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Reviewed by Dan Polley Jintetsu the Steel is the main character in Kei Toume’s “Kurogane,” a story focusing around old Japanese ronin culture. In this volume, the last, Jintetsu faces some tough challenges, including trying to clear his name of wrongdoing when a group of villagers who vow that they see a steel monster. It also includes a tale of revenge as the daughter of a killed man vows to seek revenge from her father’s killer: Jintetsu the Steel. And she just might get the revenge she seeks. The revenge storyline takes up most of the volume, and deservedly so, as it’s by far the best example of cohesiveness between plot and art. The first story is also deserved of a read, as Jintetsu is hired to kill a samurai who attacked the daughter of man who was set to marry his daughter into a wealthy family. But the twist at the end is cleverly disguised, although not all the twists in that story are. “Kurogane” is a blend of “Lone Wolf and Cub” and “Blade of the Immortal,” with a sprinkle of “Usagi Yojimbo” thrown in for good measure. It’s compelling without being forceful, exciting without going over the top. Like “Lone Wolf and Cub,” “Kurogane” and the art within are scraggily and, yet, precise. And it’s exactly that type of art that goes along so well with Jintetsu the Steel. He is a larger than life character who jumps off the page to thwart down anyone who gets in his way. Despite that, there is some sort of humanity that draws Jintetsu off the page and makes him such a figure within the pages. “Kurogane” is a samurai story worthy of a reading. And, at five volumes, it won’t be too heavy on the reader’s wallet to read his whole story. Comment on this review of Kurogane v5 on the Manga Life Forums. |
6 October 2009
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