Although I've reviewed other LWC books on amazon, I took off for a while from reading them; I came back to the series with 13 and 14; 14 is especially good.

What is nice is that the reader gets a gritty sense of history all the while sensing the greatness of the characters. I would loan this out to friends who hadn't read the whole series -- friends who NOT might read all 28 volumes, but still want a good manga read.

The historical details really add to the impact of the individual stories as well as the full arc of this epic. O-Shichiri (the runner) is awesome tale.

Lone wolf and cub is a fantastic set of stories. Here we have another collection of great stores from the classic Japanese series.

It's usually hard to comment on these stories uniquely. They all reflect and explain Japanese culture and for that reason alone are a fine addition to any person collection or bookshelf. The storytelling is fantastic and the artwork first rate.

The second story in the segment WAS available in regular comic book form. I suspect there may have been some change in order in printing. If you like me thought the series was totally published in order, it may force you to check out some eariler issues to make sure you missed nothing.

As for the tears, they involve the last story. It deals with an encounter with a group of Japanese Christians who were hunted down, bounties offered on them and given the choice of denying Christ and Mary or death. Any faithful Catholic reading this story will be moved particularly when you consider events in Indonesia and China these days. It brings to mind the passage: "Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me bofore others , I will deny before my heavenly Father" (Mt. 10:32-33) Of course nobody familar with the culture of Japan will be shocked since faithfulness unto death to any cause is a part of the culture.

Reguardless of the reason you buy it, buy it.