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Blade of the Immortal (US) #29
Blade of the Immortal Volume 29: Beyond Good and Evil
Disgraced Edo officer Habaki and his strange group of Rokki-dan thugs turn a seemingly innocent harbour into a port of death - killing everyone who's docked there just in case they're working with Anotsu's fleeing warriors! And when will Manji, revenge-seeking Rin, desperate Anotsu, and possibly the most powerful soldier arrive?
216 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
About the author
Hiroaki Samura
487 books258 followersHiroaki Samura ( 沙村広明) is a Japanese cartoonist and illustrator. He is best known for writing and illustrating the manga Blade of the Immortal (1993-2012). Among his other manga series Die Wergelder (2011-2018) and Wave, Listen to Me!, the latter serialised since 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 12, 2020
Rating: 10.00/ 10.00 | 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
June 17, 2025
Two volumes until the end and this is a great payoff.
Final battle between Itto Ryu and Habaki and his cronies. Everyone from Edo is hunting down Anotsu's team and one by one they're lowering their numbers until they get to Anotsu. Amazing artwork and of course our duo is there to accompany a certain someone in the battle.
Final battle between Itto Ryu and Habaki and his cronies. Everyone from Edo is hunting down Anotsu's team and one by one they're lowering their numbers until they get to Anotsu. Amazing artwork and of course our duo is there to accompany a certain someone in the battle.
March 14, 2019
Anotsu and his girlfriend are such amazing characters. The amount of development that has happened over all of these volumes... astounding.
October 23, 2020
This is a review of the entire series.
Manji is a ruthless ronin stricken with the curse of immortality. To undo his curse, he must take the lives of a thousand sinners. He's a wandering sword for hire that kills without mercy and hunts down evil warriors all over feudal Japan. He wanders and kills without purpose for quite some time, but his long journey to end his own life takes an unexpected turn when he meets a compassionate young girl named Rin who is seeking revenge for her parents after they were murdered by members of a brutal new sword school called the Itto-ryu. Manji accepts the role of Rin's guardian and their drastically different ideals and personalities begin to change each other in ways neither of them could've foreseen as they clash with one merciless sinner after another.
The story cycles between several groups of samurai warriors each with their own moral codes and objectives. Other than Manji and Rin, there is Anotsu Kagehisa; the leader of the Itto-ryu and his band of rogues that openly defy old traditions as they seek to revolutionize the way of the samurai through force. Hyakurin and her partner Giichi who work as government cutthroats under a faction called the Mugai-ryu along with a serial killer named Shira, and so on. There are also hundreds of assassins, criminal gangs and shady individuals that wish to learn the secrets of Manji's immortality for their own nefarious purposes. With so many vicious people on the loose, it's no surprise that this ends up being one of the most brutal and bloody samurai tales ever told.
Blade of the Immortal makes ultra-violence look like a poetic art form. Blood and limbs fly like scarlet paint. Blades cut through flesh and bone like knives through butter. The use of clever battle poses and finishing techniques against the backdrop of hyper-stylized Edo period art makes for some museum-worthy battle and death scenes.
Despite how glamorized violence and bloodshed is throughout the series, it does not shy away from exploring the aftermath of said violence and how it impacts the psychological state of the characters. A sweet girl like Rin seeks revenge against Anotsu of the Itto-ryu for leading an assault that resulted in the murder of her family and slowly grows accustomed to the constant brutality that the path of revenge leads to. Anotsu himself isn't the one-dimensional evil monster that Rin believes him to be as he is driven by a sense of revenge himself; his revolution against outdated traditions begins only because people he loved were hurt, killed and outcasted by the harsh rules and teachings of the old sword schools. Even those who live through vicarious swindling and assassination such as Hyakurin and her partner Giichi have very traumatic upbringings and take no joy in their work.
We see how violence warps these characters into killing machines and then we see how the violence they inflict on others leads to more tragedy and bloodshed. Whether it be physical, mental or sexual, the violence throughout the series never goes unexplored or unpunished. It somehow manages to be brutally elegant and mature at the same time, the bloody battles are fantastic and the effects it has on the characters is even more so.
What seems to be a cliche samurai revenge story subtly transforms into an exploration of the psychological effects that violence has on many different types of individuals. Some are defined by it, some are bound to it, some love it while others allow themselves to grow from it or be destroyed by it. Violence and revenge are never fully justified nor condemned. It's presented from a very neutral and realistic point of view, allowing you to see it from every angle possible and judge for yourself whether it can be justified or not.
