VAGABOND VIZBIG ED GN VOL 01 (MR) (C: 1-1-0): Invincible Under the Sun VIZBIG Edition: Volume 1 (Vagabond (VIZBIG Edition))

Product Information

This is often a quiet story of meditation and small life lessons. Some of the more complex philosophical discussions are over my head, but I can still appreciate them and I am glad they're included.

At seventeen years of age, Miyamoto Musashi--still known by his childhood name, Shinmen Takezō--was a wild young brute just setting out along the way of the sword.At the age of twenty-one, Takezō (now named Musashi) arrives in Kyōto so that he can fight the swordmasters of the Yoshioka School. Somewhere else in Kyōto, a twenty-one-year-old Matahachi struggles to make money as oppose to his more financially-successful wife Okō, who works in the pleasure quarters. As the first part of the Kyōto arc, much of the storytelling is told through the action within the school as the swordsmen see Musashi as an arrogant youngster who is over his head as he wishes to challenge the man who runs the school, where there is already conflict in terms of who is the true master.

While the cover says this is "loosely based on the novel _Musashi_" I'd have to say that this seems pretty much like a direct manga edition of the book by Eiji Yoshikawa, so far at least. Volume 1 begins in the same place as the novel: at the end of the historic battle of Sekigahara two survivors, childhood friends Shinmen Takezo (soon the re-christen himself Miyamoto Musashi) and Hon'iden Matahachi, are found by a young girl (Akemi) and her mother Oko who live by stealing from corpses on the battlefield. As the two young men regain their health we see that the two friends are very different: Matahachi is weak and selfish, while Takezo is driven by an all-consuming desire to which he will sacrifice all else - the dream of becoming the greatest swordsman of all. Vagabond is Takehiko Inoue's fictionalized account (based primarily on the classic Japanese novel Musashi) of the most legendary swordsman in all of Japan's history (and perhaps the world's) that's been going on and off for the past 18 years and counting. Real-life figure Miyamoto Musashi was the most celebrated samurai of all time. The quintessential warrior-philosopher, Musashi authored A Book of Five Rings, a classic treatise in the canon of world philosophy and military strategy. But the path to enlightenment is an endless journey, and to get there through violent means--by way of the sword--makes mere survival an even greater challenge.Set in 1600, the two seventeen-year-olds Takezō Shinmen and Matahachi Hon'iden escape from the battlefield of Sekihagara, with the hope of their home village. What immediately stands out from the start, is the dynamic between the two young men as Matahachi seems like the innocent one who is waiting to get married when they return their home, whilst Takezō (who will later be renamed as Musashi) is the roguish one who is hated and feared by the village. Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue, who is also the creator of Slam Dunk and Real, features realistic art and a story that, while rooted in history, feels larger-than-life. Not only that, but the series has a strong cast of characters that grow and develop in a way that’s not just relatable but interesting as well. For these reasons and more, it is my second favorite Seinen manga of all time right behind Berserk by the one and only Kentaro Miura.

There is also a rather sad side story of Miyamoto's childhood friend. Who, unable to keep up with his famous friend, falls into a cowardly life of struggle and eventually ends up a beggar. Based on the real life experiences of Miyamoto Musashi, who many consider to be the greatest samurai of all time, the character we see here is angry and impatient, seemingly on a path of self destruction. It'll be a fun journey seeing him grow into the great samurai he's destined to be. There is plenty of samurai manga out there, from Lone Wolf and Cub to Blade of the Immortal, to choose from. Under the recommendation of a couple of friends, Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue became the must-read as it is a historical epic that fictionalises the life of Japanese swordsman Musashi Miyamoto, based on Eiji Yoshikawa's novel Musashi. In the aftermath of the epic Battle of Sekigahara, Takezō finds himself a fugitive survivor on the losing side of the war. Takezō's vicious nature has made him an outcast even in his own village, and he is hunted down like an animal. At this crucial crossroads in Takezō's life, an eccentric monk and a childhood friend are the only ones who can help him find his way. The people he meets along the way add so much to this story too and they not only affect us but Musashi as well. Vagabond is a story based on the real-life swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, but while it has roots in history, it feels like this larger-than-life tale as mentioned previously. Also, as far as samurai stories go, it’s one of the most unique, relatable, and engrossing I’ve ever read.Inoue has personally created licensed merchandise on a small scale, so that the products will meet his standards of quality. I do think that Vagabond would have benefited from an even larger format release, maybe something like the Dark Horse Deluxe Editions. It is a series that deserves that hardcover and sewn-binding treatment, but since we don’t have that right now, the Vizbigs are a good way to go if you are looking to read Vagabond. Final Thoughts: Are the Vagabond Vizbig Editions worth it?

It is a critique of the ambition to be the very best in some field of combat. You know, the motivation of so many characters throughout so many Japanese stories, particularly in manga, anime, and video games. It explores the consequences, often negative, of attempting to reach such a goal. The conclusions Inoue typically draws on such individuals throughout the story, on the important ones and the ones who are never more than periphery figures, aren't flattering. VIZ Media is currently releasing the translated edition of Vagabond only three months after the Japanese release!So far, 37 individual volumes and 12 Vizbigs have been released of the series. I do want to mention that Vagabond is currently on hiatus, but please don’t let the fact that it’s on hiatus stop you from experiencing this incredible story. The Vizbig volumes are 3-in-1’s so with the volumes that have been released so far you can read up through volume 36. How do the Vagabond Vizbig Editions differ from the individual volumes? All in all, they are the most convenient and easiest way to collect Vagabond right now and the cheapest as well. They have incredible print quality and cool design, and they are a great way to enjoy the series!