Blade of the Immortal, Volume 24: Massacre

~by Hiroaki Samura

Massacre is the twenty-fourth volume in the English-language release of Blade of the Immortal, Hiroaki Samura's long-running manga series. Earlier on in the series' release, Dark Horse divided the volumes by storyline rather than by number of chapters. Because of this, many of the individual volumes are slightly different in the English-language edition compared to the original Japanese release of Blade of the Immortal. Massacre, published by Dark Horse in 2011, collects the same chapters as the twenty-third volume of the Japanese edition of the series which was released in 2008. At this point, the manga has entered its final major story arc. The previous two volumes, Footsteps and Scarlet Swords, provided the necessary set up which allows Samura to really let loose in Massacre. As can be assumed from the title, it's a rather bloody volume.

As agreed, the Ittō-ryū is leaving Edō after being banished from the city. However, the rogue sword school is still being chased by Habaki Kagimura and his Rokki-dan warriors as well as by Rin Asano and her bodyguard Manji. But what the pursuers don't yet realize is that there are key members missing from the group of Ittō-ryū said to be making its way to the port in Hitachi: the sword school's leader Anotsu Kagehisa and three of its elite fighters--Magatsu Taito, Ozuhan, and Baro Sukezane. The four highly skilled swordsmen have their own task to complete, a bold raid on Edō Castle through one of its most heavily guarded entrances. It's a brash move that, if successful, will leave quite an impression in its wake, not to mention a high body count. The Ittō-ryū has already been identified as a threat, but they are prepared to show just how dangerous they can be.

Samura's artwork in Blade of the Immortal has always been something that has particularly appealed to me about the series, but his kinetic style works especially well in Massacre. A large part of the volume is devoted to the daring attack on Edō Castle; the sequence is one of the most effectively choreographed and visually executed battles in Blade of the Immortal thus far. The Ittō-ryū is a group of swordsmen sharing the same ideals and martial philosophy more than it is a strictly enforced style. This can especially be seen in Massacre simply by watching how the Ittō-ryū's elite fight. They all use different weapons and techniques and each has his own aura. Anotsu's elegance, Magatsu's cruder dynamism, Ozuhan's speed and uninhibited wildness, and Baro's strength and power are all readily apparent. They fight well as individuals, but also work well together as a team.

Although the focus of Massacre is on the raid of Edō Castle--a quickly paced, action packed, violent, and rather impressive escapade--several other important things happen in the volume as well. For the last few volumes of Blade of the Immortal Shira has been on the fringe of the story, but his prominence is quickly growing. He may have lost a limb or two over the course of Blade of the Immortal but his extreme sadistic streak and penchant for sexual violence remain. Shira is as terrifying as ever. Also making his return to the series was Ayame Burando, which I was surprised but happy to see. He and Manji even end up having a heart-to-heart about atonement and the meaning of evil. These are themes that play a major role in Blade of the Immortal, one of the reasons that I like the series so well. As always, I'm looking forward to reading the next volume, Snowfall at Dawn.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 23: Scarlet Swords

~by Hiroaki Samura

Scarlet Swords is the twenty-third volume in the English-language release of Hiroaki Samura's manga series Blade of the Immortal. Published in 2011 by Dark Horse Comics, Scarlet Swords collects the same material as the twenty-second volume in the original Japanese edition of the series, which was released in 2007. Following Footsteps, Scarlet Swords is an early volume in the fifth and final major story arc in Blade of the Immortal. Blade of the Immortal was one of the first manga series that I began reading and collecting and it continues to be one of my personal favorites. The series has been well received both in Japan and abroad. In 1998 Blade of the Immortal earned Samura a Japan Media Arts Award. The series went on to win an Eisner Award in 2000 and has been the recipient of several other honors since then as well.

Time is quickly running out for Habaki Kagimura and the Rokki-dan. Anotsu Kagehisa and the Ittō-ryū have been banished from Edō and must leave the city within days else forfeit their lives. Should the Ittō-ryū make their escape, Kagimura and the Rokki-dan will lose their lives instead. Kagimura has been ordered to commit seppuku in atonement for the debacles surrounding his previous attempts to annihilate the Ittō-ryū and his failed investigation into immortality. The Rokki-dan are a group of death row felons who have been given a chance to redeem themselves if they can wipe out the Ittō-ryū and its leader, but they have been forbidden to leave the city; they must find and destroy the Ittō-ryū before the rogue sword school leaves Edō. One thing is certain: Anotsu and the Ittō-ryū will not make it easy for them.

Scarlet Swords is a volume of journeys and farewells. The Rokki-dan is desperate in its pursuit of the members of the Ittō-ryū, resorting to torture and other dubious means in the search for clues as to the group's whereabouts. The Ittō-ryū are prepared for discovery and have even planned for it; perhaps in part due to the exceptional leadership of Anotsu, the Ittō-ryū frequently shows extraordinary forethought. And the Rokki-dan isn't the only group that the Ittō-ryū needs to worry about--Rin and Manji are still in pursuit of revenge and some of the members of the disbanded Mugai-ryū, the predecessors of the Rokki-dan, are ready to support Kagimura. As the Ittō-ryū swordsmen prepare to leave Edō for the port in Hitachi, so do those who would hunt them down. Goodbyes are said and in some cases incredible sacrifices are made. The journey to Hitachi will be an eventful one for all who are involved.

As Anotsu points out to Rin early on in Scarlet Swords, only two active members of the Ittō-ryū remain from when her parents were brutally killed two years ago--Anotsu himself and his current second-in-command Magatsu Taito. Rin's relationship with Anotsu has several complicating factors and she has even made friends with some of the newer Ittō-ryū members, but she still hasn't forgiven the deaths of her parents nor does she approve of the Ittō-ryū's methods. In the beginning of Blade of the Immortal, the Ittō-ryū was clearly set up as villainous, but as the manga progresses the morality is muddled. The sword school may be extreme, but its members maintain their own sense of honor as they fight against society's injustices. I appreciate the development of the Ittō-ryū in Blade of the Immortal and look forward to seeing how the group continues to change and evolve in the next volume, Massacre.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 22: Footsteps

~by Hiroaki Samura

Footsteps is the twenty-second volume in the English-language release of Hiroaki Samura's manga series Blade of the of Immortal. The volume was published by Dark Horse in 2010. Because of the difference in how the various chapters of Blade of the Immortal have been collected for the English-language edition, Footsteps is actually equivalent to the twenty-first volume of the original Japanese release published in 2007. Blade of the Immortal is a long-running series, having first begun serialization in 1993. Over the course of its publication it has won several awards, including a Japan Media Arts Award and an Eisner Award. It also happens to be a series of which I am particularly fond. Footsteps marks the beginning of the fifth and final major story arc in Blade of the Immortal.

After staging a successful prison break, setting free hundreds of captives from the hidden dungeons underneath Edō Castle and rescuing them from the fate of becoming the human test subjects of cruel immortality experiments, Rin has finally been reunited with Manji. The two have been separated for quite some time. Manji, despite his near-immortality, is a little worse for wear from his time spent in the dungeons and is currently missing his left arm. Isaku and Dōa, two members of the Ittō-ryū who were also involved in the raid on Edō Castle, were able to escape as well. However, their involvement has brought the Ittō-ryū back under the intense scrutiny of the shogunate. Nearly wiped out when the bakufu betrayed them, the few remaining Ittō-ryū members have been working in the shadows readying their revenge. They may have been forced out into the open sooner than planned, but the Ittō-ryū is still prepared to face the authorities head on.

