New Releases by Kazuo Koike

Früher war Ogami Itto der offizielle Henker des Shoguns, was ihn zu einem der wichtigsten Männer des Landes machte. Aber nach einer hinterhältigen Verschwörung fiel er in Ungnade. Auf der Suche nach Rache beschließt er, zum Söldner zu werden, und reist mit seinem kleinen Sohn Daigoro durch das mittelalterliche Japan. Schon bald schreiben die beiden ihre Legende als einsamer Wolf mit Jungem – Lone Wolf & Cub. Geschrieben von Kazuo Koike und illustriert von Gôseki Kojima, markiert LONE WOLF & CUB einen Wendepunkt in der Comic-Geschichte. Dieser zeitlose Klassiker ist ein Muss für alle Fans von Comics und Mangas. Von Frank Miller bis Quentin Tarantino und bis hin zur Fernsehserie The Mandalorian, die Arbeit von Kazuo Koike und Gôseki Kojima inspiriert nachhaltig Künstler und Produktionen auf der ganzen Welt. Nach über fünfzig Jahren seit der Erstveröffentlichung gilt dieser Manga zu Recht als absolutes Meisterwerk

Vater und Sohn sind endlich wieder vereint, während Yagyu-Oberhaupt Retsudo in die Vergangenheit des Clans blickt, und das Geheimnis des Yagyu-Briefes in greifbare Nähe rückt.

Es bahnt sich eine große Konfrontation zwischen dem Yagyu-Clan, Retsudo und den herrenlosen Wölfen Ogami Itto und Daigoro an, die nicht alle unbeschadet überstehen werden. Der junge Daigoro muss erneut beweisen, dass er auch für sein eigenes Leben einstehen kann, während er auf seinem Weg auf Fischer, gesuchte Verbrecher und alte Damen in Not trifft ...

Der herrenlose Samurai Ogami Itto und sein Sohn Daigoro stellen sich erneut dem Spionclan der Kurokuwa und die Vergangenheit um Antagonist Retsudo der Yagyu wird beleuchtet alles unter dem Hintergrund eines minutiös recherchierten feudalhistorischen Japan.

Im dritten Band des japanischen Meisterwerks, das bis heute Erzähler wie Quentin Tarantino und Frank Miller beeinflusst, wird Licht ins Dunkel der Hintergründe um Ogami Ittos Rache gebracht und der junge Daigoro muss sich gleich mehrfach selbst beweisen. Die Reise durch das feudale Japan geht unnachgiebig weiter – mit Herz, Charme, Trauer, Mut und jeder Menge Action.

Kazuko Koikes und Gouseki Kojimas historischer Manga zählt dank seiner spannenden Story und zweier faszinierender Hauptfiguren zurecht zu den weltweit besten Comics überhaupt. In lose verknüpften Episoden erzählt er die Odyssee des herrenlos gewordenen Samurai Ogami Itto, der mit seinem kleinen Sohn Daigoro als Auftragsmörder durch das Japan des späten 17. Jahrhunderts zieht.

Kazuo Koike''s samurai epic is a tour de force of graphic fiction, and Lone Wolf and Cub Gallery Edition features selections of the late Goseki Kojima''s spectacular illustration reproduced at original size on heavy-stock art paper to preserve the work in detail as it exists today, as close as one can come to owning these rarest of artworks. Including in its entirety the final titanic clash between Ogami Ittō and Yagyu Retsudo. this deluxe volume is must for collectors and for enthusiasts of the finest comic art ever created. Reproduced from high-resolution scans at original size from the original art created over forty years ago! Accompanied by corresponding reproductions in English. Lone Wolf & Cub is an internationally acclaimed classic of graphic fiction.

The bloody road to hell ends here! The final confrontation between the Lone Wolf rōnin Ōgami Ittō and Retsudō Yagyū is finally at hand, as the two ultimate swordsmen face off in a titanic struggle for the ages to settle their scores once and for all--and determine the fate of the Lone Wolf''s Cub, little Daigoro! Created by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, Lone Wolf and Cub has sold over a million copies of its first Dark Horse English-language editions, and this acclaimed masterpiece of graphic fiction comes to an epic conclusion in this larger-format, value-priced omnibus edition. The acclaimed classic by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima with cover by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley was an Eisner and Harvey Award winner and sold over one million copies of the original Dark Horse series!

Ninjas, samurai, hot lovin'', political intrigue, and gold! Path of the Assassin has it all in spades! Hanzo, the heroic ninja for the future shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, has been in some tight situations before, but nothing like the trap set for him by a ninja from a competing warlord''s clan! And to settle this trickery, a sexy battle of wits and weapons. Meanwhile, Tokugawa is moving across the battlefield on his way to Japan''s future. Path of the Assassin is a pinnacle in (Lone Wolf and Cub creators) Koike and Kojima''s fantastic and seemingly unending stable of awesome samurai manga. And as usual, these works don''t wane as they draw toward their final volumes!

