It's the build-up to the climactic end of Blade's first year! And to celebrate, Marc Guggenheim and Howard Chakykin are unloading the series' first two-part story! What story could be so big it needed two issues to tell? Only the climactic encounter between Blade and his newly-discovered father! What is Blade's connection to an ancient vampire prophecy and how will it affect him forever? The answers begin here, true believer!
FEAR-FRAUGHT FINAL ISSUE! And we're going out in style, tying up 11 issues worth of plot threads! What is Blade's father's endgame? Will Blade keep his gun-hand? Will the Tryana prophecy be fulfilled and, if so, at what cost? What is Dracula's dark secret? All this...and the conclusion of Blade's origin. All brought to you by Marc Guggenheim and Howard Chaykin!
A double-sized dose of Samurai suspense and violence, as Blade of the Immortal reaches its one-hundredth issue ! Armed with kessen-satsu , the only poison known to damage Manji's immortal blood, three Itto-ryu warriors target Manji and Giichi. Crippled and sightless, will Manji be able to fend off a vicious, new Itto-ryu foe? Giichi, still reeling from the events in the "Twilight" storyline, finds himself trading swings with Magatsu, another fan favorite! This issue also features pinups by Francisco Paronzini and Andy Tong, along with a Blade of the Immortal parody strip, "Rumble to Kaga, " by Jhomar Soriano. i Francisco Paronzini's previous works include Dark Horse's Dead To Rights and Star Wars Tales and DC Comics' Cinnamon: El Ciclo . Andie Tong's previous works include Noble Causes and Masters Of The Universe . He is also a fantasy illustrator for White Wolf RPG books. FOR MATURE READERS
The vicious grudge match between Giichi and Magatsu concludes! Two fan favorites exchange blows on a rickety bridge above a deadly chasm ... and someone's headed for oblivion! Don't miss this heavyweight bout, as the Mugai-ryu crew's top headhunter clashes with a skilled Itto-ryu anti-hero. Nearby, Manji fights for his life after being blinded by a tenacious new foe. Facing an enemy armed with kessen-satsu , the only poison known to damage his immortal blood, Manji is vulnerable, falling apart, and swinging in the dark! FOR MATURE READERS
The concluding chapter to the "Trickster" story arc! The winner of last issue's brutal dogfight between Giichi and Magatsu is revealed! Also, Manji fights for his life after being blinded by a tenacious new foe. Facing an enemy armed with kessen-satsu , the only poison known to damage his immortal blood, Manji is vulnerable, falling apart, and swinging in the dark! Will the vindictive Itto-ryu noose finally close in around Manji's neck? Fans of Hiroaki Samura's entertaining, colorful characters, complex grudge matches, and beautifully brutal swordfights will be delighted with this hard-hitting "Trickster" finale! Winner of Japan's prestigious Media Arts Award and America's own Eisner Award. Thirteen volumes available in the Dark Horse backlist! FOR MATURE READERS
The return of Shira! With "Forsaken, " another one-shot episode, manga master Hiroaki Samura gives us a peek at what his most despicable character has been up to since the "Autumn Frost" storyline. Get ready to be seriously disturbed! Also in this issue, Rin is reunited with an old ally, two compelling, new Itto-ryu warriors are introduced, and Manji finds himself in the "lion's den" of Habaki Kagamura, leader of the Mugai-ryu . This Eagle and Eisner Award -winning epic reaches another major turning point! Winner of Japan's prestigious Media Arts Award and America's own Will Eisner Award. FOURTEEN volumes of this modern classic available in the Dark Horse backlist! FOR MATURE READERS
A look into Burando's dark past gives a hint at how Kagimura's deranged medical examiner wound up becoming so heartless and twisted. Having survived Kagimura's first few experiments, Manji braces himself for the next test on his body and on the mystical bloodworms that grant him near-immortality. The kessen-chu keep their secrets well! It's going to take a lot of bloodshed and pain before Kagimura has his answers! For Manji, the kessen-chu are both a blessing and a curse, now. Will he only find comfort in death? And where's that old witch Yaobikuni when you need her? FOR MATURE READERS