Although I did enjoy the previous storyline, I am glad that the series is moving on from the dungeons and experiments and beginning to cover some new ground. Footsteps is an excellent volume in general, but particularly as the opening to the final story arc. The volume establishes where nearly all of the major players in Blade of the Immortal are after the fallout from the prison break. The focus turns from Rin and Manji (although they do have some absolutely wonderful scenes together) to the Ittō-ryū, which was largely though not entirely ignored during the previous arc. Anotsu, the highly capable leader of the Ittō-ryū, is gathering his forces and the Ittō-ryū is gaining new members and strength. For better and worse the Ittō-ryū has left a strong impression on other sword schools. Anotsu faces Habaki Kagimura, who has proven to be a worthy opponent, and the newly formed Rokki-dan--a group of death row felons hand-selected for their battle prowess.

I was actually a little surprised by the introduction of the Rokki-dan in Footsteps. Samura already included one group of death row assassins in Blade of the Immortal--the Mugai-ryū. However, the Mugai-ryū has been disbanded. The Rokki-dan is a similar group with a similar goal--to annihilate the Ittō-ryū. At this point, the only difference between the two is that the elite of the Rokki-dan are implied to be even more badass than the members of the Mugai-ryū. This would certainly be impressive if true. Skill-wise, its top fighters may even be able to hold their own against some of the Ittō-ryū's. The lower ranking members of the Rokki-dan are nothing more than faceless cannon fodder, though. In many ways the Rokki-dan's introduction does seem to be more of the same, but there should at least be some fantastic confrontations and battles in the next volume, Scarlet Swords, as a result.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 21: Demon Lair II

~by Hiroaki Samura

Demon Lair II is the twenty-first volume in the English-language release of Blade of the Immortal, Hiroaki Samura's long-running, award-winning manga series. Along with the previous volume, Demon Lair, it forms the conclusion to the series' fourth and penultimate major story arc. Demon Lair II was published by Dark Horse in 2009. The chapters collected in Demon Lair II are the same as those found in the twentieth volume of the Japanese release of Blade of the Immortal, published in 2006. In addition, Demon Lair II also includes a glossary (useful since many terms in Blade of the Immortal are left untranslated, or simply don't have an exact equivalent in English) and a translation of a parody article about Samura originally found in the September 2003 issue of Afternoon, the magazine in which Blade of the Immortal was serialized.

Somehow, Rin and Dōa have successfully fought their way into the secret underground dungeons of Edō Castle. There they have found what, or rather who, they have been looking for: Manji and Isaku, who have both been subjected to cruel experiments meant to find a way to transfer Manji's near-immortality and regenerative abilities to another person. Now the real trick will be getting everyone back out alive and ideally in one piece. As challenging as it was for Rin and Dōa to infiltrate the castle grounds, escaping will be even more problematic. The tunnels underneath the complex are flooding and are ready to collapse; standing between them and their way out are armed guards as  well as crazed inmates. The situation above ground, assuming that they can make it that far, is chaos with countless escaped prisoners inside the castle complex and their families outside of its walls on the verge of rioting.

Much like its companion volume Demon Lair, Demon Lair II is largely one long action sequence. There are some important plot revelations and character moments, but for the most part Demon Lair II is made up of one fight after another. What sets Demon Lair II apart form previous volumes, and one of the things that I like the most about the volume, is Samura's use of water. The flooding of the dungeons is a violent event in and of itself. The water is extraordinarily destructive and its effect upon those unlucky enough to be caught up in it is extremely detrimental. Generally speaking, Samura has always made good use of the environment and surroundings as part of his battles in Blade of the Immortal. Demon Lair II is no different and he has given special consideration to the sorts of problems and opportunities fighting in high, cold water would present.

Many of the recent volumes in Blade of the Immortal have focused on the human costs and failures surrounding the immortality experiments. Demon Lair II reveals that some of the successes that Burando, the doctor in charge of the investigation, has had are just as horrifying--he has literally created monsters. To some extent, that particular development wasn't foreshadowed as well as it could have been, but it does go to show just how far Burando has strayed from his ideals. The conclusion of Demon Liar II also brings together a few of the stray plot lines and characters in Blade of the Immortal in preparation for the next and final story arc. Samura introduces a surprise or two along the way, too. I am very curious to see how things begin to play out in the next volume, Footsteps.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 20: Demon Lair

~by Hiroaki Samura

Demon Lair is the twentieth volume in the English-language release of Hiroaki Samura's manga series Blade of the Immortal. Published by Dark Horse Comics in 2008, Demon Lair is most closely equivalent to the nineteenth volume of the Japanese edition of the series published in 2006, although it includes a couple of chapters from the eighteenth volume released in 2005 as well. Demon Lair is also the first volume in which none of the chapters were previously released by Dark Horse in a monthly format. In general, Blade of the Immortal has been well received. In 1998 the series won a Japan Media Arts Award and in 2000 it received an Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material. The series also happens to be a personal favorite of mine. Demon Lair marks the beginning of the end of the fourth major story arc in Blade of the Immortal.

Following rumors of an immortality experiment, Rin and Dōa have successfully penetrated the first level of Edo Castle's defenses. It wasn't easy--Rin in particular isn't in the best physical condition after a brutal run in with the guards in the secret tunnels leading to the castle--but the two young women are determined to find Manji and Isaku. Not that they have any hard evidence that the men are being held within the castle complex; their insider information is sketchy at best. Rin and Dōa are so focused on finding and rescuing Manji and Isaku that many of the finer points of their plan have been neglected, which is bound to get them into more trouble along the way. But for two fighters in over their heads, they have done remarkably well to have made it as far as they have.

From beginning to end, Demon Lair is one long, non-stop sequence of battles, fights, and near escapes. The plot might not move forward much, but there is certainly plenty of action to be had. The last few volumes of Blade of the Immortal have really been building up to and setting the stage for Demon Lair. Some of the developments in Demon Lair may not be particularly unexpected, but there are still some nice twists and surprises in store as Manji's storyline and Rin's storyline finally collide again. Samura even mangaes to work in a few brief sweet and touching moments amid all the chaos of Demon Lair. Some of the series' humor also returns; this is welcome even if it does feel a bit out of place--lately Blade of the Immortal has been pretty dark.

One of the things that stands out in Demon Lair is Rin's reactions to what she and Dōa discover in the dungeons and tunnels of Edo Castle. Up until now, the rumours of the immortality experiments have just been rumors. Readers of Blade of the Immortal are well aware of the horrifying experiments, but Rin and Dōa are facing the results of the atrocities for the very first time. Slowly Rin is able to piece together what has been going on underneath the castle and she is outraged. It's a very nice character moment. At the series' start, Rin was concerned about her own personal revenge. More recently, she has been focused on Manji's plight. But now in some small way she is also fighting for the people of Edo. Of course, if she plans on making any sort of difference, she'll need to escape from the castle first.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 19: Badger Hole

~by Hiroaki Samura

Badger Hole is the nineteenth volume in the English-language release of Hiroaki Samura's long-running manga series Blade of the Immortal. Published by Dark Horse in 2008, Badger Hole collects five of the eight chapters that appeared in the eighteenth volume of the Japanese edition of Blade of the Immortal, released in 2005. Because of how Dark Horse is releasing the series--individual volumes collect chapters by story arc rather than number or page count--Badger Hole ends up being one of the shorter volumes. Blade of the Immortal has been well received in both the East and the West. The series won a Japan Media Arts Award in 1998 and an Eisner Award in 2000, among other honors. Blade of the Immortal was one of the first manga series that I started reading and it continues to be one of my favorites.

