Samurai Noir

by Michael Avon Oeming and Miles Gunter

Jiro is a student of the KoZu Sword School, an underground training camp in midtown Manhattan that takes in orphans and twists and transforms them into Bushido warriors. The Yakuza use these kids in death matches staged across the city rooftops where Japanese businessmen gamble heavily on the always-fatal outcome. This killing life is all Jiro has ever known. But a rendezvous with fate is about to change all of that. In one moment Jiro realizes that...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1582402833
• ISBN13: 9781582402833
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Image Comics
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.3" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 16 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 11 and higher

Customer Reviews

When is the movie coming out?

Wow what a ride...get this book if you can and for the price not a bad deal!!!!!!!

Five Star Review!

For many years I have collected comics. Unlike alot of folks that consider themselves collectors, I usually base my purchases oh who is writing and or illustrating the books. So, unlike a fan of let's say the X-Men, I do not go to my local shop (MCCOMICS.com)each week and pick up 14 different titles based only on those characters. I will instead pick up an X-Men book if it is being handled by someone like Michael Avon Oeming. No, Michael isn't doing any X-Men books that I know of, and that isn't the point. My point is that Mr. Oeming is the type creator that I follow from book to book, be it his ongoing series Powers with Brian Bendis or his personal project Hammer of the Gods (both with Image comics by the way). Michael also does solo projects with fellow artists and writers, and for my money, Bastard Samurai has been the most rewarding of those types of collaborations. Yes, I do own the original comics from the mini-series that comprises this collection. Even with those original issues I was more than happy to get another version of the story, this time in a handsomely designed collection by Image Comics. Besides getting the main story and the back-up stories that ran in each book of the series, you also get some behind the scenes information on how the series was created. In the era of dvds, where even "chick movies" have tons of extra features on their discs, it's kind of cool to see that some comic book creators have adopted this to book form, and in the case of Bastard Samurai, did a quality job of it. Regarding the actual book, what can I say? Beautiful bright animation-style illustration with a very tight story that you will find yourself reading over several times. Although I'm not particularly crazy about movie comparisons, in the case of this book, it is warranted. Mike and his creative team expertly crafted a tale that rolls along the pages like a feature animation...

when's the movie coming out?

Okay... ok,i was thinking out loud but man this is a great find especially for the price.the story is so cinematic that the writer must of spent years doing the research.And i must say it shows!do your self a favor and get this book/Graphic novel/ tradepaperback. .

Oeming proves he's the 'Bastard'

This is a great little comic. I didn't care for it much at first, but the more I got into it the better it became. It was originally touted as a samurai-Fight Club, but it's a lot more. High octane action, wove around a gripping tale of a lone samurai's quest. In this story, Oeming proved himself as a more than competent writer in my eyes. And the artwork by Gunter is just really amazing and fitting for the tone. The only problem I have with it is that it's much too short.

really good

sure the title for the review is short but the comic book is great. the story takes place in modern day new york and revolves around Jiro the best killer in his class. the background of most of the fights takes place on rooftops and the occasional apartment. the illistration and story are top notch i can't wait for the second one (if they make one that is).