Vagabond- Greatest Comic Ever

[CWmax]

Yup- It's true!

I've said it before...But evry time I read a new issue, I am totally blown away.


I Love It !!!


CW

[DJ Kenobi]

Could you perhaps add a bit to your post? In Comics Analysis we're looking for a review of the comic. What are your thoughts on this revelation? Back up your comments. Was it handled well? etc.

No one needs to write a book report or anything, but a couple paragraphs with something to say would be great. We're trying to avoid the "what do you think?" or "I love it" posts in favor of "here is what I think and these are the reasons why. I've put some thought into this. Now, what do you think?" Please feel free to look through the What is Comics Analysis (http://www.penciljack.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50970) thread.

If you don't feel like doing this that's fine, but then this thread will be moved to the Break Room.

Thanks.

[CWmax]

Oh sure DJ...I'd love to...

I've posted about Vagabond on PJ before...but now I see the new forum is for more in depth discussion...Great!

I'll be sure to post my detailed thoughts on Vagabond soon!

CW

[DJ Kenobi]

Sounds great, I look forward to your review!

[chynco]

Very much agree, I'm a fan of Takaheko Inoue. He's such an amazing storyteller, his pacing is cinematic. His artwork is very lush and detailed, he's able to keep most of his characters faces very distinct and consistent. Some of the toning tends to grey everything out, but I don't mind it that much.
The characters are so amazingly well thought out. Some of the stories are so unique in the way they're told. For example, when Mushashi fights Inshun, the entire novel is basically a stand still, which you think would be boring but isn't. In the story when he fights Baiken, you start out with a certain attitude toward him, but then after the fights over Inoue then tells you his back story which totally changes your feelings towards him. And Kojiro's story is such a cool story. He's supposed to be Mushashi's adversary, yet Inoue makes you like this character like he was the hero and not Mushashi, yet you know he's a rival.

So, yeah, I like "Vagabond"

[CWmax]

I also like how the story wraped around on itself with the latest issue.


The first issue started with Musashi laying defeated at the Battle of sekigahara...Now 1000,s of pages later, we have gone back in time to follow Kojiros story...We go back to Sekigahara and see what happend just before the opening scenes of the book.


I think the pacing of the fights is so well done...The inshun fight was mentioned...The fight goes on for 100's of pages but there is a tension that doesn't let up...and the way the action is layed out keeps things surprising.

I found teh Battle fights in teh latest issue a bit confusiong...But perhaps it was supposed to be chaotic on purpose...

I first learned about Musashi thru teh Samurai Trilogy movies with Toshiro Mifune...I relly like the movies but the comic is soooooo much better...The characters are 100 times more developed.

Characters like Denshichiro, Kojiro, Matahachi, Inshun....are all explored in depth....As well as the legend swordmasters who also play a role- Yagu, Ittosai, etc....Great stuff!

I also like that the comic format allows you to enter the minds of the characters and explore the zen aspects of this story more fully.


Like I said, I read each new issue with excitment....

I know it's a bold statement...but for me anyway....This has been the most awesome comic experience ever.....I LOVE IT!


CW

[astrocity20]

I've wanted to read this series for a while :(

[Inkthinker]

No better time to start than now... consider it an investment in some of the absolute BEST in comics illustration today.

Interesting thing about Kojiro... I recently went back and skimmed through an English translation of Eiji Yoshikawa's novel, and I couldn't find any reference to Kojiro being deaf. Did I just miss it, or was this something outside of the novel, or did Inoue editorialize the character somewhat?

I heard he's taken a hiatus from the series at the moment, which is sad and a little worrisome... will he finish this epic? There so much more story to tell before we reach the beach...

[CWmax]

Damn I thought he was done with the whole thing already....

Yep I was surprised about the deaf part too...Definatly not in the movie...and I never got that far in the book...

But I think it is a cool addition....It makes him live even more in a zen like state...plus it's always cool when it is revealed to other characters that he cant speak or hear them...

[Ichbin Der Ausgang]

I actually have to confer on this topic. Vagabond may very well be the Best comic being published Anywhere in the world right now.

The character development is just amazing. everything everyone has mentioned already...the art the storytelling its all a masterpiece.

I think its pretty sad statement on american comics that I can pick up books like this and Naruto and sincerly be moved by the characters but cant find a single book in all of mainstream comics that really even comes close to that feeling. `

[Knigge]

That's because of two reasons:
1)You're not looking hard enough.
and 2) You're looking at mainstream.

[Jel]

Well, I guess the purpose of this forum is somewhat fulfilled, you've made me want to read this series (for some reason, I've never encountered it on the shelves yet, never seen artwork either, just heard it was good, but not why it was good, thanks)

[Musashi]

Vagabond is the best book out right now. That's saying a lot because I like a lot of books.

The last issue was especially great since it restored the book back to the artistic pinnacle it was on in previous issues before the Kojiro arc. The brushwork in the Kojiro arc have been a bit messy in certain points. I'm more a fan of his hatchwork.

I haven't read or seen anything else that indicates that the real-life Kojiro was deaf but Inoue has a good take on the character.

