Samurai Executioner, Vol. 5
There are seven stories in this Samurai Executioner collection, more than in any of its predecessors. That would be inconsequential except that this book's four shortest impressively demonstrate Koike and Kojima's storytelling mastery. "Ten Fingers, One Life" is little more than an anecdote, but its deliberate pace, shrewd development of the central character (a condemned thief-murderer), and exquisite rendering of a rainy execution day give it the satisfactory weight of a well--rounded short story. The other three are parables of pathetic coincidence in which Asaemon the executioner meets someone close to a malefactor he has or will put to death. Two of the longer stories focus on particular constables with whom Asaemon interacts: a tough old veteran famous for his high arrest record and the young master of an unusual technique for capturing offenders. The gritty volume closer, about an almost double murderess who wants to outlive her second victim, shows why the book carries a parental advisory sticker; it's very strong stuff, as brilliantly conceived and rendered as anything in the comics medium.Ray OlsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved