by Eric Nguyen
First published 2023
An old prophecy promised that a stranger would rescue the village of Inoki from a coming army. The villagers believe they've found their hero in Nathan Garin, a brutal U.S. Army captain from the American frontier. But Garin is a violent drunk who stumbles through their world, creating chaos instead of salvation. Todd Parker, a Japanese-American teacher, sees through the captain's facade. He races to expose Garin's true nature before the supposed savior destroys the very people counting on him for protection. Time travel has dropped these men into a world of mistaken identities and deadly misunderstandings. Accidental deaths pile up as Garin blunders forward, oblivious to the damage he causes. Parker must navigate compromising situations and mounting disasters to save Inoki from its false messiah. This satirical adventure skewers the white savior narrative through swordplay and dark comedy.
Genres: satire, historical-fiction, adventure, action
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: false-messiah, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Inoki
Period: 19th-century
112 pages · Paperback · Dark Horse Books
Content warnings: violence