47 Ronin [graphic novel] / writer, Mike Richardson ; artist, Stan Sakai ; color by Lovern Kindzierski ; lettering by Tom Orzechowski and Lois Buhalis.

Cover image for 47 Ronin [graphic novel] / writer, Mike Richardson ; artist, Stan Sakai ; color by Lovern Kindzierski ; lettering by Tom Orzechowski and Lois Buhalis.

Title:

47 Ronin [graphic novel] / writer, Mike Richardson ; artist, Stan Sakai ; color by Lovern Kindzierski ; lettering by Tom Orzechowski and Lois Buhalis.

Summary:

The tale of these samurai and their epic mission to avenge their wronged master is the story of Japan. Opening with the tragic incident that sealed the fate of Lord Asano, 47 Ronin follows a dedicated group!

Author:

Richardson, Mike, 1950- author.

Format:

Books

Genre:

Graphic novels.

Historical comics.

Subject Term:

Samurai -- Japan -- Comic books, strips, etc.

Forty-seven Ronin -- Comic books, strips, etc.

Geographic Term:

Japan -- History -- Ako Vendetta, 1703 -- Comic books, strips, etc.

ISBN:

9781506717999

Physical Description:

151 pages : chiefly colour illustrations ; 23 cm.

Target Audience:

Ages 14+.

Series:

47 Ronin

47 Ronin.

Publication Date:

2021

General Note:

Collects issues 1-5.

Added Author:

Sakai, Stan,

Kindzierski, Lovern, 1954-

Orzechowski, Tom,

Buhalis, Lois,

Available in Onecard network:

Library	Shelf Location	Shelf Number	Item Barcode	Material Type	Status
Searching... SAPL	Being acquired by the library	XX(2558387.1)	2558387-1001	Book	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

Japan's enduring national legend comes to comics! The tale of the 47 Ronin and their epic mission to avenge their wronged master epitomizes the samurai code of honor, and creators Mike Richardson and Stan Sakai have done justice to their story! Meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated, this collection of the acclaimed miniseries recounts this sweeping saga of honor and violence in all its grandeur. Opening with the tragic incident that sealed the fate of Lord Asano, 47 Ronin follows a dedicated group of Asano's vassals on their years-long path of vengeance!

* From Mike Richardson ( Star Wars- Crimson Empire ) and Stan Sakai ( Usagi Yojimbo )!

* Tons of bonus art and behind-the-scenes extras!

"If you're a fan of the samurai genre then this is a no-brainer... if you've never given it a chance then this is the perfect gateway book to the genre." --Comic Bastards

"Stan Sakai makes Japan all the more exciting with this comic, and Richardson's narrative builds an epic tale reminiscent of Kurosawa's greatest films." --Graphic Policy

Author Notes

Mike Richardson is the president and founder of Dark Horse Comics, the award-winning international publishing house he founded in 1986. He is also the president of Dark Horse Entertainment, for which he has produced numerous projects for film and television.

In addition to producing films such as R.I.P.D., Hellboy , and Mystery Men, he has also produced films based on several of his own creations, including The Mask and Timecop . Richardson owns a successful pop-culture retail chain, Things From Another World, with stores stretching from Universal's CityWalk in Los Angeles to his hometown in Milwaukie, Oregon.

Richardson has written numerous graphic novels and comics series, as well as Comics- Between the Panels and Blast Off! , two critically acclaimed books about pop culture. He lives with his wife, Karie, and their dog in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Stan Sakai was born in Kyoto, Japan, grew up in Hawaii, and now lives in California with his children, Hannah and Matthew. He received a fine arts degree from the University of Hawaii and did further studies at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. His creation, Usagi Yojimbo , is the story of a samurai rabbit living in a feudal Japan populated by anthropomorphic animals. It first appeared in Albedo Comics in 1984. Since then, Usagi has appeared on television as a guest of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; and as toys, on clothing, in comic books, and in a series of trade paperback collections. In 1991, Stan created Space Usagi , the adventures of a descendant of the original Usagi, dealing with the samurai in a futuristic setting. Stan is also an award-winning letterer for his work on Sergio Aragones's Groo- The Wanderer , the Spider-Man Sunday newspaper strips, as well as for Usagi Yojimbo . He is the recipient of a Parents' Choice Award, an Inkpot Award, multiple Eisner Awards, two Spanish Haxturs, an American Library Association Award, and a National Cartoonists' Society Division Award. Usagi Yojimbo Book 12- Grasscutter was used as a textbook in Japanese history classes at the University of Portland.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Lord Asano, honorable but naive in the ways of the Shogun's court, offends court functionary Kira Yoshinaka by refusing to give in to the latter's crass demands for a bribe. What follows is a campaign of harassment and sabotage by Kira; finally pressed too far, Asano draws his sword on the functionary-an unforgivable violation of the Shogun's regulations. Asano is ordered to commit seppuku (ritual suicide), his lands are seized and his household is scattered. Kira's victory appears complete, save for one thing: the determination of Asano's legion of faithful retainers-men willing to go to legendary extremes to win justice for Asano. Emerging as one of Japan's most popular folk tales (perhaps similar to our own Robin Hood), despite the censorship laws of Genroku-era Japan, the story of the 47 ronin (masterless samurai) has been adapted many times in almost every conceivable medium. Richardson, whose day job is Dark Horse publisher, and Sakai (much-honored creator of Uasgi Yojimbo) treat the source material with respect and skill, Richardson's craft as a storyteller is more than matched by Sakai's ability to convey both thoughtful introspection and lightning-fast action in a series of still drawings. The result is a homage more than worthy of its source material. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Library Journal Review

Richardson, founder of Dark Horse Comics, and Sakai, creator of the long-running and award-laden Usagi Yojimbo samurai series, combine talents to produce this terrific graphic interpretation of one of Japan's most important sagas. After Lord Asano is goaded into an illegal attack upon Lord Kira and then sentenced to commit seppuku (stomach-cutting, a form of Japanese ritual suicide), 47 of Asano's loyal samurai vow to restore his dignity. Each ronin feigns a fall from honor in order to convince Kira that he is safe from vengeance so that their final, deadly attack comes as a complete surprise. In Richardson's notes, he quotes an old saying about the 47 ronin: "to know the 47 Ronin is to know Japan." Both writer and illustrator show their respect for this legendary story in the depth of their preparatory research. Richardson consulted with Kazuo Koike, creator of Lone Wolf and Cub, while Sakai studied the woodblock prints of Meiji period (1868-1912) artist Ogata Gekko. Verdict The level of talent, the research, and the attention to both narrative and artistic detail shine through in this volume, certain to be the definitive graphic version for some time to come.-Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Lib., Wisconsin Rapids (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.