What do you think?
Rate this book
子連れ狼 [Kozure Ookami] #21
Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 21: Fragrance of Death
As the trail of blood and honor gets deeper and longer, corruption and double crossings abound. Two considerably evil and ambitious forces, previously teamed to finally kill the vengeful samurai Itto Ogami, clash in the torrential rains that continue to pound Edo. Determined to be the first to reach Ogami Itto and his Diagoro, the shogun's own poisoner waits in a temple where the samurai and his toddler boy left their cart, reflecting on the path that has led him to this point, and brewing his most deadly poison. And the fiery Retsudo won't be stopped in his quest to kill Ogami, however now he must be wary of the poisoner's crafty ways. Meanwhile, the Lone Wolf and Cub enlist the aid of a tailor to help them prepare for what could be their last stand! There's something in the air, and it smells like death!
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
About the author
Kazuo Koike
385 books302 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 22, 2019
3 - 3.5 stars
‘Poison Currents’: Abe Tanoshi, the shogun’s poison taster, tries once again to use subterfuge and his vast knowledge of poisons to overcome the indomitable Lone Wolf and Cub. This time he disguises himself as a ronin attacked and left for dead by enemies in the hopes of insinuating himself with the assassin. Once accepted into their company he uses another of his potent concoctions to knock out his enemies and calls forth his legion of Nighthawks to take down his helpless enemies. Except Lone Wolf and Cub are apparently not as helpless as they appear and even though their conscious minds are unable to defend them it appears that Ogami Itto’s unconscious is more than a match for the poisoner and his minions. Lone wolf’s ‘skills’ in this one really stretched the suspension of disbelief to the breaking point and considering he’s taken on armies single-handed that’s saying something.
‘Flood of Fire’: Terrified by what he saw of Itto’s seemingly invincible will Abe Tanoshi cowers in the confines of his home with only his sordid desires able to give him comfort. Alas for the feckless poisoner this comfort is to be short lived as Retsudo chooses this moment to visit him and Tanoshi knows that this is no courtesy call: he must pit his own ingenuity against that of Retsudo or be destroyed. What follows is a battle of wills between the two arch conspirators of the shogun’s court – which one will prove to be the more capable opponent?
‘Fire, Water, and Poison’: Abe Tanoshi is desperate. His plans to defeat both the Yagyu and Itto have fallen apart and he is now running for his life hoping that he can catch up to Lone Wolf and kill him in order to salvage his reputation before Retsudo and his ninja, following close on his heels, can destroy him. Leaving his last Nighthawk retainers behind him along the road in the hopes of slowing the Yagyu down, Tanoshi manages to stumble upon the temple where Lone Wolf and Cub have holed up and, even more fortuitously for him, the assassin and his child are off on some errand of their own. It appears as though Fortune has led him on the path to retribution, but is it Lone Wolf and Cub’s or his own?
‘Fragrance of Death’: Something of an interlude in this volume as we see where Lone Wolf and Cub were when Tanoshi found their cart at the temple. The assassin and his son have gone seeking a tailor who can make for them funeral robes in traditional white silk. It would seem that Ogami’s end game is in sight and he is preparing himself for any outcome. At first horrified at the suggestion that he make these robes for the ronin and, most especially, his small son, the tailor eventually comes to see the iron resolve of both father and son and concurs. We also see Lone Wolf visit the old man into whose care he has entrusted his hoard of gold amassed from his assassinations throughout the series. The old man proves to give us a glimpse of the former life of the kogi kaishakunin as he was an old retainer of Itto’s wife whose last act of devotion has been to assist his former master in his long plan of vengeance. A rather moving story in which we see the devotion that Itto inspires not only in his long-term retainers, but also in those whose paths merely cross his for a short time.
‘Kaii’s Lulaby’: In which we get a glimse into the twisted childhood of Abe Tanoshi. It’s no wonder that the boy grew into such a warped and grotesque caricature of a human being, but that being said it’s still hard to feel much sorrow for him as he yet again plots to destroy Lone Wolf and Cub and regain his life and stature at any cost. Will we finally see the end of Tanoshi’s seemingly endless stream of plots, or does the cowardly killer have yet another stratagem for survival up his sleeve?
