Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
Dark Horse Manga (2000), Edition: 1, 117 pages
Description
Dark Horse Comics is proud to present one of the authentic landmarks in graphic fiction, Lone Wolf and Cub, to be published in its entirety for the first time in America. An epic samurai adventure of staggering proportions - over 7000 pages - Lone Wolf and Cub (Kozure Okami in Japan) is acknowledged worldwide for the brilliant writing of series creator Kazuo Koike and the groundbreaking cinematic visuals of the late Goseki Kojima, creating unforgettable imagery of stark beauty, kinetic fury, and visceral thematic power that influenced a generation of visual storytellers both in Japan and in the West.
User reviews
LibraryThing member WalkerMedia
Only the expense of buying many volumes have kept me from finishing this series. These stories are short and self-contained, with crafty twists and a "statement" to be found in each. This ronin and his son serve as critics of the social order of the time and expose the distance between claimed
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values and practiced ones. I don't tend to enjoy the art style of a lot of manga, but I found these quite pleasing to the eye. Children and those seeking kawaii/cute should steer clear, but those mature readers with a bit of understanding of the culture should find the series enjoyable. Show Less
LibraryThing member smurfwreck
I'm not really into manga or anime for that matter because I have a real hard time wrapping my head around the Japanese style of storytelling, not to mention all of the subtle cultural differences that tend to keep me in the dark on what should be obvious metaphors. This series by Kazuo Koike and
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Goseki Kojima though was perfect for me. The plots are very straightforward and executed with a very graceful style, simple enough that I feel like I'm getting everything even though I'm probably not. I also really like the concept of a father and his baby out in the world, both swords for hire. Show Less
LibraryThing member ConsciousReader
I have a bunch of those comics. They are copy in the japanese style, only difference is the translation of the dialogues to english and the way you read the book (from left to right).
The story is somewhat based in real context and some cultural points are visible, what's very interesting and
As for the plot, it doesn't vary much. The basic story (even if a compeling one) of father and son in a quest for vegeance and survival.
I think what is more disapointing is the fact that the fighthings don't vary much, he kills them all (in the style of a japanese samurai movie). In fact the story telling is very cinematic what in a way makes some of the interest of the comic.
With a more deep plot I belive it could be better, but in general and since you can't find much of this kind in translation I think it's a good try.
To know the all story you need to have all the books anyway.
The story is somewhat based in real context and some cultural points are visible, what's very interesting and
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pleasing for a fan of the japanese culture.As for the plot, it doesn't vary much. The basic story (even if a compeling one) of father and son in a quest for vegeance and survival.
I think what is more disapointing is the fact that the fighthings don't vary much, he kills them all (in the style of a japanese samurai movie). In fact the story telling is very cinematic what in a way makes some of the interest of the comic.
With a more deep plot I belive it could be better, but in general and since you can't find much of this kind in translation I think it's a good try.
To know the all story you need to have all the books anyway.
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LibraryThing member timothyl33
The first volume of the famous "Lone Wolf and Cub" series. Due to it's popularity, the series would soon spread to other forms of media, such as live action TV shows and movies, to become equal to Zatoichi in it's popularity of the lone samurai assassin theme. It was with this expectation that I
A primary issue was due to confusing translation. The dialogue is liberally sprinkled with so much Japanese words with little to no translation, that, it might as well have been written in Japanese in the first place. When trying to get into the flow of the story, it doesn't help to have in the middle of a dialogue to check the meager glossary in the back, just to understand what's being said.
Another issue has to do with the lack of a general background of the story. Granted, most lone gunmen stories really don't need characters with background histories, when the deed of act is all that matters. But when you just have chapter after chapter of the Lone Wolf comes, kills, leaves, the lack of any overall plot tends to making for some dreary reading.
Finally the art is much to be desired. Maybe it's just my taste, but the art seems to have much difficulty in differentiating characters, to the point that I would have to go back and sometimes start again when I realize the character was not who I thought it was.
