Samurai Intégrale: Premier Cycle

Samurai #1-4

by Jean-François Di Giorgio

The European best-seller now finally presented in English! Writer Jean-Francois Di Giorgio and artist Frederic Genet tap into the rich mythology of the noble Samurai, creating a nuanced look at the fabled Japanese warriors. Having become a samurai, Takeo feels strong enough to confront his past. On the borders of Japan, a terrible plan is being plotted: General Akuma, one of the Empire's most influential figures, seems to be dead set on betraying the Emperor to his own advantage. However, a grave secret links the two men: the 13th prophet. Meanwhile, Takeo hopes to discover who he is. Why did he grow up in a monastery? And why was he abandoned by his brother ten years earlier? His quest will put him in deep torment, placing him in the middle of the dark destiny of the Empire and the 13th prophet! Collects Soleil: Samurai #1-4.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Comic Book, Mystery, Drama

193 pages, Hardcover

First published May 16, 2012

About the author

Né en 1961 à Besançon, Jean-François Di Giorgio réside en Belgique. En 1985, les Éditions Michel Deligne publient son premier album Les Soleils de Faïence. Un an plus tard, il fait une rencontre déterminante, celle de Griffo. Ensemble, ils créent la série Munro (Dupuis). En 2007, paraît Eden Killer avec, au dessin, Cristina Mormile qu’il retrouve en 2009 sur le thriller Le Journal d’Ambre. Jean-François Di Giorgio poursuit ensuite les aventures de Mygala(Soleil) et la série Samurai, ainsi que son spin-off Samurai Légendes. Plus récemment, il a travaillé sur Samurai Origines.

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good

[Myke Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and engaging fantasy set in Japan's turbulent Sengoku Jidai period. It feels like the sort of D&D campaign you'd get if Akira Kurosawa ran one while he was in film school.

It follows the tried and true "Japanese Western" model, with a lone Ronin cast firmly in the Eastwood mold, blown like a tumbleweed across a gorgeously rendered island landscape gripped by the eternal autumn so beloved of Japanese heraldic art. Despite this familiar feel, Samurai adds enough in its own worldbuilding to keep things fresh, and we can forgive it its hiccups in plot and characterization based on the writers strict adherence to the tone of Japanese writers like Eiji Yoshikawa. The art, evocative of Frank Miller at his best, would make me forgive anything, if I'm fully honest.

Fans of historical comics like Manifest Destiny and Age of Bronze will particularly enjoy, as will anyone who wants to scratch the itch that Seven Samurai set in us so long ago.

[Ramon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Los Samuráis nos fascinan para que vamos a negarlo, como todo mito se ha entremezclado una realidad histórica con una literatura creciente que ha ido moldeando ese mito y exagerandolo y retorciendolo hasta convertirlos en superherores casi. Probablemente el mito nos apasiona por que plantea unos valores de sacrificio, dedicación, lealtad y filosofía vital que en pocos sitios se ha visto con tanta potencia y diferenciación como en el Japón de la era Sengoku que llegaron a su máximo esplendor con los Shogun que eran como unos gobernantes militares y donde el emperador era una figura sin poder en esa época. Época de guerras continuas entre señores feudales. Con esta base de construcción de un universo histórico tan rico y plástico como esa época se desarrolla este volumen Integral que suma 4 comics que hacen una historia completa narrativamente, nos presenta al protagonista un Samurai experto llamado Takeo y su sirviente Shiro-San. Con tintes fantásticos en la narración nos explica la historia de una traición al emperador y sin quererlo ni buscarlo los dos compañeros se encuentran en medio de una guerra de clanes y una profecía a punto de cumplirse. La historia aunque conclusiva deja muchos misterios por resolver los mismo que plantea el resumen de la contraportada que no resuelve ninguna en este primer arco.
Dibujo tremendo, un trabajo de orfebrería en páginas y páginas con mucho detalle en grandes escenarios y viñetas enormes y muy complejas. Incluyendo una página triple de lo más espectacular que se puede encontrar en comics.
Los cuatro cómics son:
.- El corazón del profeta (que da título al grupo).
.- Las siete fuentes de Akanobu.
.- El decimotercer profeta.
.- El ritual de Morinaga.

