The story was also adapted into 7 films and 2 separate television series in Japan. It was wildly popular then, with the magazine selling upward of 8 million copies per issue. This series was originally published from 1970 until 1976 in Weekly Manga Action, a publication that has been coming out since 1967. Both Koike and Kojima received the Hall of Fame Eisner Award in 2004. He drew mostly samurai stories but was a big influence on other artists, notably Frank Miller. The other half of the 'Golden Duo' responsible for this hit work was artist Goseki Kojima. He began Gekika Sonjuku, a college course for manga creators, and his graduates include some notable figures. He began his career as a writer for the popular series Golgo 13 and also went on to create and write the popular manga Crying Freeman. Kazuo Koike, the writer, is a prolific author of manga and novels. Ittō is shown to be full of wisdom and also as invincible as a force of nature, and his son Daigorō is surprisingly alert, composed, and responsive for being so young. Scenes of revenge and violence abound even when they are not hired for a job. The pair find many takers for their services, with bandits and thugs preying on people across the land. This volume shows the beginning of their quest and sets up Ittō's actions as an assassin for hire who wanders 17th century Japan. As you can tell from the title, he chose the sword. killed) but if he chose the sword he would go on the journey for revenge and retribution. If he chose the ball, he would be sent to be with his mother (i.e. After the deaths of the rest of the family, Ittō offers his young boy two items: a ball or a sword. A killer pushing a baby carriage is a jarring image, and it is set up by a choice. A landmark manga, Lone Wolf and Cub tells the tale of Ogami Ittō, the shogun's executioner who is framed and disgraced into exile with his infant son.

Lone wolf and cub vol 1 assassin's road