Still, there is much potential in this series. Especially with the final chapter where they (finally) give a backstory to why Lone Wolf and Cub came into being.
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started reading this volume. The book is broken into multiple chapters, each being an individual short story describing the adventures of father and son. However, no matter how much I tried, I could not find myself being engaged to the stories. A primary issue was due to confusing translation. The dialogue is liberally sprinkled with so much Japanese words with little to no translation, that, it might as well have been written in Japanese in the first place. When trying to get into the flow of the story, it doesn't help to have in the middle of a dialogue to check the meager glossary in the back, just to understand what's being said.
Another issue has to do with the lack of a general background of the story. Granted, most lone gunmen stories really don't need characters with background histories, when the deed of act is all that matters. But when you just have chapter after chapter of the Lone Wolf comes, kills, leaves, the lack of any overall plot tends to making for some dreary reading.
Finally the art is much to be desired. Maybe it's just my taste, but the art seems to have much difficulty in differentiating characters, to the point that I would have to go back and sometimes start again when I realize the character was not who I thought it was.
Still, there is much potential in this series. Especially with the final chapter where they (finally) give a backstory to why Lone Wolf and Cub came into being.
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LibraryThing member J.P.A.Birch
Great slice of Manga.
It's quite dark in tone but the violence, like the lone wolf himself, is quite restrained which helps build the tension towards the swordplay. The first volume opens with a series of self contained episodes but with a hint of a story arc at the end. A superb start to the Lone
Great writing and some fine black and white artwork.
It's quite dark in tone but the violence, like the lone wolf himself, is quite restrained which helps build the tension towards the swordplay. The first volume opens with a series of self contained episodes but with a hint of a story arc at the end. A superb start to the Lone
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Wolf and Cub. Although the series is based on Ogami Itto being an assassin there is enough variety on this to keep it fresh, with Japanish cultural references such as Sun Tzu to aid his work. We'll need to see how Kazuo Koike can keep this format from going stale or how he develops it but this is one assassin's road I fancy travelling down. Great writing and some fine black and white artwork.
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LibraryThing member Kurt.Rocourt
A classic samurai story but with a father and young son duo. It should be read to be believed.
LibraryThing member othersam
The first time I read Lone Wolf and Cub, by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, I devoured the whole series - thrilled by the swordfights, touched by the codes of honour it depicts and fascinated by the insight I felt it gave me into the history and culture of Japan.
Rereading it after spending a little
Lone Wolf and Cub is one of the very best expressions of a very powerful /idea/ of Japan. Outside the country this idea is one of the most popular, concerning as it does samurai, ninja and spectacular violence, often strikingly contrasted with long moments of stillness and beauty. Inside Japan the idea is popular too: since reaching instant classic status on publication in 1970 Lone Wolf and Cub has remained a towering (if unfashionable) influence on manga, and samurai dramas - whether directly inspired by it or by the wider idea it represents - are on Japanese tv every night. But it's only one idea of Japan: a noble, thrilling idea but also one that is harsh, hidebound and largely humourless. With this in my mind as I reread the series I wasn't carried along for the ride in quite the same way.
But I still loved it.
If you're searching for a wandering hero story - and I'm a total sucker for those - then Lone Wolf and Cub is pretty much the ultimate. The archetype of the lone swordsman pursuing a path of vengeance leaving rivers of blood behind him is given a classic twist here by the fact that he's accompanied by his baby son. Is implacable vengeance compatible with caring fatherhood? Does the father's rigid code of behaviour, inherited by his son, have any place in a world that is changing around them both? And just how could a kid survive all those swordfights and assassinations anyway? Read and see.
Lone Wolf and Cub is full-on, masterfully paced, epic storytelling, with a cast of unforgettable characters (heh, especially the poisoner). I still think (and I'm not alone; there are people all over the world who will agree with me on this) that Lone Wolf and Cub is one of the very greatest works of graphic literature in existence on this planet. Matter of fact it's one of my favourite works of literature full stop: these twenty-eight volumes have given me some of the best, most thrilling reading experiences of my life so far.
My only hesitation in recommending Lone Wolf and Cub isn't, I realise, a criticism so much as an opportunity. It's simply that - as I'm thrilled and awed to begin to discover - Japan has many, many other stories to tell, too.
Rereading it after spending a little
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time in Japan myself was a different experience.Lone Wolf and Cub is one of the very best expressions of a very powerful /idea/ of Japan. Outside the country this idea is one of the most popular, concerning as it does samurai, ninja and spectacular violence, often strikingly contrasted with long moments of stillness and beauty. Inside Japan the idea is popular too: since reaching instant classic status on publication in 1970 Lone Wolf and Cub has remained a towering (if unfashionable) influence on manga, and samurai dramas - whether directly inspired by it or by the wider idea it represents - are on Japanese tv every night. But it's only one idea of Japan: a noble, thrilling idea but also one that is harsh, hidebound and largely humourless. With this in my mind as I reread the series I wasn't carried along for the ride in quite the same way.
But I still loved it.
If you're searching for a wandering hero story - and I'm a total sucker for those - then Lone Wolf and Cub is pretty much the ultimate. The archetype of the lone swordsman pursuing a path of vengeance leaving rivers of blood behind him is given a classic twist here by the fact that he's accompanied by his baby son. Is implacable vengeance compatible with caring fatherhood? Does the father's rigid code of behaviour, inherited by his son, have any place in a world that is changing around them both? And just how could a kid survive all those swordfights and assassinations anyway? Read and see.
Lone Wolf and Cub is full-on, masterfully paced, epic storytelling, with a cast of unforgettable characters (heh, especially the poisoner). I still think (and I'm not alone; there are people all over the world who will agree with me on this) that Lone Wolf and Cub is one of the very greatest works of graphic literature in existence on this planet. Matter of fact it's one of my favourite works of literature full stop: these twenty-eight volumes have given me some of the best, most thrilling reading experiences of my life so far.
My only hesitation in recommending Lone Wolf and Cub isn't, I realise, a criticism so much as an opportunity. It's simply that - as I'm thrilled and awed to begin to discover - Japan has many, many other stories to tell, too.
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LibraryThing member cattylj
Not much in the way of plot but it was fun in terms of action. I can't imagine 1000s more pages following this exact model, at least not with the reputation it has, so it must get more detailed from here on out. From what I've heard this volume establishes the atmosphere and the story gets more
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epic from this point forward. I plan on reading at least 1 or 2 more. If nothing else they're quick and entertaining. If the plot gets more engrossing, all the better. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Lone Wolf and Cub refer to the title character and his child, a man who was once a samurai that performs assassinations as a ronin. The beginning chapters of the manga left me a little bit disappointed. It was action sequence after action sequence that had very little story, just how the main
The last chapter in the book finally starts in on the personal story of the ronin and his son. This was by far the most interesting story in the book. I am hoping it will be continued in the next book, in which case I might consider reading the whole series.
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character became involved in the current debacle. The illustrations from these stories are what really make this manga worth reading. The illustrator uses the illustrations to create tension, the same way a director puts close ups and pans in a movie. The reader should pay careful attention to these illustrations because the author relies very heavily on the drawings to move the story along.The last chapter in the book finally starts in on the personal story of the ronin and his son. This was by far the most interesting story in the book. I am hoping it will be continued in the next book, in which case I might consider reading the whole series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Lone Wolf and Cub refer to the title character and his child, a man who was once a samurai that performs assassinations as a ronin. The beginning chapters of the manga left me a little bit disappointed. It was action sequence after action sequence that had very little story, just how the main
The last chapter in the book finally starts in on the personal story of the ronin and his son. This was by far the most interesting story in the book. I am hoping it will be continued in the next book, in which case I might consider reading the whole series.
Show More
character became involved in the current debacle. The illustrations from these stories are what really make this manga worth reading. The illustrator uses the illustrations to create tension, the same way a director puts close ups and pans in a movie. The reader should pay careful attention to these illustrations because the author relies very heavily on the drawings to move the story along.The last chapter in the book finally starts in on the personal story of the ronin and his son. This was by far the most interesting story in the book. I am hoping it will be continued in the next book, in which case I might consider reading the whole series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Lone Wolf and Cub refer to the title character and his child, a man who was once a samurai that performs assassinations as a ronin. The beginning chapters of the manga left me a little bit disappointed. It was action sequence after action sequence that had very little story, just how the main
The last chapter in the book finally starts in on the personal story of the ronin and his son. This was by far the most interesting story in the book. I am hoping it will be continued in the next book, in which case I might consider reading the whole series.
Show More
character became involved in the current debacle. The illustrations from these stories are what really make this manga worth reading. The illustrator uses the illustrations to create tension, the same way a director puts close ups and pans in a movie. The reader should pay careful attention to these illustrations because the author relies very heavily on the drawings to move the story along.The last chapter in the book finally starts in on the personal story of the ronin and his son. This was by far the most interesting story in the book. I am hoping it will be continued in the next book, in which case I might consider reading the whole series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Lone Wolf and Cub refer to the title character and his child, a man who was once a samurai that performs assassinations as a ronin. The beginning chapters of the manga left me a little bit disappointed. It was action sequence after action sequence that had very little story, just how the main
The last chapter in the book finally starts in on the personal story of the ronin and his son. This was by far the most interesting story in the book. I am hoping it will be continued in the next book, in which case I might consider reading the whole series.
Show More
character became involved in the current debacle. The illustrations from these stories are what really make this manga worth reading. The illustrator uses the illustrations to create tension, the same way a director puts close ups and pans in a movie. The reader should pay careful attention to these illustrations because the author relies very heavily on the drawings to move the story along.The last chapter in the book finally starts in on the personal story of the ronin and his son. This was by far the most interesting story in the book. I am hoping it will be continued in the next book, in which case I might consider reading the whole series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mrgan
This is a great comic to have read, even if reading it isn't always tons of fun. The central premise is solid - ronin travels with his 3-year old boy and gets into various fights - but it's repeated over and over for literally thousands of pages in the whole series. It gets a bit Scooby Doo after a
The politics of Japanese clan conflicts is a bit hard to follow, and doesn't integrate with the main story well. One last complaint: the 2000 Dark Horse edition features surely the tiniest print known to man, making the books quite illegible.
All that said, the art is wonderful, the central characters memorable, and the fully episodic nature of the comic makes it easy to pick up.
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while.The politics of Japanese clan conflicts is a bit hard to follow, and doesn't integrate with the main story well. One last complaint: the 2000 Dark Horse edition features surely the tiniest print known to man, making the books quite illegible.
All that said, the art is wonderful, the central characters memorable, and the fully episodic nature of the comic makes it easy to pick up.
Show Less
LibraryThing member livingtech
I actually read the 1st omnibus, which includes the first three books in the series. Not sure why its not on goodreads.
Took about a third of the book before we got backstory or a plot that was not self-contained in a chapter, but once we did I really started looking forward to those. The one-off
Took about a third of the book before we got backstory or a plot that was not self-contained in a chapter, but once we did I really started looking forward to those. The one-off
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plots are hit or miss for me. Some are like zen koans, but some are just gratuitous violence. This is not a manga that is for teens. This is bloody and extremely violent. Also quite compelling, and I'll be looking for the next issue(s) right away. Show Less
LibraryThing member bobbybslax
The art is striking, and the action climax is pretty cool, but the rest of the book is too repetitive to hold my interest.
Awards
Squiddy Award (2000)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2000 (US ed.)
1970 (Japanese ed.)
Physical description
117 p.; 6 inches
ISBN
1569715025 / 9781569715024
Local notes
Limited Signed Edition