Inspector Shimura

There is also a Japanese mathematician named Goro Shimura, a comedian Ken Shimura and an actor Takashi Shimura.

Shimura is a comic strip pubkished in the British science fiction anthology Judge Dredd Megazine, detailing the exploits of its eponymous hero in Hondo-City, a futuristic version of Tokyo.

In his first appearance Inspector Shimura was pretty much a Japanese equivalent of Judge Dredd. In all stories thereafter however the character has become ronin or outcast having survived an attempt on his life by a traitor in the Judiciary, and works vigilante-style.

Visually, the character's most consistent distinguishing features are two pronounced scars on the right-hand side of his face. His attire and hairstyle tend to vary between stories but he often appears unkempt due to his living in hiding. The weaponry in the strip is largely existing martial arts weapons with a futuristic twist e.g. laser shuriken gloves, and energy nunchaku. Swords like the Katana and Wakizashi appear without such adornments.

Created by writer Robbie Morrison and artist Frank Quitely in 1993, Shimura has since been illustrated by Colin MacNeil, Simon Fraser and Andy Clarke.

Appearances

The character has appeared in his own strip as well as in Judge Dredd. All stories were written by Robbie Morrison.

Comics

• Shimura:
  • "Shimura" (with Frank Quitely, in Judge Dredd Megazine #2.37-2.39, 1993)
  • "Outcast" (with Colin MacNeil, in Judge Dredd Megazine #2.50-2.55, 1994)
  • "Fearful Symmetry" (with Duke Mighten, in Judge Dredd Megazine #2.72, 1995)
  • "Chambara" (with Robert McCallum, in Judge Dredd Megazine #2.73, 1995)
  • "The Transcendental Assassin" (with Simon Fraser, in Judge Dredd Megazine #2.74, 1995)
  • "Heavy Metal" (with Duke Mighten, in Judge Dredd Megazine #2.75, 1995)
  • "Assassins" (with Robert McCallum and Simon Fraser, in Judge Dredd Megazine #2.76-2.77, 1995)
  • "Dragon Fire" (with Simon Fraser, in Judge Dredd Megazine #3.14-3.17, 1996)
  • "Angels of Death" (with Lol, in Judge Dredd Mega Special 1996)
  • "Ronin Breed" (with Simon Fraser, in Judge Dredd Megazine #3.34, 1997)
  • "Scary Monsters" (with Lol, in Judge Dredd Megazine #3.35, 1997)
  • "Executioner" (with Andy Clarke, in Judge Dredd Megazine #224-226, 2004)
  • "Deus X" (with Andy Clarke, in Judge Dredd Megazine #228-230, 2005)
  • "The Harder They Come " (with Colin MacNeil, in Judge Dredd Megazine #238-243, 2005)

• Judge Dredd: "Web" (with Cyril Julien, in Judge Dredd Megazine #3.19, 1996)

Collection

• Shimura (collects stories down to, and including, "Ronin Breed" except for "Heavy Metal" and also includes the two Judge Inspector Inaba stories tpb, Rebellion, 224 pages, 2004 ISBN 1-904265-21-9)

External links

• 2000 AD profile
• Profile on International Hero
• Details of the contents of the collected volume
• Review of trade paperback