(Not safe for work. Unless you work as an anatomical pathologist. Then it’s research.)
I would consider this a horror manga as much as I would consider it an action title. It’s downright macabre, as we partake in the fantasy that swords slice with laser-like efficiency through both muscle and bone. The manga is equal parts story and corpse parade.
Nevertheless, the plot manages to match the ugly face of its visuals. I will only spoil the first chapter: It’s 1629 in Japan. A one-armed man and a blind cripple engage in a swordfight.
The rest of the manga (so far) is a flashback of how these two people came to hate one another so much, and how they managed to develop into the two most deadly individuals in probably all of Japan.
My friends, THIS is a rivalry. We see the basic plot often enough, both in manga and in general. But rarely is it of this magnitude, and rarely does it possess the suppressed tenacity that almost causes the page to shudder.
Witness the psychological dysfunction of an era whose strict moral code is simply repulsive. What a bizarre move on the author’s part, to construct such a disgusting and hideous story in a period that is so often romanticized as a time where individual honor and courage was the prevailing form of social justice.
Yeah.
The characters are all insane, for different reasons. But it makes their drama no less interesting. I’d praise the characterization for being realistic, but having read this manga, I really wish it wasn’t.
Author: Norio Nanjou
Artist: Takayuki Yamaguchi
Published: 2003-present
Licensed: No
Scanlated: Yes
Length: 13 volumes +
Hmm i think i will read this manga you make it sound as tho i might realy relate to it
ReplyDeleteIve been planning to read this. You forgot to mention that its by the same artist as Apocalypse Zero. Im sure that would help peak some peoples interest in this :)
ReplyDeleteZT
I did write a paragraph mentioning that, maybe I should put it in there...
ReplyDeleteDo people even remember Apocalypse Zero was a manga first?
I didnt know it until someone posted the scans of it on Deadfrog BT. I had never even heard of the manga before, or after that :p
ReplyDeleteZT