It's not the first time I've heard of the manga Vagabond. After a while here in MH, I've heard of it quite a few times, some people like Siedhr have Vagabond signatures and to be honest, when I saw the artwork, I was like "Man, that doesn't look comical, I don't wanna read it, bla bla bla". After being up-to-date with One Piece, Naruto and Bleach (my main mangas), I felt quite bored, so I hooked up to #lurk and downloaded some of the mangas, here and there. I finished Rurouni Kenshin, got some Mr. Fullswing mangas, etc. Then for some reason, I just typed "Vagabond", I don't know why but I just had to see it.
When I read the first chapter, I was like WOW! This manga is probably the most original since Akira Toriyama. It was just so detailed and it just protrayed Japan in the 1500s just so perfectly. The fights were just so realistic, unlike most comical mangas (characters disappear here and there, the good guy takes off 10 people in one go, etc). *A little nudity here and there* and at the end of the chapter, I just found out it was book was based on the story Musashi. And the main character was called Takezo, so I assumed that the story of Takezo would be similar to Musashi and not become the legend himself.
About Musashi
Well, I've heard his name a few times here and there and the things I know of him are: Double-sworded dude, Bad-ass Samurai and the greatest one of all, and he's an inspiration to the legend Sosai Oyama (Kyokushinkai Karate Founder). If the real story actually portrayed him as a wild Vagabond like what this manga does, it would've been real interesting. Or is he? I don't know.
Because I actually skimmed through the manga (impatient dude). I may have forgotten some of the story and characters. But I do remember that guy, Matahachi. Well, after seeing his character I just felt like beating him to a pulp. I especially loved that part, and it was so funny that the some of the samurai had to hit his right eye just to compare to the wanted poster. I just couldn't stop holding my laughter, considering the tone of this story is dead serious and violent.
I've never been interested in the side-characters of the story since Shenmue. If you played that game, you'd know what I'm talking about. Who are these people, and what story revolves around them. They really didn't last long against Musashi. And man I just really enjoyed the fight between him and Inshun. I was really surprised Musashi actually felt fear. Not unlike most Protagonists where they keep their cool 24/7 and regardless of how strong the enemy. Very realistic, again. The training helped him to grow and I actually felt him grow as he learns the way of the sword.
Sasaki Kojiro
At first I thought this guy was the one who died before giving the certificate to Matahachi. And I really thought that Matahachi would grow to use the name Sasaki to be the arch-rival of Musashi. It's like that right? "Best Friends become Arch-enemy" type of situation. Guess I was so wrong. Knowing Matahachi, he'd probably die one way or another. As much as I would like to see him go, I think he's quite important to the story as well. Back to Sasaki Kojiro, man he really has it in him. And he seemed to be a lot more deadlier than Musashi (no kidding). Such an innocent looking face with a skill that can match a demon of killers. Really now, I'd really be so happy to see them face off. Well they did (with sticks). It's strange how a guy like Musashi has time to make Snowmen. Maybe he'd do a snow angel too (that would've been funny). Back to the story. Sasaki Kojiro's story is just as interesting as Musashi, it was pretty short, but his fights were very enjoyable, he created a few moves on the way, so it made me think, gosh so this is how we get moves within Martial Arts.
Well, Inoue's artwork is just so amazing and it's quite boring to wait for October for him to start again. I'd bet anything that this would be the most difficult manga to clean. It's just to detailed and even for a Viz manga (I actually liked the translation considering the horrible ones done for Naruto). I think I might buy this manga (if it does ever release in my territory). This manga is very very different than most manga and it's more of a biographical rather than a fictional story. Although I can say the events are not really true or near to be true, I can say that he actually fought these warriors, from the Inshun to Sasaki. I mean their history was mentioned at the end of the book, I don't know. If anybody could find me a link of the orignal novel Musashi (maybe I'll buy it online) I'd be so happy if you would send it.
Well that's about it. This is a most DEFINITE read for mangafans and MangaHelpers.
I read his biograpy on the web and it said when he went to train in the mountains( besides fighting bulls lol) he brang the Musashi book!! and he went to the exact same mountain Musashi went to! I've read numerous stories about Mas Oyama and they're all very supernatural but if he killed bulls then yeah they don't seem that far fetched anymore.
