Silent Dragon

(WildStorm, 2005–2006)
™ and © 2005 Andy Diggle and Leinil Yu

Silent Dragon is a story of love and revenge with a martial arts flavor written Andy Diggle, (Adam Strange), and illustrated by Leinil Yu (Superman: Birthright). In the year 2062, Lord Hideaki, a Yakuza warlord, is one crucial meeting away from seizing control of Japan’s underworld. He calls for a summit with his rivals, Lord Keiji and Lord Kazuo, to talk of unification. Both die suddenly of poisoned sake (rice wine).

Meanwhile, Hideaki’s most trusted advisor, Renjiro, has been visited by Ikiro, a living ghost and emissary of Japan’s rightful rulers, who has been encouraging Renjiro to betray his own ruthless master. Hideaki’s wife, Lady Takara, also wants Renjiro to discredit the warlord, but for more personal reasons. But Hideaki is not entirely oblivious to these clandestine assignations, and after dispatching his fellow warlords, he accuses Renjiro of the conspiracy and has him beheaded. But all this happened a year ago, and as the story begins a year later, Lady Takara is again confronted by an oddly familiar warrior who claims he said would come back for her.

— George Haberberger

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