Oldie but Goodie- Lone Wolf and Cub

Lone Wolf and Cub was first released in 1970 and finished six years later in 1976. The series ended with 28 volumes. It was written by Kazuo Koike and illustrated by Goseki Kojima. The Story fallows Ogami Itto and his one year old son Daigoro as they travel Japan as ronin. Before they started traveling Japan, Itto was a executioner (you can read about his exploits as an executioner in Sameri Executioner).

Soon after his wife gives birth to Daigoro, the entire household is murdered with Daigoro being the only survivor. Itto gives Daigoro a choice of a ball or a sword. Choose the ball and Itto will kill him to join his mother, choose the sword and he will live his life as ronin. They have numerous adventures, being assassinations to protectors. The manga also has the longest fight scene in any comic to date, lasting 178 pages.
Itto's ultimate goal is to kill Yagyu Retsudo, the man who killed his wife and the rest of his house hold. In the end the two fight and Retsudo kills Itto. Daigoro takes up a weapon and then kills Retsudo.
The series spawned seven movies, six of which were original Japanese and one that was re-dubbed  in English and re-cut. The movie was called Shogun Assassin it was made up of two of the original films. All of the movies did pretty well. The are very reminiscent of old western movies here in America. The thing that is different for old western though, it all of the movies are horribly violent and bloody. Shogun Assassin was even banned from america for many years. Finally, getting a re-release a few years ago.
There was also a tv show that lasted three seasons and was 79 episodes. This series was released in 1973 and the final season aired in 1976. In 2002, there was an other tv series that lasted two years till 2004.
In 1987 there was a video game released called Kozure Okami. You play as Itto and have Daigoro on your back as you play. The game is rare since there is no one know to own the game.
In 2002, there was a Dark horse comic that was a retelling of the original. It was set in a post apocalyptic setting and Daigoro's character was changed into a girl. There was still lots of fighting and violence but not as much sex. The story was good and a goo homage to the original, but nothing beats the original.
The influences of Lone Wolf and Cub can still be seen in today's entertainment and media. Sin City and Ronin by Frank Miller were influenced by the series. Versions of the charaters can be seen in other works such as Usagi Yojimbo and Bob's Burgers.

The series is a classic there is no question about that. I love reading the manga over again when I get a chance. Sameri Executioner is also very good. The story is action packed but just because there is fighting that does not mean that the story it self suffers. The story goes very well with the action making it the perfect combination. The movies do a very good job at keeping that idea as well.
You should read or watch this series if you like old westerns. Lots of action and  good story. This is a classic that is not going away any time soon. It is a starting point if you ever want good action. It is very interesting how far the shonen manga industry has come. If you compared this to some of the more popular ones today, there would be no comparison. Some times you can just not go wrong with an original.
Honestly, the only thing missing is rock and roll, because there is blood, sex. and violence every were.
Next week I'm going to be doing Princess Knight.

~^.^