For the uninitiated, Blade Of The Immortal (無限の住人 Mugen No Junin) is a manga written and illustrated by Hiroaki Samura. The series is set in Japan during the mid-Tokugawa Shogunate period and follows a samurai named Manji, bestowed with immortality by the bloodworms that live within his body. Viewing his eternal life as a curse, Manji’s mandate is to kill 1,000 evil men in order to regain his mortality.
The manga was originally published in Kodansha’s Monthly Afternoon from June 1993 to December 2012 and compiled into thirty tankōbon volumes, and has also been adapted into 2 different anime series as well as a live-action film starring SMAP star Kimura Takeya.
This new hardcover deluxe edition released by Dark Horse comics compiles 3 volumes of the original 7×10 serialized format just like the earlier released omnibus editions, albeit with a bigger print size. The reading format however has not changed and still reads like a Western comic; ie from left to right, and the SFX are in English as well.
I believe my review for Vol 1 has already firmly established the superb quality of this manga series, and indeed Samura Hiroaki’s excellent art, so this review for vol 2 is mostly to attract/introduce more readers who are new to the manga or the artist’s work.
I already have the full collection of the Japanese tankobons as I prefer to read manga in its original language, but on account of the sturdy hardcover format and larger print size, which is easier on the eyes, I’m still going to collect this edition as well. For English readers, this is by far the best way to enjoy Blade Of The Immortal and comes recommended.
Blade of the Immortal Deluxe Volume 2 manga details :
– Dimensions – 7.3 x 1.57 x 10.31 inches
– hardcover, 536 pages
– Black & White, in English
Buy From Amazon CA | Amazon JP | Amazon UK | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Amazon DE | Amazon ES
You might also be interested in these items :
Blade of the Immortal Deluxe Volume 1 Manga Review
Blade Of The Immortal – New Edition Manga Covers
Blade Of The Immortal Manga Cover Art Volume 19-29
Blade Of The Immortal Teaser – Takashi Miike
Blade of the Immortal goes Anime 無限の住人アニメ化決定
October 8th, 2021 at 3:25 am
This edition looks so good! It’s unfortunate that the panel orientation is flipped though. Dark Horse has printed right to left manga before. I wonder what goes into making the decision about whether or not to use the original panel orientation?
Manga is so widespread in English speaking countries now, it doesn’t make sense to me that you would flip the artwork for the sake of accessibility. I wonder if some rights holders have something about it in their contract relating to English translations. Like with Tezuka, I’m pretty sure all of his comics have flipped art with the English translations.
October 11th, 2021 at 9:12 am
Coffee – “I wonder what goes into making the decision about whether or not to use the original panel orientation?” – I’ll love to know the reason behind this as well !
October 17th, 2021 at 3:20 pm
This is so surreal, I remembered how I once commented on another Blade of the Immortal related post of yours, how you were the push needed for me to actually go and read the story and it immediately became one of my favorite mangas. I find it interesting, in my country they have also decided to reissue the manga in a larger format with the new edition covers, but have refrained from flipping the orientation and have stuck with the original Japanese one. Great review as always!
October 21st, 2021 at 3:56 am
Jacksnapp – Thanks for the kind words, I’m glad you’re liking the manga ! And you’re so lucky to enjoy the comic in its original reading format. May I ask which country you’re from ?