Creator: Hiroaki Samura
U.S. publisher: Dark Horse
ISBN: 9781569715314
Released: April 2001
Original release: 1997
Awards: Eisner Award, Japan Media Arts Award

Heart of Darkness is the seventh volume in Dark Horse’s English translation of Hiroaki Samura’s manga series Blade of the Immortal. After chapters twenty-six through thirty-three were serialized as individual comics, the seventh collection was published in 2001. The numbering of the English volumes of Blade of the Immortal is slightly different than that of the original Japanese volumes. Heart of Darkness collects chapters from the sixth and seventh volumes of the Japanese editions, both of which were released in 1997. 1997 is also the year that Blade of the Immortal won a Japan Media Arts Award. The series also won an Eisner Award in 2000 for Best U.S. Edition of International Material. In addition to being critically well received, Blade of the Immortal also happens to be one of my favorite manga series (as well as one of the first manga that I read). Understandably, I was looking forwarded to reading Heart of Darkness.

Rin and Manji aren’t the only people after the life of Kagehisa Anotsu, the leader of the rogue Ittō-ryū sword school. The Mugai-ryū, more of a band of assassins than a legitimate style, are also after Anotsu, but they have their eye on Manji, too. Anotsu will soon be leaving Edo, but his exact route is unknown. The Mugai-ryū have obtained inside information on Anotsu’s plans and are willing to trade it in exchange for Manji’s aid in taking him down. But that is all they are willing to share—who the Mugai-ryū really are, and who is backing and supporting the group is unknown. Despite their better judgement, Manji and Rin agree to join forces with the Mugai-ryū. They will soon discover just how incredibly dangerous some of its members truly are and may very well come to regret their decision.

Heart of Darkness is a exceptionally apt name for this particular story arc. Shira, one of the members of the Mugai-ryū who was introduced in the previous volume, Dark Shadows, plays a very prominent role. He is already known to be cruel and sadistic; the bloody aftermath of others’ encounters with him were shown in Dark Shadows. In Heart of Darkness his perverse proclivities are on full display—witnessed by Rin and the readers from start to finish—and it is brutal. From the very beginning of Blade of the Immortal it has been clear that the series is intended for mature audiences, but Heart of Darkness leaves absolutely no doubt. The lengthy scene with Shira is well done, but that doesn’t make it any less horrifying or any easier to read. It’s disturbing, rough, and intense, but then again it should be.

I continue to be impressed by Blade of the Immortal. In Heart of Darkness Samura’s artwork and storytelling is once again top notch. (Although the way Dark Horse has semi-flipped the manga occasionally makes the panel flow somewhat awkward.) His characters, even those that are scary as hell, fascinate me. Anotsu in particular is very intriguing. Time and again he is shown to be an incredibly formidable opponent. Not only is his a skilled fighter, but he has the brains to match. Anotsu is extremely intelligent and an excellent strategist which is one of the reasons he’s managed to stay alive for so long considering the number of people who would rather see him dead. Blade of the Immortal remains one of my favorite series. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next volume, The Gathering.

Creator: Hiroaki Samura
U.S. publisher: Dark Horse
ISBN: 9781569714690
Released: September 2000
Original release: 1996
Awards: Eisner Award, Japan Media Arts Award

Dark Shadows is the sixth volume of Hiroaki Samura’s manga series Blade of the Immortal as published by Dark Horse. The English volumes and the Japanese volumes collect slightly different chapters and so Dark Shadows is actually most closely equivalent to the fifth volume published in Japan and released in 1996. Dark Shadows was published in 2000, the same year that Blade of the Immortal won an Eisner Award. In 1997 the series also won a Japan Media Arts Award. Blade of the Immortal was one of my first manga series and it remains one of my favorites. On Silent Wings II, the volume that immediately precedes Dark Shadows, ends the first major story arc of Blade of the Immortal. Dark Shadows begins the next arc, introducing new characters and new complications to the story.

The Ittō-ryū continues to dominate the other dōjō in Edo, ultimately catching the eye of the shogunate itself. But the pressure applied by the shogunate isn’t the only thing that Anotsu, the charismatic leader of the Ittō-ryū, has to worry about. A newly formed sword school is bent on the destruction of the Ittō-ryū. Using methods as ruthless as the Ittō-ryū’s own, they have been steadily taking out Anotsu’s leading swordsmen. Rin, too, has become more confident in her decision to kill Anotsu in revenge for her parents’ murder. She continues to train with Manji to improve her swordsmanship. The confrontations between Manji and the members of the Ittō-ryū have brought him to the attention of the new sword school, as well. They would like him to join them in their fight against Anotsu and the Ittō-ryū.

