Most Popular Books by Kazuo Koike

Once the loyal and respected retainer of the shogun and now a discraced exile, master swordsman Ogami Itto travels a path of vengeance with his young son, Daigoro. As the authors of the honorable Itto’s fall, the Yagyu clan will stop at nothing to bury their secret treachery, and Itto will stop at nothing to bury the Yagyu! 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.

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. Lone Wolf and Cub is an epic samurai adventure of staggering proportions -- a 17th century story of a disgraced Shogun''s executioner wandering the country as an assassin.

Yagyu Retsudo is a man on fire. For years he''s been planning the destruction of Ogami Itto, the Lone Wolf. Ogami is a one-man army, having cut down all of Yagyu''s sons — except one, who''s been sent to avenge his brothers or die trying! Meanwhile, the toughest cop in Edo, now retired, has the chance to take in the killer of a lifetime, Ogami himself. But is he up to the task? And Daigoro, the Wolf''s cub, finds himself in adventures of his own, befriending a rich family and their spoiled son, and mysterious female falconers! It''s all in a day''s work for Lone Wolf and Cub... Don''t miss out on the best-selling graphic novels of the year and a series that belongs on every bookshelf! This volume contains the following stories: The Moon in the East, the Sun in the West "Marohoshi" Mamesho Spoiling Daigoro The Hojiro Yagyu The Bird Catchers

Crying Freeman, the deadliest assassin of the 108 Dragons clan of the Chinese mafia has taken a bride, and she has passed the harsh tests of the Dragons and been given a new name, Hu Qing Lan, "Tiger Orchid." And despite Freeman''s Japanese heritage, he has been chosen to become the eventual leader of the Dragons. But someone inside the Dragons wants Freeman dead, and Tiger Orchid should make a fine hostage to draw Freeman into the open . . . where a monstrous killer awaits! Written by manga legend Kazuo Koike, creator of Lone Wolf and Cub and Samurai Executioner, and illustrated by the acclaimed Ryoichi Ikegami, Crying Freeman is manga at its most adult: intensely violent, morally ambiguous, and boldly erotic. • Featuring an all-new translation, Dark Horse''s Crying Freemanis the first English-language edition of the title in the original non-westernized format! • From the writer of Lone Wolf and Cub, Lady Snowblood, andSamurai Executioner!

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!

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.

Lone Wolf and Cub chronicles the story of Ogami Ittō, the shōgun''s executioner who uses a dōtanuki battle sword. Disgraced by false accusations from the Yagyū clan, he is forced to take the path of the assassin. Along with his three-year-old son, Daigorō, they seek revenge on the Yagyū clan and are known as "Lone Wolf and Cub".

Once a humble ceramics artist, the infamous assassin known as Crying Freeman has risen in power to become the head of the 108 Dragons, the most powerful criminal organization on earth. But power has its price, and there is no end to the number of rival groups gunning for 108 Dragons''s turf--and for Freeman''s head. Faced with an army of kidnappers and a host of assassins, each more deadly than the last, how long can Freeman''s luck hold out? Will the Dragons be torn apart by warring rivals or poisoned by betrayal from within? Will Freeman''s sensitive, compassionate heart be the Dragons''s redemption or their downfall? Can Freeman and his loved ones survive the painful realities that come with living in a world of vicious gangland warfare? All questions will be answered in this, the final volume of Crying Freeman! * Long out-of-print in America, the Dark Horse edition of Crying Freeman is the first English translation of the title in the original Japanese format!

"Parental advisory: explicit content"--Cover.

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 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.

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 Lone Wolf''s arch-enemy, Yagyu Retsudo, begins to reach the end of his rope, as he sends his only daughter and last child after the blood-storm that is Itto Ogami! Meanwhile, Ogami and Daigoro happen upon another clue about the mysterious Yagyu Letter in a final showdown with the Kurokuwa ninja clan. A desperate Retsudo puts a bounty on Ogami''s head, and two of Japan''s most deadly bounty hunters hunt for the Lone Wolf and his Cub, while a poor woodcutter must decide between the bounty and his life by sheltering Ogami and Daigoro! All this and much more awaits in one of comics'' most legendary series. This volume contains the following stories: Umbrella Sayaka Clouds of Silk Demon Hide, Demon Seek Gateway into Winter

An epic samurai adventure.

