Vagabond Volume 6[VAGABOND V06][Paperback]

by Takehiko Inoue

Vagabond Volume 6 <> Paperback <> TakehikoInoue <> VizMedia

Paperback

Published January 31, 2010

About the author

Takehiko Inoue (井上雄彦) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for Slam Dunk and Vagabond.

Reviews

[Ben M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHY I CHOSE THIS BOOK
I have never really been the type of person to read something like a so called ‘manga’, but after hearing all of the local craze from my colleagues, I was was very surprised to find how much I enjoyed the Vagabond series, but specifically this particular book. I really enjoy realistic stories with a hint of embellishment, in which this book delivered on quite well. This series is contained into volumes, aka singular books. This book is three volumes in one book altogether.

SUMMARY
The story takes place around the late 16th century, mainly focusing on the rise of Sasaki Kojiro and his path to become a swordsman under his surrogate father/teacher Kanemaki Jisai, and who later throughout the next books will become a major rival to the actual main character of the story, Miyamoto Musashi, whose story is also moved forward though the book. Musashi's past journey is retold through the eyes of other characters like Kojiro, specifically around the events in the Battle of Sekigahara, which is where we first met Musashib in the first book. The story brings in a lot of master vs. pupil dynamics by showing Kojiro’s lust to the sword, and Jisai not wanting the child he raised to become a swordsman like he once was. This story tackles loneliness, isolation, and ambition. Kojiro has to leave his village and discover a whole new side of what he thought was the real world.

Kojiro was born for adventure. His real father died when he was just a small baby, and Jisai had to raise him as his own. Kojiro was drawn to the sword, and not to mention deaf. It was almost impossible for Jisai to try and communicate with him about how he doesn’t want Kojiro to learn “The Way of the Sword”. He went down that path before and now he is just a sad regretful old man. Regardless of what Jisai wanted, Kojiro was on a set path of life. It started when he defeated the local bully of the sea side village when they were both still children. Tenki, the former bully turned close friend, then went and helped Kojiro kill Yugetsusai Fudo, a serial pedophile and rapist that terrorized the young daughters of their peaceful village. When Kojiro dispatched him with single strike, this sparked a blood filled lust for death that could no longer be controlled by his surrogate father. Ito Ittosai, a swordsman, notices Kojiro’s love for the sword and takes him under his wing, not without some resistance at first by Jisai. Eventually Jisai has to let Kojiro go, and entrusts Ito to take care of Kojiro as they go off and travel around Japan, training Kojiro to become the strongest swordsman in all the land. This wandering eventually ends the book in the Battle of Skigahara, where Kojiro first encounters Mushasi. On the contrary of what you might expect, the two actually end up fighting with each other against a common enemy. In the end the two go their separate ways but are noticed to have the same sort of blood lust and fighting style. I wouldn’t describe them as mirror images of another, but they are still similar. A perfect match for the next book.


WHAT WORKS
Some things that really made this book for me would be the stunning artstyle contained within this book. It is highly detailed with incredible panels depicting brutal yet elegant fight scenes that truly immerse the reader into the story. Every character is well detailed and has a somewhat unique design that remains realistic for the time period they are set in. The nature and environment pages are also very well made. The supporting characters are very well fleshed out for the amount of time they are shown within the book. Itso Ittosai is a grizzled yet experienced old swordsman who tests Kojiro to see who he truly is while also teaching him new techniques that come in handy for the future. Ito obviously sees the potential in Kojiro. Jisai is a regretful old man who only wants the best for what he sees as his son. Tenki goes from a young rival to a stunned admirer and warrior who searches all across Japan trying to reunite with his battle brother when Kojiro leaves with Ito. The pacing is flawless and keeps the reader engaged even with the large multitude of pages. I never felt bored reading through this book. Most of the time I was itching to keep reading when I couldn’t. There was always some important dialogue to analyze or some beautiful artwork to admire. This book could never be described as boring.

WHAT DOESN’T WORK
Even though this book is what I perceive to be a masterpiece, it still does include some shortcomings. As much as I like Kojiro, sidelining our main character Musashi is a move that I could see not many fans enjoying. I thought it was fine, but sometimes I was starting to miss the main character. The cast of characters was also a hard shift that had me trying memorize all the new characters that were introduced. Half of the time I only knew them by the artwork. If someone were to put a name of a character in front of me without their picture, half the time I wouldn’t even have the slightest idea of who they were. Eventually you do start remembering all their names though. Kojiro is also a very distant and cold character. I don’t totally blame the writing for this, since he is deaf and pretty much unable t speak, but sometimes I feel other readers may start to feel disconnected from him compared to Musashi.

This book has parts I truly do love about it though. The theme of destiny versus human choice is prevalent throughout the reading. Was Kojiro always destined down the path of the sword? Or with further time with Jisai, could he have learned to find passion for something else or avoid swordsmanship all together. That is something for the reader to decide for themselves. I would heavily recommend not only this book to readers interested in a story set in feudal Japan, but the series overall for it is too good to not look further into after finishing this book.

[Rafael Suleiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting graphic novel.

[Finnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kojiro arc is peak