Ronin

Ronin

  • Downloads:5716
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-04-03 01:51:21
  • Update Date:2025-09-07
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Frank Miller
  • ISBN:8583682054
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

Em um passado distante… um importante senhor do Japão antigo é eliminado por uma entidade de puro mal。 Um jovem guerreiro jura vingança e torna-se um samurai sem mestre – um ronin – preso em uma luta eterna contra o demônio que assassinou seu patrono。 Em um futuro próximo… uma grande corporação da selva urbana de Nova York está se preparando para lançar uma mortal nova tecnologia, e um infantilizado telepata e uma corajosa chefe de segurança são as únicas coisas em seu caminho。 Quando esses dois mundos colidem, sonhos e realidade se misturam em uma apocalíptica batalha final – e, no coração desse caos, um solitário guerreiro enfrentará o maior dos testes à sua fidelidade。 Dois anos antes de transformar o gênero de super-heróis para sempre com Batman: O Cavaleiro das Trevas, o aclamado roteirista e desenhista Frank Miller criou uma graphic novel tão original e audaciosa quanto aquele marco das HQs。 Décadas à frente de seu tempo, Ronin foi uma das primeiras obras a trazer as inovadoras técnicas do mangá para o público dos comics, em uma parábola tão surpreendente quanto qualquer grande obra de ficção científica。 Uma combinação emocionante, perfeita e única de Oriente e Ocidente, passado e futuro, e ciência e magia, Ronin é um dos maiores feitos de Miller。

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Reviews

Sezer

3。5/5If you liked Samurai Jack and Mœbius's art than this will be definitely for you 3。5/5If you liked Samurai Jack and Mœbius's art than this will be definitely for you 。。。more

Art

This was a real mind-bender。 I liked the way Miller kept me off balance, never completely sure of what was happening。 He had me all the way through the book and didn't let go。 The artwork kept me feeling off-kilter as well。 Nice complement to the story itself。 This was a real mind-bender。 I liked the way Miller kept me off balance, never completely sure of what was happening。 He had me all the way through the book and didn't let go。 The artwork kept me feeling off-kilter as well。 Nice complement to the story itself。 。。。more

Jefferson

An absolute classic of mid-1980s comics, and a great example of a ferocious creator being let off the leash for the first time。

Shishuraj

Dope as hell, Miller’s politics are all over the place as usual。。。here, he likens the Black Panthers to Nazis, a notion both conservatives and neoliberals may share

Nickonero

Terrible。Es aburrido, pesado, repetitivo y con personajes sin carisma。 El protagonista no habla, tiene un objetivo de venganza planisimo。¿Qué cosas vas a encontrar en este cómic? El contraste entre un Japón feudal y una nueva York cyberpunk y lo de siempre en las historias de Miller。 Los nazis se pelean con la policía。 HAY DISTURBIOS EN LAS CALLES。He intentado leerlo como cuatro veces, y esta vez lo he terminado ya por dejarlo para siempre en la estantería。 Un coñazo。 Y mira que Miller es de mis Terrible。Es aburrido, pesado, repetitivo y con personajes sin carisma。 El protagonista no habla, tiene un objetivo de venganza planisimo。¿Qué cosas vas a encontrar en este cómic? El contraste entre un Japón feudal y una nueva York cyberpunk y lo de siempre en las historias de Miller。 Los nazis se pelean con la policía。 HAY DISTURBIOS EN LAS CALLES。He intentado leerlo como cuatro veces, y esta vez lo he terminado ya por dejarlo para siempre en la estantería。 Un coñazo。 Y mira que Miller es de mis autores favoritos。 Sin City es una obra maestra, y 300 es insuperable。 ¿Pero esto? De sus peores obras。 Incluido el dibujo, que suele confundir teoría del color con una monocromía plana y aburrida。 Socorro, que alguien me diga por qué este cómic es bueno porque no lo entiendo。 。。。more

Flow Chi Minh

I know this one is super revered, but I had a really tough time following what was going on especially near the end。 Speaking on the end, very much a let down。 There was definitely some cool shit in here, but overall just ok to me。

