Reviewed by:

Ian Jane on June 10, 2003

When "First Comics" started publishing a series of Japanese samurai comics in the 80s, what immediately caught my eye was the cover art by Frank Miller. I loved Frank Millers work growing up and for that reason alone I bought the first issue when it hit the shelves.

Well, I want to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Miller for introducing me to the most famous work of Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, Lone Wolf And Cub, a 3000 page story about a ronin named Itto Ogami and his son, Daigoro.

Roughly two years after the manga appeared, the story was adapted into a series of six films. The first two films in the series were released in a chopped up, redubbed, condensed format as a single film, Shogun Assassin, in 1980 (oddly enough, with Sandra Bernhard handling some of the dubbing chores) by Roger Corman's New World Pictures.

Let’s take a look at the original two films that were used to make Shogun Assassin, as they’ve now been released uncut in their original form onto R1 NTSC DVD from Animeigo, who have taken the time to remaster each film in the series.

SWORD OF VENGEANCE

This first chapter in the series of six films based on the aforementioned manga introduces us to Itto and Daigoro. Itto was at one time the Shogun’s official executioner, or, kaishakunin. He was the man who would lob off your head for you should it be decided that you need to commit seppuku.

When the opposing Yagu Clan start moving in on the territory, they murder Itto’s wife and frame him for destroying the Shogun’s crest, which is a huge sign of disrespect that in turn leads the Shogun to declare that Itto commit seppuku. Rather than take his own life as punishment for a crime he didn’t commit, Itto and his son escape and swear vengeance for his wife’s death, vowing to destroy the Yagyu Clan and making a living by hiring out his services as an assassin.

BABY CART AT THE RIVER STYX

Having now gained a reputation across the land as one of the finest swordsman in all of imperial Japan, Itto and Daigoro are spoken of by the people as almost mythical beings.

In this second film of the series, Itto agrees to assassinate a member of the clan who has defected who happens to have a clan secret that they use to dye fabric and in turn make a lot of money, which he is trying to deliver to the Shogun.

Three deadly ninja assassins known as the Benterai Brothers, are guarding the traitor on his way to the Shogun as he travels to Edo. While all of this is going on, a the Akashi-Yagyu, a group of female ninja assassins, are hired to take down the Lone Wolf and Cub.

Of course, the inevitable happens, all three of the major factions clash, and a whole lot of blood is shed by the end of the film.

While the first film is more or less a setup for the rest of the series, the second film kicks the action into high gear. Blood and guts literally fly across the screen in extremely liberal amounts and the carnage on display here is rather astonishing, and also at times, strangely poetic. There’s a lot more to these films than just arterial spray and flying severed arms. It’s quite tragic and rather moving, particularly during the scenes in which father and son bond and while their relationship is a strange one, it is also very strong.

There are some liner notes included in text format on the DVD as well as some trailers for the other films in the series and some other Animeigo films like Zaitoichi Vs. Yojimbo.