The Gathering II: 9 (Blade of the Immortal (Sagebrush)) [Library Binding]

Hyakurin and Shinriji have some parts. I never read the first volume, but there is a guy who knows Manji. I am not quite familiar with him. Anywho, this novel is pretty cool. there are a lot of fights, a really cool badguy, and a neat segment on weapons at the end. Great book! Get volume one first. Next is SECRETS if my memory serves me correct.

Having managed to get over my confusion at finding myself directly in the middle of the action in the previous volume, I somehow expected that its sequel would be easier to manage. After all, I had done my homework and discovered what Hiroaki Samura's real story arcs were, and I had even stolen a few peeks at the first few manage. I allowed this to give me a sense of false confidence as I picked up this volume.

What I was unprepared for was that fully on half of this volume is a detailed study of a fight between Manji and three opponents. This battle started in the previous volume and reaches genuinely heroic proportions as Manji is slowly chopped to bits. Apparently, this is standard operating procedure for the immortal samurai, who manages to survive injuries that would have made short work of a vampire. Since we know Manji will survive - the manga is his story - we are pushed right up to the point where all the hacking and slashing seems a bit funny.

The story of Rin's own efforts to get to Kaga and seek vengeance for her father's death is far less violent. The swordswoman seeks the aid of an innkeeper and his wife, hoping that she may masquerade as a relative in order to pass through the control point between Edo and Kaga. She discovers that this will take more than simple subterfuge and must use all her resources of courage to make her way.

While I cannot help but pick on a series of extraordinarily violent episodes, but the truth is that Samura's art remains at a consistently high level, regardless of subject matter. In addition, he displays a great depth of knowledge of 18th century Japan. I find the subtext of the competition between sword schools and the stratification of Japanese society eye opening, much more vivid than what the history books provide. While the story is uniquely Japanese in its telling it appeals to values of indomitable will and courage which are admirable anywhere. This continues to be a masterful series.

the manga delve into human perceptions, at times the bad guys seems good, and the good guys are just bad. i feel its a great representation of our society as it is.

the drawing is done in rough lines, but with that it makes the characters to seems alive. espiecially in a fight sequence it adds the feeling of motion to it. there is also couple superbe drawing of finishing moves, quite dramatic.

overall this manga is a most have, even my girlfriend who is not into manga enjoy reading it. right now im waiting for the next installment, whihc is a drawback cause u gota wait for the new installments.