After Manji and Isaku both go missing, and are presumably imprisoned, Rin and Dōa have been working together to find them. Rumours of an immortality experiment have led the two young women to a guarded and secluded passageway known as the Badger Hole by the locals. There are jobs to be had there hauling out and disposing of the dead bodies of prisoners and, thanks to the experiments, in increasingly large numbers. If Rin's theory is correct, the Badger Hole is the entrance to a series of labyrinthine tunnels leading to Edo Castle itself where she believes that Manji at least is being held. And so Rin and Dōa prepare to infiltrate the Badger Hole under the guise of beggars looking for work. With Dōa's fighting skills and Rin's quick thinking, along with a little luck, they hope to successfully stage a rescue, but things don't always go exactly as planned.

While the previous few volumes of Blade of the Immortal have largely focused on the plight of Manji, the other felons, and the doctors involved with the immortality experiments, in Badger Hole Samura turns his attention to the women of the series. At various points in Blade of the Immortal Rin, Dōa, and Hyakurin--one of the assassins of the disbanded Mugai-ryū--have all been shown to be just as strong as the series' men and in some cases even stronger. In Badger Hole it is the men who need rescuing and the women are prepared to do anything they can to see them safe again. And it's not just Rin, Dōa, and Hyakurin. The women of Edo, those who have lost their fathers, husbands, and sons to the experiments (even though they don't know that's the reason their loved ones have gone missing), also have power, strength, and an important role to play.

In some ways, this empowerment is completely undone by the ending of Badger Hole. Dōa and Rin get into some trouble and it takes a deus ex machina and the introduction of a new Ittō-ryū member to get them out of it. Ozuhan may suddenly appear from nowhere, but the resulting battle is nicely choreographed and dynamic. He has an eerie presence about him and his style of fighting is very different from most of the other characters in the series. Ozuhan does ends up stealing the spotlight from the women, but it seems as though he will be an interesting addition to the series. Badger Hole also reveals Dōa's first encounter with Anotsu, the leader of the Ittō-ryū who she more or less worships, something I've been looking forward to seeing since her introduction. There's still more of Dōa's story that hasn't been told, so I look forward to learning more about her in the next volume, Demon Lair.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 18: The Sparrow Net

~by Hiroaki Samura

The Sparrow Net, the eighteenth volume of Hiroaki Samura's award-winning manga series Blade of the Immortal as released in English, was published by Dark Horse in 2008. Dark Horse's English-language edition of the series divides the individual volumes by story arc rather than strictly by number of chapters. Because of this, The Sparrow Net is most closely equivalent to the seventeenth Japanese volume except that The Sparrow Net includes one additional chapter. Also because of Dark Horse's tendency to compile the volumes by story arc, The Sparrow Net ends up being on of the longest books in the series. Blade of the Immortal is one of my personal favorites. I've been enjoying the manga's mix of historical fiction, martial arts, and the supernatural along with Samura's complex characters and great artwork.

After the Ittō-ryū was betrayed and nearly wiped out by the bakufu, the surviving members of the rogue sword school have been quietly working in the background, biding their time and preparing a return assault against the government. Although they are supposed to be in hiding and keeping a low profile while in Edo, two of the Ittō-ryū's most recent members, Dōa and Isaku, can't seem to help but draw attention to themselves. After a confrontation with the police force, Isaku goes missing and Dōa is left behind with Rin who in a strange twist of fate has been helping to hide them (her parents were killed by the Ittō-ryū.) Although their relationship is less than ideal, the two young women must work together in order to find both Isaku and Manji, Rin's bodyguard who has also disappeared under troubling circumstances.

Dōa and Isaku are relatively new characters in Blade of the Immortal having first been introduced towards the end of the fifteenth volume, Trickster. Although Dōa in particular has been shown to be violent and easily provoked, The Sparrow Net is the first time that she and Isaku are seen to really fight. With Isaku's size and strength and Dōa's speed and viciousness they make an incredibly effective and formidable team. The Sparrow Net is also the first volume in Blade of the Immortal to delve into the pair's backstory. Previously, there have been some hints as to their pasts and who they really are, but until now their history has largely remained a mystery. I am still very curious to learn how they joined up with the Ittō-ryū.

While chaos surrounds Dōa and Isaku, Rin continues her search for Manji. Eventually she hears rumor of a bizarre immortality experiment. The procedures being performed on Manji and the other felons have reached disturbing new heights of cruelty. However, this escalation means that more people are involved and it is increasingly difficult to hide. Even those who are only tangentially involved suspect that something horribly wrong is going on. And those who are at the heart of the investigation--the doctors and their assistants, not to mention their human guinea pigs--have all been affected in terrible ways. The change in Ayame Burando, one of the head doctors on the case who himself is on death row, and what that brings about is particularly horrifying. I'm almost afraid to see what is in store in the next volume, Badger Hole.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 17: On the Perfection of Anatomy

~by Hiroaki Samura

On the Perfection of Anatomy is the seventeenth volume of Hiroaki Samura’s manga series Blade of the Immortal as published in English. Although the Japanese and English volumes collect slightly differently chapters, On the Perfection of Anatomy is most closely equivalent to the sixteenth volume of the Japanese release of the series, published in 2004. (The Japanese volume includes one additional chapter.) On the Perfection of Anatomy was released by Dark Horse in 2007. Blade of the Immortal has won several awards and honors, including a Japan Media Arts Award in 1998 and an Eisner Award in 2000. The series is also one my personal favorites. There were some fairly dramatic developments in the previous volume, Shortcut, so I was particularly interested in seeing where Samura would take things in On the Perfection of Anatomy.

Manji’s life has gotten more complicated ever since he became a near immortal. Even more so now that he has been captured and imprisoned in a hidden underground cell where he is the primary subject of an investigation into immortality. Manji and other felons are being experimented upon in an effort to transfer Manji’s bizarre regenerative powers to another person. Initially, the shogunate’s doctor Mozen was in charge of the investigation, but he was removed from the case after he was unable to produce results. Now the responsibility of finding the secrets behind Manji’s immortality has fallen to Ayame Burando, a young doctor who, due to his pursuit of Western medicine, is also considered a criminal. Burando sees the investigation not only as a way to redeem himself, but as an opportunity to advance the state of Japanese medicine.

Most of On the Perfection of Anatomy is devoted to Burando and the experiments he is conducting in the prison. Burando was first introduced in the previous volume, Shortcut. He goes through some very significant changes as a person by the end of On the Perfection of Anatomy. Burando was originally so devoted to advancing his own knowledge of medicine that he was willing to risk his own life. He tried to leave Japan in order to study Western medicine, inviting execution should he be caught or try to return. Ultimately he was found out which is how he became involved with the immortality experiments. At first things go astonishing well, but then Burando is confronted by failure after failure. Faced with this, his struggle as he tries to justify himself as both a scientist and doctor changes him.

