Year 1108 in the official calendar of the Pajan Empire. This turbulent age, often called the Asagiri Era or the Time of Mists, saw the great clans wage decades-long wars in attempts to seize power. Far from the fields of battle, Okko the ronin heads a small group of demon hunters, wandering the realms of Empire. He is accompanied by Noburo, a mysterious giant who hides his face behind a red mask, and the whimsical monk Noshin, the sake lover with the power to summon and commune with the spirits of nature. When Tikku's sister Little Carp is kidnapped by pirates, the young fisherman enlists the group's help in finding her. But the quest will have a price, and will lead our four heroes much farther afield than they'd ever imagined... The first of five Cycles by French comics master Hub.
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Okko is a great read,
By
This review is from: Okko: The Cycle of Water (Hardcover)
Okko tells the story of a disparate band of friends in a feodal Japanesque setting. The leader - Okko - is a ronin, a masterless samurai who travels the countryside with his mottly crew slaying demons. He's in many ways a reluctant hero and the under-dog and both his swordsmanship and his cunning serves him well. His travelling companions are equally interesting and have their part to play in the things to come.
It is a beuatiful comic and should appeal to both mature comic readers as well as gamers of L5R. The story is intriguing and the characters are likeable, especially the saké-drinking monk. There is magic and mystical creatures though not in abundance as it clearly is a world formost inhabited by humans. The comic has been released in France (you can find it on French Amazon) and hopefully all parts will be translated into English. [...]I can't recommend it enough!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful artwork, Enjoyable story,
By
This review is from: Okko: The Cycle of Water (Hardcover)
I picked this up randomly at the local comic book store for one reason, the cover. It immediatley caught my eye. The artwork is simply amazing. I will say this though, buy the Trade paper back version of this comic. I checked out the single issues of this and and they are quite dull. The glossy prints of the TPB bring out the many rich vibrant colors of this comic.
The story centers around a wondering ronin, a masterless samurai who fails to kill themselves upon dishonor or thier masters death, named Okko. Noburo, a giant who is the brute force of the group and who looks like a ancient Oni or demon. Noshin, the boozehound monk with the ability to summon ancient elemental spirits. And finally Tikku who becomes becomes life-endebted to Okko. Tikku's older sister, Little Carp, is kidnapped while with Noburo by a gang of attacking bandits along with many other young girls. Not having anyway to go after his sister Tikku begs Okku and his gang to help him, in return Tikku will give his life over to Okku. thus begins a fantasic tale that was translated very well from French into English. The group travels from island to island, gambling houses, island shrines, ogre infested islands and deal with a multitude of foes, ranging from giant mechanical wooden puppets, samurai thugs, and some really ugly floating head vampires. Like i posted a the beginning the art work is just top notch. It is super detailed and the color is rich, lush and bright. I don't have much information on the Artist/writer Hub, as I said I picked this up on a whim. I am not going to babble on about this part because it speaks for itself. One thing that also stands out is the realm, the world of the story, itself. I have been reading the Tales of the Otori and like those books the creator has envisioned a mystic medieval Japan full of depth and character. This comic is very easy to get into and it's great to kow that there is a new volume out in the end of December. I highly recommend this someone who ejoys Japanese fantasy and beautiful artwork.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great!,
By Prokopton (London, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Okko: The Cycle of Water (Hardcover)
Really fun fantasy graphic novels that hold up on the adult level, set in an alternate medieval Japan. You have your ronin hero, and some occasional snotty samurai to look down their noses at said ronin hero (until comeuppance time ^_^). You have your kami, and your itinerant monk to summon said kami. You have your mysterious warrior sidekick, your everykid narrator, your cool concepts ("combat bunraku", hmm...) and a colourful landscape of journey and intrigue populated also by less desirable supernatural elements. The first volume packs an emotional punch in its strange quest, and might be my favourite still, although only by a hair. The second loses some time in the beginning, has less bite, and the villain when discovered is a little unrealistic even for a fantasy. The third is right back on track with a return to the kinds of setting in the first (noble courts with mysterious goings-on) plus the introduction of a truly excellent villain, since we must have them, and force of feeling. The art is exquisite, colourful and flowing with character. Research went into this. Anyone with a fantasy bent will enjoy, but if you've a little interest in Japanese martial arts like me, or an initiation into a real meditation system featuring the 'go dai' or four elements plus void system (see such volumes as these two for more if interested) you will feel very at home, appreciate the folkloric accuracy, and have a grand old time. The elemental symbolism has been well used, although sadly might limit Okko's adventures to 4 or 5 volumes, unless they start some different scheme later. I'm hoping the idea might have more legs than that, considering there's already a miniatures-based boardgame out, but we'll see. I'm pasting this review for all three volumes; I'll update when we get more. Meantime, enjoy.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
So You'd Like to...
|
|