One of the things that Samura does exceptionally well in Blade of the Immortal is establishing moral ambiguity in his characters. No one is truly good or bad—the “bad guys” have honorable qualities and the “good guys” have faults. It all depends on the perspective of the individual characters. A good example of this in Dark Shadows is Magatsu, one of the only members of the Ittō-ryū to survive an encounter with Manji. He’s more than willing to cut down other swordsmen, usually after being provoked, but maintains his own code of honor along with his grudges. Throughout Blade of the Immortal, Magatsu is shown to be one of the more decent characters. On the other hand, Dark Shadows see the introduction of Shira, a member of the swords school fighting against the Ittō-ryū. In his case, he is extremely cruel and even sadistic in his methods. He’s made his living killing others for money and has come to enjoy it.

Up until this point, much of Blade of the Immortal has focused on Rin and Manji and their journey. But they don’t even appear until the final half of Dark Shadows. Instead, Samura takes the opportunity to explore the Ittō-ryū more deeply. Magatsu in particular is developed as an important character. Dark Shadows also introduces new and very dangerous players to the story. The volume downplays some of the more fantastical elements of the story, but that may just be because Manji wasn’t involved in any of the fights. However, there’s no question that Blade of the Immortal remains a very violent series. Dark Shadows marks an excellent start to the new story arc and I look forward to seeing how things continue to develop in the next volume, Heart of Darkness.

Creator: Hiroaki Samura
U.S. publisher: Dark Horse
ISBN: 9781569714447
Released: March 2000
Original release: 1995
Awards: Eisner Award, Japan Media Arts Award

Hiroaki Samura’s Blade of the Immortal was one of the first manga series that I began reading and remains one of my favorites. I love the depth of Samura’s characters, find the story compelling if a bit strange at times, and absolutely adore his artwork. The fifth volume, On Silent Wings II, is closely tied to the fourth volume, On Silent Wings, as the title suggests. The collected chapters were originally published in Japan in 1995. In 2000, Dark Horse released the English edition. Blade of the Immortal has been honored with a number of awards, including a Japan Media Arts award in 1997 and an Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material in 2000. The more volumes of Blade of the Immortal that I read, the more I like the series, and so I was looking forward to reading On Silent Wings II.

Two years past, Rin’s parents were murdered and her mother brutally raped before her eyes by a group from a rogue sword school known as the Ittō-ryū. Seeking revenge, she hired Manji as a body guard and with his aid, many of the Ittō-ryū have been slain or severely injured. When they happen upon Araya—one of the members—at a festival working as a maker of bizarre masks, Rin has a decision to make. Already doubting herself after an encounter with Anotsu, the leader of the Ittō-ryū, Rin realizes that even those who commit terrible deed have those who love them. Araya has hidden his past from his only son and is raising him alone; Rin is reluctant to put his son through the same suffering that she herself experienced. Still, she is forced into a confrontation with Araya that very well may cost her her life is she isn’t willing to take his.

The two On Silent Wings volumes of Blade of the Immortal have shown significant character development of Rin as she continues to grow and mature as a person. She isn’t as naïve as she once was and realizes the circumstances surrounding her parents murders are complicated. She struggles with her conflicting emotions, wanting revenge while also wanting to see an end to the cycle of hate and violence. But even that desire is extremely optimistic and unlikely to come about unless the society that Rin lives in also changes. Rin is still in the process of comprehending and coming to terms with this. Manji serves not only as her body guard, but also as an emotional support simply by being their and allowing her to work these things out for herself. He is much more knowledgeable about the world and is familiar with the darker aspects of life that Rin has only glimpsed so far. Manji cares about Rin, not just because he has been hired to, and I enjoy watching their relationship develop and deepen.

As with the previous volumes of Blade of the Immortal, I can’t help but be impressed by Samura’s artwork. However, because of the method used to flip the manga to read from left to right, some inconsistencies are introduced and occasionally the flow of panels can be awkward. Fortunately, this doesn’t detract too much from the overall effect of the artwork. Samura continues to improve as an artist which can particularly be seen in his fight scenes. They are not only creative and interesting, but also easier to follow than in previous volumes. Moments of particular importance and impact earn gorgeous, full page spreads. On Silent Wings II is not a particularly good place to jump into Blade of the Immortal, especially considering how closely connected it is to the previous volume. Still, it is a great entry in the series with important character and plot developments as well as an opportunity for Manji to show off his badassery. I’ll definitely be reading the sixth volume, Dark Shadows.