Most Popular Books by Kazuo Koike

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.

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 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

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 Shogun himself has given Retsudo a stern warning: do something about Itto Ogami, the Lone Wolf, or the Yagyu clan will fall out of favor. Now Retsudo must turn to the Fire Watchers, a select band of warriors, for help — as well as the last surviving members of the legendary Kurokuwa ninja clan! As death stalks him, Ogami is confronted by desperate, impoverished peasants who want him to share his fortune with the suffering. With Ogami''s cub, Daigoro, caught in the middle, what will he decide? Find out what everyone can''t stop talking about. This volume contains the following stories: Firewatchers of the Black Gate The Immortal Firewatchers Paper Money Lifeline Twilight of the Kurokuwa

"Parental advisory: explicit content"--Cover.

Fighting for survival against Ushikudonki ninja, Tōgō Shigekata is unaware that a warship sails north to ensure he will never reach Edo Castle. But Tōgō''s charge, young Daigoro, has been trained by the swordmaster and will for the first time demonstrate his skills in combat . . . and draw his first blood! 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.

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

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

Rain. Poison. Explosives. Vengeance. It''s a deadly combination that forms a volatile mixture of deceit, betrayal, and hate as the final showdown between Lone Wolf assassin Ogami Itto and his nemesis Retsudo begins. While the torrential rains continue to pound Edo, the fiery Retsudo and his bloodthirsty Yagyu army rush along the banks of the swelling Hatcho River, racing to beat a load of explosives that''s traveling down the other side, heading right into the hands of the vengeful samurai Ogami. Meanwhile, the cunning poisoner Abeno sees his chance to destroy both sides as they run headlong on their collision course -- he''s going flood all of Edo! Forced to put their battle aside, Ogami and Retsudo find themselves fighting side by side to save all of Edo from the floods, while Ogami''s little son Daigoro wanders alone, fighting for his life and searching for his father! It''s a deluge of evil, and it threatens to wash away all that stands in its path!

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

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

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

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

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.

With his ninja assassins exterminated by Togo Shigekata, Mamiya Rinzo plays his final card to stop the rogue swordsman''s crusade for retribution: the ruthless Roshiya Ushidonki warriors Rinzo trained in Russia. But another foreign fighter has arrived in Japan--Rinzo''s abandoned daughter, on her own quest for vengeance! Kazuo Koike''s Lone Wolf and Cub is an acclaimed masterpiece of graphic fiction, and New Lone Wolf and Cub is the long-awaited sequel to this groundbreaking manga. Illustrated by Hideki Mori and translated by Dana Lewis.

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!

The path of revenge can have many twisted turns, and Lady Snowblood''s is no exception. Born in a prison, a product of her mother''s grudge, Yuki is a child of hell. What will she do for revenge? Pose as a nun? Become another woman''s lover? Possibly. In this volume we learn about Yuki''s training and youth, see her woo some allies, and embark on the first steps of her angry path. Written by Kazuo Koike of Lone Wolf & Cub fame, Lady Snowblood is a tale of a woman''s path in hell. FOR MATURE READERS

Vater und Sohn sind endlich wieder vereint, während Yagyu-Oberhaupt Retsudo in die Vergangenheit des Clans blickt, und das Geheimnis des Yagyu-Briefes in greifbare Nähe rückt.

Der herrenlose Samurai und Attentäter Ogami Itto ist mit seinem kleinen Sohn Daigoro auf einem Rachefeldzug. Auf ihrem grimmigen Pfad begegnen sie allerdings zahlreichen Verbündeten, Betrügern, Gleichgesinnten, Gaunern, Bauern, Taschenspielern, Feudalherren und Kriegern. Das epochale Meisterwerk von Kazuo Koike und Gôseki Kojima gilt nicht ohne Grund als eine der besten grafischen Erzählungen aller Zeiten.

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!

From the pen of Kazuo Koike, of Lone Wolf and Cub fame, comesLady Snowblood. A story of pure vengeance, Lady Snowblood tells the tale of a daughter born of a singular purpose, to avenge the death of her family at the hands of a gang of thugs, a purpose woven into her soul from the time of her gestation. Beautifully drafted and full of bloody, sexy action, Lady Snowblood lives up to its title and reputation. • From Kazuo Koike, writer of Lone Wolf and Cub, Crying Freeman, and Samurai Executioner. FOR MATURE READERS

