To put it lightly, Samurai Executioner is a spin-off of the famous manga, Lone Wolf and Cub. The same art style and storytelling in the latter is used in the former. However, the plot of the two are very different. As its name suggests, Samurai Executioner is about a Samurai who’s profession is that of an executioner. Yamada Asaemon, is an honorable man who is greatly respected, and feared, for both his position and demeanor.

Not only is the manga written with historical accuracy, but the original terms are transliterated in the translation.

Crying Freeman is the code name for the best assassin in the Chinese Mafia, otherwise known as the 108 Dragons.  Originally a genius potter, Yō Hinomura got involved with the 108 Dragons during an exhibition of his work. The organization noticed his talents and bent him to their will.

As an assassin, Hinomura dons the alias of Freeman; however, he hates killing.  After every kill he sheds tears, thus earning him the name of Crying Freeman.  He is the perfect assassin and successor to the leadership of the 108 Dragons.

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Have you ever read a manga or seen an anime about samurai? Rurouni Kenshin? Vagabond? Afro Samurai? The genre is wide spread and ever popular.  But have you ever given some thought as to the genre’s origins? This man, Kazuo Koike-sensei, wrote the story of Lone Wolf and Cub, the manga that started the idea of romanticizing the samurai and thus creating the genre. 

He won the Hall of Fame Eisner Award in 2004.

Read more of this week’s featured mangaka.