Fighting for survival against Ushikudonki ninja, Tōgō Shigekata is unaware that a warship sails north to ensure he will never reach Edo Castle. But Tōgō''s charge, young Daigoro, has been trained by the swordmaster and will for the first time demonstrate his skills in combat . . . and draw his first blood! Created by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, Lone Wolf and Cub has sold over a million copies of its first Dark Horse English-language editions, and this acclaimed masterpiece of graphic fiction is now available in larger format, value-priced editions.

With waves of warriors seemingly incapable of killing ronin swordmaster Ōgami Ittō, the Shogun opts for stealth and subterfuge to attack the Lone Wolf. Using a network of prostitute spies to corner Ittō, a master poisoner waits in the shadows to accomplish what razor-sharp steel could not! Created by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, Lone Wolf and Cub has sold over a million copies of its first Dark Horse English-language editions, and this acclaimed masterpiece of graphic fiction is now available in larger format, value-priced editions.

Yagyu Retsudo''s failure to stop Ōgami Ittō, has brought an ultimatum from the Shōogun: kill the Lone Wolf or face execution. But Yagyu will not go forth empty handed. To aid his cause, the Shogun places the Firewatchers--his own elite bodyguards--under Yagyu''s command! Created by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, Lone Wolf and Cub has sold over a million copies of its first Dark Horse English-language editions, and this acclaimed masterpiece of graphic fiction is now available in larger format, value-priced editions.

Two slaves free themselves from a slave ship, one a Japanese man, the other an African American. After escaping they find themselves on the shore of Edo-era Japan, a society with a strong caste system, isolated from the world. How will the Japanese people perceive this giant black man, how will they survive? But first things first, how will they get these shackles off their feet? Fans of Kazuo Koike know how he loves to turn out a sensational samurai-era yarn with a certain sense of chauvinist violence and pulpy sexiness, and Color of Rage is by no means a slacker in these categories. Drafted by pin-up artist and mangaka Seisaku Kano, Color of Rage features plenty of action, fighting, blood, sexiness, and more fighting.

Yagyu Retsudo will stop at nothing to kill Itto Ogami--even sending his last child and only daughter to kill the Lone Wolf while keeping the vendetta quiet. And if his daughter can''t finish the job quietly, Retsudo is prepared to take his feud public and offer a reward for Itto that should have every bounty hunter, ronin, and peasant out for Itto''s head! Created by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, Lone Wolf and Cub has sold over a million copies of its first Dark Horse English-language editions, and this acclaimed masterpiece of graphic fiction is now available in larger format, value-priced editions.

A failed assassination attempt brings into Freeman''s possession Muramasa, the Devil''s Sword, an ancient samurai blade that brings misfortune and death to any who possess it. Wishing to spare Freeman and tame the sword''s malevolent spirit, Tiger Orchid, Freeman''s wife, takes the blade to Kowloon to train with a legendary swordmaster. But she''ll need to find him in Kowloon Castle, a slum so riddled with crime and destitution that it officially doesn''t exist. But its dangers are all too real, and even a possessed sword may not be enough to stop a gun-toting criminal army bent on selling Tiger Orchid into slavery! 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 challenging: dark, violent, morally complex, erotically charged, and regarded worldwide as one of the classics of adult graphic fiction.

If Art of War tactics and ninjitsu arts pique your interest, Path of The Assassin is the quasi historical samurai manga you''ve been waiting for! From the legendary comics creators Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima of Lone Wolf and Cub fame comes the story of Japan''s greatest shogun and his rise to power through the battles and intrigues of his late teens. Central to the story is a young ninja who must go to great lengths in order to secure victory for the boy who would become the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Based loosely on fabled tales of the age, Path of the Assassin is an exciting and sexy series.

Created by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, Lone Wolf and Cub has sold over a million copies of its first Dark Horse English-language editions, and this acclaimed masterpiece of graphic fiction is now available in larger format, value-priced editions. Separated from his son while battling Yagu assassins, Itto Ogami''s mission of retribution heats to a boil as he cuts through any obstacle to find his missing child. But little Daigoro, though a mere toddler, is the son of the most formidable and resourcefull samurai in the land. Though alone in a cruel world, Daigoro has the heart of a warrior!

Path of the Assassin, called Hanzo no Mon in Japan, is the story of Hattori Hanzo, the fabled master ninja whose duty it was to protect Tokugawa Ieyasu. Ieyasu was the shogun who would unite Japan into one great nation. But before he could do that, he had to grow up and learn how to love the ladies! As the secret caretaker of such an influential future leader, not only does Hanzo use vast and varied ninja talents, but in living closely with Ieyasu, he forms a close friendship with the young shogun. • Published in original Japanese format and unretouched which keeps the art intact. • This is a fifteen-volume story starring the legendary ninja and Kill Bill reference Hattori Hanzo. • Each volume comes shrink-wrapped and carries an 18+ content advisory. FOR MATURE READERS

Young boy Daigoro, refusing to leave his dead father''s side, is taken by Togo, a skilled samurai, on an adventure of his own.

