“Blade of the Immortal” is no less than an epic narrative in words and pictures told brilliantly and consistently engaging to an extent that few story lines achieve. It has been for me one of the most complete, compelling and satisfying literary experiences I have known to date. It is on par with the greatest works of any genre or artistic form.
The series of graphic novels center around the cursed
warrior; Manji an immortal that has killed hundreds of honorable warriors. His
efforts are to rid himself of the gift/horror of an eternal life of fruitless blood
and battle. In order to admonish himself it requires that he kill an equal
number of disreputable warriors. His travels bring him together with a young
girl; Rin. She wants to avenge her parent’s brutal and senseless deaths that
she; by the way, was forced to witness. The murderers that Rin is seeking out;
members of the group, Ittō-ryū are determined to erase the existing order by
destroying every school of and ethical form of sword play in Japan. The Ittō-ryū suite Manji’s needs to the letter as
he becomes Rin’s companion and protector.
Within the pages of this manga journey the reader finds passages
of introspection, self-reflection and quiet interludes. While on the other end
of human existence; along with and including anger, dismemberment, murder and
shockingly, rape are elements of this novel of Feudal Japan.
The hand drawn illustrations by artist/writer Hiroaki Samura
are exquisite; achieve a rare beauty and graceful elegance. The movements of
his battles are cinematic. The details of every element of the visual world he
creates truly resonate and are in turn amazing. The writing of Samura is often
refreshingly poetic, compelling and suspenseful. When appropriate and as needed
Samura’s dialogue becomes as gritty as you might imagine in a story covering
the vastness of personality types and situations depicted in this uniquely in-depth
human drama.
One of the best examples of the subtly of Hiroaki Samura’s
hand is the bath sequence in Volume Nine “The Gathering II.” It is among his most eloquent passages. The level
of sequential story-telling is remarkable, the lines most intriguing. This
level of achievement is rarely seen in any form; a joy to behold. As this
particular book unfolds the reader becomes completely captivated. Samura’s
writing is at it’s most terse, compelling and complete. If I were forced to recommend a single volume of this series it
would be this; “The Gathering Part II.”
One aspect of “Blade of the Immortal” that might be off
putting or disturbing is the Swastika that the swordsman Manji wears on the
back of his kimono. It is explained by the author in “About the Translation”
opening comments reprinted in each issue and abbreviated here as such:
The Swastika was
a symbol of prosperity and good fortune. It appeared on Mesopotamian coins and
in multiple uses in North and South America. In Japan it has been a symbol of
Buddhism since ancient times. The Japanese Buddhists called it the Sauvastika or
Manji. The main character in this
narrative derives his name from the Buddhist. The Sauvastika also is a symbol
of and believed to possess magical powers and probably appealed to the Nazis’
for these reasons. The origins of the Swastika as appreciated in 18th
Century Japan (the time period these writings reflect) were honorable and had
no connection to the Third Reich. The author intends no pro-Nazi or
anti-Semitic meaning in his story-telling or use of this symbol. The perversion
and hate attached to the ancient Swastika began long after the time period
depicted in this historical fiction.
“Blade of the Immortal” was translated and originally published
in the United States in standard monthly comic book format. Each issue
represented one chapter. It has since been collected in paper-back additions by
“Dark Horse” publishing with each new addition containing approximately six
chapters. These collected volumes come together beautifully in this convenient
form. Individually and as a whole these works are very satisfying and best read
sequentially. There have been thirty of these books completing a thing epic in
scope. In essence, becoming and representing the entirety and conclusion of a
truly great; brilliantly crafted and lauded artistic series.
