Samurai Executioner TPB (2004-2006 Digest) comic books 2006

Volume 8 - 1st printing. "The Death Sign of Spring!" Written by KAZUO KOIKE. Art by GOSEKI KOJIMA. Spring is a season of rebirth, or new life springing forth, a time of cherished blooming and delightful scents. But for Kubikira Asa, there is no spring delight. The Edo-era samurai crime drama by Lone Wolf and Cub creators Koike and Kojima continues down its path of heinous crime and diligent, bloody justice. Spring may come to the innocent, but to those condemned to lose their heads to Asa's sword, it will be their last. Softcover, 304 pages, 4-in. x 6-in., B&W. MATURE READERS Cover price $9.95.

Volume 9 - 1st printing. "Facing Life and Death!" Written by KAZUO KOIKE. Art by GOSEKI KOJIMA. For a stoic ronin such as Kubikiri Asa, a samurai assigned to test the Shogun's sword and behead prisoners, the moment before death is of great importance. Because of this, Asa will often listen to the stories of those about to be executed and pay respect to the lives of these often unfortunately maligned prisoners. Sometimes scary, often quirky, and occasionally very sweet, it goes to show how people of different walks of life can meet the same brutal, yet graceful end, at the hand of one of the finest masters of bushido and swordsmanship. Samurai Executioner tells the stories of these people, from the perspective of Asa, an honorable, highly skilled ronin. As with their previously published series, Lone Wolf and Cub, Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima present a detailed and beautiful, if brutal, account of a bygone era. Softcover, 304 pages, 4-in. x 6-in., B&W. MATURE READERS Cover price $9.95.

Volume 10 - 1st printing. "A Couple Jitte!" Written by KAZUO KOIKE. Art by GOSEKI KOJIMA. It's the final volume of Samurai Executioner, and like the previous nine volumes, the last is a combination of life's varying tides of good fortune and ill circumstance. The woman who once stole the weapons of samurai cops is becoming a cop herself. It's a story of gender struggles in a time long past. All the while, criminals keep losing their heads to Asa the decapitator. But one criminal might leave something behind that could hurt our favorite protagonist. ? Drafted by the creators of Lone Wolf and Cub, Dark Horse Comics has been proud to present this beautiful and individual series of samurai-era, crime-and-punishment drama. Softcover, 304 pages, 4-in. x 6-in., B&W. MATURE READERS Cover price $9.95.