Some of the experiments carried out in Shortcut and On the Perfection of Anatomy and their results are truly horrifying. Samura's artwork captures the grotesqueness, terror, and despair as bodies fall apart and waste away. The experiments are not only physically damaging, they also take a huge mental toll on most of the people who are even remotely involved with them. Of course, there are also those who don’t appear to be affected much at all, which is a little terrifying in its own right. On the Perfection of Anatomy doesn’t actually advance the plot of Blade of the Immortal much, but it is a critical volume in the characters’ development, particularly Burando’s evolution. And, as usual, I’m very interested in reading the next volume in the series, The Sparrow Net.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 16: Shortcut

~by Hiroaki Samura

Shortcut is the sixteenth volume in Dark Horse's release of Hiroaki Samura's manga series Blade of the Immortal. Due to the differences between the Japanese and English releases of the series, Shortcut is actually equivalent to the fifteenth volume published in Japan in 2004. Shortcut itself was released in 2006. Blade of the Immortal has won several awards, including a Japan Media Arts Award and and Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material. I myself have been quite fond of Blade of the Immortal since its beginning. I enjoy the series' morally ambiguous characters, anachronistic style, and dynamic artwork. Shortcut picks up the story immediately where the previous volume, Trickster, leaves off. Things weren't looking particularly good for Manji in Trickster, so I definitely wanted to see how the events in Shortcut would unfold.

Rin hasn't seen her bodyguard Manji since he was invited into the residence of Habaki Kagimura, the leader of the shogunate's banshū samurai as well as the head of the Mugai-ryū assassins. Fearing the worst, Rin does her best to try to find him but she is unable to make much progress. She is right to worry. Manji's disappearance has nothing to do with being forced to join the Mugai-ryū. Instead, Kagimura is very interested in Manji and his apparent immortality, something that Kagimura has personally been witness to. On top of Manji being missing, Rin suddenly has a couple of uninvited house guests to deal with, too. Isaku Yasonokami and Dōa Yoshino make a strange pair--he's a hulk of a man while she's a petite young woman who orders him around. Little does Rin know that she is helping to hide two members of the Ittō-ryū, the group responsible for the death of her parents.

I find Isaku and Dōa to be very intriguing characters. Not much is really known yet about either of them. Except for their apparent devotion to each other and their association with the Ittō-ryū, they largely remain a mystery. From the far northern reaches of Japan, they are out of place in Edo society. I'm curious to find out how they became involved with the Ittō-ryū, but it does go to show how accepting the sword school is of outsiders. This is in direct contrast to the majority of Japanese society during this time period. The shogunate's isolationist policies made it extremely dangerous for anyone to even leave the country and hierarchical social classes were rigidly enforced. In part, this is what the  Ittō-ryū is fighting against, so it shouldn't be too surprising that social outcasts and criminals are to be counted among their number.

On the opposite end of the spectrum of power is Kagimura. He is very in control of himself and those around him, using his position as the bangashira to his advantage. Blade of the Immortal has shown Kagimura to be cunning and manipulative and not above using unsavory methods to reach his goals. This is very unfortunate for Manji in Shortcut. Simply put, being immortal can really suck. This certainly isn't new to Manji who has repeatedly, and literally, been hacked to pieces in the past. But Shortcut is the first time in Blade of the Immortal that the extent of his immortality has deliberately, thoroughly, and methodically been put to the test. If things weren't looking good for Manji in Trickster, they're looking even worse for him in Shortcut. What else is in store for Manji will be revealed in the next volume, On the Perfection of Anatomy.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 15: Trickster

~by Hiroaki Samura

Trickster is the fifteenth volume in the English-language edition of Hiroaki Samura's award-winning manga series Blade of the Immortal. Because the series has been collected slightly differently between the Japanese and English releases, Trickster is actually equivalent to the fourteenth volume published in Japan in 2003. Trickster was released three years later by Dark Horse in 2006. Since Blade of the Immortal's beginning it has garnered numerous awards and honors. Among these are a Japan Media Arts Award from 1997 and an Eisner Award from 2000. Along with the end of previous volume, Last Blood, Trickster marks the beginning of the fourth major story arc in Blade of the Immortal. Last Blood established the groundwork for some major plot developments, so I was very interested in seeing how things would play out in Trickster.

Manji is a wanted man. He has killed more than one hundred men, and that was before he became immortal. While he and Giichi are "discussing" Manji's joining the Mugai-ryū--a group of death row inmates serving the bakufu as assassains to earn their freedom--Rin is captured by the Ittō-ryū. The bakufu isn't the only group interested in Manji and his bloody history. Serving as Rin's bodyguard, Manji's taken out quite a few of the Ittō-ryū's best fighters. A few of the remaining members want revenge and are willing to hold Rin captive until they get it. Meanwhile, the rest of the Ittō-ryū is recovering from a devastating assault which left a majority of the members of the sword school dead. With only the core remaining, the Ittō-ryū is developing plans for its own attack, striking back at the bakufu in return for its betrayal.

The setup and location, an abandoned quarry, for the Ittō-ryū's confrontation with Manji and Giichi in Trickster is marvelous. Unfortunately, the resulting combat, with the exception of a few choice sequences, was somewhat disappointing. The fight scenes are fantastic in concept but they are rather difficult to follow. How the series has been adapted for the English edition, a sort of cut-and-paste method, compounds the issue. I know that Samura can create phenomenal fight choreography, I've seen it in previous volumes of Blade of the Immortal, which is why Trickster didn't quite meet my expectations. The fights in Trickster had a tremendous amount of potential and could have been incredibly dynamic but sadly their execution largely seemed to be wasted opportunity. But even considering this, Samura is still able to pull off some stunningly effective moments.

Although I was unhappy with some of the combat in Trickster, over all I was still pleased with the volume--there was some nice character and plot development. Several members of the Ittō-ryū who have only really been seen in previous volumes of Blade of the Immortal were more thoroughly introduced in Trickster. Some won't last very long while others have been set up to play an important role in the story. And then there's Rin who has been important from the beginning and continues to grow and evolve. Rin has been separated from Manji for several volumes leading up to Trickster. Now that they have been reunited it is readily clear that she has become very attached to him. Manji started out as a body guard but by now he means much more to Rin than just that. It's important that these feelings have been established since by the end of Trickster, things are really not looking good for Manji. I am very interested in seeing how things develop in the next volume, Shortcut.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 14: Last Blood

~by Hiroaki Samura

Last Blood, the fourteenth volume in the English-language edition of Hiroaki Samura's manga series Blade of the Immortal was published by Dark Horse Comics in 2005. The chapters collected in the English volumes are different from those collected in the original Japanese volumes; even the actual chapter divisions have been modified in some cases. However, in the case of Last Blood, it is nearly identical in content to the thirteenth volume of the Japanese edition published in 2002. Since Blade of the Immortal began its publication it has been very well received, winning many awards and honors such as a Japan Media Arts Award and an Eisner Award among others. Blade of the Immortal is one of the manga series that I enjoy reading the most. Last Blood is a transitional volume in Blade of the Immortal, marking the end of the third major story arc and the beginning of the fourth.

In a strange turn of events, Rin finds herself fleeing Kaga along with her enemy Anotsu, each one of them helping to keep the other alive. Unfortunately, Anotsu is dying from a infected wound. It's only a matter of time before the remaining students of the Shingyōtō-ryū dōjō catch up with them. Although Anotsu never intended for it to happen, his presence in Kaga brought tragedy down upon the school. The Shingyōtō-ryū members are determined to take his life in return, even if it means their own deaths. And because Rin is accompanying Anotsu, her life is in danger, too. This is the mess that Manji, Rin's bodyguard, walks into. Separated from Rin in Edo when she left him behind to pursue Anotsu on her own, Manji finds her again only to discover that she's being held captive. The Shingyōtō-ryū isn't too keen on the appearance of an unknown swordsman, making a tense situation even more volatile.

As previously mentioned, Last Blood largely serves as a transition volume. Although there are a few very important plot developments, for the most part there is very little evolution in either the story or the characters. Instead, Last Blood is the culmination of everything that has come before it as largely independent storylines begin to collapse together. Every group that has so far had a stake in Blade of the Immortal is involved in Last Blood, resulting in a sort of battle royal between the Ittō-ryū, Shingyōtō-ryū, Mugai-ryū, and even the bakufu itself. And then there's Manji whose main concern is Rin. Depending on the circumstances, Manji has allied himself with the various factions over the course of Blade of the Immortal in order to protect her and keep her safe. With the exception of his loyalty to Rin, Manji's allegiances are constantly shifting as he makes the most of the situations with which he's confronted.

While there may not be much plot or character development in Last Blood there certainly is a fair amount of fighting going on. Blood has been shed and battles have been waged since the beginning of Blade of the Immortal. And, as Last Blood shows, that is something that won't be changing any time soon. In one way or another the different factions are all fighting to change their lives and the society in which they live. Because they choose the sword to live, many will also die by the sword. Last Blood is anything but the last blood that will be shed as their struggles continue. The Ittō-ryū in particular is faced with some major setbacks, but they have always proven themselves to be versatile and adaptable. They will begin to make their next move in the next volume, Trickster.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 13: Mirror of the Soul

~by Hiroaki Samura

The thirteen volume of Hiroaki Samura's manga series Blade of the Immortal, Mirror of the Soul, was published by Dark Horse in 2004. The releases of the English-language volumes collect slightly different chapters than the Japanese releases. I recently discovered that some of the chapter divisions are also slightly different. Mirror of the Soul includes chapters sixty-eight through seventy-six of Dark Horses' edition. It is most closely equivalent to the twelfth volume of the original Japanese release, published in 2002. Blade of the Immortal has been the recipient of many awards and honors, including a Japan Media Arts Award in 1997 and an Eisner Award in 2000. I also happen to be quite fond of the series personally. Mirror of the Soul picks up the story directly where the previous volume Autumn Frost leaves off. Since Autumn Frost ends with the implication of a major (although not unexpected) plot twist, I was looking forward to seeing how the story developed in Mirror of the Soul.

Kagehisa Anotsu, leader of the increasingly powerful sword school known as the Ittō-ryū, has agreed to the absorption of the Shingyōtō-ryū dōjō despite some of its students misgivings. In order to secure the schools' cooperation, Anotsu marries Hisoka, the foster daughter of the Shingyōtō-ryū's head. But even though he was reached Kaga safely and the wedding proceeds without any major complications, there are still those who see the Ittō-ryū as a threat and would attempt to take Anotsu's life. Broke and starving, Rin, whose parents' deaths were caused by the Ittō-ryū, has also reached Kaga in pursuit of Anotsu. A chance encounter brings the two of them together on the road when suddenly Rin finds herself caught in the middle of an assassination attempt. Manji, the bodyguard Rin abandoned in order to find Anotsu, has finally managed to leave Edo, but arrives in Kaga too late to find either Anotsu or Rin. And now that both she and Anotsu are on the run, Manji will have his work cut out for him to find them again.

At the beginning of Blade of the Immortal I was prepared to dislike Anotsu as he appeared to be the series' villain. But as the manga progresses, he has proven to be a much more complicated character than that. At times its difficult to even call him an antagonist, one of the reasons he makes such a fascinating character. His and Rin's relationship is also very interesting to see. Even though she wants him dead he holds nothing against her and understands her fury. Mirror of the Soul is the first time Rin witnesses Anotsu go all out as he fights for his life, realizing once again just how out-classed she is. It's also one of the first times Anotsu is seen actually fighting with his axe--an exotic and devastating weapon with which he is able to deal an impressive amount of damage. Because the weapon is so unusual, and because Anotsu is so skilled, he is at a distinct advantage against opponents who aren't sure how to respond to it.

Mirror of the Soul also shows Anotsu at his most vulnerable. He ends up having to rely on Rin as much as she relies on him, an odd but compelling situation for the enemies to find themselves in. Illness, disease, and injury could be a fate worse than death in an era where medical expertise is limited. Anotsu's physical well-being isn't the only thing at risk in Mirror of the Soul. His reunion with Makie is tragic (I was, however, very happy to see her return to the series) and is bound to take an emotional and mental toll on him. His plans for the Ittō-ryū are also in danger of unraveling. Anotsu may be an incredibly skilled strategist, but even he isn't able to plan for every possible development. I am very curious to see how he will handle everything that has been thrown at him in Mirror of the Soul; the series continues with the next volume, Last Blood.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 12: Autumn Frost

~by Hiroaki Samura

Autumn Frost is the twelfth volume in the English edition of Hiroaki Samura's award-winning manga series Blade of the Immortal. The volume, published by Dark Horse in 2003, collects chapters sixty through sixty-seven. These are the same chapters that are collected in the eleventh volume of the Japanese edition of Blade of the Immortal published in 2001. Blade of the Immortal has been the recipient of a good number of honors. Two of the most noteworthy are a Japan Media Arts award, which the series won in 1997, and an Eisner Award, which the manga won in 2000. Blade of the Immortal continues to be one of my personal favorites. I love the characters, artwork, and story which only seem to get better with each passing volume. While the previous volume, Beasts mostly focused on the Mugai-ryū, Autumn Frost most directly picks up the storylines from the volume before that, Secrets. Chronologically however, Autumn Frost does follow Beasts.

After selling out the other members of the Mugai-ryū assassins to the Ittō-ryū, Shira now has enough money to hire some muscle of his own. His target is Manji, who he intends to kill nice and slowly in exchange for the hand he lost in their last encounter. What Shira doesn't know is the Manji is nearly immortal, making him the ideal victim for Shira's sadistic inclinations. He also doesn't realize that Manji has temporarily paired up with Magatsu Taito, an ex-member of the Ittō-ryū, and that Magatsu is out for revenge. Shira viciously killed a young prostitute named O-Ren with whom Magatsu was exceptionally close. Now that Magatsu has identified Shira as O-Ren's murderer, he is determined to make him pay for her death. Knowing that Shira is after Manji, Magatsu is willing to use him as bait. Manji, who knows what Shira is capable of, would rather avoid the cruel killer and is more than willing to let the younger man deal with him. Although Manji and Magatsu have fought against each other in the past when it comes to Shira the two are of the same mind.

Magatsu and Manji make a great pair. Although neither one of them would probably voluntarily admit it, they get along well with each other. I loved seeing them together. Magatsu is the younger of the two and still has much to learn, but he and Manji share a lot in common. They're both smart-asses (their near-constant ribbing on each other amused me to no end), they're both highly skilled swordsmen, and they both have a girl who weighs heavily on their minds--in Magatsu's case O-Ren and in Manji's, Rin. I am rather fond of Magatsu. His fight with Shira is marvelous and filled with raw emotion, physicality, and power. Samura brilliantly captures the encounters intensity through the men's facial expressions: pain, surprise, confusion, fear, disbelief, rage and anger. It is obvious at a glance just what they are going through. The tide of battle is constantly shifting; one moment Magatsu has the upper hand and the next Shira is in control. He may be fighting one-handed but Shira still makes for an incredibly formidable opponent.

I think I've probably mentioned it in past reviews of Blade of the Immortal, but it's worth saying again: Shira is absolutely terrifying. One of the important points to come out of Shira and Magatsu's fight is the need to know the terrain and one's own opponent. But no one really wants to know Shira. Grey morality is very prevalent in Blade of the Immortal, but Shira is one of the few characters in the series that is truly rotten. Previous volumes have revealed his sadistic proclivities but Autumn Frost shows that his soul is even more twisted than that. Shira takes great delight in causing others pain and suffering. However, his horrifying and outrageous actions work both for and against him. Either way, he is one seriously scary and messed up guy. Shira is not someone you want to get mixed up with as an ally and even less so as a foe. Blade of the Immortal continues with the next volume, Mirror of the Soul. I am very interested in seeing how things continue to develop from here.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 11: Beasts

~by Hiroaki Samura

As the eleventh volume in the Dark Horse release of Hiroaki Samura's manga series Blade of the Immortal, Beasts collects chapters fifty-five through fifty-nine. The series has been divided slightly differently between its Japanese and English releases. Beasts, published in 2002, is most closely equivalent to the tenth volume of the Japanese edition, published in 2000. 2000 was also the year that Blade of the Immortal won the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material. The series had previously been honored with the Japan Media Arts Award in 1997. Blade of the Immortal has also earned a special place with me as one of the first manga series I ever read and it remains one of my personal favorites. I enjoy its well-rounded and complex characters, the dynamic storytelling, Samura's fantastic artwork, and the series' odd yet stylish anachronisms. Needless to say, I was looking forward to reading Beasts.

For some time now the swordsmen of the Ittō-ryū, a rogue school which is steadily gaining legitimate power in Edo, have systematically been hunted down and killed on the orders of an unknown entity. Although they have lost many of their top members in these ruthless killings their leader Kagehisa Anotsu has successfully evaded capture and death, accomplished only by sacrificing his followers. Still, with so many people after his life, it is an impressive feat. Anotsu has left Edo to arrive safely in Kaga, but the same cannot be said of the decoys he left behind, all of who were killed or severely maimed. Many of the surviving members of the Ittō-ryū are frustrated and angry and are ready to show just how ruthless they can be. They only have one clue to go on, the name "Akagi." But when they are given a tip that leads them to the group of assassins known as the Mugai-ryū, the Ittō-ryū finally has a chance for revenge.

Although previously there have been hints and references to the Mugai-ryū's pasts and who they really are, Beasts is the first volume in Blade of the Immortal to really focus on the Mugai-ryū and delve into some of its members' back stories. In particular, Hyakurin and Shinriji's respective histories are explored as is their relationship to each other. Since his introduction Dark Shadows, Shinriji has always been a bit of a likeable goofball. It is obvious that he genuinely cares for Hyakurin and that she is incredibly important to him even if he is incredibly awkward about it. In Beasts, Shinriji proves that his good nature hides a great potential for swordsmanship. Shinriji's not really cut out for the Mugai-ryū's line of work, but when needed he is prepared to fight. He can even be surprisingly capable and effective. The members of the Mugai-ryū really only have one thing in common--they have all received death sentences but have been given the opportunity to work as assassins in order to buy back their lives. Their backgrounds may be different, but most have developed a sort of camaraderie with one another.

There is no question at all that Blade of the Immortal is a mature title. Violence in particular is prevalent and quite graphic. Beasts is not an exception although it does turn to a form of violence that hasn't been especially prominent in the series--torture. Most and some of the worst of it occurs off the page, but Samura shows enough that readers know exactly what is going on without having to rely on their imaginations. The torture and its aftermath are brutal. It's not pretty, but it is necessary for the story. What struck me as particularly well done for this segment of Blade of the Immortal was Samura's characterization of the members of the Ittō-ryū. At the beginning of Beasts they are all filled with blood lust. But as the volume progresses many of them become increasingly uncomfortable with the situation and dissatisfied with the results when things don't proceed as anticipated. Beasts is an intense volume with important plot and character developments. I'm looking forward to continuing the series with Autumn Frost.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 10: Secrets

~by Hiroaki Samura

Secrets is the tenth volume of Dark Horse's English-language release of Hiroaki Samura's manga series Blade of the Immortal. Published in 2002, it collects chapters forty-eight through fifty-four, making it nearly equivalent to the ninth volume of the Japanese edition which was first published in 1999. Blade of the Immortal is liked by both critics and more casual fans, among which I am happy to include myself. In 1997 the series won a Japan Media Arts Award. It was also the recipient of an Eisner award in 2000. At this point, Blade of the Immortal is well into its story; Secrets is the beginning of the third major plot arc in the series. The previous arc ended with The Gathering and The Gathering, Part II. To put it mildly, both volumes were fairly intense. I was looking forward to seeing how the characters would deal with the consequences of those volumes and where Samura would take the story next with Secrets.

Kagehisa Anotsu is the leader of the Ittō-ryū, a rogue sword school that is quickly gaining power and prestige in Edo. The school isn't so concerned with style as it is with winning and so when its members fight anything goes. Anotsu has been invited to the Shingyōtō-ryū dōjō in the mountains of Kaga to discuss the school's assimilation into the Ittō-ryū--an odd situation since most other sword schools have fallen to the Ittō-ryū by force. Anotsu has finally reached Kaga safely (the same can't be said for his decoys back in Edo) but the students of the Shingyōtō-ryū are far from happy with his presence at their school. Elsewhere in Edo, Manji is recovering from his most recent encounter with the Ittō-ryū which literally left him in pieces. He may be nearly immortal, but even the kessen-chū that keep him alive have their limitations. Rin may have made it through the Edo checkpoint in her pursuit of Anotsu, but she is quickly discovering that traveling on her own without Manji is more challenging, and more dangerous, than she initially realized.

It has been several volumes since Anotsu has made an actual appearance in Blade of the Immortal. I find this particularly interesting because his very existence is the driving force behind so many of the other characters' actions. Two different sides of his nature are seen in Secrets. It has already been established in the series that Anotsu is a skilled swordsman. Because it is a more formalized duel, his fight with Iriya, one of the top students of Shingyōtō-ryū, isn't anywhere near as violent as Manji's fight from the previous two volumes, but it's still a very tense situation. Although Anotsu is surprised by Iriya's skill--which proves just how good Iriya is--Anotsu remains calm and collected throughout the fight. The duel also reveals that the two sword schools' philosophies aren't that dissimilar. This and his discussion with the head of the dōjō give Anotsu plenty to think about. He may be a fighter, but he doesn't rely on his sword alone. Anotsu is also politically ambitious, contemplative, and calculating.

Anotsu isn't the only character to make a reappearance in Secrets. Master Sōri, a close friend of Rin's now deceased father and a rather eccentric artist from early on in the series, also makes his return. He has a somewhat unexpected connection to the Mugai-ryū. He is able to share some very important information about the group of killers with whom Manji had so recently allied himself. I wasn't really expecting Sōri to have a critical role in Blade of the Immortal so I'm curious to see just how big a part he will end up playing. He has certainly show himself to be necessary at this point in the story. Another character I was happy to see return was Magatsu, a former member of the Ittō-ryū. He and Manji have some unfinished business to attend to and it's an excellent setup for the next volume in the series, Beasts. I'd say the third story arc in Blade of the Immortal is off to a great start.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 9: The Gathering, Part II

~by Hiroaki Samura

The Gathering, Part II collects chapters forty-two through forty-seven of Hiroaki Samura's award-winning manga series Blade of the Immortal. The series has been honored with both a Japan Media Arts Award as well as with an Eisner Award. The Gathering, Part II, released in 2001, is the ninth collected volume of the English-language edition of the series as published by Dark Horse. As I've mentioned in previous reviews of Blade of the Immortal, the chapters collected in the English volumes are slightly different than those that are collected in the Japanese volumes. However, The Gathering, Part II is nearly identical to the eighth volume of the Japanese edition released in 1998. As might be expected from the title, The Gathering, Part II is an extension of the previous volume, The Gathering. It is also the end of the second major story arc in Blade of the Immortal.

