Volume 25 - 4 Stars, Volume 26 - 5 Stars, Volume 27 - 5 Stars
Vagabond, wow I'm lost for words, I cannot express my love and gratitude for this manga series. Musashi - invincible, he's soul and wind and rain and the sun, grass, movement - All.
This series just keeps becoming more profound and beautiful, it's funny because it's a series cemented in the death of human individuals, human beings, yet it captivates my heart because although death is completely present, it's as if it's not really there because it's laced in consciousness, everything Musashi does is meditated upon, both consciously and subconsciously, and I was so proud too see his successors beaming in his triumph. I'm so proud for this series existence - I love it so much ! Takehiko was born for this mastery, the emotion in each character's eyes, the movement and soul apparent in the art, every single intricacy is flawlessly magnificent.
So much happened throughout these three volumes, it was a whirlwind. I cannot wait to continue. Like wtf 70 samurai... You thought, Yoshioka. You thought.
I really love Musashi's connection to nature, I feel like the last few volumes he's become aware of everything around him and is in tune with it again - Much like the beginning of the Vagabond series, he's become one with the mountains again and I loved watching him use the flow of the river as his guide to cutting down the 70 samurai in Kyoto. He did me proud, as did Takehiko for creating this masterpiece. :)