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Back with another review of “Knights Vs. Samurai,” and this time it’s issue #6! Jumping back into the fray, this issue adds mystical elements and modern twists to the usual swords and duels. Despite having followed every step of this series, I found this installment particularly challenging. The narrative is packed with multiple, sometimes confusing storylines that veer far from historical threads and dive deep into fantasy. While there are definitely exciting twists, those looking for a seamless continuation might find it a bit disorienting. Let’s unpack what makes this issue both intriguing and bewildering!
Written by David Dastmalchian
Art by Fede Mele
Colors by Ulises Arreola
Letters by AndWorld Design
Consultant Thersa Matsuura
Creative Director Todd McMarfane
Editor-in-Chief Thomas Healy
Published by Image Comics
***Possible Spoiler Warning***
Plot Summary
The issue opens with Baggi poisoning an injured soldier back at camp. This act reinforces his sinister nature. Meanwhile, in the forest, Lord Charles and Lord Musashi continue dealing with the mysterious forest witches. A close companion of Musashi is chosen to stay behind with the Yammauba, devastating him. Notably, there’s an inconsistency—issue #5 marked captives with a green patch, but this issue uses a red scrap.
The witches provide Lord Musashi with dragon parts, essential for defeating Gin Kiyohime. They also reveal that Lord Charles’s cleric, Fletcher, has untapped magical potential. She receives the “Bister of Light,” a potion recipe with a power I’ve been wanting for issues now. Fletcher uses the Bister of Light to craft a formula that finally enables them to understand one another.
Just as they grasp their mission’s full scope, the warriors face an even greater challenge—Gin Kiyohime fully awakens. Through magic, they establish communication with the great dragon. This shifts their mission from slaying it to discussing their findings with their hatamoto (high-ranking officer). Seeking guidance, the group approaches Lord Tomaya to relay their discovery. But tensions flare, and a battle erupts. Amidst the chaos, an English soldier is stabbed, triggering a shocking transformation—he becomes a werewolf. At the same time, a Japanese warrior undergoes his own monstrous shift, revealing himself as a weretiger.
An ominous force stirs beneath the surface as the battle concludes and the dust settles. Deep underwater, a closeup eye slowly opens, hinting at an even greater danger on the horizon.
The Art And Letters
The artwork in this book is beautifully drawn, with detailed shading and line work in every panel. The horror elements shine, especially in the eerie design of the witches. However, at times, it’s difficult to tell which character is performing what action from panel to panel. For example, the transformation of the weretiger was unclear to me. Though the characters’ faces are expressive, making emotions easy to read on the page. Being Japanese myself, I feel the Japanese characters lack some cultural accuracy. Their facial features, don’t fully reflect traditional or historically accurate depictions, which pulled me out of the story at times.
The paneling is creative and visually engaging. While the book avoids over-explaining, some scenes could use more clarity. With so many different plot points in this issue, understanding who is speaking or acting can be difficult at times. As a positive, the action is chaotic and brutal, adding intensity to the battles. This is especially evident on page 22, where both forces clash against Lord Tomoya.
The lettering remains top-notch. Including Hiragana and Katakana alongside English dialogue enhances immersion. Gin Kiyohime’s dialogue stands out with a black background and yellow text, making their presence feel powerful.
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The Writing
In previous issues, the story avoided an easy magical fix for the language barrier, adding realism to the interactions. However, while previous issues have struck a careful balance between character development and action, this installment feels a little overstuffed. Too many plot points are introduced throughout the story, making certain moments feel rushed. Some scenes could have been allowed to breathe, giving the individual character moments more weight and impact.
While this issue continues the ongoing narrative from the past five issues, the pacing feels too jumpy. The story quickly shifts from Baggi and Godwin to the group in Hanai Forest. Then, it moves to the selection of who will stay behind. After that, cleric Fletcher awakens her powers—just to name a few. So many major developments happen so fast that it’s hard to keep up. Each moment passes quickly, making it difficult to fully absorb before the next one takes over.
The dialogue generally fits the characters and their motivations. However, some exchanges could have been clearer in identifying who was speaking to whom. Given how much is packed into this issue, a brief recap or smoother transitions could have helped reorient the reader before diving into new plot points.
Despite some confusing moments—especially certain character deaths—there are still intriguing mystical possibilities introduced here. Gin Kiyohime’s departure could have been handled in a more impactful way, but the setup for future interactions remains compelling. This issue packs in a lot of content. A brief recap or smoother transitions could have helped reorient the reader before diving into new plot points.
Overall Thoughts
As someone who has followed Knights Vs. Samurai from the start, I’ve really enjoyed its mix of historical fantasy, intense battles, and rich character dynamics. However, this issue felt overwhelming at times. It packed in too many plot points without giving key moments enough room to breathe. The story still carries strong themes of cultural alliances and mystical warfare which is awesome. But the pacing made it difficult to fully absorb everything unfolding.
That said, Knights Vs. Samurai #6 still has plenty to offer. The action remains brutal and chaotic in a way that fits the world. The introduction of new mystical elements keeps the stakes high. Some plot threads felt rushed or underdeveloped. However, the surprises—especially the werewolf and weretiger transformations—added exciting twists. These moments will likely have major payoffs later down the road!
Despite my mixed feelings on this issue, I’m still invested in where this series is headed. There’s a lot of great storytelling potential here. I’m eager to see how these new developments shape the conflict moving forward! Hopefully, the next issue will take the time to slow down and let these moments truly land.
Overall Grade: 7.0/10
This review was written by Thomas Craig of The Joy Schtick Show, where three friends from Hawaii explore the movies, TV shows, comics, and pop culture bringing us JOY! For more reviews and to catch up on all our episodes, head to linktr.ee/TheJoySchtickShow
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