Satsuma Gishiden Volume 1 (Satsuma Gishiden)

If you like things like Samurai Executioner and Lone Wolf and Cub, you will probably like this as well. This is a tale of samurai who have fallen into poverty and hard times, and they try to preserve their honor and dignity. Not always an easy task. The story starts fast and graphic (a scene where a convict is to be killed), and the pace pretty much remains fairly quick for the narrative. Like other works in this genre, it is very evocative of the era it presents. The art is very well suited to the story. My only issue is that this volume ends just as the story is picking up an important plot. I hope I can find the next title, though I have learned Black Horse discontinued the series after the third volume. A pity, since this is clearly a good piece of work.