Dark Shadows: 6 (Blade of the Immortal (Sagebrush)) [School & Library Binding]

Before, the story arcs of BotI fell into a comfortable pattern: Rin and Manji wandering around until they met a member of the Itto-ryu; the usual banter and posturing before blades are drawn; Manji getting carved on to lesser or greater extent; Rin struggling with and attempting to moralize what is essentially a revenge killing spree. Using this pattern, Samura explored a number of themes, such as obsession/compulsion ('Conflict'), ethics ('Cry of the Worm'), duty ('Dreamsong'), redemption ('On Silent Wings').

With 'Dark Shadows', however, Samura dramatically changes the formula, and just in time. Not that the story was getting stale--far from it--but some overall progression was needed, and here we have it: in this volume characters and situations are introduced that will effect the rest of the work as a whole (12 or so compilations worth in Japan), and Anotsu Kagehisa slowly begins to take his place as the manga's true protagonist, a man willing to do anything to save his country from what he perceives as steady stagnation. If there are casualties along the way, so be it.

Manji and Rin show up only in the last third, and there isn't much in the way of 'action' (at least in comparison to bloody epics like 'Dreamsong'). Still, one can feel a tension slowly building under the surface, a conflict-in-waiting that explodes in the next comp, 'Heart of Darkness.' And the repercussions of this volume are long-standing; in terms of plot development, this the most important volume (next to the first, of course)released so far. Not to be missed or overlooked.

As always, the artwork in Blade of the Immortal is superb, and the writing and characterization are as strong as the previous volumes. If there's a flaw here, it's that the focus of the story leaves Rin and Manji (with whom we've basically remained throughout the previous 5 volumes) for too long--they're in less than half of this volume. But that's a quibble, really; watching how the Itto-ryu is growing and splintering all at once, and how its enemies have begun to move is fascinating. As always, this is a violent story, but it could hardly be otherwise with the characters involved. If you've read previous volumes, you know what to expect; if you haven't you need to--both to understand what's going on, and just because you need to if you're at all interested in comics.

For the first time we discover that there are others hunting Anotsu Kagehisa and his ruffian band of super killers. Moreover, there are others just as anxious to court what they perceive is Anotsu's rising power. Some of Anotsu's motivations are clarified, and we meet Magatsu Taito in new circumstances. Magatsu will come to play an important later in the series.

The Mugai-Ryu are introduced as opposition to the Itto-Ryu. Led by Hyakurin, a woman assassin, they are little different from the 'bad guys.' In fact, they may very well be worse. However, they are anxious to recruit Manji, taking advantage of his fighting skill and his commitment to Rin's quest.

Rin, on the other hand, begins to realize that she is much more than a vengeful sword fighter, and much less as well. She came from a gentler Samurai tradition than the rough fighters that are now part of her life. Even Manji, who shares at least some basic understanding of duty and honor is a far cry from the world of her father. But Anotsu's followers and their opponents are something else entirely, and the young woman begins to question her own actions and rue the strength she lacks.

Hiroaki Samura has an easy talent for moving from extreme violence to the simply grace of a woman's play with the man she loves. And back again. It is as if to remind us that the killing that moves the story forward is only an agency, not the purpose of the story. There is a quirky justice to what befalls many of the characters in the stories to come, and the reader should not assume that blood is the only possible resolution.