‘Poison Currents’: Abe Tanoshi, the shogun’s poison taster, tries once again to use subterfuge and his vast knowledge of poisons to overcome the indomitable Lone Wolf and Cub. This time he disguises himself as a ronin attacked and left for dead by enemies in the hopes of insinuating himself with the assassin. Once accepted into their company he uses another of his potent concoctions to knock out his enemies and calls forth his legion of Nighthawks to take down his helpless enemies. Except Lone Wolf and Cub are apparently not as helpless as they appear and even though their conscious minds are unable to defend them it appears that Ogami Itto’s unconscious is more than a match for the poisoner and his minions. Lone wolf’s ‘skills’ in this one really stretched the suspension of disbelief to the breaking point and considering he’s taken on armies single-handed that’s saying something.
‘Flood of Fire’: Terrified by what he saw of Itto’s seemingly invincible will Abe Tanoshi cowers in the confines of his home with only his sordid desires able to give him comfort. Alas for the feckless poisoner this comfort is to be short lived as Retsudo chooses this moment to visit him and Tanoshi knows that this is no courtesy call: he must pit his own ingenuity against that of Retsudo or be destroyed. What follows is a battle of wills between the two arch conspirators of the shogun’s court – which one will prove to be the more capable opponent?
‘Fire, Water, and Poison’: Abe Tanoshi is desperate. His plans to defeat both the Yagyu and Itto have fallen apart and he is now running for his life hoping that he can catch up to Lone Wolf and kill him in order to salvage his reputation before Retsudo and his ninja, following close on his heels, can destroy him. Leaving his last Nighthawk retainers behind him along the road in the hopes of slowing the Yagyu down, Tanoshi manages to stumble upon the temple where Lone Wolf and Cub have holed up and, even more fortuitously for him, the assassin and his child are off on some errand of their own. It appears as though Fortune has led him on the path to retribution, but is it Lone Wolf and Cub’s or his own?
‘Fragrance of Death’: Something of an interlude in this volume as we see where Lone Wolf and Cub were when Tanoshi found their cart at the temple. The assassin and his son have gone seeking a tailor who can make for them funeral robes in traditional white silk. It would seem that Ogami’s end game is in sight and he is preparing himself for any outcome. At first horrified at the suggestion that he make these robes for the ronin and, most especially, his small son, the tailor eventually comes to see the iron resolve of both father and son and concurs. We also see Lone Wolf visit the old man into whose care he has entrusted his hoard of gold amassed from his assassinations throughout the series. The old man proves to give us a glimpse of the former life of the kogi kaishakunin as he was an old retainer of Itto’s wife whose last act of devotion has been to assist his former master in his long plan of vengeance. A rather moving story in which we see the devotion that Itto inspires not only in his long-term retainers, but also in those whose paths merely cross his for a short time.
‘Kaii’s Lulaby’: In which we get a glimse into the twisted childhood of Abe Tanoshi. It’s no wonder that the boy grew into such a warped and grotesque caricature of a human being, but that being said it’s still hard to feel much sorrow for him as he yet again plots to destroy Lone Wolf and Cub and regain his life and stature at any cost. Will we finally see the end of Tanoshi’s seemingly endless stream of plots, or does the cowardly killer have yet another stratagem for survival up his sleeve?
June 4, 2022
Slowly, but inexorably events move towards a predetermined finale. The ending was known from the moment Ogami Itto took his first step on the road to Meifumado. Nothing and no one will stop the lone samurai from his purpose of revenge against the clan who destroyed his life in search for power at the Shogun’s Court.
Itto and his son Daigoro have reached the capital Edo after defeating every assassin and army that Retsudo Yagyu has sent against them. The latest has been the Shogun’s own poisoner, another demon-like creature that sees an opportunity for his own advancement in the death of Itto.
Poison Currents Abe Tanoshi is not a man who admits defeat, even after Ogami Itto foils several of his assassination attempts. In a desperate last throw of the dice, Tanoshi takes the poison himself and lets his women cast his presumed dead body adrift on the waters, betting on Ogami Itto’s integrity to see the corpse and salvage it.
