Lone Wolf and Cub: Lanterns for the Dead

Koike and Kojime continue their journey through the life of the assassin with more great storytelling and expressive artwork. There are no life-changing events in this volume - unless you count the Lone Wolf's victims - but Koike continues to introduce the incremental character developments that make this series.

In this volume we see the child Diagoro protecting his wounded father once more, using increasingly sophisticated tactics to ensure his safety. Lone Wolf has some interesting strategies of his own too: bringing weapons we saw him discover in the previous volume into play against a gaggle of armed-to-the-teeth Ninjas; a plan that puts his own life in extreme danger; and another that involves the laborious training of an animal for an incredibly small but important role. In this book, it's Lone Wolf's strategic prowess that's the star.

Life is hard for the assassin, who has to deal with attacks from all corners. But it's not nearly as hard as it is for his son, who knows nothing beyond the path to Hell along which he accompanies his father. It is through this hardship that Koike continues to win our hearts. His assassin is complex, reflected in the breaking innocence of his son and what he's being put through. This is an awesome continuing work and a stunning piece of historical adventure fiction.

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