[Bogdan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ce serait 5 étoiles si le numéro 1 n'était pas si court mais pas de doute sur l'ambiance, le scénario, les dessins, les personnages. Une fois la lecture terminée, je n'avais qu'une envie : me replonger dans le monde de Jin Sakai pour être submergé sur l'île de Tsushima signé Sucker Punch. Enjoy

[Andrew Hale · Rating 3 out of 5]

#1 The Heart of the Prophet

A collaboration between Marvel Comics and French publisher Soleil to bring European work to the States, Samurai Legend begins in feudal Japan, where swordmaster Takeo sets out to find his missing brother. Leaving behind the monastery that raised and trained him, Takeo allows his pantless comic relief friend to tag along as a servant. In search of a supposedly hellish island with no name, they take a detour to deliver a nanny and her charges to a fellow monastery, since a local cult (and a traitorous horny Lord) have their eyes set on one of the young girls, who is somehow connected to a prophecy and the mysterious Heart of the Prophet. With ninjas and treachery afoot, the swordmaster puts his skill to the test. Pretty cool art, I am interested in seeing where this 17-year-old tale is going.

Character Reference:
- Akio - Kaza monk
- Lord Akuma - cult leader
- Enari - Natsumi's sister
- Jun-san - Kaza monastery head monk
- Kaze - monastery leader
- Knu/Kinu - Korean refugee; nanny to Natsumi
- Natsumi - Korean refugee child
- Nobuo - ninjas loyal to the emperor
- Shiro - temple
- Shota - racist bully in Guma
- Sisters of the Shadow
- Sojiro - swordsman
- Takeo - swordmaster samurai

- Heart of the Prophet - mysterious coin on a puzzle
- Morinaga Ritual

[Soobie is expired · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sì, mi è piaciuto ma...

L'ho preso in Archivio, tra i doni che sono arrivati ultimamente. C'erano parecchi volumi della collana Ai confini della storia e mi son messa a leggerne qualcuno.

C'è un ronin, un samurai senza padrone, che vaga per il Giappone alla ricerca del fratello e delle sue origini. É accompagnato da una specie di servo che forse è il personaggio meno riuscito dell'intera serie. Le sue battute non son divertenti: son solo fuori luogo. Un giorno, in una locanda, incontra una ragazzina che sembra risolvere un indovinello irrisolvibile. Comincia a scappare portandosi dietro la ragazzina, perché dei bruttissimi ceffi le si son messi alle costole.

La storia non mi è dispiaciuta. É la parte soprannaturale che forse stona un po' con l'ambientazione medievale giapponese molto rigorosa. Per me non rende la storia più interessante, anzi.

Però son disponibile a leggere il secondo volume perché, se da un lato sappiamo benissimo cos'è successo ad Akuma; dall'altro, ancora non si sa nulla sull'origine di Takeo e del suo tatuaggio.

[Vincent Stoessel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mature Content" is stamped all over this book. It's definitely an R rated adventure. Art is lush, story and plotting were well done. I had no idea how it would end until the end. Will be looking for more of these

[Mendousse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saga très agréable, qui joue bien avec les clichés du Japon médiéval, avec un côté fantastique qui s'intègre bien.
Le dessin est virtuose, dans un style qui cherche le réalisme.
On sent que tout est très documenté, c'est un plaisir de lecture.

[Highland G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable, a lot of the tropes are still there but they work with the story, rather than replacing it. I hope they do a vol 2 hardcover at some point in English.

[DeJuan Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great samurai story and action!

[Alberto · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Koen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wauw, wat een prachtig verhaal !! I🤩 ik zat er direct volledig in en ben er op nog geen uur doorgevlogen!! Spannend tot en met.. kijk al uit naar het volgende deel !!

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This was absolutely fantastic. I haven't really been a fan of many of the other Soliel books that Marvel has opted to publish, but this one was amazing. The story was well written and I couldn't stop turning the pages! Not to mention the absolutely beautiful artwork.

Okay, Marvel. Let's have the next one!

[Andre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this in French as a friend's place and was intrigued enough to buy it when I saw it (in this affordable if slightly smaller version). The art is beautiful and the story's straightforward and typical enough of the perception of the japanese fantasy setting to be immersive and pleasant to read.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!
Seriously good stuff here! One of the lost enjoyable, surprising reads of the year for me, so far! I don't know how much more strongly I could recommend this book--go to your local comic shop and have them order your hardcover copy today!

[Mladen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautifully drawn, but the story is really predictable and shallow.

[Nomad nimrod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art is fantastic.

[M.i. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastic artwork and a quick paced story that matches up nicely. I thought the conclusion was a bit of a letdown, but I am curious to see what the next volume holds for Takeo and his allies.

[Thnms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un absoluto imprescindible. De lo mejor producido en Europa con ambientación oriental.

[Kwaku Osei-Afrifa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaw dropping art and a fantastic story full of all the things that make feudal Japan the compelling setting it is. I CANNOT wait for the next volume.

[Camille · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could have been great. Deus ex machina.

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

lavish art

great setting

satisfying story

[Jefferson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unremarkable, cliché-ridden story propped up by some very nice artwork.