Koike and Kojima''s tale of how the ninja Hattori Hanzo helped Tokugawa Ieyasu become the shogun who united Japan is in its fifteenth and final volume. All of the action, suspense, political intrigue, and love will come to an end. But before Ieyasu can claim his position, there will be much misery, murder, and tragedy on this already blood-soaked road. The path to the shogunate is a long and arduous journey, made easier by such a vassal as Hattori Hanzo, but in this last volume of Path of the Assassin, Koike and Kojima will tell us just how difficult that journey can be. "Instead of the many stories of the episodic Samurai Assassin, Koike and Kojima are unfolding a huge story arc, with comparable artfulness." -Booklist

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

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

Like leaves circling a maelstrom, Ogami Ittō and his mortal enemy, Yagyū Retsudō, are drawn inexorably by currents of vengeance toward their final confrontation. As torrential rains pound Edo, Yagyu''s forces race to find Ittō before a boatload of explosives provides the Lone Wolf the means to destroy the Yagyu, once and for all! 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 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.

An epic samurai adventure.

Follows the adventures of Ogami Itto, a samurai framed and forced into exile with his infant son, as he pursues his quest for revenge against those who murdered his wife.

The swords of Ōgami Ittō and Retsudō Yagyū stand waiting for the mortal enemies'' final confrontation, but Yagyū is imprisoned in Edo Castle, with conniving poisoner Abeno as his warden. Retsudō has two deadly options--take Abeno''s prepared meals and be slowly poisoned or refuse and die of hunger and thirst! 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. "The stories in this collection are so well written it is easy to want to read them again and again. But what truly makes it is the art. Beautiful and flowing, many frames are works of art." -geeksofdoom.com

The six paths and four lives are split asunder, as Itto Ogami and Daigoro become separated in one of this series'' most powerful stories to date! The Lone Wolf''s arch-enemy, Yagyu Retsudo, pursues Ogami to retrieve the secret letter stolen from him, only to watch dozens of his men fall victim to the Lone Wolf''s hungry sword! But Yagyu drives father and son apart as they tumble down a cliff and must survive on their own! Little Daigoro must begin his honorable search for his father. But with Yagyu''s henchmen hunting high and low for the Lone Wolf and his cub, the net drags closer and the danger wraps tighter, but the blood flows ever freely... This volume contains the following stories: The Yagyu Letter The Tears of Daigoro The Fisherwoman''s Love Drifting Shadows Straw Boy

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.

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. Lone Wolf and Cub is an epic samurai adventure of staggering proportions -- a 17th century story of a disgraced Shogun''s executioner wandering the country as an assassin.

This volume contains five powerful, classic tales of the assassin Itto Ogami, the Lone Wolf, as he continues his journey to hell. The Yagyu clan, fearful of the growing legend surrounding Lone Wolf, has decided to protect itself by sending its own assassin after him, and later pit the greatest swordsman of a rival clan against him. Also, Lone Wolf must face the leader of a bounty-hunting gang who seeks revenge against Ogami for slaying his young lord years ago, and a master gunsmith who values the art of warfare above all else and will change his life forever. Don''t miss a single volume of the acclaimed epic series that belongs on every bookshelf: Lone Wolf and Cub. This volume contains the following stories: Trail Markers Executioner''s Hill Black Wind Decapitator Asemon The Guns of Sakai

Hooooo doggy! The tension is getting so thick, a dotanuki wielded by the strongest samurai would have a hard time cutting through it! Just two more volumes left until one of the world''s most classic pieces of comic-book literature reaches its exciting and emotional conclusion. Two swords remain planted in the ground, awaiting the final duel between the conniving Retsudo and the vengeful Itto, and little Daigoro guards the two blades with his life. Indeed, his life is threatened when a stampede of villagers escaping a burning village almost plow him into the dirt. Impressed townfolk decide to stop and help him, staying for a while on the same beach. For once, Daigoro experiences the joy of being a child, playing with the other children, but that peace won''t last long. Yaygu Retsudo, imprisoned in the castle of the shögun, deceives his way to freedom and commands the very last members of the Yagyu ninja to kill Itto! But knowing swords alone won''t kill him, Yagyu sends a strange and fascinating weapon to the battlefield, the exploding ninja! This volume contains the following stories: To Protect and Defend For Whom to Die Way of the Warrior, Way of Man Battle''s Eve Grass that Never Flowers

