Comic Review: Swordsmith Assassin #1 of 4 (Boom! Studios) By Oliver C.

Swordsmith Assassin #1

I think I’ve heard this one before...

There were swords before guns, and half-crazed lunatic killing before fully crazed lunatic killing. But before any of that nonsense there were storeys. Comic books are storeys. This particular storey is about a swordsmith who did a few bad things, and now he regrets them. So, unlike all of us he actually travels the land to make things right again. This is NOT a lazy swordsmith, watch out.




You read 3 or 4 pages until you discover that this is a storey within a storey. Toshiro Ono travels far to meet a man so he can retrieve something that belongs to him, a sword. He then sits down to tell the man his long storey of why he must travel so far to collect all of his legendary weapons. His sword crafting was legendary, and he became greedy for the money he was making. He sold his blades to whoever could buy them, instead of whoever could properly use them. After his family is murdered by some thief he feels that revenge is needed. He hunts the thief down to find out that his family was killed with one of his own creations. After a fight he realizes his crucial mistake of selling his swords to the wrong people. No more mistakes can be made. He then decides to find every sword he ever crafted and sold. And that is where the storey really begins.

This whole book looks wonderful. The colours chosen are perfect for the scene. I saw a lot of original Japanese looking pictures, and some beautiful work. Everything is up to proportion, and looks normal.

I liked the depth of this storey, and the fact that you can tell that it’s going to get very much more into the storey. I liked the Japanese culture put into the comic, and the different views you get of Japan.

I didn’t like the all-around storey and feeling of this comic. Myself, I am interested in Japanese culture and language very much. But I really feel like I’ve heard this ancient Japanese tale before. Not much out of the ordinary here. It felt very normal, and a little boring.

If you are really into sword fighting and warrior slaying battles. Samurai, and bloody murders, you may like this a little more than others. I don’t suggest just anyone should buy this. If you are really a fan of samurai and Japanese culture, I recommend this.

This was an ‘ok’ comic book. Not much out of the ordinary, but not so much normal that you shouldn’t give it a chance. With a few plot twists, and “I got to read more!” moments, this is a good read, but not great.

7 Out of 10

Oliver Copeland
Staff Reviewer