This outlandish yarn continues, but does it have enough meat to warrant your attention?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Image:

VAMPIRES IN FEUDAL JAPAN!

Kichiro is an outsider in feudal Japan. Lacking the Japanese blood that would allow him to become a samurai, Kichiro must fulfill his dreams of serving the shogun in a less traditional manner… by eliminating every foreign supernatural threat that rears its fangs!

Alright it’s time to take a moment and reflect on this comic.  What we have here is a package that dips into two popular genres while maintaining enough spirit and spunk to cement itself as a must own for any fanboy or fangirl.  The creative team excels on every page, birthing something that’s not necessarily deep but certainly fun.

Rob Levin pens the script and the author does a tremendous job keeping the pace fast and strong.  He uses our main character along with his family issues to build up some necessary tension, which attempts to hide the obvious narrative path.  It becomes clear that this is a predictable adventure, but because of the scribe’s tactics and skill there’s enough buried within the confines of the jaunt to carry us all to a stellar close.  I can’t stress enough how excited I am for the forthcoming installment, as the talent left me with little to no choice but to wait patiently for next week’s continuation.

The art by Jessada Sutthi is once again hugely stylized and beautifully rendered. The illustrator nails a vision that blends the tropes usually associated with Samurai to the otherworldly features of a bizarre horror film.  This outing made use of some slower moments, and I’m happy to report that whether he’s stuck with conversations or action this expert is certainly up to the grueling task.  To put it bluntly: read the comic book but be sure to make time to admire the exquisite work on display.

Bushido #2 continues this odd but always fascinating foray into Eastern culture combined with Western terror.  The creative team handles the balancing act well as they earn another recommendation.

4/5