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Color of Rage
Two slaves free themselves from a slave ship, one a Japanese man, the other an African American. After escaping they find themselves on the shore of Edo-era Japan, a society with a strong caste system, isolated from the world. How will the Japanese people perceive this giant black man, how will they survive? But first things first, how will they get these shackles off their feet?Fans of Kazuo Koike know how he loves to turn out a sensational samurai-era yarn with a certain sense of chauvinist violence and pulpy sexiness, and Color of Rage is by no means a slacker in these categories. Drafted by pin-up artist and mangaka Seisaku Kano, Color of Rage features plenty of action, fighting, blood, sexiness, and more fighting.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2008
11 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Kazuo Koike
564 books296 followersKazuo Koike (小池一夫, Koike Kazuo) was a prolific Japanese manga writer, novelist and entrepreneur.
Early in Koike's career, he studied under Golgo 13 creator Takao Saito and served as a writer on the series.
Koike, along with artist Goseki Kojima, made the manga Kozure Okami (Lone Wolf and Cub), and Koike also contributed to the scripts for the 1970s film adaptations of the series, which starred famous Japanese actor Tomisaburo Wakayama. Koike and Kojima became known as the "Golden Duo" because of the success of Lone Wolf and Cub.
Another series written by Koike, Crying Freeman, which was illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami, was adapted into a 1995 live-action film by French director Christophe Gans.
Kazuo Koike started the Gekika Sonjuku, a college course meant to teach people how to be mangaka.
In addition to his more violent, action-oriented manga, Koike, an avid golfer, has also written golf manga.
Early in Koike's career, he studied under Golgo 13 creator Takao Saito and served as a writer on the series.
Koike, along with artist Goseki Kojima, made the manga Kozure Okami (Lone Wolf and Cub), and Koike also contributed to the scripts for the 1970s film adaptations of the series, which starred famous Japanese actor Tomisaburo Wakayama. Koike and Kojima became known as the "Golden Duo" because of the success of Lone Wolf and Cub.
Another series written by Koike, Crying Freeman, which was illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami, was adapted into a 1995 live-action film by French director Christophe Gans.
Kazuo Koike started the Gekika Sonjuku, a college course meant to teach people how to be mangaka.
In addition to his more violent, action-oriented manga, Koike, an avid golfer, has also written golf manga.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 20, 2016
I read this one expecting it to be a thriller. It wasn't. But, it was a brilliant read and I can't wait to get a chance to pick this up again.
This is about George, a Japanese man and King, an African man who've escaped from a slave ship and are now in a "historical" 18th century Japan trying to find a place to live in peace. Don't expect an accurate depiction of history, this is more of a backdrop to a discussion on the ideas of slavery.
Through the story by Kazuo Koike attempts to illustrate the confinement of Japanese society through comparison of slavery in America. In it George is often explaining to King how they should act to get along in society. This basically requires them to humble themselves, prostrate themselves, and degrade themselves in a subservient manner to people who may be less than worthy. And, King making pointed observations about the problems with this.
There were a few moments which were pretty cringey, but there were also moments that were so beautiful and poignant...let's just say, it gave me some significant "feels".
This is the first time I've read a manga illustrated by Kano, who is a brilliant artist. There were so many gorgeous scenes, human figures, background scenes that I kept stopping just to absorb the art.
Highly recommended. (mature readers)
This is about George, a Japanese man and King, an African man who've escaped from a slave ship and are now in a "historical" 18th century Japan trying to find a place to live in peace. Don't expect an accurate depiction of history, this is more of a backdrop to a discussion on the ideas of slavery.
Through the story by Kazuo Koike attempts to illustrate the confinement of Japanese society through comparison of slavery in America. In it George is often explaining to King how they should act to get along in society. This basically requires them to humble themselves, prostrate themselves, and degrade themselves in a subservient manner to people who may be less than worthy. And, King making pointed observations about the problems with this.
There were a few moments which were pretty cringey, but there were also moments that were so beautiful and poignant...let's just say, it gave me some significant "feels".
This is the first time I've read a manga illustrated by Kano, who is a brilliant artist. There were so many gorgeous scenes, human figures, background scenes that I kept stopping just to absorb the art.
