amazing artwork of Goseki Kojima.
To Protect and Defend
The penultimate album debuts with one of those wordless episodes that focus on the young boy Daigoro. His father, who went to the Edo palace to remind his adversary that they have a duel coming up, has left Daigoro to guard the two samurai swords buried point down into the ground – according to bushido a solemn promise to come back and finish the battle.
Daigoro may be small, but his determination is equal to that of his father. Neither wild dogs, nor artisans with solid reasons to dig around can budge the boy from his post.
When a major fire in Edo sends a multitude of refugees across the field of battle, Daigoro is trampled underfoot, but he has already managed to impress the many witnesses of his bushi heart.
When the Lone Wolf eventually returns, he acknowledges the heroism of his son and the kindness of strangers.
For Whom to Die
Meanwhile, in the Shogun’s palace, Retsudo Yagyu puts in motion an elaborate ruse to prove his loyalty to the absolute master of Japan. Retsudo, a master of spies and assassins, has no scruples about deceiving the man he claims to serve – not when his driving obsession is to destroy the Lone Wolf and to save his diminished clan, by any means necessary.
Way of the Warrior, Way of Man
Pardoned by the Shogun and returned to his clan residence, Retsudo takes charge of his ‘grass’ [the secret spies embedded over generations at the courts of the lords of the realm] and gives them their marching orders:
We must bury him!
We must re-plant the great tree of the Yagyu for all time!
The secret ninjas, also known as ‘grass’ and ‘shibumi’, are living and dying on the word of their leader, but even they start to question the twisted reasoning of Retsudo, who claims it is honourable to send others to fight his own battle.
How painful deceit when the warrior turns his back on fealty.
Wouldn’t the assassination attempt cast a stain on the honour of the Yagyu, who has promised to fight his own duel against Ogami Itto?
According to Retsudo, the answer is No, because he and his shibumi are ONE!
A coda to this episode shows us Daigoro spending a few precious hours playing with the children of the refugees from the Edo fire.
Alas, when the people gather their belongings and leave the field of battle, Daigoro is reminded by his father that they live in Meifumado and that they have pledged their lives to one purpose only.
Battle’s Eve
The grass comes to the place of the two swords wearing huge wicker headgear that hides their identities and playing on reed flutes a dirge: for them or for the lone samurai waiting?
Itto has a choice about accepting the grass as adversary in place of Retsudo, but we already know from past episodes that he never backs down from a challenge, so he draws his doitanuki sword from the ground and accepts the fight.
It is a very short duel, because his very first adversary is only a teenage boy, taking the place in the line that was reserved for his father. Both the Lone Wolf and the other ‘grass’ interrupt their fight in order to honour the young life that was wasted [ the greenest shoot ] and to bury the boy that has not shirked his duty.
The episode ends with a curious encounter with a sword sharpener sent by Retsudo to help Ogami Itto prepare his sword for the coming battle.
Is this a sign that the Yagyu are honouring the code of bushido, or yet another attempt at deceit and treason?
Grasses That Never Flower
The shibumi return to the fight, more determined than ever to help their master avoid a direct duel with Itto by killing him and his son by any means necessary.
I thought the authors of the manga have explored all the available weapons and all the available techniques in previous albums, so it is kind of thrilling to discover what they have kept up their sleeve for the grand finale.
Just like the Japanese aviators in the last world war, the final gambit is a sort of exploding suicide divers – making the final sacrifice in a desperate attempt to destroy their adversary.
How can Itto and Daigoro dodge exploding bits of ninja?
We do know that there is one more album in the series, so I guess even the kamikaze ninjas were not enough to help Retsudo avoid the last duel with Itto.
January 29, 2019
With each sword stroke another bevy of bodies drop and yet another increasingly shallow number of still unclosed loops are united with their ends of each mini-ouroboros. This cyclic swirling brings us ever closer to the deservingly exceptional end of the Lone Wolf saga. With few loops still left unclosed, the level of action matches the sublimating energy to end all here.
With Retsudo’s prevarications preserved through brilliant political maneuvering, . Sans Toshiro and the Shogun, who finally out of the way, nothing can oppose his dastardly plan of vengeance.
Only Ogami’s famed Dotanuki can stand between him and the animus that has been frothing over for well over 100+ issues! With little (if any) mitigation of the excellence within, the only tragedy here is that the next volume is the last. :(
With Retsudo’s prevarications preserved through brilliant political maneuvering, . Sans Toshiro and the Shogun, who finally out of the way, nothing can oppose his dastardly plan of vengeance.
Only Ogami’s famed Dotanuki can stand between him and the animus that has been frothing over for well over 100+ issues! With little (if any) mitigation of the excellence within, the only tragedy here is that the next volume is the last. :(
March 3, 2024
3.5 - 4 stars
Not as strong as some of the others, but still a good volume. The tangled mores of Bushido and the demarcation between the Way of Meifumado and the Way of Humanity is highlighted once again.
To Protect and Defend: once again Daigoro shows his unnatural devotion to the Way of the Bushi, defending the sanctity of the swords of Retsudo and his father in the face of any disturbance until their duel should re-commence. He meets a friendly tile maker who is nonplussed by this strange child and both must face an influx of refugees from a great fire in Edo until Itto returns once more.
For Whom to Die: Retsudo proves himself as wily as we might suppose as he manages to orchestrate a tableau, with the assistance of his capable agents, that sets himself up as the devoted servant of the Shogun suffering unjustly. The Shogun proves to be as much of a dupe as Retsudo could have hoped, though in his own mind it appears that Retsudo may believe his own propaganda, seeing himself as the only true servant of the powers that be without whose guiding hand they would fall into ruin.
Way of the Warrior, Way of Man: Retsudo, now cleared of the charges of treason thanks to his subtle plan and capable agents, whips his remaining Grass agents into a frenzy to kill Itto and Daigoro, arguing that contravening the strict rules of the duel are not truly against the way of Shido since the utter destruction of the Yagyu is Itto’s greatest wish. Meanwhile, Itto and Daigoro have a short respite from the half-world of Meifumafo as they mingle with the survivors of the Edo fire.
Battle’s Eve: Retsudo calls off the police that have been watching Itto and sends in his remaining Grass agents hoping to finally snuff out the threat to his ascendancy. Itto, sensing what is to come, makes his own preparations and shows his own sense of honour in the initial battle, only to be paid back in the typical coin of the Yagyu.
Grasses that Never Flower: the final battle begins as the Yagyu Grass attack in wave after wave with weapons both old and new. Itto’s previous preparations prove to be prescient and his Suio-Ryu technique as effective as ever.
Not as strong as some of the others, but still a good volume. The tangled mores of Bushido and the demarcation between the Way of Meifumado and the Way of Humanity is highlighted once again.
To Protect and Defend: once again Daigoro shows his unnatural devotion to the Way of the Bushi, defending the sanctity of the swords of Retsudo and his father in the face of any disturbance until their duel should re-commence. He meets a friendly tile maker who is nonplussed by this strange child and both must face an influx of refugees from a great fire in Edo until Itto returns once more.
For Whom to Die: Retsudo proves himself as wily as we might suppose as he manages to orchestrate a tableau, with the assistance of his capable agents, that sets himself up as the devoted servant of the Shogun suffering unjustly. The Shogun proves to be as much of a dupe as Retsudo could have hoped, though in his own mind it appears that Retsudo may believe his own propaganda, seeing himself as the only true servant of the powers that be without whose guiding hand they would fall into ruin.
Way of the Warrior, Way of Man: Retsudo, now cleared of the charges of treason thanks to his subtle plan and capable agents, whips his remaining Grass agents into a frenzy to kill Itto and Daigoro, arguing that contravening the strict rules of the duel are not truly against the way of Shido since the utter destruction of the Yagyu is Itto’s greatest wish. Meanwhile, Itto and Daigoro have a short respite from the half-world of Meifumafo as they mingle with the survivors of the Edo fire.
Battle’s Eve: Retsudo calls off the police that have been watching Itto and sends in his remaining Grass agents hoping to finally snuff out the threat to his ascendancy. Itto, sensing what is to come, makes his own preparations and shows his own sense of honour in the initial battle, only to be paid back in the typical coin of the Yagyu.
Grasses that Never Flower: the final battle begins as the Yagyu Grass attack in wave after wave with weapons both old and new. Itto’s previous preparations prove to be prescient and his Suio-Ryu technique as effective as ever.
April 24, 2016
The penultimate volume is a grand showdown between the Yagyu Grass, an elite shinobi branch of the clan and The Lone Wolf and Cub! The volume ends in a very explosive manner, it is unstoppable until the very last page.
Meanwhile, the cunning and intelligence of Retsudo made the shogun himself trust him again in a brilliant but simple deception. Retsudo is a desperate old man. Though we can see here that he is not afraid of his death. What Retsudo wanted is to rebuild the clan and restart again. And all will be done if Itto Ogami has been killed. A task even he himself, master of the Yagyu school is unsure of resulting to a success. Thus the summoning of the Grass, a necessary insurance to attain victory.
But did the Grass won? I believe not l, since there is still this finale volume. The final showdown between Retsudo Yagyu and Ogami Itto is all set in this last volume. Let it come. Let it come.
Meanwhile, the cunning and intelligence of Retsudo made the shogun himself trust him again in a brilliant but simple deception. Retsudo is a desperate old man. Though we can see here that he is not afraid of his death. What Retsudo wanted is to rebuild the clan and restart again. And all will be done if Itto Ogami has been killed. A task even he himself, master of the Yagyu school is unsure of resulting to a success. Thus the summoning of the Grass, a necessary insurance to attain victory.
But did the Grass won? I believe not l, since there is still this finale volume. The final showdown between Retsudo Yagyu and Ogami Itto is all set in this last volume. Let it come. Let it come.
March 22, 2024
Açık söyleyeyim böyle uzun soluklu, böyle olaylı bir serinin son bölümleri böyle sönük olmamalıydı. Daigoro'ya birşey olacak diye ödüm kopuyor ama iyi taktik yaptılar.
Yine de Retsudo'ya tam saygı duyacağım yine bir cinlik yapıyor. Samuray cinliği ama yine de cinlik. Otlar arch'ını oldukça gereksiz buldum. Sonuçta 4 yılda kendi ailenin en iyi savaşçıları dahil herkesi Ogami'nin üzerine salmışsın ve hepsini biçmiş. Ailenden kimse kalmamış. Adamlarından kimse kalmamış. Sana sadık olanlardan kimse kalmamış. Son bir çare olarak Otları çağırmışsın.
O Otları da binbir güçlükle 4-5 nesil önce yerlerine yerleştirmişsin. Açığa çıkmalarına göz yummuşsun. Bundan sonra Yagyu klanını siz yeşerteceksiniz demişsin. O zaman bir korkak gibi davranmayıp onurunla ölmek ve Otların Yagyu ismini yeşertmesine izin vermek varken neden Otları biçeceği garanti olan Ogami'nin üzerine salarsın ki?
Sadece bir cilt kaldı. Onun da sonunu tahmin ediyor gibiyim. Buraya ana karakterleri peynir ekmek gibi harcayan bir GRRM dokunuşu gerekiydi.
Herkese keyifli okumalar!
Yine de Retsudo'ya tam saygı duyacağım yine bir cinlik yapıyor. Samuray cinliği ama yine de cinlik. Otlar arch'ını oldukça gereksiz buldum. Sonuçta 4 yılda kendi ailenin en iyi savaşçıları dahil herkesi Ogami'nin üzerine salmışsın ve hepsini biçmiş. Ailenden kimse kalmamış. Adamlarından kimse kalmamış. Sana sadık olanlardan kimse kalmamış. Son bir çare olarak Otları çağırmışsın.
O Otları da binbir güçlükle 4-5 nesil önce yerlerine yerleştirmişsin. Açığa çıkmalarına göz yummuşsun. Bundan sonra Yagyu klanını siz yeşerteceksiniz demişsin. O zaman bir korkak gibi davranmayıp onurunla ölmek ve Otların Yagyu ismini yeşertmesine izin vermek varken neden Otları biçeceği garanti olan Ogami'nin üzerine salarsın ki?
Sadece bir cilt kaldı. Onun da sonunu tahmin ediyor gibiyim. Buraya ana karakterleri peynir ekmek gibi harcayan bir GRRM dokunuşu gerekiydi.
Herkese keyifli okumalar!
December 29, 2021
Lobo 27
Tras los eventos del festival, y por lo que pasa al principio aquí con Daigoro e Itto como que me confunde, que trata aquí, en fin.
En cuanto al jefe Yagyu, me sorprende que elija repetir una estrategia que ya le ha fallado múltiples veces, y más si como dice, son las ultimas raíces.