[CWmax]

Well, I guess the purpose of this forum is somewhat fulfilled, you've made me want to read this series (for some reason, I've never encountered it on the shelves yet, never seen artwork either, just heard it was good, but not why it was good, thanks)


Great! Good to see that folks are up for some Miyamoto Musahshi goodness!

[Bruce Lee]

I enjoyed it. I don't think it's the "greatest comic ever", but it certainly is entertaining and well drawn. It's all a comic should be, and much more.

Loston
http://www.lostonwallace.com

[CWmax]

New Issue came out...Again...Another great one...Some really nice illos...

I am also impressed how a whole slew of new characters are introduced...and yet even after just a short intro ...you care about what happens to 'em



And, as is prevailent throughout the series, you really get a feel for just how brutal and violent swordfighting was. The whole windswept aftermath of the battle of Sekigahara is a great hellish backdrop.

As well as the brief glimpe of the cycle of violence between warring samurai and the peasent mobs who hunted and slew the losers after the battle.

There are a lot of great pin up pages....I especilly like the one of Kojiro's father on the beach--I think the way the reflective wet sand was drawn is awesome!


Yup! For me...The combo of art storytelling and subject matter add up to....VAGABOND THE GREATEST COMIC EVER!!!!

[Inkthinker]

I was especially impressed with Inoue's renderings in the most recent volume (19). His normally astounding and intricate inks are more incredible than ever, but he continues to step outside of that style when a moment demands it, leading to some brilliant effects. The easiest example of this is seen early in the issue, as a trio of escaping spearmen come across Sasaki Kojiro, who has been relentlessly hunted by murderous peasants enraged after the Battle of Sekigihara, determined to kill any samurai or soldier in the name of vengeance for their lost homes and families. Kojiro has been pushed beyond the brink of exhaustion, and as these spearmen come across him in the forest, surrounded by corpses, the first appearance of the character is illustrated in a broad ink brush, hard lines replaced by strong strokes that lend the character a demonic aspect... replaced in the very next panel with a much more typical illustration of the character, emphasizing the sense that the previous vision is an insight into what Koijiro is, rather than just how he looks.

This sort of use of art techniqe to emphasize visual dialogue is part of what keeps me entranced with this book.

[CWmax]

Great post InkThinker...Yep that was a striking image....
This is the beauty of cartooning...By trancending a literal image the artist can convey intangibles...That's why the zen aspects of the fights scenes play out so well.

There is mention in the latest issue that the artist has change to a new type of brush and used it to draw all of trhe figures ...which may explain the impact of this issues artwork.

[CWmax]

Issue 20 came out-

How sick was it when that dude held the kife from being pulled from his heart in order to share a few more moments talking to Kojiro.

This issue was sad in how it shows the destruction of lives on the battlefield - And yet also not feel bad for them as the mentality of these fighters also makes you feel that this is what they want when they choose this lifestyle....I am finding the mindset of the samurai can be compared to elite athletes and the drive for compitition that both professions embrace...

Also we can see how the sequential art form lends itself to translating the zen qualites of a swordfighter....especially in the sequence that descridbes the kid trying to get into that 'world of silence' and clear his mind.


COOL BOOK AGAIN!

CW

[Inkthinker]

Issue 20 was indeed a heartbreaker... not the least because of the announcement that Inoue has currently taken a hiatus from the book, and after vol. 21 there's going to be a while before we get another.

20 really takes the swordfight to a whole new level... almost the entire book is dedicated to a single fight to the death, as the deaf Kojiro and the soldier Koun go one-on-one... not for revenge, not for rage, but because this is how they live and die. A man dedicated to the sword cannot pass up a fight, cannot help but take on every challenge he sees, even from those he loves as a brother. Inoue has done a brilliant job of illustrating the emotional as well as physical side of this, and gets you into the heads of his character as much as possible.

It's doubly heartbreaking at the end of the issue, as the swordfight comes to its inevitable conclusion... for men who live with death, only someone else like themselves can ever truly understand them in the ways that a friend does. But these are friendships bound to end in death and loss, even at each others hands... it is said that, "the way of a samurai lies in death", and Inoue has done a masterful job of showing us why that must be.

[SeraphSword]

On the matter of Kojiro being deaf, I don't think it really matters, since it's Matahachi as Kojiro that Musashi is going to fight. I haven't read the book however, so maybe I'm missing something.

I do however agree that Vagabond is the best comic, although for me it is tied with Nausicaa. (If the art hadn't gone to crap in Naruto I would probably have included that too...)

[CWmax]

On the matter of Kojiro being deaf, I don't think it really matters, since it's Matahachi as Kojiro that Musashi is going to fight. I haven't read the book however, so maybe I'm missing something.



No...Musashi will end up fighting THE kojiro Sasaki....(unless I'm missing something....)


and DAMN!!! Issue 21 is the last one !! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[Inkthinker]

No...Musashi will end up fighting THE kojiro Sasaki....(unless I'm missing something....)


and DAMN!!! Issue 21 is the last one !! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!


No, I think 22 is the last one.

...

NNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

>_<

And yeah, if Musashi fights anyone but THE Sasaki Kojiro on the beach, there'll be hell to pay. It's one thing to add something to the story, but that would be a major change.