Finally face to face with the Lone Wolf, the poisoner manages to incapacitate his adversary but is in for a nasty surprise when he sends his killer ladies in for the coup de grace.
Flood of Fire If the emblem of the poisoner is water, fire is the preserve of Retsudo Yagyu, who burns now with determination to strike the final blow against his nemesis with his own hand. Gathering the last warriors of the Yagyu to his side, Retsudo moves with swords drawn into the night to first dismiss the services of the unsuccessful Abe Tanoshi, and later to ambush Itto and his son Daigoro on the outskirts of Edo.
The duel between Retsudo and Tanoshi, in the house of the poisoner, is carried by means of betrayal and counter betrayal, as befits two assassins who made it a specialty of striking from the shadows.
Fire, Water and Poison The natural elements are once again central to the story, mirroring the inner storm in the hearts of the protagonists. As darkness descends over Edo, Abe Tanoshi is once more forced to run for his life, carried in a box by his last three women acolytes – three beautiful young ladies that he doesn’t hesitate to order to sacrifice their lives in order to gain him a few more precious minutes to make his escape from the Yagyu army.
Retsudo, at the head of his warriors, proves as implacable as Itto in removing any obstacle from his path of fire, and the way the authors treat women in this series may no longer be a surprise, but it is nevertheless hard to witness.
Fragrance of Death The powerful storm that settles over Edo gathers in strength, with cold winds and heavy rain battering the paths to a lonely cottage where father and son come to order their white clothes for the upcoming battle.
The artisan realizes that Itto and Daigoro are asking to be dressed in their funeral garb while still alive, symbolizing their dedication to their quest and, after failing in their attempt to convince the little boy that he can step away from Meifumado, they work all night to finish the clothes of death.
An interesting side quest in this particular story offers an update on the huge sum of money Itto has gathered as a highly paid assassin. One of the last family retainers has converted the gold in easily handled gold bricks, a treasure that is now sent to a temple in Edo, to await pickup by a still undeclared recipient.
Kaii’s Lullaby closes the two album poisoner tale, with a final meeting between Abe Tanoshi and Ogami Itto. While preparing his last poisoned food, Kaii Tanoshi sings a demented lullaby that takes him back to his own childhood, to the abuse suffered at the hands of his own father and to the ravings of his deranged mother.
The black of the poison is set against against the white of the garments father and son put on in preparation of what the last morning will bring.
>>><<<>>><<<
The pace of the story has picked up considerably in these later albums. Ogami Itto’s mythical status is translated into feats of strength and skill that defy credulity .
The distance between Itto and Yagyu is getting smaller and smaller, with less and less chess pieces left to be placed between the two main combatants.
The world itself seems aware of the inevitable final battle, with a massive storm battering the capital Edo. The end is near, yet the authors apparently will need seven more albums to tell their story.
I’m still fully involved in this excellent revenge story and not ready to nitpick at the way Koike and Kojima present the events. Re-reading each album as I write the reviews is a great way to concentrate on the artwork and on the thematic subtleties, with the first run through focused on the action.
January 27, 2019
Previously, I stated that the greatest talent that the Lone Wolf Team had was its exceptionally mature vision. Not to contradict myself but in fact, as Vol. 21 shows, there is something far more potentially potent. In two words: World Building.
Where as a work of fiction can be built utterly from scratch, the work of fictional history takes a far more constricted, and therefore difficult road. Working with immutable of fact, what has long past vanished must be resurrected with a fresh coat of pain. I can’t imagine that breathing fire into the past is a particularly easy thing to do but for Koike and Co. it comes across like a dream.
From all across the 60 Han of Tokugawa Era Japan, an impressively wide width of historical realism has been reinterpreted and realigned unto the creative teams’ phenomenal visions. And without a single scintilla of lost momentum, Ogammi Itto’s arrival into the nation’s heart only aggrandizes the tension and energy within. Not only have the author/illustrator duo forged an impressively rich reduplication of Post-Medieval Era Japan’s landscapes, in all their stunning details but, have done an applause deservingly great job in regard to character creations. Yet with new developments, there must be new characters employed as well.