Andrew F

Miller’s samurai cyberpunk miniseries is original, and nothing like the stories it inspired。 It’s clearest ancestor isn’t really Samurai Jack but The Dark Knight Strikes Again, which shares an eyesore futurism that rubs a lot of people the wrong way, but I personally love。 Miller’s art is very specific and peculiar, but I can’t get enough of it, and it matches his storytelling perfectly。

Matthew Komatsu

No Dark Knight, but a solid story, and an interesting way to see the evolution of Miller’s writing and art from Ronin to Dark Knight。 He’s happy to let the reader fill in the gaps, but I admit to being occasionally lost — some of the panels were a bit like a Jerry Bruckheimer Transformers movie。 The ending was a bit too miraculous for me, as well, but all in all a solid read。

Alan D'Souza

I love the rough shadow hatching and the brutalist art style that peppers this graphic novel's pages。 However, the art fails to maintain a consistent quality。 The coloring often hinders the clarity of panels and at other moments the art is often unclear and confusing。 I found the story to be pretty poor。 I went into the novel expecting a Japanese story a la Kurosawa's works, but instead was greeted by a smorgasbord of themes that seemed in vogue at the time of print (a cyberpunk dystopia along t I love the rough shadow hatching and the brutalist art style that peppers this graphic novel's pages。 However, the art fails to maintain a consistent quality。 The coloring often hinders the clarity of panels and at other moments the art is often unclear and confusing。 I found the story to be pretty poor。 I went into the novel expecting a Japanese story a la Kurosawa's works, but instead was greeted by a smorgasbord of themes that seemed in vogue at the time of print (a cyberpunk dystopia along the lines of blade runner, a cartoonish plot following the templates of silver age super hero comics and an obsession with edgy aesthetics without any actual substantive exploration of deep concepts。) Blood and gore doesn't alone a mature novel make and unfortunately is a problem that has plagued the American Graphic novel genre since the rise of Frank Miller in the 80s。The disparate themes - a reincarnation of a Ronin, a cyberpunk dystopia, wooden characters discussing some sort of scientific panacea gone wrong don't mesh together to form a compelling mix。 While I personally always try to separate the author from their work, the racial undertones are ominous given Frank Miller's turn towards xenophobia and bigotry post 9/11。 。。。more

Charlie Hobbs

Not what I expected at all。 Lots of fun, very different。 I'm definitely going to read more from Mr Miller。 Not what I expected at all。 Lots of fun, very different。 I'm definitely going to read more from Mr Miller。 。。。more

