Lone Wolf and Cub Volume 9: Echo of the Assassin

Although it is too early to tell what it portends for this manga epic, the story of Lone Wolf and Cub moves into a new stage by the end of Volume 9 "Echo of the Assassin." Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima set up this shift by continuing to tell tales that tend to focus more on supporting characters than on Ogami Itto's journey on the assassin's road:(45) "Wife of the Heart" refers to O-Chiyo, a young woman who endures all sorts of shames because of her respect and love for a samurai who bore a punishment in her stead. Now he dreams of building a bridge across the Omono, if only he can convice his lord to listen. Then Ogami Itto arrives and the story takes a couple of very interesting twists in what proves to be a rather touching little tale.(46) "Wandering Samarai" is another one of these tales that deals with the concept of bushido as the title character, a rogue swordsman-for-hire, seeks not only a duel with Ogami Itto, but the ronin's judgment. The first two stories of this volume have in common the worthiness of Lone Wolf's opponents, an element that has become increasing prominent as the series continues.(47) "Echo of the Assassin" offers another interesting variation on this theme as Lone Wolf meets up with a stranger who unnecessarily help him fend off assassins from the Kurokuwa ninja clan. The stranger argues with Lone Wolf about his chosen path and what he is doing to Daigoro (whose vocabulary expands by about ten words in this episode). (48) "Naked Worms" is not the title story for this volume but it is the most important one despite a title that does not lend itself to being overly promoted. The title refers to the lowly river porters, the hadaka-mushi, who carry travelers across the Oi river. When Ogami Itto shows up and wants to join this band of ruffians, their boss suspects something, but is willing to see how it plays out. Of course, we know this has to be another one of Lone Wolf's cunning subterfuges and assume he is simply waiting for his next victim to come cross the river. However, what makes this one interesting is that we are wrong on that score and our expectations as to what will happen next in this epic is going to change radically at this point. (49) "The Yagyu Letter: Prologue" is a short tale whose sole purpose is for the leader of the Yagyu to announce that Ogami's latest deed has violated their agreement, and they will now send the full power of their confederates and assassins to kill Lone Wolf and Cub.Obviously, things will continue to get most interesting in the next couple of volumes. Clearly, what is past, is prologue to what is to come. I continue to read these stories at the rate of one and night in anticipation of the end of the tale sometime early next year.