Blood on Snow (The Path, Book 2) [Paperback]

Ron Marz (Author), Bart Sears (Creator), Michael Atiyeh (Other Contributor)

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Cross Generation Comics (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931484600
• ISBN-13: 978-1931484602
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,882,933 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4.0 out of 5 stars "Already you have made a charnel house of what was once a holy place.", May 3, 2010

By 

H. Bala "Me Too Can Read" (Just moved to posh Marina Del Rey, CA - where if you drop a quarter, why, you just keep on walking) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blood on Snow (The Path, Book 2) (Paperback)

It's a shame that CrossGen Comics isn't around anymore because those cats over there had a terrific thing going. The CrossGen universe was a shared one, peopled with compelling characters that were intentionally created to stray far from the "superhero" mold. An ongoing theme in these titles is the presence of the sigils, this mystical mark which grants its bearer awesome attributes (The sigil on Obo-San's back, for example, lends him the ability to compel men to his bidding merely with his voice). CrossGen Comics opened its doors to a wide scope of genres: MYSTIC, for example, was a magic-based series; SIGIL and NEGATION were military sci-fi; RUSE, a Victorian-era detective story; SOJOURN, an epic fantasy; ROUTE 666, horror; WAY OF THE RAT, comedy kung-fu. Et cetera...

I enjoy the hell out of most of these, and if I were to pick out favorites - and it'd be hard - I'd probably go with WAY OF THE RAT and RUSE. But close on their heels would be THE PATH, a gritty samurai story with mystical overtones. Reading THE PATH, I swear one could hear the distant pounding of the war drums and the ominous clash of steel. One can almost sense the palpable weight of a mad ruler's gaze. Yeah, it's like that.

Set on the world of Han-Jin, in the proud nation of Nayado, THE PATH tells the story of the monk Obo-San, once called Nobuyuki of the clan Tsugawa, who abandoned the path of enlightenment to pick up his old warrior ways. Obo-San has sworn dire vengeance against the gods for their betrayal - for the death of his brother - and he means to employ the gods' destructive own Weapon of Heaven against them.

Obo-San finds himself at odds with Mitsumune, once his childhood friend but now the demented Emperor of Nayado. Mitsumune had demanded that the Weapon of Heaven be handed over to him, and Obo-San refused (because Mitsumune is, well, insane in the membrane). Obo-San is now, consequently, an outlaw, his death eagerly sought by a madman's army.

THE PATH Vol. 2: BLOOD ON SNOW collects issues #7-12, and writer Ron Marz submits a series of stories that is spare yet evocative and sets a tone that is mostly contemplative but with sudden lethal bursts of violence. From across the sea, the vast Shinacea empire has deployed ten thousand of its soldiers to invade the kingdom of Nayado, and Nayado's army is quickly overwhelmed ten to one. Meanwhile, Obo-San is at an impasse, spending most of these issues alone and deliberating whether to go to war against an unstable, unjust ruler. He still gets a chance to prove his badassity.

Bart Sears and Mark Pennington provide the stark, atmospheric visuals, laden in shadow, pregnant with foreboding. I think I've said this before: I've never seen Bart Sears do better work than in these pages.

With CrossGen Comics well in the rear view mirror, we'll never get to see now how these characters develop, and this is a shame. I was particularly intrigued with Obo-San's allies, the rough giant outlander Wulf and the lady samurai Aiko. I miss Obo-San's world, a moody place where honor is revered, demons are consorted, mystical artifacts can alter the course of history, and the protagonist is a conflicted monk you DO NOT ever want to step to. Obo-San, he's not a peaceable guy anymore.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Epic Samurai Adventure, June 21, 2003

By 

John Siuntres (Niles, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood on Snow (The Path, Book 2) (Paperback)

Ron Martz and Bart Sears have constructed a cinematic tale about
a monk who becomes a reluctant warrior. Sears gritty art style fits the story's timeframe and locale. There are grand battle scenes and interseting characterizations in this tale mixed with samurai action and fantasy . A great way to jump on this ongoing title from the Crossgen Universe.