shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Feb 12, 2016 5:39:57 GMT -5
  Published: April thru May 1990 Synopsis: Even ninja have to worry about ninja, as Lord Hebi hires a new group to move in on The Neko Ninja territory in the wake of their failure during The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy. Notes: 1st Komori Ninja Discuss the issue and/or post full reviews below! |
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Post by coke & comics on Feb 28, 2016 14:38:29 GMT -5
Summary: On a spooky night, Usagi comes across a dying man, who barely chokes out "chi no tsubasa". "Wings of blood". There were no footprints in the area. Reaching the village, Usagi learns the dead farmer was Tsubo, who had been seeking aid. The entire village is being held hostage by Komori ninja. Usagi suspects they plan to steal a shipment of Lord Hirone's gold from a mine, and that the village will be destroyed to eliminate witnesses. He decided to warn the mine, escorted by the son of Ando, the village headman. Their plan fails when they are defeated on the trail by the Komori. Ando's son is killed and Usagi is captured. The Komori ninja are undertaking this task to prove their value to Lord Hikiji, to replace the Neko Ninja. A member of the Neko clan overhears a Komori meeting with Lord Hebi. Usagi escapes from the Komori ninja when they go out to ambush the shipment. He returns to the village and rallies the villagers into fending off the ninja. Thoughts: This is the second time Sakai has let characters have a characteristic of their animal nature play a major story role, and again with ninja. This time, the ninja are bats, and can fly. The Komori are a great design, looking at once like bats and ninja. At a glance it seems you are just looking at their bat-bodies, but you then see the folds in the robe, and the sandals on the feet. I described the opening pages as spooky, because this is a mood Sakai is adept at conveying. It is not made explicit what happened with the gold shipment. It is presumably lost. However, the Komori will be implicated in the theft, so the plan failed. I rather like stories where Usagi rouses a village into defending itself. It is not the first time we have seen this happen and will not be the last. But it always works for me. "Holy flying fuball! It's bats, man!"
Notes:- The Neko ninja spying on Lord Hebi appears to be Shingen's yet-unnamed sister, who we met in the Dragon Bellow Conspiracy
Grade: B+/A-
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 19, 2016 20:22:34 GMT -5
I like the concept of Bat Ninjas, but in comparison to Neko Ninjas their over all characterization was severely lacking...and by double comparison even the soldiers in the garrison were more actualized. But hey, I'm nearly 30 issues in and this is only the very first story that was, "Just Okay" so you know Stan's an excellent writer.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,865
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Post by shaxper on Mar 21, 2016 4:09:16 GMT -5
I like the concept of Bat Ninjas, but in comparison to Neko Ninjas their over all characterization was severely lacking... It is interesting that, with the Neko Ninja, we were immediately given two sympathetic members, but with the Komori, we are asked to keep our distance in regard to sympathy. Granted, much of Stan's point with the Neko Ninja is that they are more honorable than their peers, but we're usually asked to feel some level of sympathy even for the bad guy. That isn't the case here. I do consider the Komori one of the cooler visual concepts Stan ever introduced, with the blade wings they've got going on. I still really want to see what they'd look like in the world of Space Usagi! |
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Post by usagigoya on Mar 21, 2016 5:51:43 GMT -5
Seems like I read or heard somewhere that the whole concept for the creation of the Komori Ninja initially was so that Stan could do a "It's Bats, man!" pun.....  |
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Post by lobsterjohnson on Mar 21, 2016 9:05:10 GMT -5
The Komori ninja are a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to their appearance in an upcoming issue.
The "Bat's man" pun always cracks me up.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 21, 2016 15:30:51 GMT -5
I like the concept of Bat Ninjas, but in comparison to Neko Ninjas their over all characterization was severely lacking... It is interesting that, with the Neko Ninja, we were immediately given two sympathetic members, but with the Komori, we are asked to keep our distance in regard to sympathy. Granted, much of Stan's point with the Neko Ninja is that they are more honorable than their peers, but we're usually asked to feel some level of sympathy even for the bad guy. That isn't the case here. I do consider the Komori one of the cooler visual concepts Stan ever introduced, with the blade wings they've got going on. I still really want to see what they'd look like in the world of Space Usagi! There's that and on top of that there aren't any distinguishing characteristics among them...I'd have to look it over again to be sure but are any of them even given names? |
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Post by lobsterjohnson on Mar 21, 2016 15:48:09 GMT -5
It is interesting that, with the Neko Ninja, we were immediately given two sympathetic members, but with the Komori, we are asked to keep our distance in regard to sympathy. Granted, much of Stan's point with the Neko Ninja is that they are more honorable than their peers, but we're usually asked to feel some level of sympathy even for the bad guy. That isn't the case here. I do consider the Komori one of the cooler visual concepts Stan ever introduced, with the blade wings they've got going on. I still really want to see what they'd look like in the world of Space Usagi! There's that and on top of that there aren't any distinguishing characteristics among them...I'd have to look it over again to be sure but are any of them even given names? Sure, there's Kirk Langstrom... er, wait. Wrong bats. |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,865
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Post by shaxper on Mar 21, 2016 18:59:22 GMT -5
It is interesting that, with the Neko Ninja, we were immediately given two sympathetic members, but with the Komori, we are asked to keep our distance in regard to sympathy. Granted, much of Stan's point with the Neko Ninja is that they are more honorable than their peers, but we're usually asked to feel some level of sympathy even for the bad guy. That isn't the case here. I do consider the Komori one of the cooler visual concepts Stan ever introduced, with the blade wings they've got going on. I still really want to see what they'd look like in the world of Space Usagi! There's that and on top of that there aren't any distinguishing characteristics among them...I'd have to look it over again to be sure but are any of them even given names? I think Senso was the first time any of them were given names. I remember being taken aback by that at the time -- Komori ninja...with personalities?? |
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Post by lobsterjohnson on Mar 21, 2016 19:25:29 GMT -5
There's that and on top of that there aren't any distinguishing characteristics among them...I'd have to look it over again to be sure but are any of them even given names? I think Senso was the first time any of them were given names. I remember being taken aback by that at the time -- Komori ninja...with personalities?? Looks like there will be plenty of personality for the Komori in #154... |
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