Lone Wolf and Cub

[jaeldubyoo]

This was one of the few comic series I was still reading during the Copper Age. Some of the issues featured great cover art. Frank Miller with Lynn Varley collaborated on the first twelve issues. I feel these were among the best work Miller has done. Bill Sienkievicz did the covers from 13-24.

The stories were excellent. While they are violent and bloody, these graphic novels tell the story in an epic manner. There was very little verbage, sometimes pages without any dialogue or explanations, but the stories flowed with the dynamic art. I love the way the art was drawn, in a flowing cinematic style, using different angles, zooming in and out and panning the scenery. In fact, there was a series of films made based on these stories. I heartily recommend Shogun Assassin.

Here's a scan of the first issue.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/lone%20wolf/scan0001.jpg

I'll be posting more as I find the time.

[marvelguy]

I remember these books when my cousin raved about back in the 80's, I've never got around to read them. Is it printed in TPB?

[jaeldubyoo]

I remember these books when my cousin raved about back in the 80's, I've never got around to read them. Is it printed in TPB?

Dark Horse reprinted the series in trade paperback. They're smaller in size but thick, about 300 pages each.

[jaeldubyoo]

Here's the last one that First Comics published, #45. There are some that say this is hard to find since it was the last issue.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/lone%20wolf/scan0002.jpg

[fulltimer56]

I like the cover for #45 better than I do the #1!

[cluelesscomicnewbi]

Just based on the covers alone, I have GOT to get ahold of this series! I love samurai stuff, I'm definately adding this to the top of my want list.

[rowand]

Lone Wolf and Cub rock! great series! Loved the art, the stories, and the glimpse into (an idealized) Medieval Nippon they provided. I raided 25c bins for these for years. I will see what I can pull out.

[jaeldubyoo]

Here's one of my favorite covers of the series, #40, by Mike Ploog. Ploog did several of the covers toward the end of the series.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/lone%20wolf/scan.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

Here's another one of my favorites, a cover by Bill Sienkiewicz.

How can a little baby boy endure watching all the carnage going around him? Daigoro (Cub) is constantly in peril, as seen in this cover.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/lone%20wolf/scan0003.jpg

[rowand]

Everyone knows that they were movies first, right?

[jaeldubyoo]

Actually, the origin manga was released in 1970 in Japan. The first three films were released in 1972, based on the immensely popular manga. First Comics began reprinting the manga in 1987 in prestige format with new covers.