Legendary manga writer Kazuo Koike passed away on Wednesday, aged 82. It’s the second major loss for the international comics community this week, following the death of “Lupin the Third” creator Monkey Punch. Koike’s impact cannot be overstated: he was a teacher and mentor to younger mangaka like Rumiko Takahashi, Tetsuo Hara, and Keisuke Itagaki, and his collaborations with artists Goseki Kojima and Kazuo Kamimura on series like “Lone Wolf & Cub” and “Lady Snowblood” have proven enormously influential on non-Japanese creators as diverse as Frank Miller, Max Allan Collins, and Quentin Tarantino.
With that mind, to celebrate his life and career, we’ve put together a list of the comics he wrote, and are asking you to share your favorite. Maybe you’ve always loved “Lone Wolf & Club,” or love the sequel even more. Perhaps you prefer one of his other collaborations with Kojima, or one of his non-Feudal Japan books? Be sure to vote and let us know in the comments below. Arigato Koike-san.
