One of the best parts of reading manga like Lone Wolf and Cub is basking in the art of the story’s art, something that can’t quite be captured the same way as anime. More and more manga are released yearly, but a few golden oldies will always be worth reading. The following manga are testaments to their craft and remain some of the all-time greats.
Kamui (1964)
Set during the Edo period of Japan following the end of the Sengoku period, Kamui tells the story of the titular ninja. Unlike many stories about fearless ninjas, Kamui is an outcast as he flees his clan. Doing so was an action punishable by death, which led to Kamui’s former clan members hunting him down relentlessly. What makes Kamui such a unique manga is how the narrative’s focus doesn’t even begin with Kamui himself but the day-to-day life of Edo period Japan.
Sanpei Shirato critiques Japanese classicism, economic inequality, and the struggles of ordinary citizens. Kamui offers action and excitement but is darker and more restrained, which might disappoint fans expecting a fast-paced, Naruto-like adventure. While it requires a specific taste, Kamui delivers a compelling portrayal of historical Japanese life.
Lone Wolf and Cub (1970-1976)
Ogami Itto was the samurai’s executioner. Through this grim role, Itto was responsible for decapitating countless lords to execute the shogun’s will. The Shadow Yagyu clan grew hungry for power and choreographed a terrible plot to not only kill Itto’s family but also to frame him as a traitor to the shogun. Escaping his inevitable execution, Itto takes to the road with his three-year-old son, Daigoro, becoming a ronin.
Together, they are known as the Lone Wolf and Cub, taking assassination orders and protection requests as needed. A master martial artist and swordsman, Itto is equipped with Daigoro’s baby cart, a veritable arsenal of weapons and armaments. It’s impossible to adequately describe how influential Lone Wolf and Cub has been to pop culture since its creation. The trope of a grown man protecting a child can be seen in Leon: The Professional, The Witcher 3, The Mandalorian, and The Last of Us as a few examples.
Kissho Tennyo (1983-1984)
Sayoko Kano is a teenage high school girl. This alone should invite plenty of drama, excitement, mystery, and trouble for her. Still, one very important detail about her makes her life immeasurably more complicated: she’s the incarnation of the goddess Kisshoten. While Kissho Tennyo has been adapted into different live-action works that each alter the story slightly, the original manga depicts Sayoko as a femme fatale.
Through her godlike powers, Sayoko can control men, of whom she is constantly surrounded. Kissjo Tennyo is not the typical teenage romance story that many younger fans today would expect to read, but for those looking for a darker and more mature take on the classic trope, they don’t get much better than this.
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Master Keaton (1988-1994)
Taichi Hiraga-Keaton is the son of a Japanese man and an English woman. When his parents divorced when he was a boy, Taishi moved to England with his mother, where he grew up to study archeology at Oxford University. Taishi would later join the British Army and become a member of the SAS, becoming an incredibly gifted and experienced soldier.
These skills allow him to work very well as an insurance investigator for Lloyd’s of London, a skill set that also helps him and his friend run their insurance investigation agency. This isn’t even because Taishi himself married, had a baby, and then underwent a divorce himself. If all this intricate drama sounds intriguing, Master Keaton is the manga series to read next. It’s drama at its very finest, with as much detail crammed as humanly possible into a single narrative.
Why should you check out these classic manga books?
You should check out these classic manga series because they are simply classics. Following new shonen and horror series or the latest shows is fun. However, it’s important to remember the classics that shaped the foundation of it all. Older series can still strongly impact writing, art, and overall quality.
It’s cool to go back and dive into the classics because – as manga lends itself so well, too – it’s possible to see how the art form has evolved over the years. From panel composition to character design and even to styles in narrative exposition, manga has changed tremendously over the years. Being considered a classic is one of the greatest compliments a piece of art can attain. So, get comfy in bed, grab one of these books, and prepare for a nice day sitting inside.
Have you read any of these classic stories before? If so, which one is your favorite? Are there any other classics we didn’t mention? Please let us know in the comments below! We would love to hear about your favorite series!
