Type: Manga
Author: Inoue Takehiko,Yoshikawa Eji
Genre: Action, Adventure, Seinen, Historical, Martial Arts, Psychological, Mature
Volumes: 38
Chapters:327 (until now. still ongoing)
Release: 1998-ongoing
Serialized: Weekly Morning magazine
Synopsis: Growing up in the late 16th century Sengoku era Japan, Shinmen Takezō is shunned by the local villagers as a devil child due to his wild and violent nature. Running away from home with a fellow boy at age 17, Takezo joins the Toyotomi army to fight the Tokugawa clan at the Battle of Sekigahara. However, the Tokugawa win a crushing victory, leading to nearly three hundred years of Shogunate rule. Takezo and his friend manage to survive the battle and afterwards swear to do great things with their lives. However, after their paths separate, Takezo becomes a wanted criminal and must change his name and his nature in order to escape an ignoble death.
Based on the book "Musashi" by Eiji Yoshikawa, Vagabond is an award-winning, fictional retelling of the life of Miyamoto Mushashi, often referred to as the "Sword Saint" - perhaps the most famous and successful of Japan's sword fighters.
Story: 90/100 The story its amazing very intriguing it keep you wanting to know more and more each time. The mood or atmosphere its very dense but it mix well with the characters and everything that happens has an effect later on weather in the development of a character or the story it self, there is usually something happening on the side that would impact the story later on (for example the rise and training of a future enemy).
Characters: 97/100 this is those mangas with a loner mc yet with lost of character that are very intriguinga all along the trajectory. The character development it great as the story sometimes sacrifice it self to develop a character. As well their design and origins mostly the characters live under the hype of their real life self which makes demand and want great things from them.
Art: 99/100 The art its pretty solid, you can understand clearly what its going on and you dont get lost. I personally think its the greatest attribute for this manga. The fights are amazing and represents the in the awesomeness and the legends that are told about Miyamoto Musashi.
My Opinion: I give this series an average of 96.5/100, the action its great, the characters are complex and have well development and the story its pretty good. Yet there is going to be times when the story will sacrifice it self for the character to grow and while very important for the characters it not very entertaining, Yet I accepted it as it was essential part of the life of Musashi that I would prefer to have than not to. Yet dont let that hold you down everyone it different you my look at it different than me and its indeed an amazing manga and a must read if you are a fan of samurais and historical manga. The greatness of the fights and the MC as well as his internal conflict and his development make this manga a must read.