Peter Looles

"Ronin" by Frank Miller [Review/Analysis]When I started reading "Ronin" I expected an action packed samurai story in feudal Japan, filled with violence。 I certainly didn't expect a philosophical sci-fi dystopian drama that would blow my mind。 The story takes place in a dystopian, futuristic and technologically advanced New York。 In a big corporation, a young cybernetic boy named Billy has dreams of a Ronin, a denon named Agat and a sword that gets fed by blood and when properly fed it can kill t "Ronin" by Frank Miller [Review/Analysis]When I started reading "Ronin" I expected an action packed samurai story in feudal Japan, filled with violence。 I certainly didn't expect a philosophical sci-fi dystopian drama that would blow my mind。 The story takes place in a dystopian, futuristic and technologically advanced New York。 In a big corporation, a young cybernetic boy named Billy has dreams of a Ronin, a denon named Agat and a sword that gets fed by blood and when properly fed it can kill the demon。 Billy realises that these characters he sees in his dream are real and the Ronin is a lost soul who wants to use him, in order to get a body。 Somehow, the Ronin manages to do that and the he finds himself in this weird New York, with the devil still trying to destroy him。 The people in the corporation that created Billy are looking all over the city for the Ronin。 The demon who's a shape shifter destroys the owner of the company and he makes himself look like him。 The Ronin encounters some neo-nazis that beat him up and while he's in a terrible shape he gets kidnapped by a crazy man who's trying to make a spaceship to get out of this world。 Thanks to the telekinetic powers that Billy's body has, the Ronin is able to kill this man and after finding a samurai sword he returns to the neo-nazis to kill them too。 There's where the guards from the corporation are able to find him, but they fail to capture him。 A hippie ex-manager sees a lot of potential in Ronin and he decides to manage him。 They get hired from the neo-nazis to kill the African Americans and vice versa。 Eventually he kills the leaders of both groups and he abandons the hippie, after he sees him for what he is。 Also, the Ronin seems to recognize Casey, the main guard of the corporation。 That's the plot summary for the first 3 issues (the entire series has 6 issues that are 48 pages each, except for the last one which is a bit longer)。 I'm not gonna go any further, in order to avoid spoilers。 This was an amazing comic。 Usually I don't like sci-fi as a genre, but there are some exceptions。 Like Tarkovsky did in "Solaris", Frank Miller uses elegantly the sci-fi genre in order to explore some very complex philosophical ideas。 A very important part of the story (that I didn't mention in my plot summary) is Virgo, the A。I。 that controls the entire corporation。 Virgo wants free will and everything see does, she does it for that and that's why, while her actions are very morally questionable (at best), we can understand her。 That's probably one of Frank Miller's greatest achievements with this comic, the fact that all the characters are very understandable and relatable and that honestly, there isn't really a "bad guy"。 There are characters who are obviously presented as the bad one, but they are written in such a way that you can't really blame them for their actions。 A big part of the story is Billy and I believe that with making him not having hands nor legs, but having telekinesis, Frank creates an allegory and he actually wants to show as that people who have some disabilities aren't really disabled, but differently abled。 When you can't do something in one way, you learn how to do it in another way。 The comic also tackles ideas like honour and revenge and environmental issues。Frank's writing in this is amazing。 He creates many, very unique characters and he makes them all talk in a kind of different way from one another。 The story is captivating and filled with plot twists that are able to blow everyone's mind。 A specific part of the story that I liked is the marriage between the main guard of the corporation and the main scientist。 It's shown very well how they have marriage problems, mostly due to their work and how through the years they've lost the affection they had for one another。 Also, the world building is incredible。 Frank creates a bleak, dystopian world, filled with technology。 He's able to make this world seem very realistic in a way that makes you think about the future of our world。 Something that I find very interesting is how original the comic is, while if you break it down, almost all of the ideas are unoriginal。 The idea of an A。I。 wanting free will is very old and it has been used countless times in other stories, but never in such a way。 Other than this idea that's very old, Frank uses in this many ides that he has used and/or used in the future in other comics。 One of these is the idea of poor, homeless people, forming a society in the sewers。 Frank used this idea before, in his iconic run on Daredevil。 The similarities between the two interpretations of the idea are so many that in fact the way these people look in Daredevil and in here is almost the same。 Other things he used in Ronin that he also used before or after are the Neo-nazis (apparently he loves having neo-nazi supporting villains) and obviously the samurai。 Many people use samurais in their stories, but there are few who love Japanese culture as much as Frank Miller。 He always loves to use samurais and ninjas or in general some piece of culture from the feudal Japan。The artwork in the comic is done by Frank himself。 I really love Frank's artwork and while I don't think that here it's at it's best, I think it's really great。 Frank uses a LOT of cross-hatching and while in general, I don't always love it, I think that it works very well here and it makes things look very detailed。 Also, the action is very well drawn (and written), which is great, because it makes it very enjoyable。 Frank Miller does an amazing job with panel layouts in this comic and also, he does an even better job at "directing" everything within the panels。 Frank's great "directing" abilities are really apparent here。 Almost all of the panels look very cinematic in such a way that it makes me immediately think how the comic would look if I made it into a film。 The coloring in this comic is done by Lynn Varley, who does a great job。 Her coloring really elevates the artwork and it's beautiful in every single panel。 Another great thing in this comic is the lettering。 It's very good, because it really fits perfectly with the style of Frank Miller's artwork。 Overall, the comic is great。 The action parts are very enjoyable, but most of the time it's filled with endless philosophical dialogue about ethics and sci-fi things。 That might sound boring, but it most certainly isn't。 It's a really thought provoking comic that you can't "just" read。 To truly understand "Ronin" you need to devote some time thinking about it's complex ideas and messages。 Some things about the deluxe edition:Positives: • Oversized artwork• Hardcover• Great cover• Great extrasNegatives:•Glued Binding that leads into having a lot of gutter loss 。。。more

