Blades of the Guardians Volume 1

by Xianzhe Xu

True Grit meets Romance of the Three Kingdoms! A thrilling manhua—mixing adrenaline-packed spaghetti Western and Game of Thrones–type empire drama—Blades (Biao Ren) follows extraordinary swordsman and bounty hunter Dao Ma and his three-year-old son as they take a larger-than-life journey fated to uproot a brutal ancient Chinese empire

It is the third year of Daye (607 CE). The people of Sui Dynasty are living in poverty under the brutal rule of Emperor Yang Guang. In the desert fringes of this empire is a traveling swordsman named Dao Ma. He’s a skilled bounty hunter who hopes to pay off his debt to his foster godfather while looking after his three-year-old son, Xiao Qi.

When Dao Ma takes on an escort mission to bodyguard an enigmatic fugitive to the imperial capital Chang’an, he treats it as a simple high-paying job. Little does he know that this client is a dangerous mystic twirling strings that could uproot the empire from its foundations.

One of the top bestselling manhua titles in China, Blades of the Guardians’ dramatic, brutal illustrations and tight, intricate plot will leave readers at the edge of their seats. It is perfect for fans of seinen manga like Vagabond, wuxias like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and world-shaking adventures like The Lord of the Rings.

278 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 3, 2026

Reviews

[Elaine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley

~

Blades of the Guardians, Vol. 01, by Xianzhe Xu
★★★★★
278 Pages



Blades of the Guardians is what you get when you add the grit of Dirty Harry with a Spaghetti western and set it in historical Japan, with a hint of Buddism and family values to round it off.

The story revolves around Dao Ma, a bounty hunter, working to pay off a debt that (according to the man he owes the debt to) never existed. But his morals are conflicted like that. On one hand, he had no problem shaking down criminals for triple the bounty on their head, to leave them alive to hunt another day, but he's also wandering around with an innocent child who hides his eyes and counts while Dao Ma deals with those criminals. They have a cute, if complex, relationship.

The story is a blend of vengeance, bounty hunting and redemption, with stories that deal with the slave trade, violence, mercenaries, and debts.

I found the whole concept to be original and exciting, with a lot to keep my interest. The relationship and dynamic between Dao Ma and his son, Xiao Qi, was utterly adorable and paternal, while also being somewhat irresponsible (as you would expect, since he's a bounty hunter). There's plenty of back story hinted at for both of those characters, and I'm interested to see how that unfolds in future volumes. There were secrets uncovered, surprises around every corner, and a great cliffhanger ending. I'd definitely read the next volume.

As for the presentation, the artwork was sublime. It was equal parts gritty when it needed to be – such as fight scenes, Dao Ma himself, and when building tension – while still managing to be clear and cute whenever his son, Xiao Qi was on page. Women and children was drawn much softer, though in the same style, so that you could almost see/sense their innocence and cleanliness in comparison to Dao Ma and the other 'villains'. I also really liked how clear people were, in terms of differentiating characters from each other. In some manga I've read, 'handsome' or 'villain' characters tend to have similar features or builds and that makes it hard to distinguish who is who, especially during fight scenes or panels with multiple people. However, I never had that problem here, despite there often being 5-10 men in one panel, during fight scenes. Everyone had their own visuals and their own clear personalities.

[Mireya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Abrams ComicArts for the ARC copy! This has not affected my review at all, which are my own thoughts.

Dao Ma and a little kid, Xiao, he is protecting, are traveling the world, dealing with scums and dangerous people so Dao Ma can pay off a debt, until they attract unwanted attention from a dangerous enemy and start being hunted down themselves. Yet, Dao Ma knows what he's doing and how to fend them off as they keep going, farther into the story and the fulfillment of their goals.

This one surprised me for the good, I'll be honest. I didn't expect to have so much fun, or find such an endearing relationship as Dao Ma's with Xiao. And, I think, it is that contrast of Dao Ma, a bounty hunter with a complex morality and hands full of blood, and Xiao, a cute kid that kind of gets what the world is about, yet closes his eyes not to see whenever Dao Ma tells him to. And if that isn't a wholesome relationship, I don't know what is.

The point is, that I found a kind of Wild West story taking place in old China and with a charming protagonist and so fast-paced plot and tension that got me hooked to the pages. The art style also helped, of course. With a semi-realistic way of depicting the characters and action scenes that painted a perfect picture of what was going on. Really, I sometimes have a hard time with action/battle scenes because they're not clear or look like a blur of lines, but it wasn't the case here.

It even has some little touches of comedy here and there, contributing to the scene, to lighten the thick tension from time to time and to show the absurdity of some situations Dao Ma and Xiao live day to day. i even found compelling and rich their relationships with the secondary characters, who were as realistic and develop as our protagonist. There's nothing bad I can say about this first volume, really. Definitely a series I'll keep an eye on in the future.

For fans of action manga, wild west alike-s with complex bounty hunters, and familiar bonds, with The Mandalorian vibes, this is the series for you. Dao Ma and Xiao, along their allies and friends, will keep you to the pages, I can guarantee it ;)

[Siina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blades of the Guardians is manhua and it's always great to read Chinese comics. It's set in the ancient China and follows the bounty hunter Dao Ma. The guy has a child with him and they travel the land trying to get money of course. They encounter different kinds of people, whom they help or just slaughter depending on the case. The manhua is very violent and bloody. It reminds me of Lone Wolf and Cub manga a lot though. The kid is a mini adult lacking most emotions, which bothered me. Dao Ma is a man of mystery though and it's the best part as we get to know his past slowly. Still, I would've liked that he has more persona and inner turmoil. We don't get to see inside his head, which is always a bummer as it leaves characters like this distant.

The art works nicely with the dark setting. The movements look good as well as all the blood. It's hard to say where the plot goes as this is mostly traveling, but I hope there's some aim or otherwise this will be a repetition of events similar to what we have experienced already. I'd like to learn from China's past too in case this follows any true history line.

[Mary MacMillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible art (and details) and a fascinating story!
I will say that it wasn't my type of read, only because a lot of it was detailed violence but it was definitely still good.
If you love characters are unashamedly themselves and carry a ton of skills and confidence, you would love the main character. There are few things that make him surprised but he will often surprise you. His sidekick (his son), is hilarious and their relationship is built on 100% trust. I do wish we knew more about their family but i guess it adds to their mysteriousness...

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Eilidh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this was unreadable. For whatever reason there were several pages with text missing and only images (so there were just empty speech bubbles).

I can’t comment on the plot, characters, or writing because of the text issue. But from what I could read, it was incredible.

I’d love to read it properly if I’m sent a correct copy so I can change my rating and give an accurate review.

Thanks for the arc.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this started out very much like The Lone Wolf and Cub — assassin/bounty hunter for hire, takes along a small child (though this one has words and provides comic relief). By the end of volume one, this becomes an escort mission, so there’s opportunity for it to diverge from Lone Wolf. The art is gritty and employs lots of dark, scratchy lines that convey the violence exceptionally well.

[Jane ♱⃓ · Rating 3 out of 5]

my first manhua. I rlly loved the art in this omg , the father and child dynamic was something I didn’t expect but it was so freaking cute. as a certified western movie lover I loved the vibe of this and the mercenary plot line but I felt like something was missing, or maybe I’m just not the hugest fan of action comics

thank you to NetGalley and Abrams ComicArts for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved an ARC of this comic thanks to NetGalley and Abrams ComicArts. I am leaving an honest and voluntary review.

Fun story. Kind of a classic, but with a few interesting twists, and good comedy to balance out the gore.

Some panels were so detailed that they got a little messy and confusing, But overall, it was nicely done and looked good.

[Ron Baumer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing and well-done graphic novel. The stories were action packed and held my interest. The artwork was outstanding and did a great job of illustrating and telling the story. A worthwhile read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.