Two separate classic Japanese stories Santos has adapted to turn into "crime noir". They are still set in feudal Japan but now there is a detective investigating the crimes. I wasn't familiar with the first, but the second is the story of the 47 Ronin. Both stories were incredibly boring. The whole book consists of the detective interviewing the suspects and they tell their stories. It's all very static. Nothing is resolved in either case. No one is apprehended. They are both pretty pointless. I...

As a detective story set in feudal Japan, it doesn’t quite work for me. For example, in part 1, the case leads are literally various confessions. The detective in the story isn’t given many clues to work out the cases either. However, the artwork is gorgeous, especially the use of color.

Gorgeous artwork. Confusing, dissatisfying stories.

Dear Victor Santos, Please make more Samurai books!Sincerely, Sonic elf+++

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/ Originally published in two parts (Rashomon and Seppuku) in black and white and Spanish, Dark Horse gives an American treatment of this merging of Japanese Cinema and American Noir. Despite the disparate themes, Santos does an excellent job of melding the two; he doesn't stick religiously to either yet his breadth of knowledge and clear affinity of the subjects is obvious. This feels very much like a labor of love.Fir

This is two separate mystery/crime cases which end up being tied together. The book is described as "crime noir" which drew me to read it. However, I didn't find that description fit at all except for the presence of a femme fatale. The book is set in feudal Japan and each case is immersed in the cultural history of that time and place. The first story was okay but the seconded depended so much on the history that I didn't really understand it. If you love shoguns, samurai and ronin this book wi...

Art is very beautiful, but the story is lacking and didn't draw me in.

Here's a disappointing attempt to merge some old Japanese tales with the same sort of freakishly noir storytelling and art that Frank Miller used in his Sin City books. First up is the story that inspired the movie Rashomon, wherein several people give conflicting testimony about a murder to our hero, Commissioner Heigo Kobayahsi. The Commish and some of the same characters then roll into the second chapter, a retelling of the famous 47 Ronin incident where some loyal warriors avenge the death o...

This makes the 3rd adaptation that I've read or seen of Rashomon. There's two movies, the recent Korean version was good as well as the Japanese classic which colors my image of what things should look like. This book has two parts, Rashomon and the 47 Ronin, which is an odd combination with a strange link. The artwork of this graphic novel was decent, it was neither manga or American superhero style and was appropriate for the subject matter, its strongly influenced by film noir. The insertion

This was a quick read that I was able to finish in one sitting. I’ve been a fan of Victor Santos art and story telling for a few years and I thought this was a captivating story. I’m not familiar with the original stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa so I’m not sure how this adaptation holds up but it’s a fun read nonetheless and I plan on checking out the base material!

tw: sexual assault withour redemption. thr main boon i witnessed here is how the art style reminded me of hellboy but still it was showcased without being established in greater world constructs. i think this graphic novel mashup missed the mark. all the artistic ability and noir motiffs were present BUT it lacked the wet landing of aknock out story. it didnt posess the delicious dollop of revenges redemption that noir stories strive to cultivate.

Rashomon is perhaps the most perfect narrative for retelling, no matter the medium. It is, to wit, an impossible story that possesses deep within its folds an impossible spread of curiosity, emotion, and uncertainty. That Victor Santos has provided his own approach to the tale of deception in feudal Japan is less an intrigue unto the fable itself than it is an inquiry into what creative vision the artist devotes to it. How can the graphic novel serve as a vehicle for this fable? RASHOMON is a st...

In the interest of full disclosure I have to admit I didn't read the Spanish version of this graphic novel. They don't have the English version on their website, but I wanted to do a quick review.I like Japanese samurai movies and this graphic novel was a real treat in that it combined two of the best: Rashomon and the 47 Ronin. I didn't realize that when I checked it out of the library, and in fact I was wondering what Mr. Santos was going to do when the Rashomon story ended around the middle o...

Using the "In A Grove" story from Rashomon and the 47 Ronin incident, Victor Santos creates a Japanese noir tale featuring Commissioner Heigo Kobayashi.In part one, Kobayashi is tasked with discovering the truth behind the death of a respected samurai in a grove near the Rashomon gate. Each party involved has their own version of events, and nobody seems to know the absolute truth. It's a frustrating case, and even Kobayashi's friend Hattori Hanzo is at a loss.Part two sees Kobayashi investigati...

A brilliant graphic novel, were artist/writer Victor Santos uses two classic tales of Japan, Rashomon and the 47 Ronin, to build a noir mystery. The first part kicks off with a case of rape/murder and then leads to case of revenge/murder that deals with a corruption of power. At the heart of each case is a woman and the honorable detective Heigo Kobayashi, each trying to destroy the other.Santos artwork is fantastic, the story flows and when the action explores it is great.Had a great time readi...

There are certain things that, when you first hear of them being paired up, you’re like, “those can’t possible work together.” I remember when everyone freaked out because Heath Ledger was going to play The Joker in “The Dark Knight Rises,” a role that obviously was beyond the talents of the teenybopper lightweight; of course, he was absolutely incredible as the Crown Prince Of Crime. My sister-in-law, whenever we have pot roast for Sunday dinner, insists on garnishing it with ranch dressing; I

Being only passingly familiar with the original Rashomon, I can't say whether Victor Santos' take holds up in comparison. But as a standalone graphic novel, it's simply excellent. The story is well told, twisty and dark, with a fascinating dose of Japanese nobility and honor mixed in. In the first half of the story, detective Heigo Kobayashi tries to determine who killed a samurai in the woods. Three come forward (including the dead man) to express their guilt over the crime. Kobayashi struggles...

I like feudal Japan lore and I'm always open to anything related. So I looked forward to this comics book. I did not saw Rashomon yet (for which I'm terribly sorry), so I can judge only comics presentation of this story. The book is focused on commissioner Kobayashi, his involvement in Rashomon story and on 47 Rónin story (Seppuku, 2nd prat of book) and all between that. The first part is magnificent, but I loved so much the second part. I advise to read 47 Rónin before reading this story (I hig...

Great art, unfortunately, can't save the jumbled mess of a storyline, haphazard layouts, and mediocre dialog. I bought this book because I liked the unique art style and am a fan of Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon. This book does the story a great disservice, only superficially touching on the unique, many-points-of-view aspect that defines the movie.I wasn't expecting to get a 47 Ronin adaptation thrown in as well, though it too suffers from lack of exploring the narrative behind the incident. So thi...

Wanted to love this but had a hard time with the stories. The art is beautiful but occasionally confusing. (There is a fight scene toward the end of the book that is simply amazing.) But the stories don't resolve as much as just stop. I understand that was by design but I wanted more. I would pick up another one of Santos's Heigo Kobayashi Cases though; there was enough to make me wonder if earlier volumes were more lustrous.