After Rin leaves him behind in order to pursue Anotsu, the leader of the Ittō-ryū, on her own, Manji, her bodyguard and traveling companion, will do everything that he can to find her again. In order to obtain the travel permit he needs to leave Edo Manji must fight three vicious swordsmen from the Ittō-ryū, and they're not necessarily going to wait to confront him one at a time. Manji may be nearly immortal but he's not invincible. Elsewhere along the outskirts of the city Rin is faced with her own challenges as she tries to cross through the checkpoint on her way to Kaga. She has sought out the aid of the Nakayas, innkeepers who live near the border and who have helped illegal travelers pass through the checkpoint in the past. Unfortunately, the Nakayas have been under close scrutiny from the checkpoint's guards after a failed attempt to smuggle a girl through ended in her death. It doesn't help matters that Rin is now a wanted criminal, too, and that the authorities are on the lookout for her.

As already mentioned, The Gathering, Part II is really a continuation of The Gathering more than anything else as the events that were put into motion in The Gathering are find some resolution. No major plot developments are introduced in The Gathering, Part II, but that doesn't mean the volume isn't important. While there may not be many new twists and turns to the story, there is still plenty of character development. In The Gathering, Part II this is particularly true for Rin. At this point, I would argue that she is the character who has grown and changed the most in Blade of the Immortal. Rin is often plagued by self-doubt and a lack of confidence in her own abilities, but at the same time she has developed a fierce sense of determination and a tremendous amount of willpower. In The Gathering, Part II, Rin is challenged to prove just how far she is willing to go to seek her revenge. Ultimately, her performance is brilliant.

Manji's fight with the Ittō-ryū swordsmen, which  began in The Gathering, is also brought to a conclusion in The Gathering, Part II. It's one of the longer fights to occur in Blade of the Immortal so far and it is brutal. Neither the Ittō-ryū nor Manji have any qualms about fighting dirty as is immediately obvious by watching their strategies and tactics during the fight. Because they are all willing to do almost anything in order to win, their battle is incredibly violent and intense. Manji in particular has to be spontaneous and creative with his martial abilities since he is facing multiple opponents. Although Samura's artwork overall is excellent, sometimes his fight sequences can be fairly chaotic and difficult to follow. However, the significant moments, whether they occur during a battle or during a quiet conversation, are always made absolutely clear. The Gathering Part II is an excellent ending to one of Blade of the Immortal's major story arcs. I'm looking forward to the start of the next arc with the tenth volume, Secrets.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 8: The Gathering

~by Hiroaki Samura

The Gathering is the eighth volume of the English edition of Hiroaki Samura's award-winning manga series Blade of the Immortal. Published in 2001 by Dark Horse Comics, The Gathering is most closely equivalent to the seventh volume of the Japanese edition of the series, published in 1997, although it also includes a chapter from the eighth volume which was first released in 1998. Blade of the Immortal has been the recipient of both an Eisner Award and a Japan Media Arts Award. Critically acclaimed in both the East and the West, the series is also one of my personal favorites. The Gathering marks the approach of the end of the second major story arc in Blade of the Immortal. The volume picks up almost immediately after the events in the previous volume, Heart of Darkness. Since there were some pretty major developments in that volume, I was particularly looking forward to reading The Gathering.

After their violent falling out with Shira, Manji and Rin's tenuous alliance with the Mugai-ryū assassins dissolves. Anotsu has successfully left Edo without being caught and is now well on his way to Kaga and out of the Mugai-ryū's reach. They do, however, have an idea where Anotsu is heading. But they're not about to tell Manji without getting something in return. Rin, still determined to pursue Anotsu, realizes that she is the only one who even has a chance of passing through one of Edo's checkpoints and leaves Manji behind without telling him where she is going. It doesn't take much for him to figure it out and Manji is ready to do anything it takes to follow her. But to complicate matters further, both Rin and Manji are now wanted for murder. It will be extremely difficult for either of them to leave Edo, let alone find Anotsu.

Rin is no longer as naive as she once was, although this doesn't stop her from making decisions she knows are foolish. She has seen some terrible things on her path of revenge against Anotsu and it has changed her. The journey has changed Manji as well. He has become more open in showing his concern for Rin. While he has become quite attached to the younger girl and is very protective of her, he is not overprotective. But as soon as she disappears Manji doesn't hesitate for a moment to try to find her again. It's been a while since Manji has really let loose in a fight (it's also been quite some time since he's really needed to) but he is given ample opportunity to in The Gathering. He is at a distinct advantage because of his near immortality, but this also means he has a lot more pain and suffering in store for him. Still, Manji is able to employ in very dramatic and effective ways techniques and strategies that other swordsmen would only resort to out of desperation (if at all).

While Rin and Manji are attempting to leave Edo, the members of the Mugai-ryū are trying to make the best out of the situation. Manji and the Mugai-ryū may no longer be allies but they are all ready to use one another for their own benefit. Although the assassains' backgrounds are still mostly a mystery, The Gathering reveals a few more hints about their employers. The assassins may be ruthless and violent, but at least for the moment it's in their interest that Manji and Rin are alive. On the other hand the Ittō-ryū--Anotsu's sword school--is itching to take down the man who has single-handedly killed so many of their own. Anotsu has already proven himself to be a formidable opponent, but many of the other members of the Ittō-ryū are crafty and skilled fighters, too. Even if they don't particularly get along, Manji has given them a common goal for the time being. The Ittō-ryū is most definitely made up of the individuals with their own ways of doing things. The Gathering leaves off in the middle of an intense fight and I'm looking forward to seeing how it concludes in The Gathering, Part II.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 7: Heart of Darkness

~by Hiroaki Samura

Heart of Darkness is the seventh volume in Dark Horse's English translation of Hiroaki Samura's manga series Blade of the Immortal. After chapters twenty-six through thirty-three were serialized as individual comics, the seventh collection was published in 2001. The numbering of the English volumes of Blade of the Immortal is slightly different than that of the original Japanese volumes. Heart of Darkness collects chapters from the sixth and seventh volumes of the Japanese editions, both of which were released in 1997. 1997 is also the year that Blade of the Immortal won a Japan Media Arts Award. The series also won an Eisner Award in 2000 for Best U.S. Edition of International Material. In addition to being critically well received, Blade of the Immortal also happens to be one of my favorite manga series (as well as one of the first manga that I read). Understandably, I was looking forwarded to reading Heart of Darkness.

Rin and Manji aren't the only people after the life of Kagehisa Anotsu, the leader of the rogue Ittō-ryū sword school. The Mugai-ryū, more of a band of assassins than a legitimate style, are also after Anotsu, but they have their eye on Manji, too. Anotsu will soon be leaving Edo, but his exact route is unknown. The Mugai-ryū have obtained inside information on Anotsu's plans and are willing to trade it in exchange for Manji's aid in taking him down. But that is all they are willing to share--who the Mugai-ryū really are, and who is backing and supporting the group is unknown. Despite their better judgement, Manji and Rin agree to join forces with the Mugai-ryū. They will soon discover just how incredibly dangerous some of its members truly are and may very well come to regret their decision.