Highly recommended. (mature readers)
July 1, 2017
The story is centred around two men: one Japanese, the other African American. They both managed escape slavery, from aboard a ship carrying slaves and land on a Japanese island. Set in Edo era Japan, they must both navigate through the island overcoming various obstacles they encounter, in the hopes of finding a safe haven. There’s a lot of violence in this, but I feel the author makes a point to it, with the aftermath dialogue between the characters and this things that lead to the situation. The combination of the Asian and Black characters is interesting; it’s not a combination I’ve come across in a lot of books. They both work well together in the story. I thought the African American male character is a bit stereotypical; he’s portrayed as this big muscular guy, with super strength, who reacts to predicaments with anger and not much thought. However, I should keep in mind he is in a foreign country and can’t speak the language, while the Japanese male can, giving him more of a “street smarts”. Overall, Kazuo Koize produced a decent story here, though it does end with me wanting to know more about both characters endeavours. The black and white coloured illustration by Seisako Kano is quite good. There’s detail to characters, plus scenery and the battles are depicted well.
June 1, 2015
I'm not sure how historically accurate this book was, but it was certainly a unique story with a lot of great action and emotion. The artwork was gritty and visceral, very appropriate to the theme and setting. If you like Edo-period historical fiction, you'd probably really like this. I like that it was sort of told in episodes, but my only complaint is that it ended rather abruptly with the last episode, and gave no real closure to the story; there wasn't even a kiss-off 'we'll continue our journey' frame at the end, and a couple of plot points were left completely unresolved. It almost seems like there is supposed to be another volume of the story, but there's no indication that it will be continued. I think that's unfortunate, because this plot is really pretty unique as wandering samurai stories go, I'd have liked to read more about George and King's journey to find a place to live in peace.
July 10, 2008
Outstanding historical manga - two honorable yakuza, one an escaped African slave, the other an enslaved Japanese man, travel Japan to reach the man's hometown. The pairing draws much unwanted attention, and many unfortunate conflicts arise. Koike brings much of the brutality and corruption of feudal Japan to the surface in his manga and juxtaposes this with emotionally engaging anti-heroes.
An aside: The only manga series that ever made me tear up was during the final few pages of Lone Wolf and Cub. I never knew until the end how invested I was in the books' characters, and the ending was truly heartbreaking. After that, I had to read anything I could get my hands on by Koike.
An aside: The only manga series that ever made me tear up was during the final few pages of Lone Wolf and Cub. I never knew until the end how invested I was in the books' characters, and the ending was truly heartbreaking. After that, I had to read anything I could get my hands on by Koike.
June 15, 2008
As a big fan of Lone Wolf and Cub, when I read the back of this book, I knew I had to give it a try. Essentially, it's the Defiant Ones, set in feudal Japan. A somewhat graceful look at race, freedom, and morality, through the eyes of an African American man trapped in Japan.
I'm not sure if this is the sole volume, as it feels fairly open ended at the end. In any event, it's beautiful story telling and very compelling action from one of the fathers of manga. Highly recommended.
I'm not sure if this is the sole volume, as it feels fairly open ended at the end. In any event, it's beautiful story telling and very compelling action from one of the fathers of manga. Highly recommended.
August 28, 2016
Two men escaped from slavery and their lucky jump from the ship brought them to Edo era Japan, which was fine for Japanese man but slightly problematic for an African American man. Their exploits brought them on to journey filled with blood and gore peppered with good deeds.
February 9, 2016
Bizarre yakuza story reminding me of cheesy 70's martial art films, not surprising since his manga were adapted for the screen.
November 4, 2023
Rarely do I get to see a writing that is so dry even my mouth feels drained. The two main characters are put in some spectacularly difficult situations, from being slaves, to escapees, to saviors. At no point do I feel their humanity. Maybe it's the sketchy artwork or the lack of dialogue. There was great potential here, but the two are just challenged for the sake of succeeding. It's like they are no more than puppets, checking off a list. Ok, they're good guys, they have survival skills, they work well together. And they are completely devoid of life.
In 1783 two slaves are the only survivors from a sinking ship. Far from safe, they hide among the peasants of Japan who are either fleeing the land or revolting against their rulers because of a particularly bad harvest. They will soon make a name for themselves and not in a good way. Basically, the story is about two good men who must survive by any means. Don't expect a proper ending, though.
In 1783 two slaves are the only survivors from a sinking ship. Far from safe, they hide among the peasants of Japan who are either fleeing the land or revolting against their rulers because of a particularly bad harvest. They will soon make a name for themselves and not in a good way. Basically, the story is about two good men who must survive by any means. Don't expect a proper ending, though.