Enter: Abeno Kaii the Shogun’s master of poison recently employed (in the previous offering) to off Lone Wolf and his 3-year-old cub. Although ancillary, Abeno and his troupe of prostitutes are given character development of the most stellar capacities. Whether portrayed in blood-soaked violence, or in something a little more innocuous, enormously complex developments of character occur over 100’s of frames that make us laugh, cry, and most likely a combination of both.
Yet focus is never lost, instead the built word only becomes more and more fecund with meaning. Once more a round of applause is deserved for this stellar work of art. Hear, hear!
Where as a work of fiction can be built utterly from scratch, the work of fictional history takes a far more constricted, and therefore difficult road. Working with immutable of fact, what has long past vanished must be resurrected with a fresh coat of pain. I can’t imagine that breathing fire into the past is a particularly easy thing to do but for Koike and Co. it comes across like a dream.
From all across the 60 Han of Tokugawa Era Japan, an impressively wide width of historical realism has been reinterpreted and realigned unto the creative teams’ phenomenal visions. And without a single scintilla of lost momentum, Ogammi Itto’s arrival into the nation’s heart only aggrandizes the tension and energy within. Not only have the author/illustrator duo forged an impressively rich reduplication of Post-Medieval Era Japan’s landscapes, in all their stunning details but, have done an applause deservingly great job in regard to character creations. Yet with new developments, there must be new characters employed as well.
Enter: Abeno Kaii the Shogun’s master of poison recently employed (in the previous offering) to off Lone Wolf and his 3-year-old cub. Although ancillary, Abeno and his troupe of prostitutes are given character development of the most stellar capacities. Whether portrayed in blood-soaked violence, or in something a little more innocuous, enormously complex developments of character occur over 100’s of frames that make us laugh, cry, and most likely a combination of both.
Yet focus is never lost, instead the built word only becomes more and more fecund with meaning. Once more a round of applause is deserved for this stellar work of art. Hear, hear!
April 24, 2016
No! I am disappointed with what happened to Abe, given all his twisted perversions with his female retainer/whores and utter disrespect to the way of the warrior. He deserved to be punished in the most brutal way yet the book has been so kind with him. His short back story does little in gaining reader sympathy.
Volume 21 sets the final details in the stage for the final showdown between the full Yagyu force and The Lone Wolf and Cub. There will be no more filler stories, no more unrelated chapters, just a progression towards the most-awaited climax in volume 28.
Yes, for the last quarter of the story, there will be no distractions whatsoever. Retsudo has his own army and Itto, a plan that has never been completely revealed (but wow, just wow), though I believe it is going to be an explosive one. Plus there's the secret of the Yagyu letter.
The final showdown, this is what I have been waiting for so long.
Volume 21 sets the final details in the stage for the final showdown between the full Yagyu force and The Lone Wolf and Cub. There will be no more filler stories, no more unrelated chapters, just a progression towards the most-awaited climax in volume 28.
Yes, for the last quarter of the story, there will be no distractions whatsoever. Retsudo has his own army and Itto, a plan that has never been completely revealed (but wow, just wow), though I believe it is going to be an explosive one. Plus there's the secret of the Yagyu letter.
The final showdown, this is what I have been waiting for so long.
August 31, 2020
I'm not quite certain about the math, but on a hunch I'd say the amount of gold is precisely enough to account for every assassination Itto performed during this story! That'd be impressive and I hope the author went for it.
February 1, 2026
Koike drags out the final confrontation. Long, very long scenes with little substance that lead nowhere concrete. Itto and Daigoro begin to bid farewell to the world... and there are still seven volumes left!
January 5, 2024
Hmm. Sanırım ilk kez bir Yalnız Kurt ve Yavrusu kitabına 4 yıldız verdim ama olsun. Yine de güzeldi.
Yagyu ve Ogami arasındaki mesafe gitgide kısalıyor. Daha fazla satranç taşı kalmadı. Bu arada birbiriyle alakasız bölümler, filler sahneler de bitti diyebilirim. Artık sona doğru son hız ilerliyoruz. Zehirci pisliğin backstory'si çok kısa geçti. O yüzden zaten olmayan sempati yine edinilemedi.
Bu arada benim en merak ettiğim şeylerden biri aydınlandı. Ogami kazandığı altınları ulakla Edo'da birine gönderiyormuş. O da Ogami için altınları saklıyormuş. Toplamda 42.000 ryo kazanmış. Adam başı 500 ryo alıyordu, demek ki 84 tane suikast işi almış. Bunların 40.000'ini harcadı, henüz neye bilemiyoruz. Ancak Daigoro'cuğumla kefenini de giydi (valla giydi). Şimdi en önemli gizem Yagyu mektubu kaldı.
Bunun gibi seri gelmedi gelmeyecek. Merak ettim 28 kitap ne kadara satılıyor diye. An itibariyle 2.700 liraya satılıyormuş. Bence yine de hiçbir şey değil. Yaklaşık 9.000 sayfadan bahsediyoruz. Umarım aynı konuda değilse bile buna eşdeğer bir seri bulabilirim.
Herkese keyifli okumalar!
Yagyu ve Ogami arasındaki mesafe gitgide kısalıyor. Daha fazla satranç taşı kalmadı. Bu arada birbiriyle alakasız bölümler, filler sahneler de bitti diyebilirim. Artık sona doğru son hız ilerliyoruz. Zehirci pisliğin backstory'si çok kısa geçti. O yüzden zaten olmayan sempati yine edinilemedi.
Bu arada benim en merak ettiğim şeylerden biri aydınlandı. Ogami kazandığı altınları ulakla Edo'da birine gönderiyormuş. O da Ogami için altınları saklıyormuş. Toplamda 42.000 ryo kazanmış. Adam başı 500 ryo alıyordu, demek ki 84 tane suikast işi almış. Bunların 40.000'ini harcadı, henüz neye bilemiyoruz. Ancak Daigoro'cuğumla kefenini de giydi (valla giydi). Şimdi en önemli gizem Yagyu mektubu kaldı.
Bunun gibi seri gelmedi gelmeyecek. Merak ettim 28 kitap ne kadara satılıyor diye. An itibariyle 2.700 liraya satılıyormuş. Bence yine de hiçbir şey değil. Yaklaşık 9.000 sayfadan bahsediyoruz. Umarım aynı konuda değilse bile buna eşdeğer bir seri bulabilirim.
Herkese keyifli okumalar!
March 7, 2026
Lobo 21
Al principio hay dos cosas que si son demasiado increíbles, y rompen la lectura
Después mientras hay una tormenta, los Yagyu inician su salida para ir a atacar al lobo directamente, y el se prepara para enfrentarlos
Si no fuera por esos detalles de al principio si le ponía las 5 estrellas, pero le pegan feo
3 stars
Al principio hay dos cosas que si son demasiado increíbles, y rompen la lectura
Después mientras hay una tormenta, los Yagyu inician su salida para ir a atacar al lobo directamente, y el se prepara para enfrentarlos
Si no fuera por esos detalles de al principio si le ponía las 5 estrellas, pero le pegan feo
3 stars
March 2, 2022
Anything Lone Wolf and Cub is a Masterpiece in my book.
November 16, 2020
El número anterior nos dejó totalmente picados en la historia cuando Redsudo decide que debe ser él y no el sucio envenenador quien acabe con Itto Ogami que está a punto de llegar a Edo. La suerte está echada y el enfrentamiento final se dará en medio de una tormenta de brutales proporciones que sirve de telón de fondo a la furia definitiva. ¿Quien sobrevivirá al enfrentamiento definitivo?
Por desgracia, y a mi punto de ver, el primer relato de este tomo muestra una habilidad de Itto Ogami que nomás no me la creo y eso como que bajó mis expectativas... Eso si, me acabé el tomo de una sentada.
Por desgracia, y a mi punto de ver, el primer relato de este tomo muestra una habilidad de Itto Ogami que nomás no me la creo y eso como que bajó mis expectativas... Eso si, me acabé el tomo de una sentada.
