Titan Comics: Samurai (AKA: Samurai Legend)
 

recently i stumbled upon a new series by Titan Comics called 'Samurai'

http://www.comicbookresources.com/co...an-comics-2016

http://static.wixstatic.com/media/3e...7dd4141cc7.jpg

it turns out that this (#1) is actually the first half of 'PART 5' of a mini series that was first imported over from a French edition of comics by Marvel back in 2008 under the name Samurai Legends.

Titan comics picked up the licensing and re-printed the first 4 volumes in a deluxe hardcover.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/co...an-comics-2015

http://www.themarysue.com/wp-content..._Sales_RGB.jpg

i recently read through Vol. 1-4 and it was a very entertaining read!

anyone into Samurai or Martial Arts stories should check it out!

http://www.nerdspan.com/wp-content/u...W2-525x300.jpg

http://i.newsarama.com/images/i/000/...jpg?1449874011

Titan Comics publishing of Samurai has issue # 2 due out tomorrow.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/co...an-comics-2016

came out this week.

https://meephub.com/2016/05/06/samurai-3-preview/

not sure if anyone has checked this series out yet?
but things are getting pretty intense. :D

https://meephub.files.wordpress.com/...ew-2.jpg?w=616

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the 4th issue of Samurai came out this week, concluding 'The Isle with No Name' arc

http://www.comicbookresources.com/co...an-comics-2016

the Duel between Takeo and Shobei was really beautifully done!!
any fans of Ninja Scroll or Samurai Champloo i highly recommend this series!!
for both it's tone as well as art style.

https://graphicpolicy.files.wordpres...6&h=646&crop=1

Titan has announced the series will continue in September

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/06/...his-september/

http://www.nerdspan.com/wp-content/u..._1_Cover_A.jpg

i’m not one to usually go crazy over variants, but i absolutely love these ink washes!


http://i.newsarama.com/images/i/000/...jpg?1449874023

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hopefully they'll be included with the collected edition?? some of the covers seem hard to get now?

‘Brothers in Arms’ begins in preview of Titan’s Samurai #2.1

the Samurai comic series from Titan is starting up again.

i'd attach a link to the preview, but it has nudity and i'm not sure if such things are allowed on the forum?

http://www.flickeringmyth.com/wp-con...-1-600x910.jpg

one of the things i enjoy best about the 'Samurai' comics is the illustrated swordplay.

it's very on par with the art style of many of my favorite Ninja/Samurai anime.

http://i68.tinypic.com/2ivybh0.jpg

plus the main character Takeo is a very disciplined swordsman, and noble at heart.

there were some really great moments in this issue.
one scene in particular i'd LOVE to share, but i really don't want to spoil it for anyone who might read it.

Titan Comics 'Samurai: Brother's in Arms' issue #2 is out tomorrow.

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the story has a bit of an Amine-type vibe with the action as well as humor.
there are some moments that do remind me of some of classic Japanese Samurai cinema.
films like 'Yojimbo', 'Sword of Doom', & 'Lady Snowblood'

the series looked really beautiful since the very beginning.
with each volume i see the skills of artist Frédéric Genêt really progressing.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon...._QL80_TTD_.jpg

the art in this preview page below is particularly pretty! but it has a major spoiler if you aren't caught up with the previous volumes.



***update*** the new issue didn't post to my comixology account yet (cue dramatic music) :o

i really love the voices of the characters and the narrative of this series.

but some of the action sequences just blow me away!!!

http://i65.tinypic.com/2zp4djd.png


......just LOOK at that!!!!!

what other comic have you ever seen fight choreography look SO good!!!! :D

i'm really digging the new female assassin introduced in 'Brother's in Arms' issue#3.

http://www.newsarama.com/images/i/00..._3_cover_a.jpg

she's ALL kinds of vicious and pure wicked!!!

the main protagonist Takeo displays his formidability with a sword as he is attacked by and dispatches a number of armed guards, beautifully illustrated by Frédéric Genêt.

some of my favorite panels from the issue of Samurai that came out today.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2ebwryh.jpg

i was re-reading the issues that have come for 'Samurai: Brothers in Arms'

this scene here is definitely one of my favorites!!

Frédéric Genêt handles these action scenes like a MASTER!!!

http://i68.tinypic.com/b8o64g.jpg

yesterday's issue of Samurai: Brother's in Arms has finally answered a good many questions i've had since the beginning of the series.

Takeo and his brother had these brands on the back of their shoulders, and it has been like a curse.
because of these brands they've been marked for death.
as children they were brought up in a Monastary, and while Takeo was still a young teenager his older brother Akio left without any explanation.

once Takeo was old enough, he set out on a journey to find his brother and then seek out answers as to what happened to his family and clan.

these 4 pages here contain many pieces of the puzzle of Takeo's family history.













there was even more revealed, but i didn't want to give it all away.

i've re-read this issue a few times.
the good thing about an issue like this is it makes me want to go back to the beginning of the series and start over again.

http://www.planetebd.com/dynamicImag...arge-23005.jpg

Ogomo having captured Takeo and Akio’s is planning to hand them over to the Shogun. in doing so they would be executed under false pretenses. Takeo and Akio’s friend The Monk has turned to their former caretaker Master Kaze for help.
Master Kaze is leading a band of Warrior Monks to go and rescue them.

with today’s release of Samurai i am both happy and saddened at the same time.

on the one hand i am thrilled to read all plot threads since the beginning with volume 1 ‘Heart of the Prophet’ as well as ‘Island with no Name’ and ‘Brothers in Arms’ have been nicely wrapped up.

on the other hand i am greatly saddened that there hasn’t been any announcement from Titan Comics as to if any other volumes of Samurai will be imported from France.
i know there have been other stories that have been completed from the original French release.
but only time will tell if and when they’ll come state-side?

in the mean time i absolutely LOVE this comic series, and am so grateful to have discovered it. i can read it over again and again.
every time i go back through it i discover details that i hadn't noticed before that enrich the story.
so many things that had been a mystery finally make sense now.
it was an exciting journey with gorgeous visuals and fantastic action.

thank you Jean-Francois Di Giorgio and Frédéric Genêt for introducing me to this incredible world!