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Blade of the Immortal (US) #6
Blade of the Immortal Volume 6
Anotsu Kagehisa has turned his Ittö-ryü into the most famous sword school in Japan, a dojo of outcasts and eccentrics who've slaughtered their way to the top of Japan's world of the blade. But as the old Japanese saying goes, "The nail that sticks up gets hammered down," and now Anotsu must relearn that ancient lesson when he discovers the existence of the Akagi, a mysterious organization formed from the survivors of the many rival sword schools destroyed by the ruthless Ittö-ryü. The Akagi are sworn to vengeance against Anotsu's dojo, but what Anotsu doesn't know is that the Akagi are wooing the immortal samurai, Manji, to join them in their war to exterminate the Ittö-ryü!
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
9 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Hiroaki Samura
476 books246 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 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 21, 2011
I’ve heard a lot about Eisner Award winning American reprint of a Japanese manga that I just had to try it when I chanced upon a few random volumes in a bargain bookstore.
Dark Horse made this book left to right reading orientation instead of the original Japanese right to left. It didn’t settle for a straight mirror image though, but reposted the original panels to make it a more Western reading experience. The publishing company took care to respect the author’s original intentions.
Blade of the Immortal is a much darker read than the usual shonen manga that I follow. It appeals to a much mature audience. My only gripe is that it end abruptly and I have no idea where to get the next volume. This title is definitely on my hunting list every time I do my regular bargain book hunting.
Dark Horse made this book left to right reading orientation instead of the original Japanese right to left. It didn’t settle for a straight mirror image though, but reposted the original panels to make it a more Western reading experience. The publishing company took care to respect the author’s original intentions.
Blade of the Immortal is a much darker read than the usual shonen manga that I follow. It appeals to a much mature audience. My only gripe is that it end abruptly and I have no idea where to get the next volume. This title is definitely on my hunting list every time I do my regular bargain book hunting.
September 9, 2019
I loved having the back story of the Itto-ryu but missed Manji and absolutely hate Shira. Surprised at my 3 star rating myself. Lowest volume so far. Eating a pet dog also made me want to throw up. Some things I can’t stomach and that is one of them. As Shira would say... “I’m such a women” for saying that.
November 24, 2021
This story arc takes a dark turn even for this title and a trigger warning about violence towards women (who aren't also being violent back in this case.)
A new group is coming after Itto-Ryu swordsmen and they are cunning and ruthless. Anotsu is approached about bringing his Itto-Ryu men to become instructors for a new sword school, legitimizing them. They have become something of a nuisance as they have attacked so many other dojos, but the powers that be would "Incorporate rather than suppress" the school, solving the problem diplomatically and without a small way.
Magatsu gets a whole subplot in this one and helps play devils advocate with Anotsu on these decisions. It's one of the more heartbreaking parts of this series we've seen for a while. We're also introduced to one of the most despicable characters we've met up to this point and that's saying something.
This isn't a poorly written volume and some ideas are put forward that move the plot along, but I wasn't a huge fan of some of the choices made to color how we see a couple of these characters. It's pretty brutal and ugly. I'm invested, so I'll be back, but this one was rougher to read in that sense.
A new group is coming after Itto-Ryu swordsmen and they are cunning and ruthless. Anotsu is approached about bringing his Itto-Ryu men to become instructors for a new sword school, legitimizing them. They have become something of a nuisance as they have attacked so many other dojos, but the powers that be would "Incorporate rather than suppress" the school, solving the problem diplomatically and without a small way.
Magatsu gets a whole subplot in this one and helps play devils advocate with Anotsu on these decisions. It's one of the more heartbreaking parts of this series we've seen for a while. We're also introduced to one of the most despicable characters we've met up to this point and that's saying something.
This isn't a poorly written volume and some ideas are put forward that move the plot along, but I wasn't a huge fan of some of the choices made to color how we see a couple of these characters. It's pretty brutal and ugly. I'm invested, so I'll be back, but this one was rougher to read in that sense.
June 30, 2013
It's at this point that I start to lose track of the characters and the different factions. I think this is not helped by the fact that some of the characters are nondescript in appearance or look like other characters. I think is also in part to the fact that the illustrations are in black and white.
That said, the art is beautiful and characters remain complex. The story remains interesting and nobody's quite all good.
That said, the art is beautiful and characters remain complex. The story remains interesting and nobody's quite all good.
August 14, 2007
While Samura's art style has matured past the stage of excessive blood and gore, the narrative of this volume returns to some juvenile excuses for fight scenes. A character shows up, is introduced and kills someone in the first seventy pages. While the characters seem interesting and have promise, excessive violence is the biggest weakness of this series. Blade of the Immortal needs to be careful to earn its violence, and execution like this makes it seem like a perverse wish fulfillment. The translation also suffers in this volume, with countryside language making for some embarassing lines, like, "I don't care where you go in this world... a man who strikes a woman is a damned rascal!" This is uttered before the speaker snaps a man's neck.
The big positive of this volume is that it propels the Itto-Ryu plotline out of its introductory phase. Their sword school is applying to be part of the government, and there are shadowy forces working for and against it. Political intrigue mixes with the violence and backstabbing, and nagging questions, like why the government hasn't come after them before, are answered. Manji doesn't even show up until the last quarter of this volume, when other schools ironically try to coerce him into helping fight the villains he's been against all along. Their error highlights their own insecurities and questionable morals, casting another layer to Blade of the Immortal's moral dimension, as well as setting up a heck of a ride in the chapters ahead.
The big positive of this volume is that it propels the Itto-Ryu plotline out of its introductory phase. Their sword school is applying to be part of the government, and there are shadowy forces working for and against it. Political intrigue mixes with the violence and backstabbing, and nagging questions, like why the government hasn't come after them before, are answered. Manji doesn't even show up until the last quarter of this volume, when other schools ironically try to coerce him into helping fight the villains he's been against all along. Their error highlights their own insecurities and questionable morals, casting another layer to Blade of the Immortal's moral dimension, as well as setting up a heck of a ride in the chapters ahead.
January 2, 2019
Fuck you Shira for decapitating a dog. Fuck you Shira for killing Taito’s whore. This whole thing would have gotten a five IF YOU DIDN’T KILL THE GODDAMN WHORE (or the dog).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2020
For the first time in the series, the book opens focusing on unfamiliar characters as we broaden the main cast. I appreciated the change to the familiar narrative format of the story but I wasn't enthralled with the new characters.
While I didn't enjoy this volume as much as the previous five that doesn't mean it isn't also good, as it is progressing the plot in an interesting manner, and the art appears to be getting even better as the series evolves.
While I didn't enjoy this volume as much as the previous five that doesn't mean it isn't also good, as it is progressing the plot in an interesting manner, and the art appears to be getting even better as the series evolves.
October 18, 2014
Entertaining, violent ninja lore. A great sketchy look helps to complete the experience.
April 19, 2015
its awesome . love the series
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...
May 7, 2022
(Zero spoiler review of the deluxe edition collecting this volume) 4.5/5
If you happened to have read my review of BOTI Deluxe 1, then you would know how much I adore this series. I have a very tenuous relationship with manga, with the quality of the writing and frequent lackadaisical artistic storytelling being a particular sticking point to me. I had bought a few manga series sight unseen, only to be disappointed or outright enraged at just how average they were. I had the first two BOTI deluxe books on my shelf before reading this, so needless to say, if this was a pile of garbage, I would have been officially done with manga. Thankfully, BOTI is a breathe of fresh air, and ticks pretty much every box of mine when it comes to the medium that had up to this point, going seriously unticked.
Gorgeous art, strong storytelling, a continuous narrative, well fleshed out, likeable characters, unique situations and use of plot devices, this book does it all and more. Some of the plot lines and characters Samura has given us here are surprisingly deep and meaningful. On more than one occasion, I stopped and reflected on the very deep and meaningful narratives. Appreciating just how rare it was for mature themes to be tackled in such a competent way. Sadly, these themes are sorely lacking in the graphic novel medium.
One of the greatest thing a storyteller can do, is to put their characters in situations where the reader thinks that something significant and impactful will happen, regardless of the outcome. Issue after issue in your average superhero comic, you know that the heroes will inevitably escape unharmed, and all will be as it was before at the end of the book. While these stories have their merits, the fact that you know the main protagonists are in no real danger steals so much of the narrative impetus away, and never invests you as much as it would if you were reading about a world where seemingly anything can happen. The best moments you may have as a reader are when you truly don't know what will happen next. BOTI did that too me on many occasions, and whilst I think I preferred the first collection a tad more than this one, it was still an amazing read, and one that I am desperate to read more of. This makes Berserk look amateurish by comparison.
4.5/5
OmniBen.
If you happened to have read my review of BOTI Deluxe 1, then you would know how much I adore this series. I have a very tenuous relationship with manga, with the quality of the writing and frequent lackadaisical artistic storytelling being a particular sticking point to me. I had bought a few manga series sight unseen, only to be disappointed or outright enraged at just how average they were. I had the first two BOTI deluxe books on my shelf before reading this, so needless to say, if this was a pile of garbage, I would have been officially done with manga. Thankfully, BOTI is a breathe of fresh air, and ticks pretty much every box of mine when it comes to the medium that had up to this point, going seriously unticked.
Gorgeous art, strong storytelling, a continuous narrative, well fleshed out, likeable characters, unique situations and use of plot devices, this book does it all and more. Some of the plot lines and characters Samura has given us here are surprisingly deep and meaningful. On more than one occasion, I stopped and reflected on the very deep and meaningful narratives. Appreciating just how rare it was for mature themes to be tackled in such a competent way. Sadly, these themes are sorely lacking in the graphic novel medium.
One of the greatest thing a storyteller can do, is to put their characters in situations where the reader thinks that something significant and impactful will happen, regardless of the outcome. Issue after issue in your average superhero comic, you know that the heroes will inevitably escape unharmed, and all will be as it was before at the end of the book. While these stories have their merits, the fact that you know the main protagonists are in no real danger steals so much of the narrative impetus away, and never invests you as much as it would if you were reading about a world where seemingly anything can happen. The best moments you may have as a reader are when you truly don't know what will happen next. BOTI did that too me on many occasions, and whilst I think I preferred the first collection a tad more than this one, it was still an amazing read, and one that I am desperate to read more of. This makes Berserk look amateurish by comparison.
4.5/5
OmniBen.
October 22, 2024
The story continues without any major shifts, keeping a steady pace rather than ramping up excitement. We see some progress in the plot as Rin's quest for vengeance against the Itto-ryu moves forward, though it’s not a volume with huge revelations or twists.
The interactions between Rin, Manji, and the people they encounter remain the main focus as always, and I thin we established that Rin is weak and scared and all that, 6 volumes in and we're still talking about it. I think that's enough.
The artwork is, as always, exceptional. Samura's unique style really stands out, capturing the gritty and violent world in a beautifully detailed way. While this volume wasn't amazing, it holds its ground in the overall narrative and there's plenty to appreciate.
The interactions between Rin, Manji, and the people they encounter remain the main focus as always, and I thin we established that Rin is weak and scared and all that, 6 volumes in and we're still talking about it. I think that's enough.
The artwork is, as always, exceptional. Samura's unique style really stands out, capturing the gritty and violent world in a beautifully detailed way. While this volume wasn't amazing, it holds its ground in the overall narrative and there's plenty to appreciate.
February 14, 2025
Really good volume that adds more depth to some of the characters, introduces some new characters as well as adding a bit of political machinations. We also get the addition of another capable female to balance out Rin (who actually was less annoying in this volume). The bad guys are quite distinct from each other regarding the level and motivation of actions. As usual, the fight scenes are not drawn the best. The modern style of some of the clothing is a bit jarring.
February 14, 2020
I'm still not sure how I feel about this series. I'm a little annoyed that they aren't marked with what order they're supposed to go in so I accidently read number six instead of number four.
It's good to see the characters growing and developing.
Shira can die in a hole.
It's good to see the characters growing and developing.
Shira can die in a hole.
April 2, 2025
I'm continuing to really enjoy this story, which is good, because this volume probably had one of the most shocking comic panels I've ever seen. The characterization and overall plot continue to be well done and very interesting, which is keeping me on board.
October 8, 2017
The plot thickens, as a second set of villains appear.
December 13, 2017
Good volume.
May 11, 2018
A lot of character development in this one so not my favorite of the series but hopefully the buildup pays off.
March 7, 2020
7.5/10
June 28, 2021
My god I hate Shira.
January 8, 2023
Prison Arc: Lasts waaaay too long
October 3, 2023
Nice storytelling.
June 24, 2025
“You’re never going to be strong yourself, right? if you are always being protected that way by some tough guy.”
Want to read
September 26, 2025manga
July 6, 2017
Perhaps not as stellar an entry as volume five, but this entry in this series sets up the next arc in an intriguing way. There is a new faction in town that is going after Anotsu and his men. Even though they are technically on the side of Manji and Rin, they don't all seem like good men to begin with. If this is the kind of moral dilemma that others told me about before starting the series, then I am well on board with what it has to offer. It's a little 'setty-uppy', but the confrontations should be a joy to read.
October 12, 2025
7.5/10
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]
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews