While this is not the penultimate issue, Ronin Island’s end is drawing nigh. All of the forces are converging on the island of refugees that our young heroes have so bravely sought to protect. Hana and Kenichi, beginning this story just as they became adults, were put to a much bigger test than the those faced by the island. Fighting against and for a new Shogunate, fighting against and for each other, every step of the way they have learned something new about themselves and what it means to sacrifice for a greater cause.

It has been a satisfying adventure to this point, one with plentiful twists and turns, some tangled within the tides of battle, others more tempered, tossing the emotional growth of our characters to and fro.

My one complaint – and my only complaint so far of the series – is how the heartbreaking moment at the end of issue nine was resolved: quickly and easily. The resolution creates some other problems for our young characters who are now faced with having the battle brought to their doorstep, but that moment of a difficult decision was diminished because it was seemingly dealt with without the usual care that writer Greg Pak givees his characters and their choices.

That being said, it is still a fun issue.  The events of the issue and the pushback that Hana receives still speak to the themes of race and social structure. I’m very curious how those themes are going to be resolved in these final issues. Will the villagers let go of their pettiness, or will they see the strength that resides in Hana and Kenichi? Will Hana and Kenichi see it in themselves and each other? As with every issue of this series, I look forward to the next.

Creative Team: Greg Pak (writer), Giannis Milonogiannis (art), Irma Kniivila (colors), Simon Bowland (letters), Amanda Lafranco (editor)
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
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