Lone Wolf & Cub was the first manga I ever read. (I didn't read Akira until years after it was first released in America.) Those First Comics issues had their flaws (skipped stories, uncompleted series, "flipped" artwork, published out of order, inferior translation), but I will never forget them and always be grateful to them for introducing me to the character.
First Comics (v1.0):
The first twelve issues in particular stood out for me because of Frank Miller's introductions. The covers all had cardstock covers, and he provided the artwork as well. The cover artists are as follows:
- Frank Miller - #1-12
- Bill Sienkiewicz - #13-24
- Matt Wagner - #25-36
- Mike Ploog - #37-45
Dark Horse (v2.0):
This version was presented at a smaller size than the one published by First Comics (4" x 6"), but it was complete in 28 volumes. The art in this version, too, was "flipped" in order to be read Western style (i.e., left-to-right), but I perfer Dark Horse's translation (in comparison to First's, not to Japanese). When the first volume shipped, I sat down and compared them side-by-side (only First skipped the first eight stories and began with the origin). I think I remember reading that Goseki Kojima intended the art to be presented at this size, preferred it that way, and that it was in Japan, but I may be mistaken about one or more of those assertions. (If the second is true, I respectfully disagree.) I also bought the leather bound retailer edition, but because v1 was the only volume released in that format, I gave it as a gift to a friend of mine who I thought would enjoy it, but I'll bet has never read it. I wish now I'd've kept it.
Dark Horse (v2.1):
The next verion to be released was and "omnibus" series, whihc was the same size but thicker, each volume reprinting approximately 2½ of "v2.0". It was complete in 12 volumes. Discussion HERE.
Dark Horse (v2.2):
This brings us up to the current "Deluxe Edition," the first volume of which shipped late last year. This version is 7" x 10" and is touted as being the same size as originally published in Japan. Also, this is the first time it has been presented in right-to-left reading order. It's only been a couple of years since I finished reading the entire series for the first time, so I bought the first volume with no intention of reading it any time soon, and no intention of buying any subsequent volumes. I recently referred to it, however, apropos the "Ultraman" discussion, and just started reading it. The next Wednesday after that, the second volume shipped to my LCS, and I bought it and added all future volumes to my P&H. I have just finished v1 and plan to move on to v2 shortly. Here's a breakdown of the stories I have (re-)read so far.
- 1-7 - One-off adventures establishinng the premise
- 8 - Ogami Itto's identity revealed
- 9 - Origin
- 10-16 - More one-off advertures, but with stronger continuity
This is what I listen to every time I read Lone Wolf & Cub:
Great mood music!
Replies
"For the longest time I couldn't read the words in my favorite comic book." - Frank Miller
I just finished reading Frank Miller's introductions to the first eleven issues of First Comics' Lone Wolf & Cub and the first reminded me of something I read recently: Robert Kirkman's reply to a letter writer in Skinbreaker #7: "And thirty minutes an issue, Mikey? You may be the only person I've encountered reading comics the CORRECT way! LOOK AT THE ART, EVERYONE!!!! STARE AT IT. If any comic takes less than 10 minutes to read, you did it wrong!" That's not true for every comic (I have often complained about "decompressed storytelling" myself), but it certainly applies to Skinbreaker... and to Lone Wolf & Cub as well. I always linger over comic book scens for approximately as long as it would take them to play out on the screen if filmed. I remember being appalled one time back in the '90s when I showed my friend (and fellow comic book aficionado) the hardcover collection of BWS's Weapon X. It was my intention that he take it home to read it, but he flipped through it while we were talking and handed it back to me!
I have also consulted the rather extensive notes I took the last time I read my way through the LW&C epic. Of the 142 individually titled stories, First Comics reprinted 48 of the first 70 stories (many out of order and skipping the first eight entirely, as I have mentioned). The "deluxe edition" is definitely the way to go. After I finish reading v2, I plan to take a break and come back when v3 is published, with feeling the need to read the entire saga uninterrupted, as I did last time.