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Samurai #8 Aircel, 1986, b&w.

1 Samurai #8 cover Story and Art: Blair, Yap, Patrick McEown

SYNOPSIS
Gen has a tough day at the Tube Station. She is feeling like a stranger and tells Homer that she wishes she was as close to him as Homer was. She tells Homer she knows nothing about his life. Her own brother. Homer tells her it wasn't all peaches and cream. He tells her a story from the past of his and Toshiro's adventures together:

The artwork on this story is about half by Barry and half by Guang Yap, in a very smooth combination. The art cannot be called either "professional" or "amateur" but is superb! If you only get one issue of Samurai, this is the one! I would judge this to be the origin of Samurai, Simon, Homer Bentley and Arkoff. Sue Stringfellow is not used again. This story has a different version of how Samurai got his sword than is given in the regular storyline. This story explains the friendship between Toshiro and Simon, which has been apparent in issues 1-6 but not explained.

The cover is a brightly colored, exciting and well-drawn scene in which Samurai, holding his sword, is hiding from a hideous green monster. There is nothing remotely like this inside.

MEMORIESóóChapter 1: Simon Stringfellow finds his way into a meeting between Mr. Chow and Toshiro (who looks at least 2 years older), to ask for his help in rescuing his sister Sue (a botanist) who was kidnapped while he and she were exploring one of the small islands in Hawaii. Simon offers Toshiro $23.38. Chow wants his henchman Hong to throw Simon out but Toshiro won't let him. Homer Bentley is driving the charter boat. A Japanese man lives on the island which he calls Small Japan. There are many natives that help him greet Simon and Toshiro. The old man was stationed here as a spotter during the war and the forces never came back for him. His wife was lost. A large man attacks Toshiro as he and Simon sleep but Simon's scream wakes Toshiro up. Toshiro beats the man who tells them his boss is Arkoff. Before he dies, the assassin gives the old man the coordinates to his master Arkoff's island. The old man lets Toshiro take his old sea plane to go. He also gives Toshiro a sword which has been in his family for 300 years.

REVIEW
This issue reprints Night Wynd Samurai #2 (second half) and #3.

As the story opens a millionaire in Hawaii is attempting to hire the famous Samurai, Toshiro Kimura, as his bodyguard. He offers the full use of his yacht, plane and mansions as well as $4000 a week! We can tell that Toshiro is on the verge of accepting when a ragged young boy runs in and begs Samurai's help in finding his sister, who was kidnaped. This is the original meeting between Samurai and Simon Stringfellow! Whether it is the puppy-dog eyes, or the $23.38 in cash which Simon offers-- the next thing we know Simon and Toshiro are in a small power boat off the coast of Diamond Head, being piloted by Homer Bentley. Eventually they reach an undisclosed island where Toshiro and Simon go ashore. As Barry describes the scene, "evening finds the two companions alone amid the dark satin shadows of the beach." There they find a village of friendly natives ruled over by a genial Japanese ex-officer who chose to remain behind after the war ended. That night as Toshiro and Simon are sleeping on a mat in the guest hut an assailant slips in and tries to kill Toshiro! Simon wakes up just in time to scream a warning to Toshiro, who is able to beat the stuffing out of the attacker. Once defeated the assailant becomes a mine of information and relates that his master, Arkoff--a name strangely familiar--wants Toshiro dead, and is responsible for the rash of mysterious disappearances which have plagued the village. He helpfully gives the co-ordinates of Arkoff's nearby island. The end of chapter one has the Japanese officer giving Toshiro his seaplane--which he has maintained in perfect running operation--and his samurai sword, which has been in his family for 300 years. Which of these is wilder I can't decide!

MEMORIESóóChapter 2óóKamakazii!!
STORY: Simon had hidden aboard the sea plane as Toshiro tries to crash into a sub which carries Dr. Arkoff and men (with a swastika on it). Arkoff was out gathering natives for his experiments. Arkoff sees the plane crash into the sea. Simon and Arkoff are pulled from the beach by strange creatures with many legs. Arkoff shows Sue the Rumblesóórobots made from simple villagers. He tried to make a perfect weapon onceóóToshiro but the authorities wouldn't let him take away Toshiro's ability to think. Now he will try again: with Sue!

REVIEW
Chapter two launches right into things with Toshiro making a kamikaze dive onto Arkoff's U-boat submarine. He would have been successful--in crashing into the sub--had he not suddenly realized that Simon was in the back seat! How he could have been unaware of this I don't know--I guess comic books don't have to be totally logical. Anyway, to save Simon, Toshiro pulls up and is able to crash in the ocean not far from an island, where they are cast up on the shore unconscious.

