An 'ok' manga. Artwise it's very very good, but the story is lacking and the main character is kinda lame, because he is immortal. This results in what I think are kinda lame action scenes. Manji (main character) is actually kinda bad at fighting and is always getting his heart pierced, his brain shot, his limbs cut off etc etc etc but still ending up as the victor because he can't die. He needs to kill 1000 men to be cured of his immortality, how lame is that?

... Last updated on January 21st, 2010, 1:46pm

Read up to the current release and have to say, not as good as the hype. Art and story are okay, but I hate the main character. He's a talentless freak of nature who can barely handle himself. If he wasn't immortal then a decently trained monkey could kill him. He relies on it way to much and after a while it just starts to grind your nerves.

I adore this series. Art is among the most amazing as is artist Hiroaki Samura and the characters are great-splash pages gorgeous, plot/story awesome etc. they're comming out with an anime! isn't that crazy?

I've read 15 volumes and I will break down what my views are on this manga.

Firstly and most importantly the art is incredibly good, definately up there among the greats of this genre. Only gripe I had was on a rare ocassion some action scenes were hard to follow.

The plot is great, it's detailed and unpredictable, but kinda tries too hard creativly at some points which can confuse readers. Only real gripe I had was there were some long scene of discussions that they could have done without.

The characters are easy to understand and are built up with emotional value. You will feel for the main female lead and you will admire the main male lead. Friendship and mateship is more dominate than romance in this manga, even though there are glimses of the main lead's relationship going beyond friends.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, not as great as I expected but over all worth the read and definately will be something I'll keep track of with releases. I can't rate this high for the fact that I have read vagabond and that is still superior in my opinion.

Your friendly neighbour Shavone.

p.s The anime series for this manga which comes out in July 2008 will definately be a must watch! I have a good feeling it will be exciting to watch.

... Last updated on June 18th, 2008, 12:04am

The art is really something. I love the way Samura-sensei frames the deathblows with Japanese style ornaments and flowers. It's really gorgeous. If I could afford it, I would buy the manga simply for the artwork.

Few gripes I have with the manga:
First of all, Rin is really not my kind of girl. I know she's supposed to be weak and all but I find her actions really stupid and bordering on pathetic.

Second, I don't like how Dark Horse flipped the whole thing. What's the point in cutting it all up and sticking it back in the same order? They may as well have just done it right to left like everyone else. I have spotted some inconsistencies as a result of this. And it's probably why the books cost so much.

Which bring me on to the third gripe.

Best manga ever, Samura is my favorite mangaka.

Everything about this manga is excellent, what else is there to say?

It's perfect.

Haven't been this obsessed with a manga in a long time.

Hiroaki Samura has an obvious background in classic art and figure drawing... It makes reading this manga a pleasure at every panel.
The setting of Fuedal Japan has been reworked as a bright and honorless fashion that is unique to the genre, and there is some unparalleled character development through the course of this series.

The content speaks for it with gore and violence, but this is an incredibly mature read in themes and direction alone.
I recommend it.

This manga is very good, but actually i dont like manji too much! He won all the duel so far only thx to the fact that he was immortal... but the other have always crushed him in skill
Aniway the story and the arts are great

definately one of the greater manga out there : ) the drawing is more realistic than most other manga and, bloody as it is, it's funnier than some comedy i've read XD Beware vol. 11 though O_O

I love everything in this manga and I am generally very picky. Dialogues are deep and amusing, art is unique. The story is original (in some volumes it got a little redundant). The Characters are interesting and deeply human.If you like martial arts comics this is a must read.