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Blade of the Immortal (US) #24

Blade of the Immortal, Volume 24: Massacre

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There's going to be a massacre at Edo Castle! While the bitter Kagimura believes that he's sending his forces chasing after Anotsu and the entire Itto-ryu crew, Anotsu fakes them all out and risks his life in one mad dash back to Edo Castle grounds! What is his strange mission? Hiroaki Samura's widely acclaimed Blade of the Immortal manga series has won awards across the globe, including the Eisner Award in America, the prestigious Media Arts Award of Japan, and multiple British Eagle Awards.

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

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About the author

Hiroaki Samura

484 books249 followers
Hiroaki 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 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Dimitris Papastergiou.
2,548 reviews86 followers
May 26, 2025
A solid one!

Blood, blood, blood.

Finally we get some non-stop action on this one. Amazing artwork and great moments throughout with Anotsu and his buddies proving what they can also walk the walk. Everything goes down in the Edo castle with 4 of the Itto Ryu dojo ambushing the whole army. All four shine on this one, but especially Anotsu, proves once again what he's capable of. And I have to mention my boy Magatsu too. Much praise. Great volume.

"Shall we begin hacking with all our power? After all, we have a bad reputation to live up to." - Anotsu Kagehisa
Profile Image for John Wiswell.
Author 69 books1,066 followers
November 13, 2015
It's on. For a chapter, you think this will be another slow book in the series, but nope! The Itto-Ryu are sick of being stalked and picked off, and in the middle of the night two of them appear at the enemy gates, and a third is suddenly atop the walls, and... damn. Hiroaki Samura knows how to draw a horrific massacre. One panel in particular captures a guard clutching his face in fear, and it takes you a moment to realize his arms have just been severed. It's at once dramatic and full of personality, as experts who are exhausted from the toll of this journey seek to get a foothold before the enemy knows it's begun.

Further credit to Samura for giving the battle a moment of lightness, as two men who were terrifying villains volumes ago feel like loving comrades assuring each other they'll get through this. Moments of sympathy like that check just how far character development has come in the series.

No spoilers if they do actually survive this. But it is brutal, and sometimes so aware of the form that it feels like a commentary on manga that came later. Two new heroes arrive to interrupt the Itto-Ryu, with cool new character designs, the sort of people Bleach would introduce to pad out five more chapters - but they're killed immediately. Flash and appearance are meaningless here, which you can see in how worn out some of these characters have become.
Profile Image for shea.
395 reviews13 followers
March 4, 2019
Three of my favorite characters and Baro kill people.
Profile Image for OmniBen.
1,402 reviews49 followers
April 1, 2023
(Zero spoiler review for the deluxe edition collecting this volume) 4.5/5
I wish, I truly wish that more manga was like Blade of the Immortal. The haunting beauty of the artwork and the stark fragility of the writing is so far above anything else within the medium (and not just because of the sublime Dark Horse deluxe editions), as to make anything else I've found within manga utterly fail in comparison. That said, if there are any manga as well written (firstly) and as maturely and artistically drawn as this, then please let me know. Then I could exorcise the agony inside me, and leave western comics in the dirt where their cultural marxism and ideology has driven them. A medium that values fans and gives them stories they want sounds oh so appealing. I really do wish more manga was like BotI.
To say this was a rollercoaster would be an unfair use of a considerably overused analogy. But it bloody was, and its (as usual) really bloody good. The cast is probably at its most expansive here, and that doesn't bother me one bit. I love it. The ongoing central theme running throughout the book since page one, that of Rin's quest for vengeance with the aid of Manji is still present, but now has numerous other interweaving characters and plot threads. The results of which are, as mentioned, bloody fantastic. I like every single one of them for various reasons, regardless of where their allegiances lie, what their motivations are, or their morality. Their are some pretty heinous people still left here, yet they are all unique and interestingly executed. There was even a little humor thrown in here, something that is far more miss than hit in comics, but Samura pulls it off with aplomb. To have created such a majestic, long running story, with the same breathtaking art is something that can never be understated or underappreciated. And the cliffhanger that this volume left me on... I wasn't paying attention to the pages disappearing, so engrossed was I with the final arc, that when I ran out of pages and realised I would be waiting months for the next instalment, I was crestfallen. The man is seemingly without peer.
To get the same artist on a modern western comic for more than six issues seems a rare thing, but Samura will have given us more than 6000 pages of HIS story and HIS art when this is all said and done. Please read this, and please buy the deluxe editions. I promise you won't regret it. 4.5/5


OmniBen.
Profile Image for Vernieda.
265 reviews
April 4, 2012
Always and forever my favorite manga.

I read a fan translation of this volume (or the Japanese equivalents since Dark Horse's version doesn't match up perfectly with the original volumes for some reason) last year but I got this for my collection and because I like supporting English adaptations of manga I love.

So in this volume, we have:

A. Shira being his psychotic self. Ugh, so glad I know what's going to happen to him. Otherwise I'd be even more disgusted and angry about what he does in this volume, and I'm already plenty disgusted and angry. If there's anyone who deserves to die a slow and painful death, it's this monster.

