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Samurai Deeper Kyo #12
Samurai Deeper Kyo, Volume 12
Kyoshiro and Kyo--one a peaceful medicine seller, the other a merciless red-eyed samurai--are two spirits fighting for dominance of the same body as they travel with Yuya, a bounty hunter who helps them look for Kyo's true body.
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
1 person is currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Akimine Kamijyo
146 books70 followersAkimine Kamijyo (上条明峰 Kamijō Akimine?, born September 13, 1975, Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese manga artist best known for creating Samurai Deeper Kyo. The name 'Akimine Kamijyo' is merely her pen-name. Her doujinshi work was done under the name 'Meika Hatagashira' (伯明華?).
Her second series was Shirogane no Karasu also known as Silver Crow. It started on May 30, 2007 in Weekly Shōnen Magazine and ended after 3 volumes.
She is currently working on Code: Breaker.
Her second series was Shirogane no Karasu also known as Silver Crow. It started on May 30, 2007 in Weekly Shōnen Magazine and ended after 3 volumes.
She is currently working on Code: Breaker.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 16, 2023
So while I find Muramasa a bit unsettling as a character he was really growing on me in this volume. I'd also forgotten how messy this part of the plot is with characters going all over on sidequests. I'm here for Sasuke being a little brat to pretty much everyone he interacts with. I've pretty much given up on trying to follow with all the fighting technique names and small faction names, in so far I have a vague idea where things belong. It makes the reading experience a lot better to me.
August 20, 2021
The plot thickens once the Mibu arc begins! Rereading, this was one of my top favorite arcs in the series. I love how everyone rallied to protect Yuya, and the short Kyo/Yuya moments were ❤️
Plus, Shinrei ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Plus, Shinrei ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
June 12, 2023
Poor Yuya. Her torment will never end.
January 28, 2024
5/5 because Muramasa gets prettier every panel, I want to marry him
August 30, 2012
08 April 2013
The battle rages on with Kyo and Shinrei in Samurai Deeper Kyo, Volume 12. Shinrei gives Kyo a serious spanking with his Curve Strike technique. Just when it seems Shinrei might be victorious, Kyo figures out the secret to Shinrei's moves and comes back with a vengeance. Unfortunately for Kyo, Shinrei has more tricks up his sleeve.
As a member of the Five Stars of the Mibu clan, Shinrei proves to be a formidable opponent. Using his special Suiseisho technique that allows him to control liquids, Shinrei miraculously forms a sword out of his own blood. His B-L-O-O-D!!!! Holy frackamole! He unleashes his deadly dragon technique and nearly defeats Kyo until Muramasa steps in to save him, which almost costs him his life.
Muramasa is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. He is such a wildly complex character. Muramasa seems to possess skills greater than even Kyo's, yet he has this beautiful gentle purity about him. As one of the Four Elders, Muramasa could easily be the most ruthless killer there ever was, but he is full of grace and kindness.
Shinrei decides to abandon the fight for now, but before he leaves he inserts his Waterwyrm (that sounds dirtier than it really is) into Yuya's body, which will devour her heart in 60 days' time. Yuya tries to put on a happy face, but she isn't fooling anyone. The group disperses in order to get stronger and to gather information so that they can defeat the Mibu and save Yuya's life.
Muramasa risks everything to train Kyo in the Mumyojinpu technique. In order to understand this technique, Kyo must master its four disciplines: Seiryu, Suzaku, Genbu, and Byakko. To do this is practically impossible and it has only ever been mastered by two people. Muramasa being one and the other being Kyoshiro. Ooh... that rascally Kyoshiro keeps on surprising with his badassery!
Benitora and Sasuke head to Edo in search of Tokugawa Ieyasu. On the way, they bump into a familiar face, Mahiro, who informs them that Ieyasu has been attacked by the Mibu. They rush to Ieyasu's aid and face beastly Mibu warriors with powers that make them indestructible. All hope seems lost until Ieyasu presents Benitora with Muramasa's Demonspear.
I'm looking forward to seeing Benitora kick ass with the Demonspear in the next volume. I also hope that Muramasa and Kyo's training will be a huge focus next time. I really enjoyed this installment, but there wasn't enough Yukimura or Bontenmaru for my liking.
For forgetful peeps like myself, there is a handy dandy detailed summary called Learn the Legend of Kyo in the very beginning of the book to bring you up to speed on the story thus far. Unfortunately, in this volume, the descriptions of people and their images are mismatched. I think what might have happened is the images got flipped. For example, the side-by-side images of Botenmaru and Sakuya have descriptions under their pictures. If you look at Botenmaru's picture and then read his description, you'll actually be reading Sakuya's description. Not an issue if you've been current on reading the series, but if you've taken a long break from it, this could be very confusing.
There is also a fun horoscope at the end of the book. I was ecstatic to find out I'm a Yukimura!!! What was even more amusing was finding out my best love matches would be Nobunaga and Akira! Hahaha
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2014
Today’s post is on Samurai Deeper Kyo volume 12 by Akimine Kamijyo and is published by Tokyopop. As it is the 11th in the series you need to have read the previous volumes to understand the story. The cover has Kyo in the background with Benitora and Sasuke looking cool in the front. The intended reader is someone likes manga, action story, and developing relationships; given the nature of this series should older teen and adult. There is language, no sex, and lots of violence in this volume. The story is told from third person god with character’s thoughts added in for character and plot development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- The battle between Kyo and Shinrei begins! Shinrei unleashes his devastating dancing-sword technique, penetrating the blind spots in Kyo’s defenses. Believing victory to be within his grasp, Shinrei taunts Kyo by bringing up a painful chapter from his past. Kyo desperately tried to shut out the traumatic memories by violently hacking into Shinrei- but the attack backfires as Shinrei uses his own blood to forge a powerful magic sword! Will Kyo survive against this deadly new weapon?
Review- Everyone from the Mibu thinks that Kyo is the same person that he was when he left them; except weaker. They are wrong. The Mibu do not understand what Kyo has learned and grown to love. So when Shinrei beats Kyo to a standstill he thinks that he has won. Shinrei then fights Muramasa and Yuya. Yuya knows that she cannot defeat him but she is not going to stand around and watch someone get killed. That is when Muramasa realizes she means to Kyo. Because of that he thinks that Kyo could survive the training that Muramasa wants to give him. Shinrei is a favorite villain. He is smart, devious, and a little evil. But just a little. He puts a water dragon into Yuya’s heart and gives Kyo a time frame to defeat him in. So the group splits up to get information, stop other Mibu attack’s and for Kyo to learn Muramasa’s final techniques. I love this series.
I give this manga Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
From the back of the book- The battle between Kyo and Shinrei begins! Shinrei unleashes his devastating dancing-sword technique, penetrating the blind spots in Kyo’s defenses. Believing victory to be within his grasp, Shinrei taunts Kyo by bringing up a painful chapter from his past. Kyo desperately tried to shut out the traumatic memories by violently hacking into Shinrei- but the attack backfires as Shinrei uses his own blood to forge a powerful magic sword! Will Kyo survive against this deadly new weapon?
Review- Everyone from the Mibu thinks that Kyo is the same person that he was when he left them; except weaker. They are wrong. The Mibu do not understand what Kyo has learned and grown to love. So when Shinrei beats Kyo to a standstill he thinks that he has won. Shinrei then fights Muramasa and Yuya. Yuya knows that she cannot defeat him but she is not going to stand around and watch someone get killed. That is when Muramasa realizes she means to Kyo. Because of that he thinks that Kyo could survive the training that Muramasa wants to give him. Shinrei is a favorite villain. He is smart, devious, and a little evil. But just a little. He puts a water dragon into Yuya’s heart and gives Kyo a time frame to defeat him in. So the group splits up to get information, stop other Mibu attack’s and for Kyo to learn Muramasa’s final techniques. I love this series.
I give this manga Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
March 8, 2013
Kyo and Shinrei battle and Muramasa steps in to finish it. Because he is already close to death, the battle is hard on him and Kyo is able to step back into the fight. However, Yuya is forced to swallow a Waterwyrm and in 60 days it will devour her heart. Unless Kyo defeats the Mibu, Shinrei will not halt the process. He then disappears.
Yuya is taking care of Muramasa and is trying to remain cheerful even though she has been given a death sentence. She feels like even more of a burden to the group and begins to blame herself. As she is caught up in these emotions, the rest of the group is planning to temporarily disband and train to become stronger. They will return to help Kyo fight the Mibu and save Yuya. Kyo heads into training with Muramasa.
Benitora heads to Edo, and on the way, finds out that his father, Ieyasu, was attacked by the Mibu. When he arrives to see his father, the welcome is less that warm. As they are verbally sparing the Mibu attack again, and Benitora is fighting bravely. However, his Koyoku broke and he cannot fight without it. Luckily his father gives him a Demonspear and he will need to break it in and learn to battle with it. Looks like his training has begun.
Yuya is taking care of Muramasa and is trying to remain cheerful even though she has been given a death sentence. She feels like even more of a burden to the group and begins to blame herself. As she is caught up in these emotions, the rest of the group is planning to temporarily disband and train to become stronger. They will return to help Kyo fight the Mibu and save Yuya. Kyo heads into training with Muramasa.
Benitora heads to Edo, and on the way, finds out that his father, Ieyasu, was attacked by the Mibu. When he arrives to see his father, the welcome is less that warm. As they are verbally sparing the Mibu attack again, and Benitora is fighting bravely. However, his Koyoku broke and he cannot fight without it. Luckily his father gives him a Demonspear and he will need to break it in and learn to battle with it. Looks like his training has begun.
June 13, 2012
The Mibu are coming after Kyo with a vengience, and in a major new plot twist, Yuya is in mortal danger as a result. In order to square off against the Mibu, the team splits up, hoping to reunite stronger than before. Good story.
June 30, 2015
There were elements of the story-line that I did like, but most of this volume was so focused on the fighting scenes, that I started getting bored. I hope, with the added tension regarding YuYa's dilemma, the next volume will be more interesting.
February 28, 2019
The story is a bit dull when it starts off with Yuya and Kyoshiro. But as you progress, the plot thickens and newly cast members introduced piece by piece make this manga unique and a bit of a masterpiece. There are two main story lines: 1- Yuya is looking for the man that killed her brother and 2- Kyo is searching for his true body to exact his revenge. Every other plot in between just adds fuel to the story and lets you learn of the diverse background of many characters, friends or foes. The story itself was captivating and it is a shame that many people know of this series.
The art style refined over time, giving the battle scenes flaws execution. The each character had their own torments and demons to deal with but I would have to say that certain individuals needed more evolution or better backstory. The end was well received and left no stone unturned.
I have watched the anime adaptation and I don't recommend it. It doesn't do it justice.
Do I recommend:
Yes! Just not the anime!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews