Jun 2020 – KINGKIRA'S CASTLE

Welcome. In this post, we’ll be appreciating Takehiko Inoue’s incredible masterpiece, Vagabond. This manga is not only one of the best-drawn mangas I have ever read it is also one of my favorite series. I ranked colored and b&w panels as well as some honorable mentions. Enjoy Inoue’s art.

Colored Panels [35-1]

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Honorable mentions

*ONLY HUMAN

* TEARS FOR A FRIEND

* I’M SHINMEN TAKEZO

* CHAIN & SICKLE

* OTSU

* MISCHIEF

* TAKEZO X KOJIRO

* I RESPECT IT

* LOL

* THAT SMIRK

* GOTCHA!

* TAKUAN X OTSU

* GIFT

* AMAZING

* BEST GIRL

150. CLOUT

149. GOTTA DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO

148. MUSASHI X INSHUN

147. SURROUNDED

146. LOVE

145. HAPPY FAMILY

144. JUST CHILLING

143. TSUJIKAZE KOHEI X RINDO

142. SMILE

141. PREPARATION

140. KANEMAKI JISAI

139. WILD EYES

138. LADIES MAN

137. RINDO

136. MUSASHI X TAKUAN X JOTARO

135. 70 MEN

134. NEW YEAR’S DAY

133. A MOMENT

132. SUPERIORITY COMPLEX

131. ITS ABOUT TO GO DOWN

130. THE WANDERER

129. LONELINESS

128. TAKEZO

127. MUSASHI THE ARTIST

126. WINTER

125. PERSPECTIVE

124. PAIN & GROWTH

123. THESE TWO

122. AMBUSH

121. PLEASE MARRY HER

120. NICE SCENERY

119. DOJO YABURI

118. KEEP WANDERING

117. SEIJURO’S FIRST STRIKE

116. FINAL FLAME

115. A TRAP

114. I’M A VAGABOND

113. CORPSE

112. MUSASHI THE FARMER

111. TRANSCENSION

110. LUST

109. AMBITION

108. DENSHICHIRO YOSHIOKA

107. OKO

106. BATH TIME

105. SASAKI KOJIRO

104. HUMILITY

103. ZERO

102. WHAT A LEGEND

101. SAVE US

100. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

99. A TRUE BATTLE

98. THREEWAY

97. FIRST MAJOR LOSS

96. MIYAMOTO MUSASHI

95. NICE RIDE

94. BY THE SHORE

93. ITO ITTOSAI

92. SASAKI KOJIRO

91. THE EARTH IS HOME

90. CALM BEFORE THE STORM

89. PERSPECTIVE

88. MUSASHI X SEKISHUSAI

87. TSUJIKAZE TENMA

86. LOOKS RAW

85. SEIJURO’S DEATH

84. LIFE IS PAIN

83. KOJIRO X ITTOSAI

82. A PLACE TO DIE

81. MUSASHI’S BACK LOOKS EPIC

80. I’VE ARRIVED

79. PRETTY BOY

78. BEHEADING

77. DEATH’S DOOR

76. SQUAD GOALS

75. EMBRACE

74. FIGHT

73. I LOVE IT

72. FACE-OFF

71. KILLING BLOW

70. MUSASHI IN THE DARK

69. BIG MAN

68. SEIJURO GOING HARD

67. SWAG

66. FERAL KOJIRO

65. BECOME ME

64. WOUNDED BEAST

63. WILD BEAST

62. TAKUAN TIME

61. MUSASHI SENSEI

60. HE’S READY

59. ENDLESS CYCLE

58. WISDOM

57. THE MAN, THE LEGEND

56. SMILE

55. INSHUN OUT HERE

54. VISION

53. GREAT BACKGROUND

52. THE FEELS

51. GOAT

50. DEATH FRENZY

49. FATHER & SON

48. BEAUTIFUL DEATH

47. KOJIRO ON THE RUN

46. DEMOLITION

45. INVINCIBLE

44. MUSASHI X UEDA

43. KANEMAKI JISAI’S DOJO

42. WARCRY

41. YAGYU SEKISHUSAI

40. MUSASHI X CHAIN & SICKLE

39. BATTLE PROWESS

38. SEIJURO IN A NUTSHELL

37. MEETING IN THE DARK

36. MOUNTAIN

35. FATHER?

34. AWW

33. FINESE

32. YOUNG KOJIRO

31. LAUGHING BEAST

30. SAVAGE

29. WILL OF THE HEAVENS

28. BATTLE AGAINST THE YAGYU

27. KOJIRO’S BATTLE

26. ONE WITH HEAVEN & EARTH

25. ONESHOT

24. ITTOSAI X MUSASHI

23. ITO ITTOSAI

22. FANTASTIC

21. CLAPPED

20. WISE MAN

19. BADASS

18. YOU’RE SO DEAD

17. ITTOSAI X KOJIRO

16 MR STEAL YOUR GIRL

15. BRAVERY

14. DEPTH OF KOJIRO

13. MUSASHI’S GOT BALLS

12. NATURE

11. MUSASHI X BAIKEN

10. EPIC

9. SUCH DETAIL

8.CLASSIC

7. RIP

6. LEGENDARY ENCOUNTER

5. SEKISHUSAI X MUSASHI

4. 2 GOATS

3. IT WASN’T A WASTE BRO

2. FOR I AM UNRIVALED UNDER HEAVEN

1. THANK YOU TAKEHIKO INOUE

Story: Sho Fumimura

Art: Ryoichi Ikegami

Status: Completed

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Politics

Storyline [Spoiler free summary]: focuses on the journey of two young men (A Yakuza Don & a Politician) on a quest to reform Japan. The storyline flows well and the decisions made by the characters have major consequences on the outcome of the story, showing just how well thought out it was, it also has its fair share of suspense.

Does it get good fast: Yes, The first few chapters take you into the violent and corrupt world of both the Yakuza and the government, there are a couple of badass moments to enjoy along with some character introductions here and there. I think if it doesn’t win you over in the first 10 chapters it’s not for you.

Art: The art style is really impressive and classy which fits the plot perfectly in my opinion. It has a very smooth texture and feel to it, the facial expressions and fashion are illustrated brilliantly. The backgrounds and structures look crisp and highly detailed. There are several full page panels and double-page spreads throughout the series, it also has good volume covers.

Pacing: Sanctuary has great pacing and it manages to pull you in with suspense and high stake moments. Scenes never drag on and each event moves the story forward, there are very few unnecessary moments in the series and I think that helps the pacing.

Humor: As far as humor is concerned, Sanctuary has few instances of comedic relief. The series maintains a very serious tone but has a couple of light-hearted moments that will put a smile on your face.

Characters: There are several badass characters to watch out for in the series, I enjoyed the relationships & dialogue that went on between them. A couple of characters have great backstories and moments of development. My two favorite main characters are Akira Hojo and Mr. Tokai while Onishi is my favorite supporting character.

What I like most: The three things I like most about the series are the very smooth art style, awesome cast of characters, and the pacing and flow of the story.

Personal ranking: After completing Sanctuary, I think it’s up there among some of the best series I’ve read, I just completed it and it could be a recency bias thing but it makes its way into my top 20 favorites list.

Closing thoughts: Sanctuary is a very satisfying ride until the very last chapter, I consider this a masterpiece in my humble opinion. It slowly pulls you in and manages to keep things interesting by maintaining high stakes. I found it hard to stop reading many times during the most intense moments and I usually had to read multiple chapters in one sitting. I highly recommend it if you’re into stories revolving around crime and politics.

Thanks for stopping by.

Month: Jun 2020

Top 200 Vagabond Panels

Manga recommendation: Sanctuary