Ronin: The Deluxe Edition

Before Miller redefined Batman with a dark, noir look and feel that influenced comics of the 1980s and beyond, his first series followed the adventures of a samurai warrior in a future dystopia. The series is now back in print in a deluxe edition. Miller virtually single-handedly popularized ninjas in American comic books, and here he builds on the tropes of Japanese sword-fighting action against a background of fine-lined European design in the style of French artist Moebius. This edition gorgeously reproduces Miller’s deft and intricate artwork. His fight sequences are refreshing and imaginatively choreographed, staging scenes that combine panels into kinetic action. The over-the-top violence is balanced against nimble and believable human anatomy and motion, and his technique of expressing emotion by showing a single face in multiple panels is especially effective. The coloring by frequent Miller collaborator Varley is subtle and understated, eschewing the usual brilliant shades of comic books for pastels and earth tones. The book is a thrilling and inspired adventure story, even 30 years after its original publication—a first-rate classic that absolutely deserves the elegant and attractive design of this new edition. (Oct.)