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Samurai Cat #1
The Adventures of Samurai Cat
Sixteenth-Century Japan — a land suffering through the long night of Sengoku Jidai, the Age of Battles, a period of constant civil war, of anarchy and terror, of savagery and bloodshed and lots of other good stuff. The social order was shaken to its core; class distinctions blurred as military prowess became all-important. With luck, even a peasant could slash a place for himself among the mighty.
Even a cat...
Even a cat...
124 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
4 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Mark E. Rogers
20 books15 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Please see: Mark E. Rogers
Mark E. Rogers was an American author and illustrator. Rogers, while a student at Pt. Pleasant Beach High School, wrote a short novel, The Runestone, which has since been adapted into Willard Carroll's 1990 film starring Peter Riegert and Joan Severance, although it remains unpublished, except as a numbered, signed limited edition chapbook published by Burning Bush Press in 1979. At the University of Delaware, he continued his interest in writing, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1974. He was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa.
He thereafter became a professional writer. His published works include the Samurai Cat
series; a number of novels, The Dead, Zorachus, and the latter's sequel, The Nightmare of God; a series of books known as Blood of the Lamb; and another series called The Nightmare of God. He has also published three art portfolios and a collection of his pin-up paintings, Nothing but a Smile.
Rogers often had heart problems, he died from apparent heart failure while hiking with his family in California's Death Valley.
source: Wikipedia
Please see: Mark E. Rogers
Mark E. Rogers was an American author and illustrator. Rogers, while a student at Pt. Pleasant Beach High School, wrote a short novel, The Runestone, which has since been adapted into Willard Carroll's 1990 film starring Peter Riegert and Joan Severance, although it remains unpublished, except as a numbered, signed limited edition chapbook published by Burning Bush Press in 1979. At the University of Delaware, he continued his interest in writing, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1974. He was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa.
He thereafter became a professional writer. His published works include the Samurai Cat
series; a number of novels, The Dead, Zorachus, and the latter's sequel, The Nightmare of God; a series of books known as Blood of the Lamb; and another series called The Nightmare of God. He has also published three art portfolios and a collection of his pin-up paintings, Nothing but a Smile.
Rogers often had heart problems, he died from apparent heart failure while hiking with his family in California's Death Valley.
source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 17, 2016
Real samurais were cats. Who knew? Thanks Mr. Rogers for clearing up this historical inaccuracy.
January 12, 2014
I originally read this nearly thirty years ago when I was in college. I was just discovering humor in science fiction and fantasy literature, and this was a rare find: a book that parodied the nerd classics. Tolkien, Lovecraft, Conan, and Norse mythology are skewered mercilessly, and this book (and its sequels) found a place among my favorites. Rereading them again, the jokes feel a little clunkier than I recall, and the author seems to find far too much glee in describing the disemboweling of the title character's enemies. The book is also chock-full of crude illustrations done by the author himself, making the book almost a graphic novel, but not really (although the "maps" at the beginning of each chapter are still pretty funny).
The character of Miaowara Tomokato, the titular Samurai Cat is the best part. He maintains a civilized singular focus throughout the adventures, in spite of the insane situations around him. Although author Mark E. Rogers layers bad puns on top of wahoo scenarios and blistering send ups of nerd cliches, he always plays Tomokato straight.
My rating is mostly because of nostalgia, but I would highly recommended this book for anyone looking for a book that lovingly pokes fun at cherished geek classics.
The character of Miaowara Tomokato, the titular Samurai Cat is the best part. He maintains a civilized singular focus throughout the adventures, in spite of the insane situations around him. Although author Mark E. Rogers layers bad puns on top of wahoo scenarios and blistering send ups of nerd cliches, he always plays Tomokato straight.
My rating is mostly because of nostalgia, but I would highly recommended this book for anyone looking for a book that lovingly pokes fun at cherished geek classics.
January 10, 2019
I picked this one off the shelf in the library I work at while shifting a range and remembered reading it in the late 1980's when I first saw it.
Just a really neat book and more what we would consider a "graphic novel" now in 2019 written and painted by Mark E. Rogers. The best I can compare this book to would be as if one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Samurai Jack was a cat crossed with Mad Magazine style parody of Tolkein, Lovecraft, and Robert E. Howard. For example, the evil Stygian wizard Thoth-Amon in Howard's works and Conan himself are named Thpagheti-Thoth and Con-Ed respectively.
The last chapter is a goofy take on the Norse myths and Ragnarok.
