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2 – Books and Manga

26 Jul 2009

More KAGEMARU…

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 2 - Books and Manga | 1

Yep, it’s official – I LOVE the hooded Kagemaru and hate the unhooded drawings. Say, while you’re here, check out the newly updated Kagemaru vinyl figure post over in Toys and Statues!

Kagemaru, Mitsuteru Yokoyama
25 Jul 2009

KAGEMARU manga covers

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 2 - Books and Manga | 2

Mitsuteru Yokoyama is probably the second most prolific creator of crossover ninja properties next to Shirato Sanpei. Both Kagemaru of Iga and Masked Ninja Akakage expanded from their pulp roots to multiple incarnations in anime and live action film/television. I’m … Continued

Kagemaru, Mitsuteru Yokoyama
21 Jul 2009

Osamu Tezuka’s ninja

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 2 - Books and Manga | 0

It’s ComiCon week here in SoCal, so I’ll be posting a lot of manga and comics stuff over the next few days. We’ll start things with the king – the emperor? – the ultimate genius?  Hmm, I just don’t have … Continued

Sarutobi Sasuke
30 Jun 2009

Airborne combat in LEGEND OF KAMUI

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 2 - Books and Manga | 1

With the movie pending, I’m re-reading and re-loving Shirato Sanpei‘s second run of Kamui manga. The godfather of ninja comics debuted the character in 1964, then re-imagined the property as a more grown up and severe manga in the 80’s. Kamui … Continued

kamui, Shirato Sanpei
19 Jun 2009

Visionary character design

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 2 - Books and Manga | 5

Mining through various Japanese fan blogs brings about two things in me: 1.) I soooo wish I could read kanji… and 2.) I find amazing scans of vintage manga covers, like the below! I believe these are all by the … Continued

Shirato Sanpei
14 Jun 2009

Path of the Assassin, we’ll miss you…

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 2 - Books and Manga | 0

Koike and Kojima’s astounding Path of the Assassin has ended with volume 15, released last month from Dark Horse Comics. To say the abrupt ending is unsatisfying would be an understatement, have to wonder if this was cancelled in Japan … Continued

Goseki Kojima, Hattori Hanzo, Kazuo Koike, Path of the Assassin

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Welcome to VINTAGE NINJA — dedicated to old ninja movies from Japan’s 60s boom to the 80s American exploitation craze and beyond, with a ton of vintage toys, comics, and sharp pointy stuff thrown in for good measure.

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