The #1-selling graphic-novel sensation continues! The Lone Wolf and his cub, father and son, are separated by the hatred of the Yagyu -- and the path to togetherness is lined with blood and honor. As Ogami continues his search for little Daigoro, he must battle deadly Yagyu assassins and aspiring, cocky samurai. He prepares to give them a taste of his blade... Meanwhile, Daigoro visits a crazed old woman living under a bridge, and teaches her a valuable lesson. In these and other stories in this volume, Lone Wolf and Cub continue to unlock the mystery of the Yagyu, one step closer to the truth behind his quest for vengeance. Prepare for more legendary action, in a handy size that fits in your back pocket! This volume contains the following stories: Talisman of Hades Ailing Star Thirteen Strings A Poem for the Grave

Lone Wolf and Cub chronicles the story of Ogami Ittō, the shōgun''s executioner who uses a dōtanuki battle sword. Disgraced by false accusations from the Yagyū clan, he is forced to take the path of the assassin. Along with his three-year-old son, Daigorō, they seek revenge on the Yagyū clan and are known as "Lone Wolf and Cub".

The epic journey of Ogami Itto and Daigoro continues in this stunning volume! A female yakuza and her band are ordered to catch Lone Wolf and Cub, but the authorities aren''t counting on a woman''s heart. Meanwhile, the Yagyu have called in Japan''s most deadly bounty hunters, and offer an even greater reward — can the Lone Wolf trust anyone around him, when the lure of wealth tempts even seemingly harmless peasant folk? And with Daigoro feverish and near death''s door, can Lone Wolf and Cub make it through a winter gale to safety? This volume contains the following stories: To a Tomorrow That Never Comes Bounty Demons The Will of the Fang When the Wolf Comes Life in Death

From the creators of Lone Wolf and Cub comes Samurai Executioner. It’s true! Before Koike and Kojima created Itto Ogami, they created Kubikiri Asa, better known to Lone Wolf readers as Decapitator Asaemon. He was the equal to Itto, bearer of the sword Onibocho, the man charged with the duty of testing the swords for the shogun. Samurai Executioner is based on the decapitator himself, in life before his fatal duel with Lone Wolf. Expect the same legendary drama, frantic action, and stoic samurai stature, combined with the exemplary art and storytelling that made Lone Wolf and Cub one of the most popular and influential comic books in the world! • Never before published in America, Samurai Executioner was the precursor to one of the most seminal works of manga, Lone Wolf and Cub! • Since the inception of its Lone Wolf and Cub publishing program in 2000, Dark Horse has sold over 800,000 copies! And the series continues to sell thousands per month! • FOR MATURE READERS.

Water, death, and angry ninja take the foreground in this exciting volume of the legendary Lone Wolf and Cub series! A pitiful ferryboat girl discovers the tragic ways of "A Wife of the Heart," as the Lone Wolf, Ogami Itto, stands against the man she loves. In "Wayward Swords," a rogue swordsman-for-hire learns a valuable lesson about Bushido, the Way of the Warrior, from the Lone Wolf. Afterwards, Ogami once again must face the treachery of the Kurokuwa ninja clan, then becomes a river porter to foil the secret plans of his enemy, the Yagyu clan, and in doing so declares war against them all! The Lone Wolf''s actions lead to a nationwide manhunt and an epic, bloody battle unlike any in comics. Don''t dare miss a volume of the series that belongs on every bookshelf: Lone Wolf and Cub. This volume contains the following stories: Wife of the Heart Wandering Samurai Echo of the Assassin Naked Worms The Yagyu Letter: Prologue

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