Path of the Assassin (aka: Hanzou no Mon) Vol.#06

By: Matthew Alexander
Review Date: Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Release Date: Monday, April 30, 2007



Creative Talent
Writer/Artist:Kazuo Koike / Goseki Kojima
Translated by:Naomi Kokubo
Adapted by:Jeff Carlson

What They Say
The story continues!

Path of the Assassin is the story of Japan's greatest shogun and his rise to power through the battles and intrigues of his late teens. Central to the story is a young ninja who must go to great lengths in order to secure victory for the boy who would become the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu.

The Review
Contains nudity, and a surprising yuri scene.

Whether it be Lone Wolf and Cub or Samurai Executioner, Koike’s feudal era storytelling has always been phenomenal. However, the depth of the political intrigue and convoluted paths Hanzo must travel make Path of the Assassin a must buy for anyone into Manly Manga 4 Manly Men or any manga that forces you to keep your wits about you.

Something that many storytellers forget to do is create believable conflict. I don’t mean conflict in the sense of angst or physical pain, but conflict in terms of having to attempt the same action multiple times. The protagonist can’t succeed on his first try. In this volume, Hanzo and Ieyasu face their most difficult task to date. Buddhist monks in Ieyasu’s province have convinced the locals that all their money and loyalty is owed to Buddha. This creates a big problem when Ieyasu arrives to collect the rice tax and the townsfolk, including Ieyasu’s own vassals, refuse to pay. Not surprisingly, Ieyasu throws a fit and attacks the town. Unfortunately, that action turns all the monks, vassals, and peasants in the area against Ieyasu and traps him in a battle he can’t possibly win.


Once again, it’s up to Hanzo to save the day. If he can convince Ieyasu’s enemy, Ujizane, to attack then maybe Ieyasu’s vassals will return to his side. Sounds like a sound theory because if his vassals came back to his side, Ieyasu could squash the warrior monks for good. Seems like a tough job, but Hanzo is a master ninja. This is where the politics and ninjitsu kicks into full gear. Every attempt Hanzo makes ends slightly skewed from his original goal and he’s forced to try different methods to achieve the same goal. Setting fire to enemy storehouses, using disguises and lies to manipulate enemies, ninja on ninja battles full of trickery, this volume has it all.