I literally was laughing out loud while reading this book. Highly recommended.
Just a really neat book and more what we would consider a "graphic novel" now in 2019 written and painted by Mark E. Rogers. The best I can compare this book to would be as if one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Samurai Jack was a cat crossed with Mad Magazine style parody of Tolkein, Lovecraft, and Robert E. Howard. For example, the evil Stygian wizard Thoth-Amon in Howard's works and Conan himself are named Thpagheti-Thoth and Con-Ed respectively.
The last chapter is a goofy take on the Norse myths and Ragnarok.
I literally was laughing out loud while reading this book. Highly recommended.
January 8, 2018
Miaowara Tomokato is the Samurai Cat, on a mission of vengeance to hunt down those who had murdered his lord.
Tomokato is the focused constant through many crazy encounters on his mission. Full of puns, parodies and silliness hitting on Tolkien to Norse mythology.
Overall it was a fun read, but probably not for everyone.
Tomokato is the focused constant through many crazy encounters on his mission. Full of puns, parodies and silliness hitting on Tolkien to Norse mythology.
Overall it was a fun read, but probably not for everyone.
July 22, 2020
It's a silly pun-filled book about a samurai cat who goes kills mythologoical beings in order to avenge his father. You can't say no to this.
This book has its audience and I'm part of it. The stories are silly romps on mythology ranging from Lovecraftian horror to Norse gods to World War 2 to Japanese samurai culture. The book is pun filled and silly, very reminiscent of 80s comedy and b-rated thrillers.
I found this book from a thift store and loved it. The illustrations by itself are amazing and silly, Rogers is an excellent painter. It's a shame Rogers passed away in 2014, and not much of his art exists online.
https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-creator-o...
If there's ever a book you want to gift to someone for like a yankee swap or something, I highly recommend Samurai cat, it has something for everyone.
This book has its audience and I'm part of it. The stories are silly romps on mythology ranging from Lovecraftian horror to Norse gods to World War 2 to Japanese samurai culture. The book is pun filled and silly, very reminiscent of 80s comedy and b-rated thrillers.
I found this book from a thift store and loved it. The illustrations by itself are amazing and silly, Rogers is an excellent painter. It's a shame Rogers passed away in 2014, and not much of his art exists online.
https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-creator-o...
If there's ever a book you want to gift to someone for like a yankee swap or something, I highly recommend Samurai cat, it has something for everyone.
July 25, 2019
Charming.
January 4, 2024
Cartoonist story with great art to go along with it.
September 16, 2012
This was really more of a 2.5 stars for me. I really loved the illustrations included in this novel - cats as samurais in the old Japanese scroll style - and expected for it to be more historical with a little humorous twist. In this end, much of this was a parody of famous science-fiction and horror writers, namely H.P. Lovecraft, and while I love a good Lovecraftian parody, I just thought that the concept of a samurai cat had a lot of potential and the whole book was kind of a cop-out. I will give the author credit for his writing style; it's obvious he's read Tale of Genji and other samurai literature - so, props for that.
Also, while there are illustrations, that alone does not make it a graphic novel, ok? - much of it is standard novel format. Don't be fooled.
Also, while there are illustrations, that alone does not make it a graphic novel, ok? - much of it is standard novel format. Don't be fooled.
July 18, 2011
What a stud!
What is it about science fiction writers and bad puns? I call to mind Callahan's Crosstime Saloon and the Mythadventure series. The natives had dangerous numbers on their side...Bob got hit in the head with a Nine. It's a good thing I like bad puns.
All in all, a fun book on can use to turn your brain off.
What is it about science fiction writers and bad puns? I call to mind Callahan's Crosstime Saloon and the Mythadventure series. The natives had dangerous numbers on their side...Bob got hit in the head with a Nine. It's a good thing I like bad puns.
All in all, a fun book on can use to turn your brain off.
March 6, 2012
This was the super greatest book ever in middle school. So I read it again for the heck of it. While a cat that is a samurai is no longer the most profound thing I can imagine, I did get many references that flew by me as a kid. All-in-all reasonably entertaining absurd fantasy humor and a great trip down memory lane.
August 22, 2009
First read this when I was 14 - I laughed myself silly then and I still do today every time I read it.
September 4, 2009
Simply the very best illustrated feudal Japan/sci-fi/fantasy/adventure parody featuring a feline protagonist ever! Absolutely great! If you don't agree, you're wrong.
August 4, 2014
Amusing! I don't usually go for this kind of humor, but this was well executed. And the drawings are great.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews