VAGABOND VIZBIG ED GN VOL 01 (MR) (C: 1-1-0): Invincible Under the Sun VIZBIG Edition: Volume 1 (Vagabond (VIZBIG Edition))

Product Information

Vagabond is Takehiko Inoue's fictionalized account (based primarily on the classic Japanese novel Musashi) of the most legendary swordsman in all of Japan's history (and perhaps the world's) that's been going on and off for the past 18 years and counting. Real-life figure Miyamoto Musashi was the most celebrated samurai of all time. The quintessential warrior-philosopher, Musashi authored A Book of Five Rings, a classic treatise in the canon of world philosophy and military strategy. But the path to enlightenment is an endless journey, and to get there through violent means--by way of the sword--makes mere survival an even greater challenge.

If you are new to Vagabond, the story follows Miyamoto Musashi on his journey to become the greatest swordsman. Because of his brutish and violent ways, a lot of people think he’s something like a demon, but we as the reader, know he’s so much more than that and we really see him develop and grow over the course of the volumes. Vagabond is based on the novel, Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. Originally written in the early 40’s, Yoshikawa’s fictional account became so well known that his version has blurred fact from fiction. The people he meets along the way add so much to this story too and they not only affect us but Musashi as well. Vagabond is a story based on the real-life swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, but while it has roots in history, it feels like this larger-than-life tale as mentioned previously. Also, as far as samurai stories go, it’s one of the most unique, relatable, and engrossing I’ve ever read. At seventeen years of age, Miyamoto Musashi—still known by his childhood name, Shinmen Takezō—was a wild young brute just setting out along the way of the sword.

There is also a rather sad side story of Miyamoto's childhood friend. Who, unable to keep up with his famous friend, falls into a cowardly life of struggle and eventually ends up a beggar. In the aftermath of the epic Battle of Sekigahara, Takezō finds himself a fugitive survivor on the losing side of the war. Takezō's vicious nature has made him an outcast even in his own village, and he is hunted down like an animal. At this crucial crossroads in Takezō's life, an eccentric monk and a childhood friend are the only ones who can help him find his way. This is often a quiet story of meditation and small life lessons. Some of the more complex philosophical discussions are over my head, but I can still appreciate them and I am glad they're included.

Above) NOT the actual cover for this edition, obviously... it's just a great example of his watercolor work. Besides, this review is an emphatic recommendation of the entire over-sized series, so the artwork below is taken from various junctures in the narrative.]

All in all, they are the most convenient and easiest way to collect Vagabond right now and the cheapest as well. They have incredible print quality and cool design, and they are a great way to enjoy the series! However, all it takes is one Buddhist monk who steals the show, and Otsū, who is Takezō’s childhood friend and Matahachi’s ex-fiancée, to help reinvigorate Takezō’s purpose in life. Considering the brutality throughout with the majority of characters being utterly horrible, Matahachi’s mother Osugi is a highlight, Inoue shows genuine emotion towards characters who are more than just hate as the friendly embrace between Takezō and Otsū, who recently learned about her fiancé’s unfaithfulness, but learns to move on. Based on the real life experiences of Miyamoto Musashi, who many consider to be the greatest samurai of all time, the character we see here is angry and impatient, seemingly on a path of self destruction. It'll be a fun journey seeing him grow into the great samurai he's destined to be. Based on an actual samurai called Miyamoto Musashi, this epic tale of friendship, destiny and the search for purpose is simplistic like a fable or folktale is but still engaging and effective. The dynamic cast of characters make the adventure and fighting even more fun because you actually care what happens to them. Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue, who is also the creator of Slam Dunk and Real, features realistic art and a story that, while rooted in history, feels larger-than-life. Not only that, but the series has a strong cast of characters that grow and develop in a way that’s not just relatable but interesting as well. For these reasons and more, it is my second favorite Seinen manga of all time right behind Berserk by the one and only Kentaro Miura.

While the cover says this is "loosely based on the novel _Musashi_" I'd have to say that this seems pretty much like a direct manga edition of the book by Eiji Yoshikawa, so far at least. Volume 1 begins in the same place as the novel: at the end of the historic battle of Sekigahara two survivors, childhood friends Shinmen Takezo (soon the re-christen himself Miyamoto Musashi) and Hon'iden Matahachi, are found by a young girl (Akemi) and her mother Oko who live by stealing from corpses on the battlefield. As the two young men regain their health we see that the two friends are very different: Matahachi is weak and selfish, while Takezo is driven by an all-consuming desire to which he will sacrifice all else - the dream of becoming the greatest swordsman of all.This manga is an epic tale of Miyamoto Musashi who is considered to be the greatest samurai to have ever lived. VIZ Media is currently releasing the translated edition of Vagabond only three months after the Japanese release!

not Bookswagon, are responsible for the contents of your submission. None of the content that you submit shall be subject to any obligation of confidence on the part of Bookswagon, its agents, Inoue has personally created licensed merchandise on a small scale, so that the products will meet his standards of quality. At the age of twenty-one, Takezō (now named Musashi) arrives in Kyōto so that he can fight the swordmasters of the Yoshioka School. Somewhere else in Kyōto, a twenty-one-year-old Matahachi struggles to make money as oppose to his more financially-successful wife Okō, who works in the pleasure quarters. As the first part of the Kyōto arc, much of the storytelling is told through the action within the school as the swordsmen see Musashi as an arrogant youngster who is over his head as he wishes to challenge the man who runs the school, where there is already conflict in terms of who is the true master. At seventeen years of age, Miyamoto Musashi--still known by his childhood name, Shinmen Takezō--was a wild young brute just setting out along the way of the sword.But, to bring things around full circle, it is also a long, arduous coming-of-age tale of a young, violent, severely maladjusted man trying to find self-worth and self-fulfillment through the way of the sword. In spite of himself he does learn there is more to life than competition, and against all odds he does become a legend in the process. It is a critique of the ambition to be the very best in some field of combat. You know, the motivation of so many characters throughout so many Japanese stories, particularly in manga, anime, and video games. It explores the consequences, often negative, of attempting to reach such a goal. The conclusions Inoue typically draws on such individuals throughout the story, on the important ones and the ones who are never more than periphery figures, aren't flattering.