Underrated Manga, Party8: Lone Wolf and Cub

[Angelcake]

I don't know why I should even be putting this here, but for some reason, Americans have almost completely overlooked this masterpiece!

Lone Wolf and Cub is basically the story of a ronin assasin and his 3 year old son, wondering Japan and simply trying to make ends meet. They take on various odd jobs, assisinations ranging from peasant rebels to the shogun himself.

This work is a classic, and if you haven't read it yet, go do it now!

[ziritrion]

I read somewhere (perhaps a quote by Stan himself?) that Daigoro was a charming character, because you could replace him for a brick and the story wouldn't change at all. A while after I read that, LWaC was finally released here, and every time I get a new book I always smile when I see him .

There are 15 books out of 20 released here (the edition here is quite thicker than Dark Horse's), and so far I'm loving it. A must-read for all the UY followers, especially the Lone Goat and Kid fans.

[Steve Hubbell]

I first "discovered" Lone Wolf and Cub shortly after I first started reading Usagi Yojimbo, and I completely fell in love with the detailed depiction of life in feudal Japan. At that point, Dark Horse had not started publishing their editions, so there were only the First Comics editions available. Once Dark Horse commenced their 28 volume series, I eagerly bought each new volume when it was released, especially enjoying the later volumes that First never got around to publishing.

Since any discussion of Lone Wolf and Cub would be incomplete without touching on the two following series:

Samurai Executioner is the precursor series to Lone Wolf and Cub, which Koike and Kojima worked on just prior to starting the Lone Wolf epic. Dark Horse Comics is currently releasing an English language edition of this excellent look at Edo period life, crime,and justice. Very intense at points, and released with parental warnings because of the graphic nature of both crime and punishment depicted. It does not seem to have the driving force of Itto Ogami's vengence to move the story along, but Koike and Kojima's story-telling and artwork are just as good as on Lone Wolf and Cub.

The New Lone Wolf and Cub is the continuation of the story of Daigoro after the fateful battle between his father and Yagyu Retsudo. At this time, it is still only being published in Japan, but at least three volumes have been published collecting what has been released so far. The story is written by Kozuo Koikeand the artwork is being done by Mori Hideki, who's style is similar to Goseki Kojima.

[Todd Shogun]

Lone Wolf & Cub and Kamui were two of the first manga I ever read. Usagi turned me on to both series, as well as chambara films and sushi (which go great together, by the way with chilled edamame, a glass of happoshu and a shot of cheap sake). I have to mention that Stan lettered and did touch-up art on The Legend of Kamui, a manga about an Ainu ninja. Add that one to your list, Angelcake.

[Jubei]

If you get the chance, also check out the Lone Wolf and Cub movies. Koike was involved with the adaptions of his stories to film and it shows for these movies are great!

[Robert Wetherelt]

I too started reading these comics after discovering Usagi and I enjoy them imensely. In fact one of my favorite Usagi characters is Sakai-sensei's own interpretation "Lone Goat & Kid". As you can probably tell from my avatar.

[Leonardo-san]

After a lot of conventions doing "cheap box" hunting many years ago, I finally did get all of the First graphic novels of LW&C. I think I started reading it about the time of my reading UY....
I have to admit at being intimidated by the sheer number of the new graphic novels as being the reason I haven't been buying them. Yes, I have heard many rave about them, and yes, the series is very good. But it's an expense thing doing the math about # X $ = $$$$$


I saw two of the movies, and they were pretty good. I've heard some are better than others.

And Kamui (as in "Dagger of")? I got a lot of those comics, too, but never did find the whole series in hunting through those cheap boxes at the cons. They started putting those out as collected graphic novels a couple of years ago, but I'm not sure if they finished them?

[Stan Sakai]

And Kamui (as in "Dagger of")? I got a lot of those comics, too, but never did find the whole series in hunting through those cheap boxes at the cons. They started putting those out as collected graphic novels a couple of years ago, but I'm not sure if they finished them?

I believe Kamui (from Viz Comics) is different from The Dagger of Kamui, or, at the least, different storylines. I worked on the Viz version of Kamui. As far as I remember, there were three graphic novels published. They did not cover the entire comic book run, though. Interestingly enough, the Viz series started with the fourth volume of the Japanese series. The first three were done by a different artist, and looks very cartoony. I actually prefer these earlier ones.

[Steve Hubbell]

From Eclipse, published in b/w...
Kamui: A Genuine Ninja Story #1 - 37

From Viz, collecting the comic series...
The Legend of Kamui Perfect Collections Vol. 1 and 2

There is / was also a tpb called:
LEGEND OF KAMUI: THE ISLAND OF SUGARU
But I believe it was incorporated into the two Perfect Collections.

An interesting page listing the various series Shirato Sanpei worked on...
http://users.skynet.be/mangaguide/au1764.html

[Stan Sakai]

From Eclipse, published in b/w...
Kamui: A Genuine Ninja Story #1 - 37

From Viz, collecting the comic series...
The Legend of Kamui Perfect Collections Vol. 1 and 2

There is / was also a tpb called:
LEGEND OF KAMUI: THE ISLAND OF SUGARU
But I believe it was incorporated into the two Perfect Collections.

An interesting page listing the various series Shirato Sanpei worked on...
http://users.skynet.be/mangaguide/au1764.html

That's right. At that time, Eclipse was packaging the comics for Viz, who acted as a licensing agent between the US and Japanese publishers. A few years later Viz would start their own publishing company.

And there were only two Kamui trade paperback volumes from Viz.

This series of comics was probably the first manga to be brought over from Japan as a regular series. This was before the use of computers that enable you to scan the art, drop in the lettering, and do corrections. Back then, we worked on stats, and had to erase the art using an eradication compound then physically write the dialogue on the stat. I never liked the slickness of the stat paper.

[Steve Hubbell]

That's right. At that time, Eclipse was packaging the comics for Viz, who acted as a licensing agent between the US and Japanese publishers. A few years later Viz would start their own publishing company.

And there were only two Kamui trade paperback volumes from Viz.

This series of comics was probably the first manga to be brought over from Japan as a regular series. This was before the use of computers that enable you to scan the art, drop in the lettering, and do corrections. Back then, we worked on stats, and had to erase the art using an eradication compound then physically write the dialogue on the stat. I never liked the slickness of the stat paper.

I think you did a fantastic job on the lettering (and touch-up) from my opinion of the Viz cpllections and the few Eclipse issues I bought way back when, especially concidering the amount of work and materials which you have just described.

[Angelcake]

Wow, never though I'd get this many replies to this post. I guess these underrated manga posts are really working!

However, one of the things I failed to add was the content of Lone Wolf and Cub. In case you don't know, Lone Wolf and Cub is VERY Adult oriented. Lots of violence, gore, and graphic sex.

Now, in comparison to UY, which has little or no gore (though there are blood spurts, Lone Woljf and Cub is leaps and bounds as far as violene goes. Plus, the closest thing ot anything sexual in UY was Inazuma bathing in Grasscutter I.

Just wanted to point that ouit. If you're of age, by alll means enjoy!

[Todd Shogun]

One more thin about Kamui, if you do ever come across the Dagger of Kamui anime, rent or buy it -- you won't be disappointed. It's loosely based on the manga, with completely different character designs, but it has an awesome storyline. Somewhat in the same style as Ninja Scroll.