Frank: I didn't notice it at the time either (and I've got to imagine Bish-Op missed it too), but I'm sure it fed into my erotic nightmares.
Norton Canes: dammit, you're right. But Talbot's version is scarier!
Greg M.: to be fair, the 'noble samurai archetype' as problematic is Mills's fault rather than Talbot's, who simply draws an excellent version of that stock character. I certainly loved Hitaki at the time (as with all things Japanese), and as far as I understand it (not very far), the reason why people like me are sniffy about characters like Hitaki these days is that he was created by British people based on a stereotype rather than an actual nuanced understanding of samurai and their place in Japanese culture, and his purpose here is to make us say 'coooool!' when he charges into the fray with a sword while yelling Banzai! - which is absolutely NOT cool in the proper historical context.
-which probably makes me a wet pinko Social Justice Warrior.
-which I am a) proud to be, and b) curious why Mr Mills hasn't yet putted the mighty ABCs against a team of robotic and non-violent SJWs...