June 30, 2021
Aside from the habitual sexual abuse of women, and the very brief social commentary on feudal Japan and American slavery I found this manga to be overall forgettable. Fans of lone wolf and cub might find it interesting though. It follows the same formula of a traveling pair+ sex and violence = no character development to a T. I picked this up because I was interested in reading what Koike had to say about slavery and civil rights for the era considering his main character was a self freed African American or at least some backstory on how his Japanese character ended up on a slave ship as a slave.(The answer is the story set up demanded it so it happened) Instead I got a 1 panel flash back to a slave revolt and 374 pages of an African American man acting like an impulsive dimwitt on steroids when he's not being told what to do by a Japanese guy. It's not completely awful though. There are brief moments when the characters have 5 seconds to talk about society and justice before they just hack slash everyone to death. Not only that but nearly every female that isn't being raped, mutilated, or murdered is steadily at work being the helpless victim 😒. So there's something for everyone to hate.
October 25, 2020
This was a rather tedious Koike yarn – a picaresque tale like Lone Wolf & Cub but the individual episodes lack the drama and tension of his best work. The idea should be interesting – two escaped slaves dole out justice in Edo-era Japan. The black character's experience of racism at the hands of Japanese society is treated with sympathy, although the depiction of the rage this induces is a little crass. The artwork uninspiring and frequently too unclear to make out what was going on. Koike's work with Ikegami and Kojima is just so much better than this.
September 19, 2019
Color of Rage is an interesting story set in Japan about a two escaped slaves: a Japanese man and a Black man, and their (adventures?) journey through Japan. The commentary is interesting in that it compares American Southern slavery to Feudal Lord Peasantry, but the action is difficult to follow and the characterizations are somewhat non-existent. It's a good read as an intro to Kazuo Koike's work without signing up for his longer tales for sure.
April 30, 2018
An interesting tale of escaped slaves, one Japanese and one African-American, as they wander across feudal Japan in search of a place to settle in peace. Although they are forced to commit a lot of violence in their travels, at its core, the story is about the strong friendship between two men from two different cultures trying to survive in a brutal world.
February 12, 2023
Set in Japan in 1783, the story primarily follows two men (one a Japanese native and one a Black American) who escape a slave ship. They begin to wander, encountering misfortune and injustices as they seek freedom. A bromantic samurai tale of hardship, violence, and honor.
It's a typical period piece, but the devotion of the protagonists was the main appeal to me.
It's a typical period piece, but the devotion of the protagonists was the main appeal to me.
September 3, 2017
Good action, but the story was a bit repudiative. However, the idea was very creative.
August 29, 2018
Good story. Fast paced and well illustrated.
January 25, 2019
Fabulous art and good storyline, but the conclusion is a bit frustrating for a stand-alone book.
May 12, 2020
посредственно во всех отношениях
March 24, 2023
i love kazuo koike. path of the assassin and lone wolf and cub are both classics. but the writing in this just awful, and a lot of it is hard to make sense of visually too. huge letdown
January 26, 2026
A black slave crash lands in feudal Japan and has many violent encounters. I didn't find this very memorable.
September 9, 2008
Not Koike's best work, but even the contrived premise of this story is buffed away by Koike's storytelling ability. This collection of 9 stories follows two escaped slaves, one African and one Japanese, as they try to carve out a life for themselves in 18th century Japan.
It's interesting, the parallels that Koike draws between the treatment of the Japanese peasantry and the African slaves of the Americas. At one point, the African character King feels pity for the Japanese people.
I liked this book. I wouldn't recommend it to someone just getting into Manga because there is a lot of nuance lost if you're not familiar with the style of storytelling. Still, this book is another perfect English translation from Dark Horse.
August 13, 2016
two former slaves, one Japanese and one Black, wash up on the shores of Edo Japan. Together they search for a place they can be accepted, where people treat each other decently. There's not a lot of that in Edo Japan.
Pretty battle-intense. Lots of blood. Not much sex. Interesting artwork, but not my favorite style.
Pretty battle-intense. Lots of blood. Not much sex. Interesting artwork, but not my favorite style.
July 29, 2011
I loved some of the authors other work, but this one was kinda crap. They try to be brave with the race issue, but it's never really explored, and it just sort of ends. A bit bullshit really, there's much better Samurai manga out there.
November 27, 2011
The story is about foreign fugitives in feudal Japan.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews