Lone Wolf and Cub Volume 18: Twilight of the Kurokuwa

It seemed that with the death of his children and the Kurokuwa that Retsudo Yagyu had run out of pieces to put into play against Ogami Itto, but that proves not to be the case in "Twilight of the Kurokuwa," Volume 18 of the Lone Wolf and Cub manga epic by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima. For the first time in the series the Shogun makes an appearance (although we never see his face), and we can only speculate as to what impact this will have on the blood feud;(88) "Firewatchers of the Black Gate" finds Retsudo Yagyu leading the Shogun's annual pilgrimage to the family mausoleum. As part of this ritual we learn about the Shogun's bodyguards, the Firewatchers (the Kemuridome-Shu), who are also the warriors assigned to ensure all fires are out along the route; each carries a section of ladder that can be joined together with others. The Shogun, concerned that Ogami Itto's actions are eroding the Shogunate, tells Retsudo to solve this problem within a month or forfeit his own life. Retsudo then orders the Firewatchers to kill Ogami Itto, and in this story we see their first attempt.(89) "The Immortal Firewatchers" continues the quest of the Firewatchers to kill Ogami Itto, who is trying to get to Edo by water. However, as such things often do, this fight comes down to a duel between Ogami Itto's Suio-Ryu and Habrui Genbu, Kuromon Kemuridome-Shu. (90) "Paper Money" brings together several themes we have seen in earlier stories. Again, rather than helping to slay Ogami Itto, there is someone who want's Lone Wolf's help. However, this time, it is not his sword that is desired, but rather the money he has collected on the Assassin's Road.(91) "Lifeline" finds Daigoro once again separated by his father because he had been distracted. Now Daigoro struggles to catch up with his papa, following the two tracks of the baby cart that Lone Wolf pushes across the sandy beaches. This is another one of the classic stories in this series where the dialogue is at a minimum and it is Goseki Kojima's drawings that carry the story.(92) "Twilight of the Kurokawa" reveals that not all of the Kurokawa ninja have been slain by Ogami Itto. Retsudo Yagyu visits the retirement home of the Kurokawa, where there are five old men who had served their code for fifty years and now live out their final years in Kurokuwa village. Retsduo relates what Ogami Itto has done (represented by Kojima's artwork) and "asks" for these old men to use their famous sword wheel, which has never been defeated, to kill Lone Wolf and Cub. After the bloody two-parter that begins this collection, the final trio of stories suggests a quiet before the storm, or at least a significant lull in the action. The ebb and flow of this grand saga is part of its strength, for this is not a bloodbath from start to finish. In fact, the fights are the least compelling part of the narrative for me. Instead, I focus on the character development, the historical detail, and, of course, the relationship betw

If you are reading this review then you have most likely read the past 17 or so books in this series and are hopelessly lost in the tale. Will the wolf win? If so, will he live? You know these answers from the very begining so don't bother asking now. At this point I think we must ask...if the wolf and cub correct in continuing? Don't say YES without thinking. The wolf is no longer killing the guilty or those he is paid to. Now he is fighting people with hearts as good as his, and samari that follow the code of the sword as closely as him. How much is one mans revenge worth? Read on my friends we shall know the answer soon.

The Shogun himself enters into the story, imploring Retsudo to remove the wolf plaguing the landscape. The Yagyu are already mocked at court for their failure, and the Shogun makes it clear that the Yagyu honor is at stake. He lends Retsudo his elite group of firewatchers- unparralleled fighters under the direct service of the Shogun. In the second half of this volume, a desperate and half-blinded Retsudo calls upon the true last of the Kurokawa - a retired group of ninja, now aged and crippled, but still deadly. They have fulfilled their years of servitude to the Yagyu, but Retsudo insists that they perform one last mission: Kill Ogami Itto!As this series progresses, and spirals further into the depths of sacrifice for duty, the whole concept of Ogami vs Retsudo fades, as does good vs evil. They both seem to be men trapped by their roles, trapped by their obligations, destined to agony by their senses of responsibility- Itto to his road of hell, and Retsudo to his blood line. If you are interested in a critique of Budo, and a sharp critical gaze into the intricacies of Japanese origins of honor and duty, you must read these books.