The scene shifts to Arkoff's European-style castle which seems rather incongruous in the Hawaiian islands. In villain style, Arkoff is doing a little gloating over his captive, Sue Stringfellow. Sue is a blond "babe" in a one-piece swimsuit, with her hands tied behind her back. One of Barry's sexier female creations! During the "gloat" it transpires that Arkoff is a sort of genetic engineer who used to work for the "other side" --i.e. the good guys--and actually worked on Toshiro, improving his fighting capabilities. Now he wants to make the perfect killing machine, and intends to do this using Sue Stringfellow!

STORY: Strange once human creatures, zombie like, are the Outsiders, failed experiments of Arkoff. These can think but cannot move fast. Centagon's contact with Arkoff, Mr. Darklight, wonders if they should replace Arkoff and continue his experiments themselvesóóhe decides to begin on Sue himself. Simon and Toshiro (who kills a Rumble) go threw the drains (Simon feels things squishing through his toes) and rescue Sue from Darklight (whom Toshiro splits in two with the sword when the man goes for his gun). They do and more Rumbles die. A mutantóman (a brother of the Rumbles), bearing an axe, calls them sinners and attacks the trio when they emerge from the drains. Toshiro kills it and then has to fight Arkoff, who reveals he is part roboticóóimmortal he claims. He also claims he created himself! The Outsiders help and attack Arkoff. They take his head off (and Arkoff says, "Oh pooh!"). Toshiro, Simon, and Sue are found by a ship that sees them on the beach.

REVIEW: Toshiro and Simon awaken in a cell. They have been captured by a bunch of grotesque creatures who were once human but were experimented on by Arkoff, and represent his "mistakes." Since they all have a common objective--vengeance on Arkoff--the creatures free Toshiro and Simon and help them on their way. Entering the castle through tunnels Toshiro and Simon quickly and unerringly find the room where Sue is being held. Using his sword, Samurai splits one of the bad guys from the head right down to the waist, and they all have the usual hairbreadth escape back through the tunnels. As Toshiro, Simon and Sue emerge into the jungle they face the final challenge: Arkoff himself, who is now revealed to be a robot from the neck down. Only his head is actually flesh-and-blood! Despite the great strength of the robot, Toshiro stuns him with a kick to the head. Then the "mistakes" come out of the forest and swarm over Arkoff, and leave, taking his head with them. The end of Arkoff?? Don't count on it! The story ends with Toshiro, Simon and Sue heading back to the beach and Homer's boat just offshore.

	Samurai #8	Aircel, 1986, b&w.
1		Story and Art: Blair, Yap, Patrick McEown SYNOPSIS Gen has a tough day at the Tube Station. She is feeling like a stranger and tells Homer that she wishes she was as close to him as Homer was. She tells Homer she knows nothing about his life. Her own brother. Homer tells her it wasn't all peaches and cream. He tells her a story from the past of his and Toshiro's adventures together: The artwork on this story is about half by Barry and half by Guang Yap, in a very smooth combination. The art cannot be called either "professional" or "amateur" but is superb! If you only get one issue of Samurai, this is the one! I would judge this to be the origin of Samurai, Simon, Homer Bentley and Arkoff. Sue Stringfellow is not used again. This story has a different version of how Samurai got his sword than is given in the regular storyline. This story explains the friendship between Toshiro and Simon, which has been apparent in issues 1-6 but not explained. The cover is a brightly colored, exciting and well-drawn scene in which Samurai, holding his sword, is hiding from a hideous green monster. There is nothing remotely like this inside.
		MEMORIESóóChapter 1: Simon Stringfellow finds his way into a meeting between Mr. Chow and Toshiro (who looks at least 2 years older), to ask for his help in rescuing his sister Sue (a botanist) who was kidnapped while he and she were exploring one of the small islands in Hawaii. Simon offers Toshiro $23.38. Chow wants his henchman Hong to throw Simon out but Toshiro won't let him. Homer Bentley is driving the charter boat. A Japanese man lives on the island which he calls Small Japan. There are many natives that help him greet Simon and Toshiro. The old man was stationed here as a spotter during the war and the forces never came back for him. His wife was lost. A large man attacks Toshiro as he and Simon sleep but Simon's scream wakes Toshiro up. Toshiro beats the man who tells them his boss is Arkoff. Before he dies, the assassin gives the old man the coordinates to his master Arkoff's island. The old man lets Toshiro take his old sea plane to go. He also gives Toshiro a sword which has been in his family for 300 years. REVIEW This issue reprints Night Wynd Samurai #2 (second half) and #3. As the story opens a millionaire in Hawaii is attempting to hire the famous Samurai, Toshiro Kimura, as his bodyguard. He offers the full use of his yacht, plane and mansions as well as $4000 a week! We can tell that Toshiro is on the verge of accepting when a ragged young boy runs in and begs Samurai's help in finding his sister, who was kidnaped. This is the original meeting between Samurai and Simon Stringfellow! Whether it is the puppy-dog eyes, or the $23.38 in cash which Simon offers-- the next thing we know Simon and Toshiro are in a small power boat off the coast of Diamond Head, being piloted by Homer Bentley. Eventually they reach an undisclosed island where Toshiro and Simon go ashore. As Barry describes the scene, "evening finds the two companions alone amid the dark satin shadows of the beach." There they find a village of friendly natives ruled over by a genial Japanese ex-officer who chose to remain behind after the war ended. That night as Toshiro and Simon are sleeping on a mat in the guest hut an assailant slips in and tries to kill Toshiro! Simon wakes up just in time to scream a warning to Toshiro, who is able to beat the stuffing out of the attacker. Once defeated the assailant becomes a mine of information and relates that his master, Arkoff--a name strangely familiar--wants Toshiro dead, and is responsible for the rash of mysterious disappearances which have plagued the village. He helpfully gives the co-ordinates of Arkoff's nearby island. The end of chapter one has the Japanese officer giving Toshiro his seaplane--which he has maintained in perfect running operation--and his samurai sword, which has been in his family for 300 years. Which of these is wilder I can't decide!
		MEMORIESóóChapter 2óóKamakazii!! STORY: Simon had hidden aboard the sea plane as Toshiro tries to crash into a sub which carries Dr. Arkoff and men (with a swastika on it). Arkoff was out gathering natives for his experiments. Arkoff sees the plane crash into the sea. Simon and Arkoff are pulled from the beach by strange creatures with many legs. Arkoff shows Sue the Rumblesóórobots made from simple villagers. He tried to make a perfect weapon onceóóToshiro but the authorities wouldn't let him take away Toshiro's ability to think. Now he will try again: with Sue! REVIEW Chapter two launches right into things with Toshiro making a kamikaze dive onto Arkoff's U-boat submarine. He would have been successful--in crashing into the sub--had he not suddenly realized that Simon was in the back seat! How he could have been unaware of this I don't know--I guess comic books don't have to be totally logical. Anyway, to save Simon, Toshiro pulls up and is able to crash in the ocean not far from an island, where they are cast up on the shore unconscious. The scene shifts to Arkoff's European-style castle which seems rather incongruous in the Hawaiian islands. In villain style, Arkoff is doing a little gloating over his captive, Sue Stringfellow. Sue is a blond "babe" in a one-piece swimsuit, with her hands tied behind her back. One of Barry's sexier female creations! During the "gloat" it transpires that Arkoff is a sort of genetic engineer who used to work for the "other side" --i.e. the good guys--and actually worked on Toshiro, improving his fighting capabilities. Now he wants to make the perfect killing machine, and intends to do this using Sue Stringfellow!
		STORY: Strange once human creatures, zombie like, are the Outsiders, failed experiments of Arkoff. These can think but cannot move fast. Centagon's contact with Arkoff, Mr. Darklight, wonders if they should replace Arkoff and continue his experiments themselvesóóhe decides to begin on Sue himself. Simon and Toshiro (who kills a Rumble) go threw the drains (Simon feels things squishing through his toes) and rescue Sue from Darklight (whom Toshiro splits in two with the sword when the man goes for his gun). They do and more Rumbles die. A mutantóman (a brother of the Rumbles), bearing an axe, calls them sinners and attacks the trio when they emerge from the drains. Toshiro kills it and then has to fight Arkoff, who reveals he is part roboticóóimmortal he claims. He also claims he created himself! The Outsiders help and attack Arkoff. They take his head off (and Arkoff says, "Oh pooh!"). Toshiro, Simon, and Sue are found by a ship that sees them on the beach. REVIEW: Toshiro and Simon awaken in a cell. They have been captured by a bunch of grotesque creatures who were once human but were experimented on by Arkoff, and represent his "mistakes." Since they all have a common objective--vengeance on Arkoff--the creatures free Toshiro and Simon and help them on their way. Entering the castle through tunnels Toshiro and Simon quickly and unerringly find the room where Sue is being held. Using his sword, Samurai splits one of the bad guys from the head right down to the waist, and they all have the usual hairbreadth escape back through the tunnels. As Toshiro, Simon and Sue emerge into the jungle they face the final challenge: Arkoff himself, who is now revealed to be a robot from the neck down. Only his head is actually flesh-and-blood! Despite the great strength of the robot, Toshiro stuns him with a kick to the head. Then the "mistakes" come out of the forest and swarm over Arkoff, and leave, taking his head with them. The end of Arkoff?? Don't count on it! The story ends with Toshiro, Simon and Sue heading back to the beach and Homer's boat just offshore.