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Blade of the Immortal (US) #15
Blade of the Immortal, Vol. 15: Trickster
Kidnapped and bound by three Ittoryu warriors, Rin is unable to warn her bodyguard Manji, the immortal swordsman, that he's heading into a trap. To make matters worse, the Itto-ryu possess a large dose of kessen-satsu, the only poison known to damage Manji's blood and severely cripple his regenerative abilities. And is Mugai-ryu assassin Giichi following Manji in order to help rescue Rin … or will he just stick around long enough to finish off any survivors?
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2004
6 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Hiroaki Samura
485 books248 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 5, 2020
Rating: 7.29/10.00 | 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
This volume seemed to focus more on introducing more new characters than following the older ones we already love and know or that we love to hate. It made this volume not as thrilling for me but still excellent.
This volume seemed to focus more on introducing more new characters than following the older ones we already love and know or that we love to hate. It made this volume not as thrilling for me but still excellent.
December 1, 2024
"One who panics at death cannot escape it."
This volume is nonstop action with Samura's amazing artwork stealing the show. We’ve got Manji fighting Giichi, then teaming up with him to take on the Itto Ryu, plus Magatsu keeping his promise to Manji. There’s even a Giichi vs. Magatsu showdown! Everyone’s all over the place, and Rin’s search for Manji adds some heartfelt moments to all the chaos.
Manji is as carefree as ever, leaning into his immortality, shrugging off danger, and hating pain but still going for it. The ending sets up some exciting stuff ahead. Overall, a solid volume with absolutely incredible art.
"Death falls first on the one who sees it."
This volume is nonstop action with Samura's amazing artwork stealing the show. We’ve got Manji fighting Giichi, then teaming up with him to take on the Itto Ryu, plus Magatsu keeping his promise to Manji. There’s even a Giichi vs. Magatsu showdown! Everyone’s all over the place, and Rin’s search for Manji adds some heartfelt moments to all the chaos.
Manji is as carefree as ever, leaning into his immortality, shrugging off danger, and hating pain but still going for it. The ending sets up some exciting stuff ahead. Overall, a solid volume with absolutely incredible art.
"Death falls first on the one who sees it."
April 19, 2013
My great praise for this volume is base. The first five chapters, from which the Trickster name is derived, are a hundred pages of bloody massacres. Manji takes an unexpected ally into a pair of duels to the death that are almost painfully beautifully drawn and etched, and intricately plotted across panels. It’s some of Samura’s finest choreography, with clever choices left subtle but perceptible in the instants these panels zip by, while also being among the most chilling and brutal. I tore through the first half in twenty minutes; I couldn’t slow myself down. It was too compulsive a read, even if it’s certainly too violent for general audiences.
This volume also has a staggering frequency of Samura’s most detailed art, in both quiet scenes and battles. The contrast of clothing, faces and backgrounds often drops both dot-pseudo-coloration and negative space to make image after image pop. There’s such life in the wrinkles on an old man’s face, and the same care to the wounds on Manji’s chest. I had to go back and re-read several chapters just to catch up on appreciating the levels of detail. Though generally a prose guy, there’s more beauty to the way he draws luggage than anyone’s ever imbued into words describing it.
This volume also has a staggering frequency of Samura’s most detailed art, in both quiet scenes and battles. The contrast of clothing, faces and backgrounds often drops both dot-pseudo-coloration and negative space to make image after image pop. There’s such life in the wrinkles on an old man’s face, and the same care to the wounds on Manji’s chest. I had to go back and re-read several chapters just to catch up on appreciating the levels of detail. Though generally a prose guy, there’s more beauty to the way he draws luggage than anyone’s ever imbued into words describing it.
August 5, 2022
(Zero spoiler review for the deluxe edition collecting this volume) 4.75/5
I am not officially halfway through one of the greatest reads of my life. A series so monumental and meaningful that it stands head and shoulders above the wholly disappointing initial indications manga has given me. Yes, this knocks the massively overrated Berserk into a cocked hat everyday and twice on Sunday. A series that has given faith that there may be manga out there that comprehensively bitch slaps pretty much everything the west has offered up in three quarters of a century, whilst setting the bar so inexplicably high, that almost nothing else will likely ever come close. That is what this series has meant to me thus far, and this may just be the best volume yet. If it isn't, its only the microscopically weaker third volume that snatches it away from the near flawless opening two.
It had been a few months since I last had some Blade of the Immortal to read. I've bought some excellent books I look forward to reading in that time, but none have me stopping everything else when they arrive so I can consume them, then begin the wait for the next one. Although lucky me, I have number six sitting there waiting to go. But after that... volume 7 is a couple of months away... Why me, lord.
I'd suggest reading my previous reviews if you want a more accurate representation of the stories themselves. This is just me rambling and gushing in equal measure. But trust me, manga really has been several firm flicks to the nards when it comes to everything I've checked out besides BoTI. When I say this series annihilates its contemporaries in essentially everyway, you can take that shit to the bank.
There are only two types of people in this world. Peoples who've read and love Blade of the Immortal, and douchebags. Don't be a douchebag. Do the other thing. And get these deluxe editions, which are all still available at the time of writing. Literally the only way you could make this story better is to wrap it in one of the most gorgeous collections out there. 4.75/5
OmniBen.
I am not officially halfway through one of the greatest reads of my life. A series so monumental and meaningful that it stands head and shoulders above the wholly disappointing initial indications manga has given me. Yes, this knocks the massively overrated Berserk into a cocked hat everyday and twice on Sunday. A series that has given faith that there may be manga out there that comprehensively bitch slaps pretty much everything the west has offered up in three quarters of a century, whilst setting the bar so inexplicably high, that almost nothing else will likely ever come close. That is what this series has meant to me thus far, and this may just be the best volume yet. If it isn't, its only the microscopically weaker third volume that snatches it away from the near flawless opening two.
It had been a few months since I last had some Blade of the Immortal to read. I've bought some excellent books I look forward to reading in that time, but none have me stopping everything else when they arrive so I can consume them, then begin the wait for the next one. Although lucky me, I have number six sitting there waiting to go. But after that... volume 7 is a couple of months away... Why me, lord.
I'd suggest reading my previous reviews if you want a more accurate representation of the stories themselves. This is just me rambling and gushing in equal measure. But trust me, manga really has been several firm flicks to the nards when it comes to everything I've checked out besides BoTI. When I say this series annihilates its contemporaries in essentially everyway, you can take that shit to the bank.
There are only two types of people in this world. Peoples who've read and love Blade of the Immortal, and douchebags. Don't be a douchebag. Do the other thing. And get these deluxe editions, which are all still available at the time of writing. Literally the only way you could make this story better is to wrap it in one of the most gorgeous collections out there. 4.75/5
OmniBen.
September 11, 2023
So Manji and Giichi the Mugai-ryu assassin have an informal meeting/fight that winds up with them also fighting some Itto-Ryu guys. They are still after Manji, but now so is Habaki Kagimura,
Ban-Gashira.
Anotsu and the Itto-ryu burn their dojo/home to the ground, and he tells the remaining members "From here on out, we cover our tracks. Go underground. We rise in the winter." Rin returns to Mutenishi-Ryu dojo, her childhood home after Manji went to a meeting with Habaki which ends pretty badly. There is just enough intrigue here to keep you reading, but I won't lie, there are a lot of characters to keep track of and I already forget 2 of these people who were just reintroduced.
Ban-Gashira.
Anotsu and the Itto-ryu burn their dojo/home to the ground, and he tells the remaining members "From here on out, we cover our tracks. Go underground. We rise in the winter." Rin returns to Mutenishi-Ryu dojo, her childhood home after Manji went to a meeting with Habaki which ends pretty badly. There is just enough intrigue here to keep you reading, but I won't lie, there are a lot of characters to keep track of and I already forget 2 of these people who were just reintroduced.
January 21, 2019
badass
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...
November 20, 2020
Volumes 10-13 of this series were so good in how they changed the preconceptions of the series that I worried that they would soon be undone, and all the characters would digress to their previous states.
And they have.
This is a boring, poorly edited volume. There are word balloons out of place, a few "your/you're" style grammatical errors by the translators, and the action sequences are back to being difficult to follow.
The story is once again cycling through different characters reappearing to have one big moment, and then disappear again to the background. Gone is the well-paced an enriching story of Anotsu, replaced by Remember This Character? Now He's Dead. Remember This Character Who Died? He's Still Alive. Shocking Revelation. Move On. Shocking Revelation. Move On.
It's boring.
I hope we can go back to plots advancing character again, as opposed to letting the characters advance the plot.
And they have.
This is a boring, poorly edited volume. There are word balloons out of place, a few "your/you're" style grammatical errors by the translators, and the action sequences are back to being difficult to follow.
The story is once again cycling through different characters reappearing to have one big moment, and then disappear again to the background. Gone is the well-paced an enriching story of Anotsu, replaced by Remember This Character? Now He's Dead. Remember This Character Who Died? He's Still Alive. Shocking Revelation. Move On. Shocking Revelation. Move On.
It's boring.
I hope we can go back to plots advancing character again, as opposed to letting the characters advance the plot.
February 21, 2025
I think this volume is my least favorite so far. The scenes were disjointed and the line work so heavy and ‘busy’ in a lot if the panels it was really hard to work out what was going on in a lot of the fight panels. The scenes jumped around in bother the fight scenes and the non fight scenes, and it was hard to follow who was where, and why folks got separated in the fights.
January 2, 2018
Good volume.
April 17, 2020
7.5/10
January 24, 2024
Good fight scenes and build up.
April 21, 2024
Lástima, el volumen más bajo.
Want to read
September 26, 2025manga
October 30, 2013
You know what would help? A diagram of the different agencies: bakufu, banshu, metsuke, and their relation to the shogun.
March 20, 2016
At one point I went "wow, that's gorgeous" about a page in a fight scene. That's when you know a book deserves five stars. :~)
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 - 17 of 17 reviews