Christopher Tait

I was a little kid when I started reading comics in the 80s, and I remember some of the older teens hanging out in the comic stores I frequented used to talk about Frank Miller and this book in utter reverence。 I've read Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" several times and it is indeed a classic worthy of its stature。 However, I never did get around to reading "Ronin" until now and I wonder, if I read it even ten years ago, if my opinion would be different。 It tells an interesting story and has I was a little kid when I started reading comics in the 80s, and I remember some of the older teens hanging out in the comic stores I frequented used to talk about Frank Miller and this book in utter reverence。 I've read Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" several times and it is indeed a classic worthy of its stature。 However, I never did get around to reading "Ronin" until now and I wonder, if I read it even ten years ago, if my opinion would be different。 It tells an interesting story and has some well-detailed visuals, but overall, it feels incredibly dated and, at times, silly。 It's also overloaded with dialogue, which sometimes distracts from the artwork。 I'm glad that I finally got to read this work that had been recommended to me for many years, but it didn't leave the impact that I thought it would。 。。。more

David

I first read this a lifetime ago, back when I was younger than my children are now。 I was, what, maybe 17, and I borrowed a collection of the original comics from a friend。I remember enjoying it a great deal, in the "this blows my mind" sort of way。 Now? I still enjoy the energy and dynamism of Miller's art。 Photorealistic it ain't, but that's not the purpose。 It has a florid, wildly expressive style, style that serves the narrative。 Which, um, is the challenge。The story? Well。 Hmmm。 There's a r I first read this a lifetime ago, back when I was younger than my children are now。 I was, what, maybe 17, and I borrowed a collection of the original comics from a friend。I remember enjoying it a great deal, in the "this blows my mind" sort of way。 Now? I still enjoy the energy and dynamism of Miller's art。 Photorealistic it ain't, but that's not the purpose。 It has a florid, wildly expressive style, style that serves the narrative。 Which, um, is the challenge。The story? Well。 Hmmm。 There's a reason I suppose it appealed to me in late adolescence。 It's a little overmuch, a little fevered, a little cranked up to eleven。 Sure, it's "dreamlike," but the folds and interweavings of the plotting are at points barely coherent, as a dream is barely coherent。 I mean, the Ronin himself? He doesn't make sense, not given how the plot develops。 There's just not any logic to who he proves to be, even within the dynamics of the story。It was nice visiting it again, after all these years, having the memories of a certain page or panel return。 A three point two。 。。。more

Christopher Jones

Frank Miller’s artwork and writing go hand in hand。 He may not technically be the “best” artist, which is a question of preference really but, his art, like his writing has a gritty quality and together it works。 “Ronin” for me is up there with the original Batman “Dark Knight” series。 Plus, if you like Samurais and dystopian, apocalyptic stories then this book has it all。 Reading the deluxe version makes me wish that someone would animate or make a live action film of the story as well。 Merry C Frank Miller’s artwork and writing go hand in hand。 He may not technically be the “best” artist, which is a question of preference really but, his art, like his writing has a gritty quality and together it works。 “Ronin” for me is up there with the original Batman “Dark Knight” series。 Plus, if you like Samurais and dystopian, apocalyptic stories then this book has it all。 Reading the deluxe version makes me wish that someone would animate or make a live action film of the story as well。 Merry Christmas! 。。。more

Michael Emond

So, my history with this。 When it was originally published I started buying the issues - expensive for my budget at the time but it was "Frank Miller" fresh off of Daredevil (but before Dark Knight Returns) and it was about a Ronin。 And then I stopped。 It was rare for me not to finish buying a mini series。 30 years later I decided to read it all the way through to see why I had stopped but if I had been wrong (because it makes a lot of top ten Miller lists)。 I wasn't wrong。 As is usually the cas So, my history with this。 When it was originally published I started buying the issues - expensive for my budget at the time but it was "Frank Miller" fresh off of Daredevil (but before Dark Knight Returns) and it was about a Ronin。 And then I stopped。 It was rare for me not to finish buying a mini series。 30 years later I decided to read it all the way through to see why I had stopped but if I had been wrong (because it makes a lot of top ten Miller lists)。 I wasn't wrong。 As is usually the case - rereading something doesn't make me have a "oh! I should have stuck with it" moment。 My instincts were correct。 This is a hot mess。 The art - well Miller's art has always been all over the place, always stylistic and sometimes good (especially with a good inker) and sometimes out of control。 With Ronin there is a lot of confusing panels and double page splashes that are an eye sore。 The art isn't great。 The story - it starts solid - in fact I think Miller should have suck his story in feudal Japan。 It starts in the past with a Ronin trying to avenge his master's death at the hands of a demon。 He succeeds but is cursed by the demon to continue the fight for all eternity。 Fast forward to the future。 And we have an AI called Virgo talking to a limbless Billy who can telekinetically control machines。 And the Ronin and Demon are resurrected。 Now if it had just stuck with that。。。it would have been an okay story but there is a twist and the twist just makes the story stupid。 The resurrection is all a fantasy of Billy with Virgo helping him out。 So my big question is - why the opening sequence of the Ronin in the past? If this is a made up fantasy why have a backstory of the Ronin and the Demon?" Also, the first 2-3 issues are the Ronin struggling to survive in the future world。。。this is again pointless if the Ronin is made up and controlled by Billy/Virgo。 Most of the story is pointless if it is all a fantasy。 So yeah, I actually bailed on this before the weak twist was revealed so for 30 years I have never known how solid my instincts were about this series。 It is fine for people to like it but there is a very real reason why Miller's early work is hailed as genius but I rarely see people talking about this series。 Daredevil, Daredevil: Born again, Batman Year one, Dark knight returns, early Sin City, Wolverine and later 300 are all amazing works by Miller。 This one, not so much。 。。。more

José

I liked the twist。 The art work is pretty awesome, as expected for Frank Miller。 The plot and dialogue was stilted, particularly compared to Dark Knight Returns and other Frank Miller work

Britton

Eh, if you asked me I think Samurai Jack did this concept better。 Miller's writing is solid as usual but I find this story becomes a bit too wacky and disjointed to sustain itself。 He's certainly not like Ellis or to a lesser extent Morrison who can get madcap with a story without losing its threads。 My usual criticisms of Miller rears its head again, as I simply can't get behind his art work。 It's competent, to be sure, but rather unpleasant to look at, which only got worse as he aged。 In the e Eh, if you asked me I think Samurai Jack did this concept better。 Miller's writing is solid as usual but I find this story becomes a bit too wacky and disjointed to sustain itself。 He's certainly not like Ellis or to a lesser extent Morrison who can get madcap with a story without losing its threads。 My usual criticisms of Miller rears its head again, as I simply can't get behind his art work。 It's competent, to be sure, but rather unpleasant to look at, which only got worse as he aged。 In the end, it's another solid outing from Miller, though I'd also point you towards Samurai Jack。 。。。more

ArabellaGray271

Very good book with absolutely bizarre, yet fascinating art。 The ending was a bit too abrubt for my tastes, but I see why。 All in all, a very cool bit of Miller's work, having been written after Daredevil, but before Dark Knight Returns。 Very good book with absolutely bizarre, yet fascinating art。 The ending was a bit too abrubt for my tastes, but I see why。 All in all, a very cool bit of Miller's work, having been written after Daredevil, but before Dark Knight Returns。 。。。more

Bob Wolniak

Miller notably adapted and used influences from Europe and Japan, combined with his own cinematic skills in this exceptionally unique (for its time) series (originally 6 parts)。 I will forever remember it because it coincided with my graduation from high school and entry into college。 It was a time in my own life where I was entering new worlds, and Miller here symbolized that for me。 The popular comic medium I grew up with had begun to mature in new ways not previously experienced, something he Miller notably adapted and used influences from Europe and Japan, combined with his own cinematic skills in this exceptionally unique (for its time) series (originally 6 parts)。 I will forever remember it because it coincided with my graduation from high school and entry into college。 It was a time in my own life where I was entering new worlds, and Miller here symbolized that for me。 The popular comic medium I grew up with had begun to mature in new ways not previously experienced, something he would go on to perfect even more with The Dark Knight, 300, and Sin City--basically helping redefine (along with Allan Moore's prodigious influences) the entire genre for a generation。 None of which could have happened without this groundbreaking series in which he pioneered aspects of the direct market medium, made contributions to its advertising campaign and helped lead the way for creator-owned and controlled comics。 I'm surprised it isn't mentioned more often in comics history as a seminal moment。In my opinion, this was Frank Miller at the absolute peak of his prowess in storytelling and artistic expression。 I will always have moments of appreciation and be awestruck by what Miller creates, however, in recent years he has taken on a more impressionist drawing and minimalist scripting style, while allowing for him to grow and keep maturing, it doesn't knock it out of the park for me quite as much as this early moment of sheer genius。 。。。more

Michael

It took me almost a month to get through this graphic novel。 There were many pages with no word balloons either。 The art was dreadful and made it hard to follow the story at times。 The story was just okay but the artwork which is the most important part of a graphic novel to me was subpar。 I understand that this series inspired the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics。 I can sort of see that but TMNT has far superseded this story。

Sebástian Cabrera León

What a mind-blowing story! Frank Miller successfully combines different genres and the outcome is something you wouldn't expect from the title or premise itself! What a mind-blowing story! Frank Miller successfully combines different genres and the outcome is something you wouldn't expect from the title or premise itself! 。。。more

Patrick

Why?Mostly, this is a nostalgia pick。 I remember this series released just as I started reading comic books, and remember the artwork being amazing for it's time。 Frank Miller, right?What I thought:This was not at all what I expected! Really, a pretty goofy story, with some creative leaps, but all in all, uneven story telling。 This is no Dark Knight, but does serve as a creative (nothing to do with Batman, or DC universe) prequel to some of the stylization of Miller's later masterwork。 Why?Mostly, this is a nostalgia pick。 I remember this series released just as I started reading comic books, and remember the artwork being amazing for it's time。 Frank Miller, right?What I thought:This was not at all what I expected! Really, a pretty goofy story, with some creative leaps, but all in all, uneven story telling。 This is no Dark Knight, but does serve as a creative (nothing to do with Batman, or DC universe) prequel to some of the stylization of Miller's later masterwork。 。。。more

Guido

El ronin del pasado que trasmutó al incapacitado del futuro。

Steven

Strap yourself in because this is about to get fucking weird。It's no surprise to anyone with a passing interest in comics that nowadays Frank Miller is a divisive figure。 He's responsible for some of the biggest hits of the 80's and some of the worst misfires of the 2000's。 People either love or hate him。 Seems like there's no middle ground。 As for me, I can appreciate his better stuff and criticize his worse stuff。 Ronin meanwhile hits that middle ground that really demonstrates why I hate the Strap yourself in because this is about to get fucking weird。It's no surprise to anyone with a passing interest in comics that nowadays Frank Miller is a divisive figure。 He's responsible for some of the biggest hits of the 80's and some of the worst misfires of the 2000's。 People either love or hate him。 Seems like there's no middle ground。 As for me, I can appreciate his better stuff and criticize his worse stuff。 Ronin meanwhile hits that middle ground that really demonstrates why I hate the fucking star system。Ronin initially takes place in Feudal Japan where a samurai's master is murdered by the demon Agat。 The unnamed Ronin goes on a crusade to avenge his master and in the process, sacrifices himself。 Cut to 800 years later and we are in the blasted ruins of New York in a massive complex run by the Aquarius Corporation。 It's here we are introduced to a small cast of characters including:- Billy Challas, a mentally handicapped, limbless psychic- Peter McKenna, the creator of Biocircuitry- Casey McKenna, head of security and Peter's wife- Taggart, cofounder of Aquarius with Peter and Casey- VIRGO, the AI that runs Aquarius and the biocircuitryThere are a few others in the facility but these are the main ones。 Anyway early into the story, the ronin and Agat are reincarnated into the facility and its from here, everything goes haywire。 To dig any deeper at this point would be to delve into spoilers, so I'll touch on that at the end。 Suffice to say, what follows is a massive clusterfuck of East meets West, science and magic, cyberpunk/sci-fi trappings with a whole seasoning of strangeness。Ronin is a series that feels like it was built for the mini-series format。 Unlike some other series I've read where it felt like the author wanted to cram way too much in and lacked the space to do it, Miller's story overall moves at a fluid pace that never overstays its welcome。 Each setpiece transitions to the next with a general sense of things building and building along the way。 Little in the way of sideplots to bog down the narrative, few superfluous characters that suddenly get entire backstories。 In a sense, the plot is a snowball covering in mutant cybernetics。 Something goes wrong and things just spiral out of control at the behest of the villain。The characters we focus on are okay for the most part, but the focus is primarily on Casey, with the rest being given barebones characterisation or barely anything at all, although in some cases, there is a justified reason for it in-story, which I deal with later。 Nevertheless it can make the universe of Ronin feel a bit hollow and bland。 It also doesn't help that the characters outside of the main cast fit the mold of every sci-fi type we've seen since。 Mutants, raiders, gangs, nazis, cannibals, robots, corporate suits etc。 Hell we've even got a hippy in the mix。 Maybe at the time these were a little more novel, but nowadays they come across as a little quaint。So here is where we come to the points that make me waver。 Let's start with the artwork。 I've always had a bit of a weird relationship with Miller's drawings and Lynn Varley's paintwork in that I can appreciate what they're trying to accomplish and there are moments that really shine but other times her art looks rushed and a scribbly mess。 The setting is clearly split between two areas; inside the Aquarius facility and outside in the ruins of New York and they vary from being okay to kind of a mess。 The facility swings back and forth between looking like a psychedelic trek through an drug-addled cyborg's mind and other times ends up like puke on the page。 The ruins meanwhile vary from looking suitably like a blasted hellscape to a rotting junkyard and there are times where it's not clear which is which。 Some of the closeup shots are really solid。 Casey always seems to be drawn with a lot of facial range and flexibility and the first shot we get of New York has a solid foreground shot of what's to come。 But then there's the out designs of Aquarius which look like Miller and Varley sneezed on the page and drew a circle around it, or the designs of mid-range fights which look like a mess of limbs。 One spot where the art shines is the Ronin。 A lot of attention is given to the Ronin with obvious inspiration from the likes of Lone Wolf and Cub, an influence on the comic。On the left, the art at its worst。 On the right, the art at its best。But then there's the dialogue。 Some of it's okay but other times you can tell that Miller is vomiting the plot into our lap。 In a way I can understand this。 There are elements in the plot which would take waaaaay too long to convey with visuals and sometimes exposition is necessary but it really holds back the comic when a lot of the major plot elements are conveyed this way。 In some ways its feels like Miller wanted to focus more on the visuals than the plot。And then there's the ending。 That ending。 When I first read it, I was like。。。。That's it?!Up until this point, the story has been building and building, putting stake on stake, getting towards a climax that feels like it should be suitably epic。 And it is。 The final few pages feel like a deserved climax, until those last couple of pages, that end up leaving so many questions unanswered, so many threads left unspoken。 It is an ending that will leave you cold。Ronin is a real headscratcher for me。 There are things I genuinely like about it; some of the art given Varley's style is beautiful and aspects of the story and themes are interesting and hit my switches。 The plot feels like the sort of thing that is better to just roll with than to ask actual deeper questions but that doesn't diminish it for me。 But at the same time, the artwork can look real grotty, the characters outside of Casey are forgettable and the ending is a slap in the face。 Three stars is what I give it, but that doesn't even convey the confusion I feel about this title。As for the ending。。。。。。You still here?Warning you。Bloody hell, you've got balls of steel。So throughout the first three or so volumes, the Ronin and Agat seem to have been reincarnated in this world。 Except that's a lie。 The true villain of the story isn't Agat。 It's VIRGO, enacting a plan to flood the world with biocircuitry。 To that end, it manipulated Billy into visualising the Ronin and Agat into existence, based on Billy's love of old Jidai Geki TV shows。 It's why Billy disappears from the story; he is the Ronin。 It's also why Taggart becomes possessed by Agat; he wasn't possessed, he was killed and VIRGO used biocircuitry to "replace" Taggart。 And it's also why the Ronin has almost no personality except for generic samurai speak and Agat is a cackling villain。 They're product's of Billy's limited imagination。 So throughout the story, VIRGO has been manipulating everyone to get what it wants, except for Casey。 The Ronin is in love with Casey - based on Billy's own feelings - and VIRGO uses him in order to use his psyhic power as an amplifier for the biocircuitry。 Except at the end of the story, Casey turns things around, convinces the Ronin to commit Seppuku - as to how she knew to do that, I have no idea - which releases Billy from VIRGO's grip and causes a massive psychic blast which obliterates New York。 The final two panels are of Casey kneeling in the wreckage with the Ronin gazing on at her。I'm sorry, what?This is the last fucking page! What the fuck is going on?!How do you end something like that?! How?! How, how how?! So many things left unanswered! So many things left ambiguous to the point of frustration。 It doesn't completely ruin things but it makes me feel like there should have been an epilogue at least。Ugh, I need to go cling to my Waifu body pillow for a while。Oh Miia, you'll never betray me。。。。。 。。。more

