Hiroshi Hirata

Extraordinary. Sometimes the artwork quality will waver slightly page to page, and it's kind of clear which pages are the authors, and which ones his assistants took over. The quality of the master is almost impossible to replicate, and probably can't be produced on manga publishing's notoriously tight schedules.

Really hope that Dark Horse Comics publishes the rest of the series, and that we get a reprint at some point. More people should read this.

If you like things like Samurai Executioner and Lone Wolf and Cub, you will probably like this as well. This is a tale of samurai who have fallen into poverty and hard times, and they try to preserve their honor and dignity. Not always an easy task. The story starts fast and graphic (a scene where a convict is to be killed), and the pace pretty much remains fairly quick for the narrative. Like other works in this genre, it is very evocative of the era it presents. The art is very well suited show more to the story. My only issue is that this volume ends just as the story is picking up an important plot. I hope I can find the next title, though I have learned Black Horse discontinued the series after the third volume. A pity, since this is clearly a good piece of work. show less

Hiroshi Hirata might be one of the greatest manga artists I have ever read.

Truly incredible. Hiroshi Hirata's artwork is extraordinary.