Originally posted by: Hatake Kakashi
Lone Wolf & Cub is the best historical fiction manga EVER.
Set in Feudal Japan, Ogami Itto and Ogami Daigoro are the main characters. The movie/graphic novel, "the Road to Perdition" is partially based on LW&C.
Basically Itto was the Shogun's executioner, not assassin, but the guy who chopped off the persons head when they commited Seppuku (Samurai ritualistic suicide)
His arch nemesis was Yagyu Retsudo, head of the Oniwaban spy network amongst other intellgence organizations (yes, you heard right, RK fans don't wet your pants).
Yagyu gets greedy and decides he wants Ogami's position to go to one of his sons, so he sets him up and kills his entire clan including his pregnant wife. His child survives and now Lone Wolf and Cub walk the road of vengeance living as Ronin. Daigoro is 3, Itto is in his early-mid 30's.
Awesome manga.