KURAGARI SEISHIN #1, by Scifantasy Ink Ltd. on 8/12/23, recounts a tale of Shogun Samurai and demonic Wraiths in ancient Japan. Can an honorable Lord stop a body-hopping demon from bringing havoc on the world?
The Details
- Written by: Karl Hemmings, Karen Hemmings
- Art by: Beatrice Robbins
- Colors by: Beatrice Robbins
- Letters by: Serhii Yarovyi
- Cover art by: Beatrice Robbins
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $1.99
- Release date: August 12, 2023
Is KURAGARI SEISHIN #1 Good?
Well, this issue is an unexpected treat. Brought to you by the fine folks at Scifantasy Ink Ltd., KURAGARI SEISHIN #1 is a refreshing take on classic Samurai legends that pit the honorable hero against a devious wraith bent on bloodshed and destruction. Fans of Eastern epics with a supernatural twist will enjoy this issue.
Writing duo Karl & Karen Hemmings’s tale of woe centers on Lord Tokoda’s visit to a village beset by a bloodthirsty killer. In an era where bladed weapons are outlawed, except by the Shogun and their soldiers, the village is helpless to defend itself against a sword-wielding being whose speed and skill are inhuman. Lord Tokoda must find a way to defeat the killer and save the village.
Since this is our first time reviewing the works of Scifantasy Ink Ltd., we’d be remiss in not mentioning this flourishing indie comic publisher has a respectable and growing presence on their GlobalComix page. Check them out.
What’s great about KURAGARI SEISHIN #1? The Hemmings gracefully capture the spirit and tone of 17th-century Japan with a tale that mixes honor, heroism, and the supernatural. In terms of writing execution, the issue’s pacing, dialog, scene transitions, and more are rock solid.
What’s not so great about KURAGARI SEISHIN #1? The issue lacks setup. The review copy was accompanied by a pitch and solicit document that greatly helped get the lay of the land. If we did not have that supplement, we might be more lost than we should be. It would help this issue greatly to have part of the pitch document’s background info incorporated into the preface page.
How’s the art? Beatrice Robbins’s painterly style is dynamic, dramatic, and visually impactful. In an age where comic artists are frequently tasked with going for realism and hyper amounts of detail, Robbins demonstrates how to present a visually engaging comic with artistic flare.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s KURAGARI SEISHIN #1 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Lord Tokoda and his men arriving by ship to one of the islands surrounding Okinawa in 1609 to hunt a vicious killer with a sword. Bladed weapons are outlawed, and the villagers are defenseless against the supernaturally deadly killer.
Lord Tokoda formulates a plan with the village leader to gather the village’s three best warriors to confront and kill the wraith. The leader agrees and chooses the warriors wisely as each is especially gifted in various forms of combat. The three enter the woods to confront the deadly wraith, but the fight doesn’t end the way anyone suspects.
We conclude the issue with a blood offering, deadly sunlight, and premature celebrations.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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KURAGARI SEISHIN #1 regales readers with a supernatural tale of Samurai and Wraiths in 17th-Century Japan. Hemmings’s world and eclectic band of characters are thoroughly engaging, and Robbins’s painterly visuals are gorgeous.
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