The story is simple, but the webs of conflict between many groups of complex and dangerous characters is where it truly shines. Strong development, elegant violence, moral ambiguity and an unusually modern punk tone in the dialogue and mannerisms of the characters offers a unique way of exploring a feudal-era drama that defies the expectations of a traditional revenge story.
***
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Manji is a ruthless ronin stricken with the curse of immortality. To undo his curse, he must take the lives of a thousand sinners. He's a wandering sword for hire that kills without mercy and hunts down evil warriors all over feudal Japan. He wanders and kills without purpose for quite some time, but his long journey to end his own life takes an unexpected turn when he meets a compassionate young girl named Rin who is seeking revenge for her parents after they were murdered by members of a brutal new sword school called the Itto-ryu. Manji accepts the role of Rin's guardian and their drastically different ideals and personalities begin to change each other in ways neither of them could've foreseen as they clash with one merciless sinner after another.
The story cycles between several groups of samurai warriors each with their own moral codes and objectives. Other than Manji and Rin, there is Anotsu Kagehisa; the leader of the Itto-ryu and his band of rogues that openly defy old traditions as they seek to revolutionize the way of the samurai through force. Hyakurin and her partner Giichi who work as government cutthroats under a faction called the Mugai-ryu along with a serial killer named Shira, and so on. There are also hundreds of assassins, criminal gangs and shady individuals that wish to learn the secrets of Manji's immortality for their own nefarious purposes. With so many vicious people on the loose, it's no surprise that this ends up being one of the most brutal and bloody samurai tales ever told.
Blade of the Immortal makes ultra-violence look like a poetic art form. Blood and limbs fly like scarlet paint. Blades cut through flesh and bone like knives through butter. The use of clever battle poses and finishing techniques against the backdrop of hyper-stylized Edo period art makes for some museum-worthy battle and death scenes.
Despite how glamorized violence and bloodshed is throughout the series, it does not shy away from exploring the aftermath of said violence and how it impacts the psychological state of the characters. A sweet girl like Rin seeks revenge against Anotsu of the Itto-ryu for leading an assault that resulted in the murder of her family and slowly grows accustomed to the constant brutality that the path of revenge leads to. Anotsu himself isn't the one-dimensional evil monster that Rin believes him to be as he is driven by a sense of revenge himself; his revolution against outdated traditions begins only because people he loved were hurt, killed and outcasted by the harsh rules and teachings of the old sword schools. Even those who live through vicarious swindling and assassination such as Hyakurin and her partner Giichi have very traumatic upbringings and take no joy in their work.
We see how violence warps these characters into killing machines and then we see how the violence they inflict on others leads to more tragedy and bloodshed. Whether it be physical, mental or sexual, the violence throughout the series never goes unexplored or unpunished. It somehow manages to be brutally elegant and mature at the same time, the bloody battles are fantastic and the effects it has on the characters is even more so.
What seems to be a cliche samurai revenge story subtly transforms into an exploration of the psychological effects that violence has on many different types of individuals. Some are defined by it, some are bound to it, some love it while others allow themselves to grow from it or be destroyed by it. Violence and revenge are never fully justified nor condemned. It's presented from a very neutral and realistic point of view, allowing you to see it from every angle possible and judge for yourself whether it can be justified or not.
The story is simple, but the webs of conflict between many groups of complex and dangerous characters is where it truly shines. Strong development, elegant violence, moral ambiguity and an unusually modern punk tone in the dialogue and mannerisms of the characters offers a unique way of exploring a feudal-era drama that defies the expectations of a traditional revenge story.
***
My Social Media
My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
My Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/michael_sor...
My Wattpad Account: https://www.wattpad.com/user/Michael-...
My Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/SorbelloHorror
My Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/michael.sorb...
January 14, 2021
Almost all of the still living characters have been pulled into what promises to be The Super Battle that will bring this series to a close.
I've read some review that mention "unlikely allyships" taking place in this volume, but I feel like they've all been set up pretty well by the previous volumes. We knew which enemies would gladly work together to deal with the bigger threats. We knew which faction would be Big Evil and need to be put down.
This volume held few surprises for me, as a reader, but it pleased me by delivering believable threats and plot developments. Though, as per usual, they make the world they inhabit seem like a narrow street, since every character, no matter where they're supposed to be, is likely to bump into any other character at any given time.
After a really inconsistent middle, I have faith that the series is going to have a very satisfying and logical close. Maybe not the one I thought was going to happen at the beginning, but one that makes sense with all the character development that's taken place along the way.
I've read some review that mention "unlikely allyships" taking place in this volume, but I feel like they've all been set up pretty well by the previous volumes. We knew which enemies would gladly work together to deal with the bigger threats. We knew which faction would be Big Evil and need to be put down.
This volume held few surprises for me, as a reader, but it pleased me by delivering believable threats and plot developments. Though, as per usual, they make the world they inhabit seem like a narrow street, since every character, no matter where they're supposed to be, is likely to bump into any other character at any given time.
After a really inconsistent middle, I have faith that the series is going to have a very satisfying and logical close. Maybe not the one I thought was going to happen at the beginning, but one that makes sense with all the character development that's taken place along the way.
February 6, 2019
Things have finally come to a head and former enemies are now allies, who may be destined to become enemies again...if they survive, that is. Also the line between good and evil becomes clearer as the men supposedly working on the side of the law begin to slaughter innocents in their fanatical mission to destroy the remaining outlaw Itto-Ryu. Of course, they are operating under a timeline of death so brutal methods are probably a must at this point, but killing innocent people and blaming it on others isn't an honorable way to do things.
All of the main characters are now on the stage as we head into the home stretch.
One thing I need to mention is just what an incredible body of work Hiroaki Samura has managed to produce with this series. The Japanese work ethic is on full display with you look at the thousands of pages Samura produced for his magnum opus. Just a very commendable effort that is awe inspiring.
All of the main characters are now on the stage as we head into the home stretch.
One thing I need to mention is just what an incredible body of work Hiroaki Samura has managed to produce with this series. The Japanese work ethic is on full display with you look at the thousands of pages Samura produced for his magnum opus. Just a very commendable effort that is awe inspiring.
June 25, 2017
This volume is ridiculous. Ridiculous. These people are not supposed to be working together! What. What is this nonsense?!
It is so satisfying though. Look at all my favs being super competent. A really enjoyable volume before the grand finale -- where everything goes to shit as they turn on each other, probably. Oh.
It is so satisfying though. Look at all my favs being super competent. A really enjoyable volume before the grand finale -- where everything goes to shit as they turn on each other, probably. Oh.
November 3, 2023
(Zero spoiler review for the deluxe edition collecting this volume) 3.75/5
Oh my, I am heartbroken, just not in the way that I wanted. This was quite possibly the greatest series I've ever read, and now that it's over for me, I don't know if I'll ever be able to read it again. It's still pretty raw right now. I need to sit and reflect. Despite the remorse and the anguish I'm feeling right now, and the veiled ambiguity of this review, please read this series. Even if this wasn't the ending I had hoped for, it really is something very special. 3.75/5
OmniBen.
Oh my, I am heartbroken, just not in the way that I wanted. This was quite possibly the greatest series I've ever read, and now that it's over for me, I don't know if I'll ever be able to read it again. It's still pretty raw right now. I need to sit and reflect. Despite the remorse and the anguish I'm feeling right now, and the veiled ambiguity of this review, please read this series. Even if this wasn't the ending I had hoped for, it really is something very special. 3.75/5
OmniBen.
January 2, 2018
Good volume.
March 2, 2016
One of the greatest subversions of the series is Makie Otono-Tachibana. Like so many characters in recent volumes, she appears from nowhere and shows terrifying badassery, ripping through Habaki's men. They don't know who she is, and aren't even sure she's with the Itto-Ryu. Like so many characters, she's a mystery to them - but unlike those characters, she isn't a mystery to us. So we get to watch as they figure out who she's working for, who she's after, and that she's fearless because she's dying of tuberculosis. She has some of the hardest moments in the entire series, whether it's her icy debut wielding a segmented spear like she's a specter of Death itself, or when she ignores the pains of her disease and going outright blind to charge a giant.
And she's just the kicker to the volume that finally brings Manji, Anotsu, and Habaki onto the same highway. Long as the series has been, it's hard to believe it's almost over. I can't imagine someone hitting the last page here and not clawing for the next book.
And she's just the kicker to the volume that finally brings Manji, Anotsu, and Habaki onto the same highway. Long as the series has been, it's hard to believe it's almost over. I can't imagine someone hitting the last page here and not clawing for the next book.
January 14, 2015
Not the best book in the series by far, but as this is launching towards the final two volumes, I feel like it deserves some reprieve. It sets up yet another battle that will, presumably, take up the bulk of the 30th volume, Vigilance. Because this is a series where so much is going on and there are tons of great characters who you piece together volume by volume, I typically go back and reread the previous one or two volumes before cracking open the newest - this was my second time reading Beyond Good and Evil and I remember being a little let down by it the first time, too. On a positive note, I enjoyed the way that it played with the pairings that we've seen form throughout the series... and I always love the gatherings like this one where the remaining characters are collected in one or two scenes! Here's hoping that the last two books crown the series with the magnificent ending it deserves!
May 19, 2014
It's about these people that are attacking a little village in Japan and they are bad people. And there is this group of people that protect other village from the people trying to attack them. There are some scenes that might make you a little creepy because it is very violent. This is the first book I read in the series. Even though I didn't read the other books in the series, it's still a really good book.
March 16, 2015
After having read 29 volumes, I now want this storyline to end. I felt deeply for the characters 10 volumes ago but now I feel like the story arc is overplayed. The draughtsmanship is always excellent and lovely to behold.
September 5, 2018
My favorite manga!
After thousands of pages of epic samurai grudge-matches, Hirokai Samura somehow pulls out all the stops and tops himself. This volume sets up the grand finale, and it is truly a thing of beauty.
After thousands of pages of epic samurai grudge-matches, Hirokai Samura somehow pulls out all the stops and tops himself. This volume sets up the grand finale, and it is truly a thing of beauty.
August 13, 2014
I started reading this series years ago and I never thought I would catch up or that the series was still going. But there you go.
Just in time for the final showdown.
Just in time for the final showdown.
December 4, 2014
Finally getting back to Manji-san and Rin! Yay.
September 17, 2018
[REVIEW FOR THE SERIES...]
Blade of the Immortal (Vol. 1-31)
Blade of the Immortal (Japanese: 無限の住人 Hepburn: Mugen no Jūnin, lit. "The Inhabitant of Infinity") is a Japanese seinen manga series by Hiroaki Samura. The series is set in Japan during the mid-Tokugawa Shogunate period and follows the samurai Manji, cursed with eternal life, who now has to kill 1000 evil men in order to regain his mortality. The series ran from 1993 to 2012, and has garnered itself quite a fan following and now has several animated and movie adaptions.
The Blade of the Immortal series is perhaps one of my top favorite manga series of all time and I’ve read a lot of manga in my life. I’m still not completely sure what it is about this series that worked for me; all I know is it did. The truth is it is a very dark, violent, historical manga with elements of fantasy and mysticism. Much of it involves very gritty and gory sword fighting scenes and super fascinating cast of characters, heroes, villains and all shades in between. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat, if you manage push past the first few chapters, which can be very confusing honestly. Once you get into the meat of it though, it becomes enthralling, disturbing and even emotional. And the art...well it’s exquisite and only improves as you continue through the volumes... Check it.
WOW. Epic no? So this is Manji, our cursed yet extremely skilled samurai hero (anti-hero?) who is on a quest to kill 1000 evil men in oder to relieve himself of this curse and die peacefully. So it all starts when he is the cause of the death of 100 good samurai, due to his criminal actions, and is cursed to immortality, (by means of "sacred bloodworms" (血仙蟲 kessen-chū) that allow him to survive nearly every injury and even reattach dismembered limbs, by a 800-year-old nun. After a tragic turn of events he then vows to make amends for his sins that will allow his curse to be ended. This dark endeavor for redemption causes him much sorrow and suffering, but Manji always manages to persevere. His life only gets more complicated, however, when he meets Rin.
Manji later crosses paths with a young girl, named Asano Rin, and promises to help her avenge her parents, who were killed by a group of master swordsmen led by the mysterious and evil Anotsu Kagehisa. Anotsu killed Rin's father and his entire dōjō, making them a family of outcasts. Anotsu's quest is to gather other outcasts and form an extremely powerful new dojo, the Ittō-ryū (a school teaching any technique that wins, no matter how exotic or underhanded), and has started taking over and destroying other dojos, and threatens to defy the honorable system of the samurai realm.
Manji and Rin team up together to hunt down the savage Anotsu, which leads them on a perilous adventure, down a simultaneous path of revenge and redemption. I love the platonic dynamic between Manji and Rin. This series is a wonderfully thought out read, amazing illustrated and filled to the brim with action, excitement, mystery, and suspense and of course, a load of violent sword fighting scenes. There are a series of other interesting characters that I will not go into in this review, but suffice it to say, Blade of the Immortal is a read to remember. I highly recommend this to seinen manga fans, but not to the squeamish or faint of heart. This is a very graphic series.
[OFFICIAL RATING: 4.8 STARS]
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