Path Of the Assassin, Vol. 1: Serving In The Dark (v. 1)
Koike and Kojima's third collaboration is, likeLone Wolf and CubandSamurai Executioner, a period piece. But its protagonists are genuine, not fictional, historical figures: sixteenth-century shogun Ieyasu and his right-hand warrior, Hattori Hanzo. Legendarily, their relationship began when Hanzo was assigned to be Ieyasu's ninja bodyguard. Ieyasu was 16, Hanzo, 15. Koike and Kojima retreat slightly from that encounter to show first the young ninja proving himself by besting his two older brothers in a matter requiring brains more than brawn. After a faulty first meeting, master and servant quickly become friends. The quality of their relationship is unforgettably crystallized by Hanzo's fulfillment of a challenging but enticing task Ieyasu sets him: to demonstrate how to make love to a woman, which neither youngster has ever done. Hanzo succeeds at obliging his master and winning himself a woman whom he pleases. As in Koike and Kojima's other work, there is plenty of sex, earthy humor, brilliantly realized martial-arts action, and humane characterization.Ray OlsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved