I started off enjoying this but somewhere around the halfway point, I just completely lost interest. I wasn't a fan of the art style and I also felt there was a bit too much lore being introduced rather than a focus on the characters. This wasn't bad, and I definitely think it will gain a lot of interest, but for me personally, it didn't quite hit the mark. I will say that I loved Issunboshi's needle sword though, and the way he adapts to the world was very clever.

A interesting and riveting story told through the most beautiful artwork. There was something about the composition of colors that really went with the story. It felt like the pictures themselves were conjured in my minds eye, they just gelled so well with the story

Issunboschi, the six-inch Samurai, will have to battle giant creatures in order to save the world.

I liked the art style, so fun to look at.
It is also a beautiful story with heartfelt moments dat actually made me tear up.

But it is also funny. There is an entire scene setting up Issunboschi's character (involving an owl) and I hooted with it.
(Haha, I am so funny. I'll see myself out.)

As per usual, I was slightly confused during the battle scenes, not really grasping what was being done to whom, but I understood the overall goings on.

I would read another instalment in this series, would Ryan Lang ever make one.
A recommendation from me!

I love retellings, and retellings of myths and folklore, so I was excited when Netgalley let me read this graphic novel. It's a retelling of a Japanese folktale, about the one inch samurai Issunboshi. The art style is beautiful. This graphic novel hit all of the emotions, especially feelings of hope, sadness, and wanting to be courageous and positive. Issunboshi is a story about having the courage to do what is right. He was such a great character to follow. I can't wait to buy the graphic novel, and to read what Ryan Lang writes next. This comes out on the 22nd, go check it out!

Issunboshi was based on a Japanese folktale about 6-inch samurai who becomes a hero. It's a fast-paced story with an animation-like illustration full of action, adventure, humor, and emotional scenes despite being drawn in greyscale. The story is pretty straightforward. It's easy to understand but I hope for more conflict and a detailed story for other characters as well. Overall, I enjoyed this graphic novel.

'Issunboshi' with story and art by Ryan Lang is a graphic novel adaptation of a Japanese folktale.

In a feudal Japan where Oni and other demons live, a couple pray for a child. Their answer is a 6 inch boy who will be the hope of his people. Issunboshi trains with a blind samurai and learns that the size of the heart means more than the size of the warrior.

I enjoyed this story and the art is fantastic! My review copy was in black and white and I really hope that the final work is in color, but if it's not, it's still a darn good read.

“Sometimes we need to reach deep within to find the strength to do what the world needs us to do, to become who the world needs us to be”

My thanks to Oni Press for a review copy via NetGalley of ‘Issunboshi’ written and illustrated by Ryan Lang.

This graphic novel has been a five-year passion project for Lang and is a retelling of the classic Japanese folk tale about the six-inch Samurai, Issunboshi. He stresses the message that no one is born a hero but must discover the hero within.

When the world was new the gods used the Ame No Nuhoko, the Heavenly Spear, to create the first island from which all the islands of Japan were eventually born. Given the power of the spear, the gods separated it into four pieces and hid them.

Ages pass and a powerful Oni, a demon, is seeking to retrieve and reforge the spear in order to take over the world. The only one who can stop him is Issunboshi, a six-inch-tall would-be samurai, who also is the final and most important piece of the spear.

After the spear was broken the final part, the spirit of the spear, flew into the air and wandered. When the Oni began his quest for the spear, the fourth part became aware that if the Oni succeeded it would plunge the world into chaos. So the spirit answered the prayers of an elderly peasant couple, who for years had wished for a son even if only the size of a thumb. Thus, Issunboshi was born.

Time passes and Issunboshi becomes a young man, still tiny though blessed with great strength and a lively wit. Eventually the Oni finds him and Issunboshi has to fight… to not only save himself but his family, friends and ultimately the world.

Ryan Lang’s text combines seamlessly with his black and white illustrations creating a sense of flow between its panels. It has moments of quiet reflection as well as exciting action.

In addition, Lang’s characters have faces that are very expressive, effortlessly conveying their feelings. I especially liked the appearances of Kaze, the Owl. Following the main story there are a few full colour illustrations.

The cover art depicting the tiny Issunboshi standing on a stump, overshadowed by forest trees was very striking.

Overall, this is an uplifting and positive story about discovering the hero within. An excellent example of how words and pictures can be creatively combined in the graphic novel format.

Short, easy, simple story about what being (becoming?) a hero means. It's fast-paced, filled with action, feels too short for many reasons :) Minuses: not enough build up for "saving the world" tale.
Illustrations feels like Disney (for reasons ;) ).

Also, I didn't know that in Japan there is a folk tale about a small warrior. In central Europe we have a similar story. It's nice that we share it :)

This is a fun graphic novel about a 6 inch man who becomes a hero. The art is very reminiscent of an animated movie and there is a lot of action. A great option for reluctant readers or young people with an interest in Japanese folklore.

Issunboshi which was based on a classic Japanese folktale, was a nicely written graphic novel with fast pace, some really beautiful art and good action sequences. The story's pretty straightforward and easy to understand. The characters were likeable and though I would've wanted a bit more background for the other supporting characters, were unique and interesting.

The artwork did an excellent job in expressing the emotions of the character and in making everything feel vivid and alive. The world felt rich and believable with the lore explained in a manner that was easy to digest and worked wonderfully for the tale being told. It was easy to get lost in the story once one started reading. It was definitely an enjoyable adventure.

I do recommend giving Issunboshi a try.

Damn, I'm not expecting to cry when I read a book about war and folklore but that's exactly what happened here.

This is a riveting story full of action and adventure, sprinkled with humour and emotionally powerful scenes. I enjoyed learning about the various Japanese mythical creatures and yokai. Issunboshi might be physically small but he's larger than life and has a big heart.

The artwork makes everything feel so vivid and animated despite being grayscale. I would love to see this graphic novel in full colour as I imagine it would be breathtaking. More conflict and detail would have been preferred, as the story feels rather simplistic and straightforward on the whole.

Overall, this is a greatly engrossing read with some magical moments and timeless themes ;)

I received an e-galley of Issunboshi by Ryan Lang from Oni Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was not familiar with the Japanese folktale of Issunboshi until I read this graphic novel retelling and I really enjoyed it. The story was exciting and the graphic novel telling of it was engaging and captured me into its world quite intently from the start. I would be interested in learning and reading the original folktale to see where the story originated from.

Issunboshi is a retelling of the Japanese folktale about the six-inch Samurai. This 200 page graphic novel tells the tale of an Oni attempting to break the barrier between the lands of the dead and the living by reforging and ancient weapon, once split four ways. Our little Samurai is a most unlikely hero, indeed.

'We fight, not because we have no fear, but in spite of it.'

One of my favourite themes is that of the unlikely hero; a hero that isn't born a hero, but does their best with the circumstances. They don't fight because it's their destiny, or because they're told to, or because it's "what they were born for" - but because fighting is the right thing to do. And they're terrified, but they fight on, regardless.

'Hope and fate may not always be aligned... but this time, I pray that they are.'

The art in this book is phenomenal. It's dark but with it's comedic moments, perfectly reflecting the tone of the tale. The emotions are raw, the monsters dreadful and esoteric, and the humour bold. I adored this.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free graphic novel*

Issun-bōshi (一寸法師) is a Japanese fairy tale from the Muromachi period that tells the story of a tiny warrior (think Tom Thumb) fighting monsters. The graphic novel by Ryan Lang reminds one strongly of the Wreck-It Ralph movie (he worked on that) in terms of the illustration style, but also a bit like Mulan. I liked it and it was easy to read, I just thought that the graphic novel lacked a bit of the Japanese background. Don't get me wrong, it's not adapted to take place in New York or anything, but I felt like it could have also worked a bit more with the illustrations connected to the original fairy tale. I was kinda expecting that. But overall enjoyable, 4 stars

There is some stunning linework in Issunboshi. Every panel was expertly drawn. I just wish it wasn't in black and white. That can suit some graphic novels but doesn't suit Issunboshi in my opinion. It doesn't dampen myh enjoyment too much however because the drawing is so clean.
The story itself is great. Based on a Japanese fairy tale: Issun-bōshi, the graphic novel does a great job in retelling the fairy tale. There's plenty of callbacks to the original, while also being a fresh story.
I enjoyed it very much.

I received a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review

The ancient myth of a boy the size of a seed born to a childless couple before heading out into the world to seek a life for himself despite his small size. A fresh take on the fable, Beautifully designed with an air of ATLA or Samurai Jack to it in its style and moments of darkness and light. To tell the story in graphic novel form is a smart decision.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

4.5 ⭐

I enjoyed reading this.
Such a wonderful story, with a great message, and with amazing, AMAZING artwork.

I don't want to do too much explaining the story as the main description of this graphic novel is enough, any more would only spoil the enjoyment of learning about the characters and their place and meaning in this world.

You don't have to be big to do great things and this novel portrays it well!
A perfect read for all ages.

A fantastically cinematic graphic novel adaptation of a Japanese folktale that I cannot stop myself from describing as "Action Thumbelina, with demons". Not only is the art exciting, kinetic, and beautiful, but the story is a great deal of fun and has a lovely, kids'-movie-ready message.

Issunboshi
Written and illustrated by Ryan Lang

Edition: Ebook, 204 pages, first published in 2021, Graphic Novel
ISBN 978-1-63715-081-8

Disclaimer: I got this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity

This graphic novel is a retelling of a Japanese folktale. It's about an one-inch tall and super strong samurai names Issunboshi who has to fight against different creatures of Japanese folklore.
Issunboshi himself is born out of a part of the Heavenly Spear, which was seperated in four parts by the gods. And while an oni found the other parts and wants to bring hell down on earth with the Heavenly Spear, Issunboshi gets trained by samurais to fight the demon.

As the story pre-existed I was more interested in how the artist put it into a graphic novel. And he did a really great job! I like the art style, it is dynamic and fits the Japanese narrative well, as far as I can tell. The monsters are sometimes really creepy (the Kappa kind of gave me nightmares), sometimes a tiny bit too cartoonish for my taste (the oni as the main villain didn't feel impressive to me because of this). We get introduced to different characters and the myth itself and I could easily follow the story, so well done!
Issunboshi's character is likeable and it is fun to follow him while his development takes turns.

All in all I really enjoyed this graphic novel and I would like to read it in a printed version because some secenes went over two sides and that's not as cool in an ebook as when you can see both pages at the same time.

4/5⭐️

A retelling of Japans version of the tiny hero legend, but with higher stakes. Lang opted to intensify the story, while also removing a romance that would be problematic to modern audiences. Instead of having to save a kidnapped girl from an oni (and getting to marry her as a result), Issunboshi himself is the imperiled prize. His spirit is the last missing piece of a godly sword, and if he is captured, the oni will become as powerful as the gods of creation themselves.

This is just an overall very feel-good story. Issunboshi is your standard brave and noble hero, whose only flaw is being weak...when compared to a nearly all-powerful oni. He trains hard with a husband and wife team to learn strength and how to use another's strength against them, and he never flinches from the final battle. It's not a deep story, but it's comforting, and a good pick for a middle-grade or higher reader.

I love the dig taken at Momotaro at the beginning. I actually had to check if Lang had done a Momotaro comic already, since that is the more well-known of the two hero myths. But he hasn't, so perhaps that is to come! Or perhaps the antipathy towards Momotaro isn't just Issunboshi's opinion, but ACTUALLY the author's own, as well!

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.