Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls, Volume 1 [Comic]

Masaki Segawa (Author), Futaro Yamada (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2006

THE BATTLE BEGINS

The Iga clan and the Kouga clan have been sworn enemies for more than four hundred years. Only the Hanzo Hattori truce has kept the two families from all-out war. Now, under the order of Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, the truce has finally been dissolved. Ten ninja from each clan must fight to the death in order to determine who will be the next Tokugawa Shogun. The surviving clan will rule for the next thousand years.

But not all the clan members are in agreement. Oboro of the Iga clan and Gennosuke of the Kouga clan have fallen deeply in love. Now these star-crossed lovers have been pitted against each other. Can their romance conquer a centuries-old rivalry? Or is their love destined to end in death?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This mature readers manga follows a battle between rival ninja clans that doesn't shy away from blood, graphic violence or nudity. The Tokugawa clan is using ninjas for a 10-against-10 battle to determine who will be the next leader of the family. Of course, there's a star-crossed couple in love, with the boy from one clan, the girl from another, torn apart by the war between their families. But for most of the book, freakish characters with astounding abilities engage in one-on-one showdowns lovingly crafted with excruciating fascination. One ninja resembles a spider with a short, bulbous body, spindly limbs, and spit that sticks like the most powerful glue; several have rubberlike bodies that allow them to extend their limbs or squeeze from tight spaces; a third is limbless but can slither faster than a snake and hides a spear in his throat. Segawa is a rising artistic star in Japan, and his art is well rendered and highly detailed, with a great deal of attention to the grotesqueries of the ninja's powers. Based on a novel series popular in Japan, and with an anime series on its way, this should find a solid audience here. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Grade 11 Up–A bloody feud has raged between the warring Iga and Kouga clans for years. A scroll has been drawn stating that each clan will designate 10 ninjas in an attempt to end the fighting. The combatants will fight to the death, and the winning clan will reign for 1000 years. In the wake of this turmoil, Oboro, a comely young member of the Iga clan, has fallen in love with Gennosuke, a handsome Adonis from the Kouga clan. Though they care for one another, the infighting and betrayal between their groups threaten to destroy not only their love, but also the fine balance between the two rival sides. Based on a Japanese novel, this first volume of a projected four has also been released as an anime DVD. Segawa relies heavily on image and uses text sparsely. This action-packed manga has a clean panel layout and is cinematic in its action. A wide array of characters is introduced, but readers are aided by a chart with names and affiliations to help keep straight who is who, and where their loyalties lie. The nudity, violence, and adult language make this most appropriate for older teens.–Jennifer Feigelman, Goshen Public Library and Historical Society, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Comic: 224 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (May 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345482700
• ISBN-13: 978-0345482709
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #636,782 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love and War, Ninja Style, June 1, 2006

By 

Antonio D. Paolucci "Collector of Entertainment" (Beaver Falls, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls, Volume 1 (Comic)

Basilisk is another one of those unforgiving manga. It has plenty of bloody action, nudity, and other mature themes that have yet to arise so early in this manga series. It goes about telling its story as graphically as it can and doesn't try to win over readers but rather scare them off. Manga like this, I think, deserve far more credit than the more mainstream stuff. They want to present as pure a story as they can, in a no-holds-barred kind of way.

The story in Basilisk certainly provides all the fuel needed to make this a very dark and mature manga. It follows the story of two rival ninja clans, the Iga and the Kouga (some may recognize this from Ninja Scroll) who are charged by the Shogun to have a ten on ten battle to decide who will be the next shogun in line. Unfortunately, a truce was established between these two warring clans, and some of the members have been able to put aside their differences, including the children of the leaders of the opposing clans. Gennosuke and Oboro are madly and love and plan on wedding very soon, yet have no idea that their happiness is at stake because of the breaking of the truce. But how will they react when they find out that the clans are no longer at peace? That question has yet to be answered, as what follows is a game of shadows and conspiracy and plenty of bloody fighting between these opposing clans.

This manga is good simply because of the promise of the future. By what I saw in this volume, volume two and every one after that will no doubt be action packed and have a lot more intrigue. Plus, I can't wait to see how the love story will play out in the middle of a war between a ninja rivalry fiercer than the Yankees and the Red Sox.

To add to the great story, though, is even greater art. Though at times the character designs were somewhat goofy, it made it easy to distinguish them, which was very helpful considering the size of the cast in Basilisk. You may not know their names, but you'll definitely know what they look like. Another unique aspect of the art is the real settings used as a background in the panels, though given somewhat of a faded or foggy look to make the characters blend more easily. Early on, this was disconcerting, but looking back I actually appreciated the experimental style of it. It helped to make Basilisk stand apart from other manga.

As for recommendations, if you plan on getting the anime, then I'd definitely tell you to get the manga. The manga goes far deeper into the story than the anime will, this much I'm sure about. Also, if you liked the Ninja Scroll anime, then you'll fall right into Basilisk. They both have the same themes of action and blood in Feudal Japan. Beyond that, if you're a fan of dark, mature manga such as Berserk then you'll love Basilisk.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars over the top ninja action and intrigue, August 3, 2006

By 

Trey Causey (Columbia SC) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls, Volume 1 (Comic)

The Iga and Koga ninja clans go to war to decide the succession of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and two lovers--Oboro of the Iga and Gennosuke of the Koga--are caught in the middle.

The first half of this first issue is set-up, and the second half is "character x" vs. "character y" battles, common to many anime. The competing ninja are often grotesque and always possess bizarre powers, reminiscent of the Devils of Kimon from Ninja Scroll.

The art work is well-rendered and fits the tone of the peice well. The story is engaging, but definitely for mature readers. If anime like Ninja Scroll or blood-spurting chambara action like Lone Wolf & Cub or Kill Bill vol. 1 is your thing, this series is worth checking out.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Simple Story well Told, January 27, 2008

By 

John McCarthy "storywind" (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls, Volume 1 (Comic)

How does Basilisk tell a simple story, yet fill with passion and intensity, that you are compelled to turn the pages? Simply. A simple story, vivid pictures with an economy of words, Basilisk addresses the premise of loyalty to family means great sacrifice to the individual. Revenge and betrayal or loyalty and love, which will conquer. Book One sets the stage for darkness to be victorious as the peace is dissolved and the ninja clans must pit their 10 best against each other. Only problem is that one clan does not know that the contest exist, and the other wants to make sure it stays that way.

The battle scenes are nicely done. The artistry enhances the life and death situations. It's in-your-face combat with only one objective: kill the enemy. The character interaction seems to be a means to the next fight. Characters die for their clan before the reader has time to feel connection or care. If you want complexity in survival and death where assassins and warriors live by codes of honor, Lone wolf and cub series is one to read. It's the wiseman or veteran general, where Basilisk is a young adult angst for respect and living passions in the moment.

Basilisk is a good read, once around. There is a novel about the series that's suppose to be good: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls by Futaro Yamada. Enjoy the series.