B. Anotsu, Magatsu, Ozuhan & Baro break into and utterly destroy the outer rings of Edo castle. This one makes up the bulk of the volume. (Thank god because if Shira had had more than one chapter, I'd probably vomit.)

A volume to read if you love bloody, violent fight scenes. Especially ones involving sharp, pointy things. Samura's art is still as cinematic and beautiful as ever, although I do find myself missing the death murals. Too bad those don't happen nearly as often as they used to.

I also continue to love the Rin, Tanpopo, and Meguro comedy hour. Rin and Meguro's exchange in the inn was hilarious. I really don't know why everyone assumes Rin is stupid. She's actually really smart and pretty observant. Also, she did break into Edo Castle with Doa and they caused just as much damage as Anotsu and his gang, albeit in a different way.

One thing I do wonder about is if they changed the person doing the adapting? I need to compare with my older volumes. We're actually using honorifics now and I'm almost positive the very early BotI volumes didn't do that. I definitely think whoever's doing now should keep doing it because it's really good. For example, you can tell the different in class between Anotsu (samurai) and Magatsu (peasant) now just by the way they talk and their diction. It's good.
Profile Image for Michael Sorbello.
Author 2 books317 followers
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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Profile Image for Adam Stone.
2,062 reviews32 followers
January 9, 2021
The portions of this story involving the return of Shira and how the two new characters fit into the overall arc fall somewher between mediocre and snooze-inducing. But, after a few volumes where only saw the Itto Ryu sitting down and providing exposition to the protagonists, we finally get to see them be badass again.

The actual Massacre storyline is Prime Blade Of The Immortal. It's fun, it's violent, it's fast paced, and it makes you feel conflicted about who you're rooting for in this series, and why. This was my favorite story to take place in Edo Castle. I wasn't excited about the story returning there but it ended up paying off really well.
Profile Image for Quentin Wallace.
Author 34 books179 followers
February 5, 2019
This is an all out action volume. After the previous volume, which was a little slow on action, I was hoping for this one to pick up a little more but wasn't expecting it to pick up quite this much. I also find myself unsure of whose side I'm on. One of the strengths of this volume is the shades of gray we're getting as the lines between good and bad get blurred. The villains of the series almost turn into heroes in this volume...or do they? Maybe a matter of opinion? Regardless if you like samurai battles this is definitely the volume for me. I'm curious to see how things go from here.
689 reviews2 followers
March 5, 2025
Very action packed volume with a lot of fast paced and badass fight scenes. Baro was a great add. Some of the panels are really good (amongst somewhat messy ones). Also, will someone please kill that disgusting PoS who keeps popping up to do disgusting PoS things!
Profile Image for Kelly.
544 reviews
February 3, 2019
Lot of nothing except fight scenes and grunts. No storyline. Don't bother.
Profile Image for Kirstie.
Author 13 books19 followers
March 15, 2012
Hiroaki Samura-sama has never been one to shy from depicting violence, but this volume in particular is not for the faint of heart (as might be implied by the name 'Massacre').
This volume see the return of Shira in full sadistic form in scences that even made my somewhat desensitised mind shudder.
The bulk of the story follows Magatsu (yay), Baro, Ozuhan and Anotsu as they storm Edo castle. Yes, four men against Edo Castle when the castle is on full alert after the events of the earlier manga.
As always, both art and story compell me to love this series and the characters, even those minor seeming secondary ones like Baro and Ozuhan, are so deep and intriguing that I hope and pray for their survival whilst reading. Another fabulous installment leaving me breathless for the next volume.
Profile Image for Alger.
68 reviews11 followers
February 27, 2012
This book had its declining moments correlated with the decline of the villainous Itto-Ryu. This book I think highlights the genius of Anotsu Kagehisa, the ingenuity of his closest lieutenants, and the overall scale of the story. Its not just a vendetta between two scions of venerable sword schools anymore. This volume culminates the national and historic implications that the story is setting up. I want to know what happens next soooooo bad. It has all the hallmarks of a good "Blade of the Immortal" story, full of ironic humor, graphic violence, political intrigue, "Highlander" style immortals, and moral ambiguity.
Profile Image for Ari.
1,045 reviews116 followers
November 6, 2014
It's volume 23 for Indonesian edition.
As always, a bloody and full violence scene throughout the book.
The tittle describe the whole story pretty well. Good thing there's the trio of Rin, Meguro and Tanpopo who lighten the story with their humorous exchange.

And I really curious with Ranzo, how he can end up with Shira?!
And Shira is just monster! Bad guy die hard!

Anotsu!
He's covered in blood and I found it hot as hell
Profile Image for Jessica.
144 reviews
Read
October 30, 2011
I am not sure I can properly rate this volume. There is an act so violent, I am left unsettled and wishing I had not seen it.
Profile Image for Matt.
567 reviews7 followers
June 5, 2014
Exactly like the title suggests.
Profile Image for Jinx:The:Poet {the LiteraryWanderer & WordRoamer}.
710 reviews236 followers
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]










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