Tag Archives: hiroaki samura

Review: Blade of the Immortal Deluxe Edition Vol. 1

Posted on by
BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL DELUXE EDITION VOL. 1

Blade Of The Immortal is a samurai epic that Dark Horse Comics started the American publication of in the 1990s. It’s the story of Manji and Rin. Manji is an unkillable swordsman whose blood is occupied by the kessen-chu, a bloodworm that gives its life to heal his every wound, no matter how fatal. However, Manji seeks a way out of eternal life and as he’s supposedly killed 100 good men, he now needs to kill 1,000 to be free. Rin’s family was killed by the Itto-Ryu, an up-and-coming swordschool bent on eliminating all schools to have its style taught as the one. It’s this premise that gets Manji to protect young Rin as she seeks revenge.

This first hardcover volume starts with “Blood Of A Thousand” and ends with “Dreamsong”. The build on this book is quite impeccable. Dark Horse goes all out on its deluxe editions and this book is no different.

The entire series was written and illustrated by Hiroaki Samura. Story-wise, Blade Of The Immortal offers a lot of compelling and high-quality storytelling. For one, Manji and Rin’s path is not an easy one and the level of foe they face is not ordinary swordsmen and warriors. They are the best and some are just so creative in what they are and in appearance. It’s a very violent story, one full of blood and despicable acts. And as a warning, Manji’s outfit bears a swastika. It’s not used with any association to the Nazi party but more to its original Buddist roots.

Unlike some Manga work, this reads from front-to-back like most comics published in the United States. The artwork is top-notch. Samura adds so much definition to everything that Blade Of The Immortal always felt like one of the better Manga books around.

As I have read through Blade Of The Immortal again, I’m hit with so much of the same emotions as I had when I first picked it up. Intense action, superb drama, and a touch of humor thrown in. Added together, they draw me into the material so much. With this being older material, I can’t really score it but as it’s some of my all-time favorite material in comics, I hope that anyone who reads Blade Of The Immortal walks away feeling the same as I do about it. I just feel that strong about Manji and Rin’s adventures against the Itto-Ryu.

Story: Hiroaki Samura Art: Hiroaki Samura

Purchase: Amazon

Kodansha Comics Digital Debut – New Oima Series, Descending Stories and More!

Posted on by

toyoureternity_cover_ch_001Kodansha Comics kicks off 2017 with the digital debut on January 24th of Yoshitoki Oima’s newest manga serial, the spiritual fantasy To Your Eternity. Following the critically acclaimed A Silent Voice—which was nominated for an Eisner and named one of 2016’s “Great Graphic Novels for Teens” by the American Library Association—Oima goes in a completely new direction with this compelling tale of an abandoned native boy journeying alone in the frozen north with only a mysterious wolf for a companion.

The first 10 chapters of To Your Eternity will be available on January 24th as digital editions only on comiXology and Kindle. They are currently available for preorder. January 24th is the same day Chapter 10 appears in Japan; new chapters will follow every week in simultaneous timing thereafter. Chapters will be priced at 99 cents each.

Also going on sale January 24th is the new series by legendary manga artist Hiroaki Samura (Blade of the Immortal, Die Wergelder), Wave, Listen to Me! Something of a departure for the action-oriented Samura, Wave turns its attention to modern life in the big city, as a despondent young woman inadvertently finds herself the host of a hit talk-radio show.wavelistentome_001_cover

Rounding out the trio of debuts on the 24th will be Deathtopia, the latest gonzo thriller from Cage of Eden’s Yoshinobu Yamada, about a young man who gains supernatural powers from an accident but then finds himself embroiled with a serial killer with a disturbing fondness for eyeballs and a band of intriguing beauties in hot pursuit.

January also saw the digital release of Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju, the surprise-hit drama about the art of traditional Japanese storytelling, whose anime Season 2 is currently simulcast on Crunchyroll. The print edition of Descending Stories had been previously announced for May 2017, but digital readers can jump into Volume 1 right now.

Volume 1s of Wave, Listen to Me! and Deathtopia are available January 24th across all Kodansha Comics digital book channels: BookWalker, comiXology, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, and nook.

deathtopia_001_cover rakugo-shinju_001_cover