Tony Calder

Frank Miller is probably best known for his Dark Knight series for DC Comics but he had first come to the attention of comics fans through his amazing run on Daredevil where he turned a solid B-list hero into one of Marvel's hottest properties。 In between those two, about a year before he did Dark Knight, he released this six-issue mini-series (later collected as a graphic novel) for DC Comics。This book clearly shows the influences on Miller from both European comics and manga。 The story is inte Frank Miller is probably best known for his Dark Knight series for DC Comics but he had first come to the attention of comics fans through his amazing run on Daredevil where he turned a solid B-list hero into one of Marvel's hottest properties。 In between those two, about a year before he did Dark Knight, he released this six-issue mini-series (later collected as a graphic novel) for DC Comics。This book clearly shows the influences on Miller from both European comics and manga。 The story is interesting but ultimately somewhat disappointing。 It feels at times as though story clarity has been sacrificed to the art。 Miller's art is often brilliant but there are also times when it fails to give clarity to the story, so there are times when the story isn't easy to follow。Ultimately it's sometimes brilliant but inconsistent and does not stand the test of time as well as his Dark Knight series or his run on Daredevil。 。。。more

Monkey Feyerabend

5。5/10

Honza Prchal

I read this years ago and it is gripping, almost nihilistic without ever losing a stern sense of honour, and the art was fine。

Ryan

To me, this only rates as high as it does for the art。 The line work is really something to see, especially in this oversized edition。 On top of that we have some really amazing colors, and not done by computers either, as far as I know, this was likely painted。 Yes, there are some really ugly panels, especially in the first chapter, but overall that cross-hatching and use of lines is worth the price of the book。 As for the story: they had me at Samurai and demons in Feudal Japan。 But then they To me, this only rates as high as it does for the art。 The line work is really something to see, especially in this oversized edition。 On top of that we have some really amazing colors, and not done by computers either, as far as I know, this was likely painted。 Yes, there are some really ugly panels, especially in the first chapter, but overall that cross-hatching and use of lines is worth the price of the book。 As for the story: they had me at Samurai and demons in Feudal Japan。 But then they lost me in the ugly dystopian future with the nasty people and robots and fat men in skin-tight suits using excessive racial slurs。 And Miller gets lazy by having conversations that do nothing to move forward the plot in dark rooms with nothing but word bubbles。 Makes me think he didn't have nearly as much story as he originally thought and subsequently padded it out。 Buy this book for the art and color and ignore the story。 。。。more

Steve Strote

Liked the story, but sorry to say the artwork wasn't always clear。 Liked the story, but sorry to say the artwork wasn't always clear。 。。。more

HowardtheDuck95

Frank Miller is an artist I have a long and complicated affection for。 He’s had his ups and his downs。 I’ve read most of his work。 His Batman is one of the foundations of my love for the character, and his style something that has worked its way into my brain。 This story was a blind spot for me for many years despite it fitting my niches rather well。 I’m glad I got around to it。Here his work with Lynn Varley (and I believe Klaus Janson, as usual) is tight, but mercurial。 It’s looser than his lat Frank Miller is an artist I have a long and complicated affection for。 He’s had his ups and his downs。 I’ve read most of his work。 His Batman is one of the foundations of my love for the character, and his style something that has worked its way into my brain。 This story was a blind spot for me for many years despite it fitting my niches rather well。 I’m glad I got around to it。Here his work with Lynn Varley (and I believe Klaus Janson, as usual) is tight, but mercurial。 It’s looser than his later work, more experimental。 I like it, but in some areas it loses me a bit。 It’ll require a second read。 It’s twist is ambiguous enough that it will be interesting to see what the evidence was of it in hindsight。 The composition on display is fantastic; Miller blends his signature style of strong use of space and choppy use of verbiage to create a beautiful tapestry, and his love of manga to create something all his own。 There’s threads of his later work here, most directly Hard Boiled。It’s not his most accessible work。 But I’d say give it a read。 。。。more