I
have a weakness for things related to feudal Japan, especially anything set in
the Sengoku period leading up to the Edo period. All things samurai kind of fascinate me, so I’m
not afraid to admit that Takehito Inoue’s manga Vagabond was a perfect fit for
me. The VIZ Big Editions were sitting on
my shelf for a while, and I decided I couldn’t wait to read them any
longer. I believe every big edition has about
3 to 4 volumes in one. They are a great value
for people who like reading manga in succession, and their compression definitely
help when you have limited shelf space.
Their size is a little unwieldy to hold and can tire out your wrists if
you don’t lean them against a table or put them in your lap. Viz Media’s design for these versions is put together well. The bindings
are strong, the covers are thicker than usual, and they look awesome lined up
on a bookshelf. The artwork on the
spines combines into one long picture of important characters from the story. Also, a glossary is located in the back,
providing background information about the time period and certain family
names. You can find some author comments
and character sketches there as well.
The translation seems quite accurate, too.
Miyamoto
Musashi was a real-life samurai who was the epitome of a warrior and
philosopher. He wrote a theoretical
guide about military strategy, a book that is still used today by businessmen. Vagabond is the fictional depiction of this
legendary samurai’s life and growth in a period of history where war and danger
were rampant. It shows the great lengths
Musashi took to become one of the most celebrated samurai who existed. The first few chapters introduce two young men
named Takezou and Matahachi. They appear
a lot older than the average 17-year-olds; but, side characters even comment on
this throughout the story, so the author most likely drew them in that manner
on purpose. The duo wakes up in a combat
torn field, bodies and weapons strewn all around them. Participating in the great battle of
Sekigahara, the two were left for dead after its conclusion. Eventually, unexpected events lead to the two
friends parting from each other’s company, leaving Takezou to travel back to
his hometown alone. Things spiral into
chaos as soon as he arrives. Throw in a
crazy old woman, a dumped girlfriend, a badass monk with lessons to teach, and mix
thoroughly to get the majority of the content in this volume.
The journeys to study the ways of samurai and to find honorable fights
don’t enter the stage until 2/3 in, consisting of Takezou searching for a
teacher.
Takehiko
Inoue’s artwork and style work together to create an entertaining and cohesive
read. His dark scratches and lines add
to the action, making them feel fast paced and intense. The details for the characters and their
facial expressions bring them alive. Panel
arrangement is straightforward and easy to follow, and they remain consistently
full for most of the volume. There
are occasional stretches where there’s a lot of white on the page, but the
detail on the characters make up for it and keeps the reader focused on what’s
occurring. When environments are
present, they are beautifully rendered but can sometimes be overly busy.
Character
progression is very swift in this, but it never actually felt rushed or
overlooked to me. The scenes showing
Takezou’s evolution were some of my favorite.
His past surfaces through short flashbacks and descriptions from
the couple friends he’s made. Abandoned
by his mother and raised by a father considered to be a living demon, the
reader can sympathize with his inner turmoil and attitude toward life. He has been feared and avoided by many, being
shaped by his harsh surroundings. I
enjoyed the stance that it took on such a serious theme. A person doesn’t have to carry out his/her
existence by how others see him/her; they don’t have to be products of their environments. Our parents—different individuals
from ourselves—shouldn’t define our nature and way of living, and we ultimately
must make our own name in the world. The
lessens Takezou undergoes to learn of his self-worth is what kept me turning
pages. While reading, you know that he
doesn’t desire to remain like a monster, killing for the sake of killing and
raw survival. His struggles to accept
that he has an option to change to something better are heart-wrenching. It hooks you by the nose and jerks you right
along the coarse current to the volume's finish.
There
are a few flaws that creep into the overall experience, though. Although Matahachi’s actions that reek of
stupidity do play a role in Takezou’s development, their quickness and the
reason behind them seemed a bit hastily written. It was as if the author wanted the two to split
and go their separate paths in the fastest way possible, disregarding logic in
the process. However, one could argue
that the naiveté of age took hold and compelled the character’s decisions,
especially with his altered attitude after nearly dying. Some dialogue and situations are
oversaturated with drama; they can be overbearing and distracting from the main
point of the scene. I laughed at one moment
of seriousness that was intended to depict Takezou’s (or should I say Miyamoto
Musashi’s) strength to change. The gore
and its limb severing will be a bit much for some readers, too. It can be over the top and employed for shock
factor, feeling forced and unnecessary at times.
Rating: Read it
*images from ANN and Google Images
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