47 Ronin #1 Review
Writer: Mike Richardson
Artist: Stan Sakai
Cover Artist: Stan Sakai
Editorial Consultant: Kazuo Koike
Colors: Lovern Kindzierski
Letters: Tom Orzechowski, Lois Buhalis
Editor: Diana Schutz
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Date: November 2012
Cover Price: $3.99
Title: “The Tale of the Loyal Retainers – Book One”
I am always wary when it comes to westerners writing about Asia. Experience with superheroes visiting Asia has taught me to be cautious. The book, written by Mike Richardson and artwork by Stan Sakai, appears to be well researched, well written and beautifully illustrated.
The story of a country lord taking up a place at court is an age old tale and can be hit or miss, but 47 Ronin seems to make it work… at least it did in the issue that I read. Poor Lord Asano finds himself thrown into a court where the officials are corrupt and the samurai are losing their integrity.
The story itself is quite a simple story in which Lord Asano becomes the target of the corrupt court official Kira Kozukenosuke Yoshinaka because he refuses to pay the bribes that the official demands. As a result, Yoshinaka begins a crusade to shame Lord Asano and to push him out of the court.
47 Ronin is also beautifully illustrated with detailed backgrounds and simple, yet gorgeous, characters. The colour scheme of the book is soft with no overly vibrant colours which makes the comic easy to read, both digitally, and on paper. The style of Sakai’s art is very much more traditional Japanese than the manga/anime style that is associated with Japanese art, which I have to admit also reminds me of the old horrible History books that I used to read.
Coming from a background of predominantly superhero comics I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants something slightly different for light reading. If you are looking something more detailed and in depth, then this wouldn’t be the comic for you; but, regardless, I would say pick it up so that you can take a look at the beautiful artwork.
by Anna S.
Taking over the world, one word at a time
http://www.facebook.com/AnnaKS100
you don’t have to draw asians with such small eyes. i’m korean and i have pretty big eyes. even asian comics rarely have such small eyes on any characters. some do have slanted eyes in asian comics, but those characters specifically look like that. i don’t understand why this stereotype is so easily over looked.