4.5 stars
Tras los eventos del festival, y por lo que pasa al principio aquí con Daigoro e Itto como que me confunde, que trata aquí, en fin.
En cuanto al jefe Yagyu, me sorprende que elija repetir una estrategia que ya le ha fallado múltiples veces, y más si como dice, son las ultimas raíces.
4.5 stars
August 26, 2023
Waited a good 15+ years to read this one. It did not dissapoint!
June 3, 2022
The penultimate collection of Lone Wolf and Cub. Since we are on the final stretch of stories, all of these are continuous. To Protect and Defend is the standout story (and reason for 5 stars) following Daigoro watching Ogami and Retsudo's swords.
Retsudo also sends the last of the Grass, which took generations to train and place, after Ogami. Since this is the 27th collection, I assume this is really actually finally the last of the last people Retsudo can send to their deaths. It irks me a bit because this tactic has padded the story of Lone Wolf and Cub. This action does have weight unlike past examples because previous stories were invested in showing us these final ninja and they've been active in the plot.
Letting the Grass wither reminds us that Retsudo is willing to waste as many lives as possible to ensure he comes out on top and can continue his clan. Activating the Grass already killed some of their families. Retsudo does this under the belief that the Yagyu are the power propping up the Tokugawa shogunate.
Retsudo earned some sympathy in the previous stories when he helped save Daigoro multiple times. Yet, it's squandered because he still wants Daigoro dead and in this collections sends a 12 year old Grass to his death. Retsudo is selfish and lacks that fine patina of honor that Ogami and Daigoro possess because if he were truly a devoted retainer to the shogunate, he would hand the management of the Grass over to someone else. Retsudo is also an old man. I doubt that he has enough years left to rebuild the Yagyu. His clan is finished.
On to the finale.
Retsudo also sends the last of the Grass, which took generations to train and place, after Ogami. Since this is the 27th collection, I assume this is really actually finally the last of the last people Retsudo can send to their deaths. It irks me a bit because this tactic has padded the story of Lone Wolf and Cub. This action does have weight unlike past examples because previous stories were invested in showing us these final ninja and they've been active in the plot.
Letting the Grass wither reminds us that Retsudo is willing to waste as many lives as possible to ensure he comes out on top and can continue his clan. Activating the Grass already killed some of their families. Retsudo does this under the belief that the Yagyu are the power propping up the Tokugawa shogunate.
Retsudo earned some sympathy in the previous stories when he helped save Daigoro multiple times. Yet, it's squandered because he still wants Daigoro dead and in this collections sends a 12 year old Grass to his death. Retsudo is selfish and lacks that fine patina of honor that Ogami and Daigoro possess because if he were truly a devoted retainer to the shogunate, he would hand the management of the Grass over to someone else. Retsudo is also an old man. I doubt that he has enough years left to rebuild the Yagyu. His clan is finished.
On to the finale.
July 4, 2025
For the penultimate volume, this was very well done. I love the humanity seeped into this issue, from the way Daigoro inspires a community to how a little refugee town sets up among them. A great read, I’m glad, but sad, to approach the end.
May 21, 2020
The penultimate volume and shit is wild and bloody and...well, wild and bloody. Fun shit!!!
September 2, 2021
Same as the first. Fantastic art, engaging action stories, not much to the characters.
October 29, 2021
Almost at the end, the yagyu take the gloves all the way off...
November 8, 2021
The grand finale coming up next.
April 3, 2022
Otların Ogami ile mücadelesi
July 19, 2023
4.5 stars
October 3, 2024
The second to the last. What a pleasure it has been to read this series. A must read for any who enjoy manga.
July 21, 2025
One volume to go!
February 27, 2013
Der Vorabend des Kampfes
"To Protect and Defend"
Wieder eine schöne Geschichte um Daigoro, der den Geist seines Vaters geerbt hat und den Ort des Zweikampfs, mit Schwertern markiert, beschützt.
"For Whom to Die"
Das Gras beschützt den Gärtner: Mit Hilfe seiner Shinobi schafft es Retsudo, sogar den Shogun persönlich von seiner Treue zu überzeugen. Ein sehr beeindruckendes zweiseitiges Bild der in der Decke versteckten Ninjas krönt diese Geschichte mit einem Ah!-Moment, und auch der Schluss der Geschichte, in der die Shinobi hinter Retsudo marschieren und dabei immer mehr werden, ist äußerst gelungen und atmosphärisch.
"Way of the Warrior, Way of Man"
Eine zweigeteilte Geschichte: Zunächst schwört Retsudo sein Gras auf die Vernichtung Ogami Ittos ein; dann folgt die Ruhe vor dem Sturm. Daigoro spielt mit den anderen Kindern, als wären die letzten 4 Jahre nicht die Hölle gewesen. Man sieht sogar seinen Vater einmal lächeln, und die Herzlichkeit der vor dem Brand in Edo geflüchteten Bürger zieht ihn mit. Doch bald ist diese Atempause vorbei, und die Situation holt Vater und Sohn wieder ein.
"Battle's Eve" & "Grasses That Never Flower"
Diese beiden Geschichten gehören letztlich zusammen. Die übrigen Shinobi sollen laut Retsudos Befehl den einsamen Wolf aufweichen, und sie tun das mit ihrem Leben, denn die finale Waffe, ihren mit Sprengstoff umgürteten Körper, sollte doch sogar einen Ausnahmekämpfer wie Itto bezwingen können...
Ich war stark versucht, den letzten Band direkt im Anschluss zu lesen, um endlich die Auflösung zu erfahren. Doch ein solches Meisterwerk wie "Lone Wolf and Cub" muss man genießen, und die Vorfreude gehört dazu.
"To Protect and Defend"
Wieder eine schöne Geschichte um Daigoro, der den Geist seines Vaters geerbt hat und den Ort des Zweikampfs, mit Schwertern markiert, beschützt.
"For Whom to Die"
Das Gras beschützt den Gärtner: Mit Hilfe seiner Shinobi schafft es Retsudo, sogar den Shogun persönlich von seiner Treue zu überzeugen. Ein sehr beeindruckendes zweiseitiges Bild der in der Decke versteckten Ninjas krönt diese Geschichte mit einem Ah!-Moment, und auch der Schluss der Geschichte, in der die Shinobi hinter Retsudo marschieren und dabei immer mehr werden, ist äußerst gelungen und atmosphärisch.
"Way of the Warrior, Way of Man"
Eine zweigeteilte Geschichte: Zunächst schwört Retsudo sein Gras auf die Vernichtung Ogami Ittos ein; dann folgt die Ruhe vor dem Sturm. Daigoro spielt mit den anderen Kindern, als wären die letzten 4 Jahre nicht die Hölle gewesen. Man sieht sogar seinen Vater einmal lächeln, und die Herzlichkeit der vor dem Brand in Edo geflüchteten Bürger zieht ihn mit. Doch bald ist diese Atempause vorbei, und die Situation holt Vater und Sohn wieder ein.
"Battle's Eve" & "Grasses That Never Flower"
Diese beiden Geschichten gehören letztlich zusammen. Die übrigen Shinobi sollen laut Retsudos Befehl den einsamen Wolf aufweichen, und sie tun das mit ihrem Leben, denn die finale Waffe, ihren mit Sprengstoff umgürteten Körper, sollte doch sogar einen Ausnahmekämpfer wie Itto bezwingen können...
Ich war stark versucht, den letzten Band direkt im Anschluss zu lesen, um endlich die Auflösung zu erfahren. Doch ein solches Meisterwerk wie "Lone Wolf and Cub" muss man genießen, und die Vorfreude gehört dazu.
June 18, 2016
This whole series really is a masterpiece. The penultimate volume was a reminder of all the treasures found in this series: a ticket to Edo-period Japan, epic fights, political intrigue, social commentary on class, death, being a warrior, being a child, and honor. I highly recommend this series for anyone interested in the above. Amazing.
April 20, 2012
Tough!!!! so much toughness!!!
The Kusa are an organization that appear since the start of the story and I've loved them. To see them find their fate like that is very tough.
Now it leaves me with the last volume, with heavy boots I'm reading it right now.
The Kusa are an organization that appear since the start of the story and I've loved them. To see them find their fate like that is very tough.
Now it leaves me with the last volume, with heavy boots I'm reading it right now.
July 1, 2011
This collection is one of the best I've ever read!
May 6, 2013
27 down...1 to go. Boom goes the Yagyu Grass...
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews