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Blade of the Immortal (US) #13
Blade of the Immortal Volume 13
Anotsu Kagehisa, master swordsman and leader of the rogue Itto-ryu dojo, has sheathed his blade for the moment to join in marriage with the daughter of a swordmaster whose dojo is to be brought under Onotsus’ dark wing. But for a man of action, the formal traditions of feudal Japan can be just as tense and fraught with hidden agendas as the battlefield. And while Anotsu may indulge in a moment of peace, his enemies are not at rest, among them Rin, who has stalked him for years to take revenge for the murder of her parents. Anotsu had best make sure that if he stops to smell the flowers, he doesn’t end up losing his head! Collecting issue #81-89 of the ongoing series.
For mature readers!
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For mature readers!
end .product-description
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1995
7 people are currently reading
163 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 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 27, 2012
Probably the best volume Anotsu Kagehisa has gotten yet. Samura draws us away from Manji and even positions Rin as an ancillary witness while Kagehisa struggles. When there are attempts on his life, we know his experience of the assassinations, rather than the experience of what drove them to attempted murder. Samura also displays some of the best traits in his art, giving Kagehisa just a panel here and there, of possible regret that he has to take a life, or disturbance that the woman he loves has overheard what he's done.
The layered relationship between arranged husband and wife, one marked for death and the other dying of disease, both adhering to extreme personal codes that demand fidelity to each other while also putting them at odds, is beautiful and perhaps has already eclipsed what goes on between Rin and Manji. Their parting is about as bittersweet as the series gets, and the reunion with a prostitute he once liberated is even stickier and more unsettling.
It’s natural, then, that Rin is now really paired with Kagehisa, following him in the hopes of getting vengeance when he sleeps. You know some kind of bonding will come out of the vengeful girl and tortured soul, but it bears authenticity with the depth Kagehisa has grown into. At one point, when it seems like Rin will finally get her revenge, I actually felt resentment at her betrayal towards him – something at least mildly irrational and indicative of how far the villain has come. I’m quite curious to see how far Samura will broaden the sphere of sympathy in the series.
The layered relationship between arranged husband and wife, one marked for death and the other dying of disease, both adhering to extreme personal codes that demand fidelity to each other while also putting them at odds, is beautiful and perhaps has already eclipsed what goes on between Rin and Manji. Their parting is about as bittersweet as the series gets, and the reunion with a prostitute he once liberated is even stickier and more unsettling.
It’s natural, then, that Rin is now really paired with Kagehisa, following him in the hopes of getting vengeance when he sleeps. You know some kind of bonding will come out of the vengeful girl and tortured soul, but it bears authenticity with the depth Kagehisa has grown into. At one point, when it seems like Rin will finally get her revenge, I actually felt resentment at her betrayal towards him – something at least mildly irrational and indicative of how far the villain has come. I’m quite curious to see how far Samura will broaden the sphere of sympathy in the series.
January 14, 2020
Rating: 9.57/10.00 | 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
Noooo WHY?!?! There was no Manji in this volume and I was okay with it for the first time and the reasons why makes me feel like a cheater. I've betrayed my man for the man I've hated for the last 12 volumes.... yes. you heard me right. Anotsu is a dream (still not Manji) but I NEVER thought that I would like him. He's a ass he's not suppose to be sweat and understanding.
Noooo WHY?!?! There was no Manji in this volume and I was okay with it for the first time and the reasons why makes me feel like a cheater. I've betrayed my man for the man I've hated for the last 12 volumes.... yes. you heard me right. Anotsu is a dream (still not Manji) but I NEVER thought that I would like him. He's a ass he's not suppose to be sweat and understanding.
October 30, 2015
Once again, please see the top review by user John. Spot-on.
January 13, 2019
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ANOTSU
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.
November 20, 2024
Another solid entry in the series. While it didn’t leave me in awe, it delivered a surprising twist toward the end that catches you completely off guard. Considering we’re only halfway through the entire story, this development adds an unexpected layer of intrigue and leaves you eager to see what comes next.
"Thank you for a fleeting moment of happiness."
The main focus of this volume is Rin and Anotsu traveling together to Edo, only to return due to the events at the dojo. Meanwhile, Anotsu faces relentless pursuit from the dojo’s kenshis. The dynamic between Rin and Anotsu, along with the tension of the chase, keeps the narrative engaging.
"Don't overdo it. Go too far in anything and it will echo down the generations."
As always, the artwork is stunning, capturing both the gritty action and quieter moments beautifully. No spoilers here—you’ll have to experience the twists for yourself.
"Thank you for a fleeting moment of happiness."
The main focus of this volume is Rin and Anotsu traveling together to Edo, only to return due to the events at the dojo. Meanwhile, Anotsu faces relentless pursuit from the dojo’s kenshis. The dynamic between Rin and Anotsu, along with the tension of the chase, keeps the narrative engaging.
"Don't overdo it. Go too far in anything and it will echo down the generations."
As always, the artwork is stunning, capturing both the gritty action and quieter moments beautifully. No spoilers here—you’ll have to experience the twists for yourself.
September 10, 2023
Having taken some time off this book, coming back I'm reminded of how detailed and fluid the art is. That's truly the strength of this title. The story has recently been less about 'the immortal' and more about the girl and the samurai. I'm ok with that in theory, but at some point Manji has to have more importance in this story. I'm still waiting to see what happens now that Rin has spent time with Anotsu and their is a small amount of humanity between them.
November 9, 2009
There's something I noticed in this volume of one of the best manga series ever. The story is as good as ever maybe even better, but the art seems to deteriorate a bit. It seems more hasty and I even noticed the use of ugly "photographic" background that some mangaka like to use. I expected the art getting better as the series progress but maybe Samura sensei is not having fun drawing his manga anymore?
October 30, 2013
It's a rare treat to have the good guy sympathize with the bad guy and have you believe it. Can't they just work it out?
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 3, 2018
I took a long break between the last volume and this one. To be honest, the hiatus is because the story was just not engaging me enough to make me want to continue. However, it is a comic book, and it is fairly easy to read, so I decided to pick it up again.
Thankfully, despite the break, it was quite easy for me to fall back into the rhythm of things. Rin continues to be on the tail of Anotsu, the man responsible for the death of her parents. However, she was not in a good place the last time we saw her. She was wandering about in the woods alone when her food and money were stolen. So when she runs into Anotsu along the way, the circumstances could not have been worse.
This is the part about Rin's character that is really perplexing to me. On one hand, I really love her as a character — even more so than Manji. In the past few volumes, she has really shown how determined she was to avenge her parents, as well as using her brain to make up for her lack of sword skills. On the other hand, she has this dumb, bull-headed way of confronting Anotsu that I just do not understand. I mean, the whole point of hiring Manji as her bodyguard/protector of sorts is because she recognises that she isn't good enough a swordsman to kill Anotsu, right? So how come she's always putting herself in situations whereby she has to confront Anotsu alone?
Anyway, this book feels once again like it is trying to deal with the aftermath of the previous volumes and setting the pieces for further confrontations between our characters. The pacing slows down for a bit in this book, but hopefully there's more to come in the volumes ahead.
Thankfully, despite the break, it was quite easy for me to fall back into the rhythm of things. Rin continues to be on the tail of Anotsu, the man responsible for the death of her parents. However, she was not in a good place the last time we saw her. She was wandering about in the woods alone when her food and money were stolen. So when she runs into Anotsu along the way, the circumstances could not have been worse.
This is the part about Rin's character that is really perplexing to me. On one hand, I really love her as a character — even more so than Manji. In the past few volumes, she has really shown how determined she was to avenge her parents, as well as using her brain to make up for her lack of sword skills. On the other hand, she has this dumb, bull-headed way of confronting Anotsu that I just do not understand. I mean, the whole point of hiring Manji as her bodyguard/protector of sorts is because she recognises that she isn't good enough a swordsman to kill Anotsu, right? So how come she's always putting herself in situations whereby she has to confront Anotsu alone?
Anyway, this book feels once again like it is trying to deal with the aftermath of the previous volumes and setting the pieces for further confrontations between our characters. The pacing slows down for a bit in this book, but hopefully there's more to come in the volumes ahead.
November 18, 2020
The best volume yet sees Anotsu framed as the protagonist, and Rin, who's barely grown as a character despite lots of plot development around her, seems on the precipice of becoming interesting.
Arranged marriages, honor, vengeance, and struggling to keep one's humanity are some of the reasons people read samurai focused manga, and this volume hits all the right notes in all the right order.
While I don't think this volume could stand completely on its own, I think it would be just as satisfying if you'd only read, say, volumes one and two and skipped directly here. It's truly excellent.
Arranged marriages, honor, vengeance, and struggling to keep one's humanity are some of the reasons people read samurai focused manga, and this volume hits all the right notes in all the right order.
While I don't think this volume could stand completely on its own, I think it would be just as satisfying if you'd only read, say, volumes one and two and skipped directly here. It's truly excellent.
February 20, 2025
Great volume - Anotsu is a very interesting character and you have to keep remind8mg yourself what he gave permission for in the first volume. Rin is annoying again and her actions towards Anotsu just odd. I find her constant threats with nothing to back it up rather annoying. The chapters with Makie were rather grim and her relationship with Anotsu interesting.
January 1, 2018
Another good volume.
August 9, 2018
Ok manga....Overall story💩1/10 But on the plus side pretty decent samurai/Feudal japan type manga with lots of Explicit Violence(Heads,ears and other body parts flying all over the place)👌😅💀👂👃💕💕
January 22, 2024
The story feels underwhelming and interesting at the same time. Maybe it has good setups but underwhelming payoffs.
May 13, 2025
Fantastic art with an entertaining story. Gets a bit wild at times, but never boring.
Want to read
September 26, 2025manga
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 - 20 of 20 reviews