Book/Manga Review: Basilisk - The Kouga Ninja Scrolls #5

Author: Masaki Segawa 
Title: Basilisk - The Kouga Ninja Scrolls (#5)
Genre: Manga, Drama, Action, SciFi, and Fantasy
Pages: ebook
First Published: August 2004
Where I Got It: On my shelf (Got free online)

"THE FINAL SHOWDOWN

With only three ninja remaining on each side, the battle between the Iga and the Kouga clans is nearing its bloody end. Believing he has slain Yakushiji Tenzen, shape-shifter Saemon Kisaragi morphs into Tenzen’s body and infiltrates Iga territory. But what Saemon doesn’t know is that Tnezen is an immortal ninja, and that he has his own plan to dispose of Saemon and the Kouga clan. 

Meanwhile, Oboro, leader of the Iga clan, has sworn that she will die rather than fight against her lover, Gennosuke. Every death brings these two star-crossed lovers closer to confronting each other on the battlefield at last!"

This is finale to a great series and it still upsets me. As much as I wish that that final battle doesn't come to be and they end the fighting, it still has to come. I've read this before, but I still have hope. 

Oooooooooooooooooooooh, so tragic. I cannot say what happens, but if you know any Greek/Shakespeare tragedy, then you for sure know what is going to happen. It is a tale as old as time mixed with some kick-ass ninjas and x-men type powers. The way it ends is beautifully, but sad and heart-wrenching. :(

Stupid Tenzen....>___> 

I really wish I could say more, but I don't want to spoil anything. It's a quick read, but totally worth it. I do recommend reading the others before diving into this one. The art is lovely, but very graphic. The fight scenes are the best! There is a lot of gore, but its done in a way where it is simply art and you can't help but stare at it and admire it.

In the end, I totally recommend this to anyone who has any interest in manga or anime. It's a great story and totally worth the read! I still want to read the original book version of this story, but I haven't been able to find it yet. :/ Booo! Anyways....I stamp this with 4 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Gennosuke and Oboro (she is weak, but I like her a lot in this one)

Not-So Favorite Character(s): Tenzen (buttface)

Manga/Book Review: Basilisk - The Kouga Ninja Scrolls Vol. 4

Author: Masaki Segawa 
Title: Basilisk -The Kouga Ninja Scrolls (#4)
Genre: Science Fiction, Manga, Fantasy, Drama, Action, Romance
Pages: ebook
First Published: April 2004 
Where I Got It: On my shelf (got it from the Basilisk website)

"OF BLOOD AND DESTINY

The titanic battle between the clans rages on. Akeginu and the blinded Oboro of the Iga clan encounter a powerful aristocrat named Ofuku, who will do whatever it takes to make her godson, Takechiyo, the next Shogun. If Ofuku and her troops join forces with the Iga, will the Kouga still have a chance at victory?

Meanwhile, the Kouga leader Gennosuke, also blinded, and his comrades–including the shapeshifter Saemon and the deadly seductress Kagerou–embark on a long journey to Sunpu to find out exactly why the truce was dissolved. They will face the fury of the calculating Tenzen and the whirlwind-wielding Koshirou. In the end, who will survive this bloody game of deception and politics?"

This is the 4th manga in the series. Unlike the other two, I wouldn't read this as a stand alone. Many references one can only understand if they read the last 3. These references and back-knowledge are important to understand whats going on.

I've been dying to read this, because I believe that this is the best of the series. I still think so (so far), still have one more to go, so we shall see. So much is going on, but I love every second of it. 

I especially love the number of flashbacks that are showed. Awesome and the little cute, romantic scene between Hotarubi and Yashamaru. Super cute! The flashbacks are really bittersweet though, because you really wish the treaty was never broken by the corrupted politics. Damn them. Things had been looking up for both clans with the engagement between Oboro and Gennosuke.  Meh. 

This manga also was bittersweet, because a couple really awesome characters are slain. I know its gunna happen, but I still get upset when it happens. I especially am bitter, because one of my least favorites has a hand in the killings. >_> Stupid tragic manga....

ANYWAYS....

This is and was my favorite of the series. So much going on, but it's just so good. I can't say more without spoiling it. I do believe my favorite parts of it are the flashbacks. So bittersweet. *sighs* Well, I shall HIGHLY recommend this manga to those that love this genre. So fantastic. I wish it was more popular, because it does deserve the attention. It really does. In the end, I shall stamp this with 5 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Gennosuke, Koshirou, Hyouma, and Saemon (awesome power)
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Oboro (meh), Tenzen (asswipe), and Kagerou 

Book/Manga Review: Basilisk, The Kouga Ninja Scrolls Vol. 2 & 3

Author: Masaki Segawa 

Title: Basilisk - The Kouga Ninja Scrolls Vol. 2
Genre: Manga, Fantasy, Action, and Romance
Pages: ebook

First Published: September 2003
Where I Got It: Free online 

"LOVE AND DEATH

The bloody battle to rule Japan has begun: The Iga and the Kouga clans are locked in a fight to the death. Driven by a centuries-old hatred, each clan will do anything to annihilate the other. The Kouga clan is engaging in a little espionage, and has planted a shapeshifter, disguised as an Iga ninja, in the Iga palace. Meanwhile the Iga clan turns to its last, best hope: their new leader, Gennosuke, the only one who can defeat the Kouga’s formidable leader, Oboro. But is she willing to kill the man she loves? As the war grows more desperate, will true love be the next casualty?"


Ahhhhhhh, I needed a nice good manga. It's been years since I read this series and I'm glad I've decided to pick them up again.

The war is just beginning to get heated and everyone is enjoying themselves, except for the lovebirds Oboro and Gennosuke. I feel bad. They just announced their intentions to marry and everyone was just getting use to the idea, but the stupid emperor wants both clans dead, so he created this challenge for them. Sighs. As more blood spills on both sides, you can feel the heartbreak slowly shattering. So tragic, so good though.

The drawings are fantasic! I love how they depict each character. Warning, though, it is a graphic novel, so young kids should not be reading this. Sometimes its overly graphic, but what can you do? There were a couple scenes that were over the top for my liking, but hey...it does warn you on the cover.

Anyways, I can't release much for I fear of spilling any major spoilers. In the end, I grant this 4 stars.

Favorite Character(s): Gennosuke, Nenki (he's cool), Yashamaru, Koshirou (^.^) and Okoi.
Not-so Favorite Character(s): None I can really say


~*~

Author: Masaki Segawa 

Title: Basilisk - The Kouga Ninja Scrolls Vol. 3
Genre: Manga, Fantasy, Action, and Romance
Pages: ebook

First Published: Janurary 2004
Where I Got It: Free online 

"Thanks to the machinations of the Ieyasu Tokugawa, the age-old truce between the Kouga and the Iga clans is no more–and now a fight to the death will decide which clan reigns supreme. Oboro has blinded herself in order to avoid having to kill Gennosuke, her lover and her rival. Meanwhile, Gennosuke has urged the Iga clan to join him on a journey to Sunpu to find out the real motives behind Ieyasu Tokugawa’s orders to fight. But the Iga has other plans. The hirsute Nenki and the butterfly-wielding Hotarubi rush to assassinate Gennosuke, while Tenzen has sinister intentions for a defenseless Oboro. The epic battle of blood and betrayal continues!"

Things are heating up! Even dear old Gennosuke has even joined in the fight. I'm sorry but he is the last man I would go up against. Hell....the only way to beat him is freeze him so you can at least get a hit in. Man ol' man. He has the ability to slow down time to a near halt and just destroy you as easily as taking a stroll in the park. The only one who can has a chance is poor Oboro with her eyes of death. Can you see where this is heading??? Oboro knows this herself and blinded herself temporarily. Gah, what we do for love I suppose. But yeah...I would refuse to fight Gennosuke. Great guy, but don't piss him off.

Not only are things heating up between the clans, but there is some drama and betrayal happening within the clans. Bad ol' Tenzen. Tsk tsk. So much is at play now and there is so much going on. I would recommend at least reading the second Volume, before tackling this. 

All-in-all, I reall adore this manga series. It's so much fun and its an awesome twist on the Romeo & Juliet tale we all abhor/adore. I feel its 100% better. Haha. I still need to get my hands on the book version of the manga which was the inspiration for this. Well, I shall stamp this with 5 stars. I recommend this to those that like manga and anime. Or for those that just like a little war and love.

Favorite Character(s): Gennosuke, Nenki (he's cool), and of course Koshirou 

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Tenzen...I knew this day would come.

*CaroleRae*

Book/Manga Review: Basilisk Vol. 1

Author Masaki Segawa

Title: Basilisk - The Ninja Scrolls Vol. 1
Genre: Manga, fantasy, war, romance, action
Pages: 224

First Published: May 2nd, 2003
Where I Got It: borrowed from Library

"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?"

This is the manga version of the movie 'Shinobi: Heart Under Blade'  which I watched and reviewed a while back. I remember vaguely reading many years ago. It's been a while and I've been craving some manga or anime or something. I have been suppressing my nerdy tendencies for a while now, so it was nice to let go. Hahaha.

Anyways, this is WAAAAAAAY different then the movie. The movie cut so many characters and really simplified the plot. They also switched up the clans. Some of the Iga's were put on team Kouga, whilst some Kouga were put on team Iga. I prefer the original teams. It seemed more evenly matched. I'm also really liking some of the characters that weren't shown in the movie. Except for the spider guy...he creeped me out. I mean having a fear of spiders might be a legit reason for not liking him. Mhmmm....

The graphics are intended for more adult readers....so when I read this at the age of thirteen it was a little too much for me. Now that I'm older and more mature I can handle it better. Some of the pictures are rather gruesome, but hey....its war! What do you expect! ^.^ 

I love Oboro and Gennosuke. I'm really rooting for them even though I know that its bound to end badly. It's loosely based off of 'Romeo and Juliet', so yeah...tragic love. I applaud Masaki Segawa for diving more into their romance and love. For the movie showed just a hint of it. I really could see and feel the love they had. For heaven's sake Gennosuke made fun of Oboro. When you have harmless teasing that means you have a pretty good relationship. Well, in my opinion. 

Anyways....all-in-all I'm so happy I found this! I can't wait to rest of the volumes. So far it is WAY better then the movie. I'm hoping the ending is different. Maybe Oboro and Gennosuke can have their happily ever after. Doubtful, but plausible. 

For this one, I'll stamp four stars. There was so much going on and I felt a little rushed. I wish they had went deeper into some spots and given more information. Perhaps they'll do that with the next. Still really good though.

Favorite Character(s): Oboro (a klutzy ninja....interesting), Gennosuke (^.^), Tenzen (pretty epic, but I fear I may turn to hate him sooner or later), and Hotarubi
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Jingorou (mmmm) and Shougen (spider guy...creepy)

================================

<3CaroleRae