HONOR AND CURSE #7, available from Mad Cave Studios on January 6th, 2021, sets up the chess pieces between the Iga and Koga clans as Yazuro makes plans for a clan alliance and Genshi seeks help for his possession. A flashback reveals the friendship between Haruki and Yazuro has repercussions that are only now showing the after-effects.
The Details
- Written By: Mark London
- Art By: Nicolás Salamanca
- Colors By: Tekino
- Letters By: Miguel Angel Zapata
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: January 7, 2021
Was It Good?
Yes, but be warned. The story is intricate and layered, so if you’re looking for a quick read where you don’t need to pay attention to the details, this one is not for you. Although there is a hint of the supernatural with a Tengu possession, this comic reads like a historical epic set in feudal Japan ala Ran (1985).
Seriously. I needed to take a few notes to keep all the characters, the relationships, and lineage straight. But if you’re willing to give this comic your full attention, it’s worth the read.
Short Story Long
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
We begin with a flashback to the early days of the friendship between Haruki and Yazuro, heads of the Iga and Koga clans, respectively. These first few pages are a great example of the colorist (Tekino) helping to tell the story by filtering this entire section with sepia tones to give the impression of faded memories.
Haruki has tricked, in a friendly way, Yazuro into joining him for a road trip so they can wipe out a group of Shinto worshippers to gain favor with the region’s overlord. All goes well and during the celebration dinner, Haruki makes Yazuro the guardian of his soon-to-be-born child. In a few short pages, London establishes a slightly tense alliance, little character moments that show how each person is less or more honorable, and political clan positions at the starting point for what’s to come. Very efficient and nuanced storytelling from London.
Cut to today, and an older Yazuro has summoned General Esaki to act as a messenger to the Iga clan. The message to Lady Akemi is that both clans should join forces in the raging war against Lord Nakamoto. Esaki agrees but you see a glint in Esaki’s eyes, meaning there’s something unique about him.
We move over to witness Lady Akemi during impressive martial arts training. She trains to be worthy of her position and to make the memory of her late father, Haruki, proud. Here we see the payoff from the flashback where Yazuro has promised to act as guardian to an unborn child that, many years later, is the leader of the clan that is no longer their ally. It’s also clear that Lady Akemi desperately wants to bring her father’s killer to justice.
Now we see Genshi Sakagura entering a distant cave as he’s taunted by the Tengu that possesses him. The Tengu is not in full control but it taunts him ceaselessly to give in to his darker nature. Genshi has sought out a magical elder to help rid him of the Tengu so he may clear his name of Haruki’s killing.
The elder engages in a spiritual and physical battle with Genshi as the Tengu takes full control. Without giving away the ending, this battle is exciting but nothing compared to the battle set up on the last page.
Final Thoughts
HONOR AND CURSE #7, available from Mad Cave Studios on January 6th, 2021, weaves in the intricacy and drama of Japanese feudal epics and combines the story with powerful mythology and magic. The art is excellent, and the issue ends on a promising cliffhanger.