Collects materal previously published in the Dark Horse graphic novels Samurai Executioner. Volume 3: The hell stick; Samurai Executioner. Volume 4: Portrait of death; Samurai Executioner. Volume 5: Ten fingers, one life.

The roads of feudal Japan are rife with brigands ready to separate travelers from their purses. For Ogami Itto and his infant son, the road is even more treacherous, as agents of the shogun and the assassins of Yagyu Retsudo dog their every step. But each step on the bloody road brings the Lone Wolf and his Cub ever closer to Yagyu... and to vengeance! Lone Wolf and Cub has sold over a million copies of its first Dark Horse English-language editions, and this acclaimed masterpiece of graphic fiction is now available in larger format, value-priced editions.

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. A young, handsome, sensitive artist, Yo has been hypnotically programmed by his Dragon masters to kill on command: he cannot resists 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 darkest.

"Parental advisory: explicit content"--Cover.

The book is published "manga-style," in authentic Japanese right-to-left format.

Two members of the Green Berets survive the vicious battle and they pit themselves against Keisukes group. Their travels take them onto Keisukes aircraft carrier and a strong battle of wills ensues.

The Shogun''s executioner has received many strange last requests from those about to lose their head, some stranger than others. A woman condemned for murder wants her locks severed by the killing blade to be given to a lost love. An old man asks that his own decapitation follow that of his prized chrysanthemum, and that his executioner grow another from its cuttings. And elsewhere, the woman who once stole the weapons of samurai policemen is asked to serve as a cop herself to use her own unique skills to help solve a puzzling murder.

Spring is a season of rebirth and delight, but not for Kubikiri Asa, the Shogun''s executioner. And for those condemned to lose their heads to Asa''s sword, this spring will be their final season. Samurai Executioner, the Edo-era samurai crime drama by Lone Wolf and Cub creators Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, continues down its path of heinous crime and diligent, bloody justice.

One could believe the old adage about the grass being greener on the other side. But, if you''re referring to the "other side" of the Sanzu, the river between life and death, chances are it will be white, the color of a samurai''s death robes. And a lot of that "grass" was probably dispatched by the hand of Itto Ogami. The Yagyu "grass," spies planted for years in local citizenry, has been on the move, gathering in Edo for a final battle. The ronin Itto Ogami has walked a path of demons with Daigoro at his side, on a quest of vengeance and death that has shaken the very foundations of the samurai caste and the shögunate. No one has been able to stop him, not even the crafty, Abeno Kaii and it looks like he''s about see his final day, but he won''t go out without a battle of wits! Only three more volumes until the long-awaited conclusion of Lone Wolf and Cub. And when it''s over, you''ll only want to read it again. This volume contains the following stories: Tales of the Grass: Nindo Ukon Struggle in the Dark Song of the Spirit Great Reversals Scarlet Summer, Silver Fall

The mortal enemy of our ronin hero, Retsudo Yagyu has been imprisoned in Edo castle by the shogun. It seems the conniving poisoner, Abeno Kaii, has exposed the Yagyu letter! And Yagyu''s jailer is none other than the poisoner himself, determined to feed Retsudo the dose that will end his life in a pit of dishonor. But Yagu has spies even in Edo caslte, and a message is sent to his "grass," members of the clan hiding in secret, living as normal townspeople throughout Japan. It is up to them to give their lives in this final hour of desperate need. Meanwhile, Itto Ogami is living in a shack and training his little boy for the day when he must protect the battlefield with his own little hands. Still, two swords remain in this field of death, awaiting the two hands that will draw them from the soil and bring us closer to the end of our tale.

Holy hand grenades! Edo is flooded, and by flooded, we mean crazy-flooded. Bridges are crumbling, rivers are washing past retaining walls, and everything in Edo is floating away, including our vengeful ronin, his foe, and his little boy. In an ironic show of samurai respect, little Cub Daigoro gets saved by the conniving Retsudo Yagyu. And proving he can lend a hand, too, Lone Wolf Ogami pulls someone to safety as well — but maybe he should have let him drown. Eventually, the two opposing master swordsmen dry off and go head to head in a sword fight of a thousand stances and couple of days length. This seems like it could be the deciding bout between the two, unless that nasty, Abeno Kaii gets in the way, and he seems to do that a lot lately.The true meaning of Bushido, the warrior code, oozes from every page of this volume. A little boy desperately attempts to drag his ronin father to safely, even if it costs him his own life; that same wandering samurai and his mortal enemy work together to save the frostbitten fingers of the same little boy, knowing they will eventually match swords again in a battle to the death; another samurai bites his own tongue, killing himself and locking a dark secret in his grave. The code of the samurai is complex and rich with irony, which is why so few carry this code through life. But as we draw closer to the conclusion of this epic struggle, the true bushi are stepping forth and showing their colors. It will truly be a fight to the finish. So, in these final days, a ronin and his young boy will visit the grave of their murdered wife and mother. It just might be the last Spring the two will share, like the many petals falling from branches. This volume contains the following stories: Child of the Fields In These Samll Hands Kaii Triumph The Last Cherry Blossoms Stone Upon Stone