Lone Wolf and Cub Volume 14: Day of the Demons

Sometimes it is hard to remember that Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima are maddening slow in parceling out clues about the secret message hidden in the Yagyu letter because our attention is always riveted on the particular tale being told in the manga epic of Lone Wolf & Cub. Volume 14 of the saga, "Day of the Demons," offers up the next four episodes of Ogami Itto's path along the Assassin's road:(69) "One Rainy Day" is another poignant tale that takes place while Daigoro is waiting for his father to return from an assassination. A samurai renders the judgment of the people of twenty-six villages and slays the Daikansho, a corrupt local official. By taking responsibility for the killing, Harada Zenbe spares the peasants from being punished. After the official investigation, he will be allowed to commit seppuku. While waiting under house arrest, he encounters Daigoro--but only on days when the sun shines. (70) "O-Shichiri Man" refers to the special runners who delivered letters written by the lord of Han, each of whom is assigned a shichiri (17 miles) over which to run. They are granted the samurai right to kill (up to three people) to make sure the mail is delivered. However, this particular O-Shichiri has to contend with the hatred of his wife because of something he has done. Eventually Ogami Itto becomes involved in the matter--after a really neat demonstration of his skill with a sword--until the tale reaches the twist at the end that we have come to expect in such tales. (71) "The Kyushu Road" is over 100-pages long and finds Ogami Itto beset by masked assassins, including the spear instructor for Kuroda Han. The question becomes why the Kuroda are aiding the Yagyu, and Ogami Itto is invited to ask that question of Lord Kurdo himself. In doing so, we learn a bit more about the Yagyu letter. (72) "Day of the Demons" is a story of the persecution of Christians in Japan during this period. Daigoro finds a young girl to play with, but when she and her family are rounded up as Christians, he stands by his new friend. Given a charge by the girl's dying mother, Daigoro is asked by his father: "You want to finish what she asked of you?" We know the answer to that question and we suspect the sort of heartbreak we will find at the end of this unforgettable story."Once again I marvel at the way Koike and Kojima weave together all sort of different stories as they prolong our enjoyment of the journey Ogami Itto and Diagoro take as they life in Meifumado, at the juncture of the six paths and the four lives. For me the violence and the sex are so secondary to the character studies being offered up in these stories. Koike and Kojima are able to give the characters who appear in single episodes a sense of depth that makes their lives (and usually their deaths) a rich part of the tapestry. I have been reading one episode a night before I go to bed and I will probably start all over again once I finish "Lone Wolf and Cub" to better appreciat

Lone wolf and cub is a fantastic set of stories. Here we have another collection of great stores from the classic Japanese series.It's usually hard to comment on these stories uniquely. They all reflect and explain Japanese culture and for that reason alone are a fine addition to any person collection or bookshelf. The storytelling is fantastic and the artwork first rate.The second story in the segment WAS available in regular comic book form. I suspect there may have been some change in order in printing. If you like me thought the series was totally published in order, it may force you to check out some eariler issues to make sure you missed nothing.As for the tears, they involve the last story. It deals with an encounter with a group of Japanese Christians who were hunted down, bounties offered on them and given the choice of denying Christ and Mary or death. Any faithful Catholic reading this story will be moved particularly when you consider events in Indonesia and China these days. It brings to mind the passage: "Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me bofore others , I will deny before my heavenly Father" (Mt. 10:32-33) Of course nobody familar with the culture of Japan will be shocked since faithfulness unto death to any cause is a part of the culture.Reguardless of the reason you buy it, buy it.