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Blood Of A Thousand PUBLISHED
BY: Dark Horse Comics (Printed in
Canada) SUMMARY: Manji vows to redeem himself for all the people he has killed as a samurai and is given immortality until he has slain a thousand bad guys. He meets a vengeful young girl named Rin (who he helps because she reminds him of his sister), on her conquest to end the reign of the Itto-Ryu, a gang of mismatch swordsmen and women who believe the current teachings of the sword schools should change... PERSONAL RATING: 4/5, an excellent way to start the series! Manji is frank and doesn't trek the land mourning his losses or boasting his samurai prowess. I only had to read four pages and I already knew I'd like - no, love - this manga. PS: None of the manga comes 'unflopped'. ARTWORK: 5/5, top-notch use of the pencil! This guy is a totally experienced sketcher! However, a couple of the characters have the flaw of similarity... SMELL OF MANGA!: Faint gluey smell. Not satisfying for someone as hardcore as me...
KEY QUOTES: GYOBUTSU
"Johnny": The Lord has spoken, good sir. Sadly, he says the only way
to give penance for your sins is for you to die. YAOBIKUNI:
It's truly astounding how many people in this world die with most of their
dreams and desires unfulfilled. Especially you samurai types, hmm? (Manji
speaking with the "nun of 800 years") MANJI: A word to all the new friends I've made here today! I'm here to help you join your boss on the other side. (After killing Shido Hishiyasu.) MANJI: A couple of years back, I killed a hundred of the good guys, including Machi's husband. Now to pay that off, how about I spend the rest of my life cutting down a thousand of the bad guys? (The reason why the manga is called 'Blood Of A Thousand'.) KAGAHISA: Swordsmanship would be no parlour game for a soft, weak age... No! It would be triumph or die! Think what fate would await those who forget the real rule: "The way of the sword is the way of victory!" (He's not impressed with the current sword system of Edo.) KAGAHISA: I think you'll agree assaulting children shows no class. (Sealing the fate of Rin's family.) RIN: Scar on face. One eye. Manji symbol. Black and white kimono. Never takes a bath. (Description of Manji from Yaobukuni.) MANJI: I don't want to be a co-conspirator with everyone who comes along acting like an angel, whining that they're a victim! (Refusing to cooperate with Rin.) KUROI: In love, I seek perfection. Perfect love, thy name is... DEATH. (This old guy has been hankering for Rin for a couple of years...) MANJI: I'm living with this karma, see? Can't use my blades except in anger. (Manji interrupting Rin and Kuroi's joint-suicide.) MANJI: YOU'RE LUCKY YOU CAN DIE!!! (About to execute Kuroi Sabato.) TATSU: I've said it before, but... Can't you paint like everyone else, father? I mean, you've mastered this "swordpainting" stuff by now... (Scolding her father for making a mess every time he decides to paint.) MASTER SORI: So... What's your excuse? Were you abandoned at birth on Mount Takao and raised by monkeys? (Never insult "wimpy" artists.) MASTER SORI: A rather harsh opinion... but I shan't deny it. I'm just not ready to die. I've got a mountain of things to paint. And I'm not ashamed. It's just how we artists are, hey? (Response after Manji criticizes him for not wanting to help Rin.) IITO-RYU GUY: Brats like you should sleep like the dead! (Threatening Rin as she wakes up.) MANJI: Tch, tch, tch! Why'd you have to go and make me come back here like this after I made such a grand exit last night? (Slightly pissed that IITO-RYU GUY is spoiling his absence.) IITO-RYU GUY: For your crimes, I'll fix you up like the priest of Daruma, and leave you to reflect on the error of your ways! (About to kill Rin. The priest of Daruma's arms withered away because he was a hardcore meditator! - Web Mistress.) MASTER SORI: A person who treats art like... like a doormat is not welcome in my house. GET OUT! (Pissed about his painting being ruined.)
BONUS 1: "An Interview With Hiroaki Samura" Samurai stories are as old as the history of manga in Japan. But when Hiroaki Samura released Blade Of The Immortal in the pages of Afternoon comics, it sent a shockwave through the industry. Samura's nihilistic-punk sensibility, masterful artwork, and science-fiction edge turns the old chestnut of "the lone swordsman steeped in Bushido" on its head. The immortal Manji is looking for a way to die, and he doesn't much care who gets in the way of his arsenal of exotic weapons. It's the aspiring swordswoman Rin, seeking to avenge her father's murder, who finally leads Manji to the only samurai in Japan who cares even less about Bushido than he does - the road-warrior swordsmen of the Itto-ryu. The lesson is life, but it's written in blood. STUDIO
PROTEUS in pink,
Samura in blue. STUDIO
PROTEUS: Where did Blade Of The Immortal come from? STUDIO
PROTEUS: And the characters and storytelling? STUDIO
PROTEUS: How did you become a manga artist? STUDIO
PROTEUS: Blade Of the Immortal features all kinds of exotic swords and
other weapons... STUDIO
PROTEUS: Every episode features a climatic duel, which you create in an almost
mandala-like, full-page illustration. It seems like a lot of work. STUDIO
PROTEUS: Like Masamune Shirow, you refused to be photographed or to make public
appearances. Can you tell us something about your personal life? (There's a GLOSSARY and ABOUT THE TRANSLATION stuff too, but I'll do that later.) |