Read
July 29, 2014Starting with an inadvertently comical chapter in which the ronin turns out to be unconquerable even in his sleep, followed by a rather tacky section with a few too many bare-breasted junkie warrior women getting gorily taken down, this makes a surprising move into properly powerful territory as Ogami and Daigoro prepare for their approaching date with death.
December 4, 2020
Increíble tomo. Continúa con el enfrentamiento tripartito entre Abe, Yagyu y Ogami. Pero el autor aprovecha para seguir dándonos giros y sorpresas.
Vemos a Yagyu salir de su letargo, juntar las fuerzas que le quedan y salir a buscar al lobo y su cachorro. También vemos a Abe seguir con sus planes y enfrentarse a la naturaleza demoniaca de Ogami.
También vemos el final del juego. Parece que Ogami tenía todo planeado para este momento, y su viaje no fue porque huyera de Yagyu sino porque necesitaba tiempo y recursos para poder ejecutar su plan. En el capítulo "Olor a muerte" que está incluido en este tomo, vemos el final del viaje del papá y su hijo. Ambos samurái, ambos en rikudo shisho de Meifumado. Ese capítulo se me hizo además de revelador, muy emotivo.
El último capítulo nos muestra el pasado de Abe y nos hace sentir empatía por él. Entendemos su obsesión con las prostitutas, por qué es grotesco, también notamos el miedo que produce ser un catador de venenos cuando eres un niño. Momentos muy valiosos previos al final del tomo.
Ahora no puedo esperar por el tomo 22, lleva dos tomos perfectos que cambian la trama, construyen sobre elementos previos, dinamizan la historia, tocan emociones y nos dan acción también.
Lamentablemente sé que esta historia dura 28 tomos, parece que el enfrentamiento con Yagyu sucederá, y si hubiera estado leyendo esta historia cuando la estaban publicando, seguramente me hubiera llevado una sorpresa con lo que sucederá a continuación y que extenderá la historia por unos cuantos tomos más. De cualquier manera, a pesar de saber que faltan más tomos, no puedo dejar de imaginarme qué sucederá y tratar de adivinar los giros que nos brindará el maestro Koike.
De todos modos Lobo Solitario es uno de los mejores mangas que he leído y no puedo recomendarlo lo suficiente.
Vemos a Yagyu salir de su letargo, juntar las fuerzas que le quedan y salir a buscar al lobo y su cachorro. También vemos a Abe seguir con sus planes y enfrentarse a la naturaleza demoniaca de Ogami.
También vemos el final del juego. Parece que Ogami tenía todo planeado para este momento, y su viaje no fue porque huyera de Yagyu sino porque necesitaba tiempo y recursos para poder ejecutar su plan. En el capítulo "Olor a muerte" que está incluido en este tomo, vemos el final del viaje del papá y su hijo. Ambos samurái, ambos en rikudo shisho de Meifumado. Ese capítulo se me hizo además de revelador, muy emotivo.
El último capítulo nos muestra el pasado de Abe y nos hace sentir empatía por él. Entendemos su obsesión con las prostitutas, por qué es grotesco, también notamos el miedo que produce ser un catador de venenos cuando eres un niño. Momentos muy valiosos previos al final del tomo.
Ahora no puedo esperar por el tomo 22, lleva dos tomos perfectos que cambian la trama, construyen sobre elementos previos, dinamizan la historia, tocan emociones y nos dan acción también.
Lamentablemente sé que esta historia dura 28 tomos, parece que el enfrentamiento con Yagyu sucederá, y si hubiera estado leyendo esta historia cuando la estaban publicando, seguramente me hubiera llevado una sorpresa con lo que sucederá a continuación y que extenderá la historia por unos cuantos tomos más. De cualquier manera, a pesar de saber que faltan más tomos, no puedo dejar de imaginarme qué sucederá y tratar de adivinar los giros que nos brindará el maestro Koike.
De todos modos Lobo Solitario es uno de los mejores mangas que he leído y no puedo recomendarlo lo suficiente.
March 16, 2026
A re-read from the omnibus
Poison Currents - Also he can kill people in his sleep. And knock away thrown daggers in his sleep. And roll to put fire out - in his sleep. This is a step too far. But also Ogami Itto gets a look at the poisoner.
