Madam Samurai, Vol. 1
Written by Gary Young
Art & Cover by David Hitchcock
Edited by Shane Chebsey
Scar Comics
Price: $12.99
Release Date: June 11, 2010

Madam Samurai is the interesting story of an unnamed, mute girl who learns the ways of the samurai from a ronin, or masterless samurai. The story begins in Victorian-era London, but then jumps back to 19thcentury Japan, where we see a young boy named Kazuo watch his mother commit a ritualistic suicide to honor the memory of her dead husband. Kazuo is taken in by another samurai and quickly becomes rivals with his biological son, Toshiro. Their sibling rivalry sets in motion the events that lead to the birth of Madam Samurai.

The writing in Madam Samurai is very captivating and cinematic. Gary Young‘s screenwriting background was very beneficial to the pacing of the story. Despite several flashbacks, the story does not get bogged down or obstructed by this device. In fact, every scene in the story was essential, which is a testament to the editing work of Shane Chebsey. The young Madam Samurai is an interesting protagonist, and we are able to watch her transformation from mute peasant girl to samurai’s pupil to would-be defender of the less fortunate in old London.