Samurai’s Blood #4 – Review
Created by: Michael Benaroya and Owen Wiseman
Script by: Owen Wiseman
Art by: Nam Kim (pencils), Matthew Dalton (inks)
Colours by: Sakti Yuwono
Letters by: Josh Aitken
Cover by: Jo Chen
Published by: Image
Cover Price: $2.99 (USD)
The previous issue turned the spotlight onto Mayuko and it was by far the strongest issue of the series so far. This issue sees Katashi and Jun feature much more, but the most interesting and affecting parts of the plot still revolve around Mayuko.
Though Jun and Katashi discover that Mayuko has been forced into work as a prostitute, it is not all that easy to free her. The journey the three protagonists have been on has seen their innocence and morality being whittled away and that regression continues in this issue.
Katashi’s life as a fighter for money takes an even darker turn as he fights a man to the death, with Mayuko’s freedom as the price. The noble intentions that the three set out with seem all but gone as Katashi is crushed by the actions of his own fists, Mayuko is broken from her experiences in sexual captivity and Jun continues to act in a way that ignores feelings and strives only for results.
There’s much sadness in this series, but just as the three seem destined to split apart, someone arrives on the final page that may change everything.
The only obvious complaint of Samurai’s Blood is that it is overly wordy. This makes the word balloons feel cramped on occasion and also sometimes covers too much of the artwork. The art team do a great job, handling the high emotion and fierce action with equal aplomb, so it is frustrating when a large text box of word balloon takes too much of the panel away.
Nevertheless, Samurai’s Blood is turning out to be a very strong mini-series and I look forward to seeing the final two instalments.
8/10
Samurai’s Blood #5 – Review
Created by: Michael Benaroya and Owen Wiseman
Script by: Owen Wiseman
Art by: Nam Kim (pencils), Matthew Dalton (inks)
Colours by: Sakti Yuwono and Ifansyah Noor
Letters by: Josh Aitken
Cover by: Jo Chen
Published by: Image
Cover Price: $2.99 (USD)
Reviewing a number of sequential issues in one post causes the problem of potential spoilers, but it is virtually impossible to review this comic without mentioning which character returned at the end of the previous issue, despite having been presumed dead. If you don’t want to know which character returns, then let the spoiler alert be known as the next three paragraphs contain said information.
So, Katashi’s father (Koga) is back, just in time to stop his son from strangling Jun and everyone is a bit confused as to how he is still alive. But really this issue takes a detour as Koga becomes the focus, giving a rest to the main narrative as we are shown just what Koga has been doing for the period of time covered in the first four instalments.
By switching attention to Koga, the momentum that the series was building is disrupted somewhat. His story is interesting, the way in which he is presented as a ninja, but at a time when ninja’s are considered ghostly and spirit-like. Koga’s status as ninja also has implications for Katashi, which should provide some good conflict.
Nevertheless, devoting an entire issue, the penultimate issue, to a character that has not featured prominently feels like a not un-enjoyable but also not necessarily necessary detour. Koga is undoubtedly important, but forward motion is lacking.
There is some very good art in this issue, mainly when the ninja’s are involved, particularly in a panel where a ninja walks against the backdrop of a snow storm. Otherwise the art is good, but it doesn’t depict anything especially outstanding.
With the next issue being the conclusion to this mini-series, all the pieces are falling into place for Katashi and co to try and enact their on revenge Gakushi. It should be an action packed and emotional finale, so I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.
7/10
Samurai’s Blood #6 – Review
Created by: Michael Benaroya and Owen Wiseman
Script by: Owen Wiseman
Art by: Nam Kim (pencils), Matthew Dalton (inks)
Colours by: Sakti Yuwono and Ifansyah Noor
Letters by: Josh Aitken
Cover by: Jo Chen
Published by: Image
Cover Price: $2.99 (USD)
The time for vengeance has arrived as the remaining members of the Sanjo Clan take the fight to Gatushi. This is the moment that Samurai’s Blood has been building to for the majority of the series; it was always going to end with what is basically a big sword fight.
Though the events of this concluding part were not difficult to predict, the way they unfold does include at least one unexpected moment, but I imagine the majority of readers could guess how things end anyway.
The battle sequences are dynamic and the blood from the title does flow more so than in any previous issue. It’s a much quicker read than other issues because of the action focus, and the battle itself does seem a little too easy, especially considering how the difficult odds have been emphasised on multiple occasions.
In some ways Samurai’s Blood peaked with the middle two issues. The emotion and storytelling was highest at this point and the focus on confrontation and vengeance in this issue was never going to live up to that.
Samurai’s Blood ends with a certain amount of predictability, but overall this mini-series has been enjoyable. There were a couple of really great issues in a series that was generally a good read throughout. Though the single issues may be hard to find now, I believe the trade paperback will be released soon and I would certainly recommend Samurai’s Blood for anyone interested the genre or narratives of love and vengeance.
7/10