Heart of Darkness is a exceptionally apt name for this particular story arc. Shira, one of the members of the Mugai-ryū who was introduced in the previous volume, Dark Shadows, plays a very prominent role. He is already known to be cruel and sadistic; the bloody aftermath of others' encounters with him were shown in Dark Shadows. In Heart of Darkness his perverse proclivities are on full display--witnessed by Rin and the readers from start to finish--and it is brutal. From the very beginning of Blade of the Immortal it has been clear that the series is intended for mature audiences, but Heart of Darkness leaves absolutely no doubt. The lengthy scene with Shira is well done, but that doesn't make it any less horrifying or any easier to read. It's disturbing, rough, and intense, but then again it should be.

I continue to be impressed by Blade of the Immortal. In Heart of Darkness Samura's artwork and storytelling is once again top notch. (Although the way Dark Horse has semi-flipped the manga occasionally makes the panel flow somewhat awkward.) His characters, even those that are scary as hell, fascinate me. Anotsu in particular is very intriguing. Time and again he is shown to be an incredibly formidable opponent. Not only is his a skilled fighter, but he has the brains to match. Anotsu is extremely intelligent and an excellent strategist which is one of the reasons he's managed to stay alive for so long considering the number of people who would rather see him dead. Blade of the Immortal remains one of my favorite series. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next volume, The Gathering.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 6: Dark Shadows

~by Hiroaki Samura

Dark Shadows is the sixth volume of Hiroaki Samura's manga series Blade of the Immortal as published by Dark Horse. The English volumes and the Japanese volumes collect slightly different chapters and so Dark Shadows is actually most closely equivalent to the fifth volume published in Japan and released in 1996. Dark Shadows was published in 2000, the same year that Blade of the Immortal won an Eisner Award. In 1997 the series also won a Japan Media Arts Award. Blade of the Immortal was one of my first manga series and it remains one of my favorites. On Silent Wings II, the volume that immediately precedes Dark Shadows, ends the first major story arc of Blade of the Immortal. Dark Shadows begins the next arc, introducing new characters and new complications to the story.

The Ittō-ryū continues to dominate the other dōjō in Edo, ultimately catching the eye of the shogunate itself. But the pressure applied by the shogunate isn't the only thing that Anotsu, the charismatic leader of the Ittō-ryū, has to worry about. A newly formed sword school is bent on the destruction of the Ittō-ryū. Using methods as ruthless as the Ittō-ryū's own, they have been steadily  taking out Anotsu's leading swordsmen. Rin, too, has become more confident in her decision to kill Anotsu in revenge for her parents' murder. She continues to train with Manji to improve her swordsmanship. The confrontations between Manji and the members of the Ittō-ryū have brought him to the attention of the new sword school, as well. They would like him to join them in their fight against Anotsu and the Ittō-ryū.

One of the things that Samura does exceptionally well in Blade of the Immortal is establishing moral ambiguity in his characters. No one is truly good or bad--the "bad guys" have honorable qualities and the "good guys" have faults. It all depends on the perspective of the individual characters. A good example of this in Dark Shadows is Magatsu, one of the only members of the Ittō-ryū to survive an encounter with Manji. He's more than willing to cut down other swordsmen, usually after being provoked, but maintains his own code of honor along with his grudges. Throughout Blade of the Immortal, Magatsu is shown to be one of the more decent characters. On the other hand, Dark Shadows see the introduction of Shira, a member of the swords school fighting against the Ittō-ryū. In his case, he is extremely cruel and even sadistic in his methods. He's made his living killing others for money and has come to enjoy it.

Up until this point, much of Blade of the Immortal has focused on Rin and Manji and their journey. But they don't even appear until the final half of Dark Shadows. Instead, Samura takes the opportunity to explore the Ittō-ryū more deeply. Magatsu in particular is developed as an important character. Dark Shadows also introduces new and very dangerous players to the story. The volume downplays some of the more fantastical elements of the story, but that may just be because Manji wasn't involved in any of the fights. However, there's no question that Blade of the Immortal remains a very violent series. Dark Shadows marks an excellent start to the new story arc and I look forward to seeing how things continue to develop in the next volume, Heart of Darkness.

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Blade of the Immortal, Volume 5: On Silent Wings II

~by Hiroaki Samura

Hiroaki Samura’s Blade of the Immortal was one of the first manga series that I began reading and remains one of my favorites. I love the depth of Samura’s characters, find the story compelling if a bit strange at times, and absolutely adore his artwork. The fifth volume, On Silent Wings II, is closely tied to the fourth volume, On Silent Wings, as the title suggests. The collected chapters were originally published in Japan in 1995. In 2000, Dark Horse released the English edition. Blade of the Immortal has been honored with a number of awards, including a Japan Media Arts award in 1997 and an Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material in 2000. The more volumes of Blade of the Immortal that I read, the more I like the series, and so I was looking forward to reading On Silent Wings II.

Two years past, Rin’s parents were murdered and her mother brutally raped before her eyes by a group from a rogue sword school known as the Ittō-ryū. Seeking revenge, she hired Manji as a body guard and with his aid, many of the Ittō-ryū have been slain or severely injured. When they happen upon Araya--one of the members--at a festival working as a maker of bizarre masks, Rin has a decision to make. Already doubting herself after an encounter with Anotsu, the leader of the Ittō-ryū, Rin realizes that even those who commit terrible deed have those who love them. Araya has hidden his past from his only son and is raising him alone; Rin is reluctant to put his son through the same suffering that she herself experienced. Still, she is forced into a confrontation with Araya that very well may cost her her life is she isn’t willing to take his.

The two On Silent Wings volumes of Blade of the Immortal have shown significant character development of Rin as she continues to grow and mature as a person. She isn’t as naïve as she once was and realizes the circumstances surrounding her parents murders are complicated. She struggles with her conflicting emotions, wanting revenge while also wanting to see an end to the cycle of hate and violence. But even that desire is extremely optimistic and unlikely to come about unless the society that Rin lives in also changes. Rin is still in the process of comprehending and coming to terms with this. Manji serves not only as her body guard, but also as an emotional support simply by being their and allowing her to work these things out for herself. He is much more knowledgeable about the world and is familiar with the darker aspects of life that Rin has only glimpsed so far. Manji cares about Rin, not just because he has been hired to, and I enjoy watching their relationship develop and deepen.

As with the previous volumes of Blade of the Immortal, I can’t help but be impressed by Samura’s artwork. However, because of the method used to flip the manga to read from left to right, some inconsistencies are introduced and occasionally the flow of panels can be awkward. Fortunately, this doesn’t detract too much from the overall effect of the artwork. Samura continues to improve as an artist which can particularly be seen in his fight scenes. They are not only creative and interesting, but also easier to follow than in previous volumes. Moments of particular importance and impact earn gorgeous, full page spreads. On Silent Wings II is not a particularly good place to jump into Blade of the Immortal, especially considering how closely connected it is to the previous volume. Still, it is a great entry in the series with important character and plot developments as well as an opportunity for Manji to show off his badassery. I’ll definitely be reading the sixth volume, Dark Shadows.

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