Kato #2 - Dynamite Entertainment

This isn't the Year One title of this character, but in this issue we kind of see how Kato's daughter is dragged into this life of 'justice' and 'heroism'. In the present Kato is attacked by an arch-enemy, Juuma. He is a mistake from Kato's past life, and now he's a problem that's come back to haunt him. Basically he arrives as Kato's home shortly before his return, and kills his wife. In some flashback scenes, running congruently with the 'present' storyline, we also see how Kato and Sayomi's love and relationship blossomed. Which serves to emphasize the frustration Kato is feeling as he's fighting this guy for his life, as his dead wife lies in the other room. The problem is, Juuma is probably 10 years Kato's junior, and is at his peak of physical performance. And it's apparent that while still an accomplished fighter, Kato's best years are clearly in his past. Plus . . Kato lives by a code. A code which Juuma has clearly ignored for the want of material rewards in his life. Plus Juuma is Yakuza. Anyways, the Tokyo police show up and Juuma has to make a run for it. After burning down his house, with his wife in it . . it's a funeral pyre kind of thing, plus I don't think Kato is interesting in living in the house he and his wife had built . . Kato wants to put the rest of his family in hiding while he deals with Juuma. 'I have known men like Juuma before. He is a shark. He will not rest until this is done.' But his daughter wants to share in the fight to avenge her mother. But she's all that Kato has left, so he doesn't want her getting caught up in this. In the end she bows to his wishes, but you just know that she's going to do something impulsive . . stupid. I really enjoyed Andre Parks' story here. It was entertaining and emotional. It really gave us a sense of what was running through Kato's heart as he was going through all of this. As were also witnessing the frustration building in his daughter's heart. Diego Bernard does the art. It looks really good. I wasn't sure about following all of these books, but . . the more I read them, the more I like them. I just hope they can keep the momentum going.