As samurai were losing their bearings in a time of change, Yuki brought back the demonic spirit of vengeance. And the good part about this last volume of Lady Snowblood is that she saved her most hated targets for last. Yet, in the midst of a maelstrom of sex and violence, the reader will still catch a few glimpses of warmth and human compassion. That''s because Kazuo Koike, the creator of the popular Lone Wolf & Cub manga, knows how to build around good characters, and Lady Snowblood is certainly no exception. See how it all ends in volume 4, the second part of "Retribution." • From Kazuo Koike, writer of Lone Wolf & Cub, Crying Freeman,and Samurai Executioner. • Lady Snowblood is published in the authentic Japanese format. FOR MATURE READERS

The epic continues! Among the five stories in this issue: Cub has been captured while Lone Wolf lies unconscious! All of Cub''s captors are cruel, all but the osue (the lowest maid). But her help may be her undoing. The household waits for the feared Lone Wolf to come looking for his son...and when he does...pick up Volume Two to find out what happens -- plus four other great stories, as this classic epic continues! This volume includes the following stories: Red Cat The Coming of the Cold Tragic O-Sue The Gateless Barrier Winter Flower

Cult leader Naiji Kumaga is poised for a hostile takeover of Japan. He has the tools--1000 submachine guns in a land with few firearms--but needs expert hands to wield them, and the assassins of the 108 Dragons definitely have what it takes. Kumaga''s plan: capture the Dragons'' leader, Crying Freeman, and replace him with a trained double. Snatching the world''s deadliest killer is a tall order, but maybe not too tall for the merciless giant, Tohgoku Oshu! • 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!

Lady Snowblood is a woman born with a singular purpose, revenge. Revenge for the death of her father at the hands of greedy criminals. Revenge for the life of her mother, who birthed her in a prison to continue this demon''s path of death. Sometimes this path is odd, sometimes sexy, often painful, and always violent. By means of a world''s worth of skills, Lady Snowblood will find her revenge. But who knows what lies at the end of this path. • Skillfully written by Kazuo Koike of Lone Wolf and Cub fame and master-drafted by Kazuo Kamimura, Lady Snowblood is a sexy story of a woman bound by dire desires.

A master ninja''s duty is to protect the boy who would grow up to become Shogun and unify Japan.

Continues the epic samurai adventure.

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".

Koike and Kojima''s story of the famed ninja, Hanzo Hattori and his trials and tribulations protecting the shogun-to-be, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Each page builds upon the relationship between the two warrirors and the women they love. Path of the Assassin, printed in the same size format as Lone Wolf and Cub and Samurai Executioner, this title is a wonderful addition to the Koike and Kojima samurai collection. • Published in the original Japanese format and unretouched which keeps the art intact. • This is a fifteen-volume story starring the legendary ninja and Kill Bill reference Hanzo Hattori. FOR MATURE READERS.

An epic samurai adventure.

Kazuko Koikes und Gouseki Kojimas historischer Manga zählt dank seiner spannenden Story und zweier faszinierender Hauptfiguren zurecht zu den weltweit besten Comics überhaupt. In lose verknüpften Episoden erzählt er die Odyssee des herrenlos gewordenen Samurai Ogami Itto, der mit seinem kleinen Sohn Daigoro als Auftragsmörder durch das Japan des späten 17. Jahrhunderts zieht.

The book is published "manga-style," in authentic Japanese right-to-left format.

Spring is a season of rebirth and delight, but not for Kubikiri Asa, the Shogun''s executioner. And for those condemned to lose their heads to Asa''s sword, this spring will be their final season. Samurai Executioner, the Edo-era samurai crime drama by Lone Wolf and Cub creators Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, continues down its path of heinous crime and diligent, bloody justice.

Der herrenlose Samurai Ogami Itto und sein Sohn Daigoro stellen sich erneut dem Spionclan der Kurokuwa und die Vergangenheit um Antagonist Retsudo der Yagyu wird beleuchtet alles unter dem Hintergrund eines minutiös recherchierten feudalhistorischen Japan.

Yuki works as a master assassin, living out an old tradition of vengeance for crimes committed against a family she never met.

A quest for vengeance wouldn''t be complete without a little poison. Having tired of his retainer''s futile attempts at reining in the unstoppable samurai, the shogun himself sends Abeno Kaii, a master of poison, to join the Yagyu in their hunt for ronin Itto Ogami and his little boy Daigoro. Armed with a sack full of poison and a network of streetwalking spies, Abeno creeps ever closer to the father and son. Soon Ogami and Daigoro find themselves surrounded on all sides, facing deadly secret agents, murderously seductive prostitutes, and a river of poison flowing all around them! The Eisner and Harvey Award winning series rolls ever onward with five more stories of intrigue and intensity.

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".