Lone Wolf and Cub

[Albion]

I think its safe to say that for most people, owning the entire Lone Wolf and Cub collection is somewhat of a pipedream, seeing as we dont all have upwards of $200 to throw about.
So what does everyone see as the best of the paperbacks, a must-own selection of these books? I'm dying to get stuck into them, but i don't have a clue of where to start.

[azrapse]

Funny you mention - just last night I was reading the reviews of Lone Wolf & Cub on Amazon and other sites. I had just finished reading A History of Violence, had also purchased the new small format version of the first Concrete issues, as well as the Capote in Kansas small TPB - suffice to say I enjoyed them and was hoping to find some for small format black/white TPB's for my collection and ran across LW&C.

I'm also debating whether I should purchase the entire 28-issue run and save some $$$ or go issue by issue - sounds like either way, best thing to do is read in order beginning with #1 and work my way up as it seems the storyline is akin to a journey, chapter by chapter.

Hmmm...decisions, decisions...looking forward to starting somewhere soon though; I'm ready for an epic and the reviews have all been outstanding.

[Nate C.]

Well I'm one of those that does indeed own all 28 volumes, so I'm biased in saying that it's must reading....

and as for the "individual issues" that First Comics put out in 1987-199-, they were great for their time, but are censored, and out of order, so I wouldn't waste my time, now. (I also own all 45 of them. :D )

To answer your question- start at the beginning. Read the first volume (they are numbered) and go forward. As long as you're enjoying them, keep reading them.

The story does follow a classic serial format, though. Set up the overarching plot, begin with character development, fulfill the plot and development while creating multiple "stand alone" stories, then wrap up the plot line at the end. So, anyone attempting to fully appreciate the depth and purpose of the story is going to have to read the whole series.

Good luck.

[Albion]

Thanks guys, I know i sound tight, trying to source out the best, but my local comicbook shop doesnt have the whole collection in full.
Is Samurai Executioner as good as LW&C? I've seen a few of the LW&C films, and the premise is fantastic (the reviews are great too), so i really want to get stuck in. Is SE worth a look as well? Is it better possibly?

And while I'm here, what other series do DH publish in the small TPB format?

[TheHistorian]

Thanks guys, I know i sound tight, trying to source out the best, but my local comicbook shop doesnt have the whole collection in full.

Tell them to order it. The volumes are perpetually in print - I think volume 1 is up to a tenth print or so.



Is Samurai Executioner as good as LW&C?

No. But I rate LW&C as one of the top five pieces of comic art (any form, any place) ever, so that's pretty hard to hang with. It's still very very good though.


Pipedream? More like essential spending. I'd bet that you'll buy the first one, and then look for other things to cross off your list so you can buy the rest.

[Nate C.]

I'm just gonna parrot The Historian's opinion on both LW&C and SE.

[Albion]

I couldn't wait any longer so I went out and bought the earliest book i could find, book 3.

Fantastic.

Cheers guys.

[DouglasDanger]

It is one of the best comics I have ever read. I managed to get all 28 books for about $160 dollars on Ebay. That is how I would suggest buying the series.

[Albion]

Wow, $160, that's about 90 of the Queens pounds, I would definately spring for that were i to find such a bargain.
I'm definately considering buying the whole set, and I'll probably give Samurai Exectutioner a go as well.
This is my first foray into Japanese sequential art, and i really don't know what other gems are out there.

[Mick Martin]

I think its safe to say that for most people, owning the entire Lone Wolf and Cub collection is somewhat of a pipedream, seeing as we dont all have upwards of $200 to throw about.

That's assuming you somehow feel the need to have all 28 at once. I don't think it's a pipe dream at all. I have the first two, just ordered the third and fourth, and eventually plan to read them all.

And from what I've read so far, when I finally do get the last one and read it, it'll be worth the wait.

[Nureek]

If you just want to read them, try your local library. I've been raiding the collection of comics and graphic novels at my local one and have seen (I think) all the issues there. Good place to start and read them while you save up the money.

[Albion]

Ha! Libraries in the UK stopped keeping Graphic Novels sometime in the mid-nineties. It's a damn shame because my local library got rid of all theirs just as i started to get into the medium. The discards I missed out on....
You're all right of course, buy them one at a time, after one has finished the last. It's just Theyre great, I want to own them all :) .

[Winslow]

Well I'm one of those that does indeed own all 28 volumes, so I'm biased in saying that it's must reading....

Dang. That makes both you and Jeffrey Kramer. Hard to say no to the recommendations of you two.

How does the small size affect everyone's enjoyment of the work?

I paged through the first volume and it was hard for me to read (then again, maybe I'm getting old)

[matt levin]

Hi,

When First Comics first published LW&C I followed all but rabidly. when, years later, Dark Horse began publishing the full volumes, I fretted and fumed (as I've been doing now for several years, "do I get the trades even though I've got all the singles?") and finally, my sweet-heart bought the first two volumes for me. And so, I set myself a goal, one volume a month, until now, ah, all of'm are on my book shelf... along with several trade editions of other comics I've got all the singles of (sigh).

Dropped Samuri Exec after about 5 issues; will sample it again and again in years to come, but I found the characters less charasmatic than Itto and Daigoro and co.

Still waiting for the rumored follow-up to LW&C featuring the older (?) Daigoro in Retsudo's care (if I've got any of that right).

Matt

[DouglasDanger]

Keep your eyes on Ebay. About 6 years ago, I got the entire 28 volume set for about 150 dollars. I can't really pick the best out of the series, just start at the beginning and pick it up when you have extra cash until you have all 28.

[Winslow]

How does the smaller size affect everyone's enjoyment of the work?

I paged through the first volume and it was hard for me to read (then again, maybe I'm getting old)

[DouglasDanger]

It is relatively normal sized for manga. Not a problem in the least.

[mgs]

I have some of the early ones from First Comics with the intro's by Frank Miller, and they are great, but I have to admit, I think it is the overall price that is also stopping me from getting the whole collection.