Flood of Fire - Not any Lone Wolf or Cub in this one. It is all Yagyu versus the poisoner. And Yagyu is working to get more of his men killed at once. This story-line has reached the point of not being sensical. When Ogami Itto ws wandering the country-side it was easier to see how this all made sense.
Fire, Water and Poison - Senseless violence. Gratuitous breasts. Only cart tracks of Lone Wolf and Cub. And rain, lot's of rain. Nice twist at the very end.
Fragrance of Death - And finally we are getting to the end. If only there were not 3 more omnibi to go. Lone Wolf and Cub get burial clothes made. And we finally see the gold, though we don't quite get what it's for. And rain. It does kind of smell like death. But also like a prolonged ending.
Kaii's Lullaby - A bit of the poisoner's back-story - which is an ugly story - but a pretty good one. And then the poisoner encounter lone wolf and cub and doesn't die. And rain.
This batch is fine but doesn't move the plot along very much - and at this point I'm kind of tired of it.
Poison Currents - Also he can kill people in his sleep. And knock away thrown daggers in his sleep. And roll to put fire out - in his sleep. This is a step too far. But also Ogami Itto gets a look at the poisoner.
Flood of Fire - Not any Lone Wolf or Cub in this one. It is all Yagyu versus the poisoner. And Yagyu is working to get more of his men killed at once. This story-line has reached the point of not being sensical. When Ogami Itto ws wandering the country-side it was easier to see how this all made sense.
Fire, Water and Poison - Senseless violence. Gratuitous breasts. Only cart tracks of Lone Wolf and Cub. And rain, lot's of rain. Nice twist at the very end.
Fragrance of Death - And finally we are getting to the end. If only there were not 3 more omnibi to go. Lone Wolf and Cub get burial clothes made. And we finally see the gold, though we don't quite get what it's for. And rain. It does kind of smell like death. But also like a prolonged ending.
Kaii's Lullaby - A bit of the poisoner's back-story - which is an ugly story - but a pretty good one. And then the poisoner encounter lone wolf and cub and doesn't die. And rain.
This batch is fine but doesn't move the plot along very much - and at this point I'm kind of tired of it.
July 1, 2024
Another superb entry as both Ogami Itto and Yaygu take on the poisoner as they march closer to their final duel. Koike keeps the tension rising, especially as Yaygu decides to grab is last bit of honor by dealing with the poisoner himself before fighting Itto. There is also a nice revelation at just what Itto has been doing with all that money he has earn. It is matched by Goseki Kojima's crisply realized art, from its depiction of feudal Japan to the epic action. Classic entry into one of the best manga's ever.
December 21, 2017
The Fragrance of Death chapter was genuinely touching, but enough of Abe and his fembots already.
February 25, 2020
Goddamn shit is poppin’ the hell OFF.
February 28, 2020
Good. Intense.
September 22, 2020
The poison master and the Yagyū race against Lone Wolf and Cub....who has his own end game plans going.
November 26, 2020
Things aren't working out very well for our Friendly Neighborhood Poisoner.
January 30, 2021
So I'm a pretty disbelieving guy but this sort of stretches out the WSD.
Interesting subject for these ones though, and everything else is still good.
Interesting subject for these ones though, and everything else is still good.
August 22, 2021
Same as the first. Fantastic art, engaging action stories, not much to the characters.
September 22, 2021
Another great volume! Almost finished with the series. Definitely recommend.
January 7, 2022
The poisoner is gross, but not compelling. Just kind of boring and yuck. I didn’t need two books of him.
January 17, 2022
I can't look away
On every page I hope that Lone Wolf will turn from his path but know that it's not even an option. A violent and painful Death is the only outcome.
On every page I hope that Lone Wolf will turn from his path but know that it's not even an option. A violent and painful Death is the only outcome.
February 19, 2022
It’s really starting to hot up now. Mad how the tension can be sustained throughout and with often so few words. Masterful
March 5, 2022
Edo da İtto nün son yürüyüşü devam ediyor, Yaygu artık baskıyı daha da arttiyor
July 16, 2023
3.5 stars. Not as interesting as it could’ve been, but still quite good.
July 18, 2023
4.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews