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GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: Blade of the Immortal Volume 31: Final Curtain TPB

 
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Overview
 

Story by: Hiroaki Samura
 
Art by: Hiroaki Samura
 
Publisher:
 
FG RATING
 
 
 
 
 
4/ 5


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Raves


The epic conclusion of the great manga series!; As always, plenty of great fighting art illustrations; Well-paced, tying up loose ends to many characters involved

Rants


Manji comes LATE!; It’s not a standalone volume; Prior readings are necessary; The long wait; As expected, violence, bloodshed and some disturbing themes are abound


To sum it all up..

After twenty years of waiting, Hiroaki Samura’s highly influential historical manga series, Blade of the Immortal, has finally finished. The artist already completed his writing chores in 2012, though the last story arc was serialized and published in Japan first, not before it was translated to English and distributed to the English-speaking demographics worldwide three […]

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Posted April 27, 2015 by

 
FULL REVIEW
 
 

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After twenty years of waiting, Hiroaki Samura’s highly influential historical manga series, Blade of the Immortal, has finally finished. The artist already completed his writing chores in 2012, though the last story arc was serialized and published in Japan first, not before it was translated to English and distributed to the English-speaking demographics worldwide three years later. I came to know this Japanese samurai-era saga when I was in my secondary years and read some of the English-translated versions in single issue form courtesy by Dark Horse Comics until the same independent comic publisher halted this set-up halfway through and distributed Blade of the Immortal Volume 31: Final Curtain in manga-fashion, though that takes way longer to conclude. Finally, the last volume, number 31, and appropriately titled “Final Curtain” has arrived. Is it worth the patience? Is it ended on a high note? Does it tie up many loose-ends? The answer is simply… YES!

The “Final Curtain” chronicles the final showdowns between Habaki, a disgraced Edo (present day Tokyo) officer and Machiavellian strategist Anotsu, the immortal (and main protagonist) Manji and Anotsu; the aftermaths of the characters survived; and an epilogue that actually comes in full circle! Meaning, if you know your Japanese history, the story situated at the height of the Tokugawa shogunate (mid 18th century) and ended at the early years of the Meiji Restoration (late 19th century). That alone gives the audience a clue how our revenge-rage-filled immortal ends up and with some unexpected twists at the end of the chapter aptly called “FINAL CURTAIN”. Naturally, we are not sorely disappointed for it has almost anything what a true samurai-historical manga possesses: great battle sequences and moments (plus a number of exaggerated ones that are usually synonymous with Japanese violence); heartbreaking and tumultuous scenes; exploration of Japanese themes like loyalty, honor, duty, sacrifice, purpose and existence, and of course, BUSHIDO and Confucianism! However, it should be reminded that this volume is read from left to right, not the traditional right to left schema, which Dark Horse consistently does so since the late 1990’s to its manga-adaptation.

I am equally engrossed with the features inside. First, it has important notes regarding translations. Long-time readers are aware of the swastika behind the main character’s back and the rationale behind this. Again, I am glad this is again emphasized to avoid further misunderstandings why that infamous image is there by highlighting its long historical background before the Nazis came into the scenes in the 1920’s and 1930’s. As always, it has a glossary of terms and weaponry used in the current volume to aid English-reading audience on the meanings and cultural-historical contexts behind the Japanese terms uttered frequently and the weapons used by the characters all throughout. And, an afterword made by the great manga master Hiroaki Samura himself. I never thought he never liked both Japanese and world histories until he became old enough. Well in hindsight, many young people really hate history until they grow up, age up, matured and wise up!
The battle scenes are typically long but beautifully illustrated even though it is colored in traditional black-and-white manga fashion. Like numerous battles presented in the Lone Wolf and the Cub that are almost real-life samurai confrontations and choreographically done so well, this finale is no exception. Just marvel how the artist captures well the ambiance of the snowy rice field and the showdown of two bitter rivals is executed. The inking illustrates the degree of bloodshed and violence delivers, and the emotions the characters convey and express.

The only time I feel dragged is the late appearance of the immortal warrior Manji who first appears almost halfway of this volume (this is one of the thickest so far, more than two-hundred fifty pages). And, this is expectedly a blood-filled and violent tale that may disturb some weak hearted types. Furthermore, new readers may be bewildered on how these things started, thus they need some serious readings on prior volumes (the first volumes are the most significant) to comprehend all the troubles these characters had to gone through. Despite these, Final Curtain delivers the coda of what is truly a great Japanese samurai historical run. The wait is over. It’s worth the patience after all.


Paul Ramos

 


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