“Preoccupied with a single leaf… you won’t see the tree. Preoccupied with a single tree… you’ll miss the entire forest.”
The ‘What’ and ‘Why’
I’ve been a bit of a writing slump lately. I’ve been starting blog posts and not finishing them, losing the steam and the motivation to follow through. So, this is something that’s fun for me -talking about manga, that is. It’s also something that a little less serious, not requiring too much research nor deep reflection to push out.
So here we are. Every once and a while, I’ll share a manga I’m obsessed with. Whether new/old, ongoing/completed doesn’t matter, I want to share with you all some series that have stuck with me. Hopefully we can connect over series we’ve mutually read or maybe I’ve talked about one you decided to your tbr list. Either way, it’s meant to be a fun thing, so I’ll try not to take things so serious with these.
So with the explanations out of the way, this time is…
VAGABOND by Takehiko Inoue
Started In: 1998
Status: Hiatus (2015)
Demographic: Seinen
Genre(s): Action, Historical, Coming of Age
Summary
At seventeen years of age, Miyamoto Musashi–still known by his childhood name, Shinmen Takezo–was a wild young brute just setting out along the way of the sword.
In the aftermath of the epic Battle of Sekigahara, Takezo finds himself a fugitive survivor on the losing side of the war. Takezo’s vicious nature has made him an outcast even in his own village, and he is hunted down like an animal. At this crucial crossroads in Takezo’s life, an eccentric monk and a childhood friend are the only ones who can help him find his way. (Credit: Viz Media)
Personal Thoughts
Ah, it took a long time for me to even consider reading this series. Despite multiple friends raving about it and recommending it to me, I paid it absolutely no attention. But, I’d say that sometimes, you need to want to do things yourself, on your own time. I feel that I’m reading this series at just the right time.
This series is SO good y’all. The storytelling is not only well done but also is paired with some immaculate artwork. Takehiko has also done popular work, ‘Slam Dunk’ -which I will read some time in the future- which is also known for it’s amazing story and art, so I’m a bit convinced that this is simply one hell of a mangaka.
What draws me into this story is not only the growth of main character Musashi (formerly Takezo), but also how his story parallels the one of his old friend, Kojiro (formerly Matahachi). Their paths have split off into almost completely opposite directions, yet manage to remain intertwined in one way or another. It’s been interesting to see how they’ve choices shaped their lives and how their identities have formed due to said choices.
This is something you see all throughout the manga. As we get insight into these two characters, we also have glimpses of other characters and their own independent journeys as the story continues on. It makes the world feel more alive and full, while also having the reader actually feel the passage of time happening in the manga. It doesn’t feel forced, nor is it some sharp time skip where years have flown by in a blink of an eye. These moments and interactions feel natural amongst all the ever present characters, but especially so for Musashi and Kojiro. Though I know their reunion and confrontation is a long ways off (I am currently in the first third of the story), I find myself anticipating the moment it happens due to all this build up.
Another aspect I like about Vagabond is the artwork and the paneling. Like, this story is gorgeous and has been an a delight to read. I’ve been reading the physical copies of the Definitive Edition and the pages are so big, it almost feels like I’m watching instead of reading it.
Takehiko does a phenomenal job of creating scenes that evoke a strong reaction. Often I’ll reach a page and pause, taking some time to absorb everything and to appreciate the setting that was put in front of me. I can go through manga pretty quickly and I’ll be honest to say that I don’t always pay a lot of attention to the illustrations. But with Vagabond, I move much slower, engrossed in the imagery and paneling. Everything seems so intentional, with every transition moving seamlessly to next scene and the palettes of the colored pages perfectly matching the tone of the given situation.
I don’t think there’s many a mangaka that lack a talent to create a beautiful drawing. However, I do believe there a certain level of skill needed to elevate a story while also being able to effectively convey to a reader the desired mood happening in a scene. This is something that Takehiko excels at and continues to prove with every chapter. If the story is a well made entree, his art transforms it into a full course meal.
Concluding Thoughts
That’s Vagabond! I’m currently reading this series, so I felt like it would be good for my first ‘Manga Hear Me Out’. So, what did you think? Have you read Vagabond? If so, did you enjoy it? For those who haven’t, is it a series you’d be interested in checking out?
I’m quite passionate about manga so I’m always down for a good conversation about various series and mangaka. There’s such a diverse range of titles and stories, ah I feel like I could go on for a very long time. Well then, until the next post, see ya!♡
Sundai Paper 
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