Yamada Asaemon, the Shogun's executioner and sword tester, is on the scene to help Burando accelerate the pace of his sadistic medical experiments to discover the secret of Manji's immortality. Still chained in a prison near Edo castle, Manji stews and ponders his next escape attempt. With Manji's old cellmate, Dewanosuke, recovering and possibly benefiting from Burando's schemes, will he help Manji regain his freedom or will Dewanosuke become enticed by the allure of immortality and rally to the side of Manji's captors? This issue also features a color Blade of the Immortal pinup by Samura fan Becky Cloonan. FOR MATURE READERS
It's time for Manji's dimwitted-yet-likeable cellmate, Dewanosuke, to shine . . . or die ! Searching for the key to immortality, the twisted doctor Burando finally feels that his experiments are leading towards success. However, the Shogun's bangashira , Habaki Kagimura, grows impatient and decides to "up the ante" in the tests on Dewanosuke's regenerative abilities. Also, while all of the Itto-ryu warriors are supposed to be keeping a low profile, one cute sparkplug is about to threaten everything. Yes, it's the return of Doa, the feisty Itto-ryu renegade who's been causing so much trouble for Rin! This time, however, Doa's headstrong attitude may turn up something very essential to Rin's search for her beloved, missing Manji. "Blade of the Immortal's image of pre-modern Japan might be filled with anachronism, but it is also gifted with loving detail and interesting perspective. - VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates).
The conclusion of the "On the Perfection of Anatomy" story arc, and. . .the return of Giichi! Monthly readers will be surprised to see the state Giichi in! Rin and Hyakurin have found one of their missing friends, but do they really want to know what he's been up to since the Mugai-ryu disbanded? Will he still be the warrior he once was, especially after the injuries he sustained in Samura's "Trickster" storyline? Rin, tortured over Manji's disappearance, is determined to check every clue and look into every lead, but disturbing Edo Castle is tantamount to suicide. This issue also continues Hiroaki Samura's hilarious "Biography" piece, accompanied by hard-to-find Samura pinups--extras found only in this monthly series! FOR MATURE READERS
It's almost funny, how Doa, the Itto-ryu sparkplug, so brashly hurls herself into trouble. She's in some serious danger now, though, and Edo's angry police force has her and her friends cornered and outnumbered. With dexterous Doa swinging her daggers and Isaku showing off his heavy-handed fighting style, Rin is aghast, caught up in a senseless battle. Meanwhile, deranged Doc Burando stews in a jail cell, having failed his master too many times. However, that doesn't mean that his twisted mind will stop thinking about Manji and the mysterious kessen-chu bloodworms that grant immortality to their hosts. This issue also features Stan Shaw's final back cover "Seasons" illustration, which links up to issues 117 through 119 to complete a gorgeous color quadtych image! 2006 Eagle Award winner for "Favourite Manga Title"
A new story arc begins! Separated from Isaku and Manji, Doa and Rin begin to lean on each other for support, with neither of them knowing that they're actually on opposing sides of a complex, generations-long conflict. As Edo's most esteemed doctors mull over Kagimura's experiments and Manji's mystical, regenerative bloodworms, Rin starts spying on Edo Castle and Kagimura's comings and goings. She knows that Manji is trapped inside, and she just needs one big clue to get her rescue operation rolling. The Edo Castle stakeout commences with "Barefoot, " part one of five! * 2006 Eagle Award winner for "Favourite Manga Title" * Winner of Japan's prestigious Media Arts Award and America's own Will Eisner Award.
In part two of the intense "Barefoot" story arc, Rin's hard work as an amateur spy pays off, and she becomes closer friends with Doa as her quest to find Manji continues. Kagimura's dark experiments are revitalized, Manji falls into dreamland, and twisted Doc Burando's dreams come true. Karukozawa and Toraemon, the "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern" of Samura's savage samurai epic, provide a little comic relief. Our color back cover feature this month is a unique Hiroaki Samura geisha pinup, colored by frequent Blade of the Immortal contributor Dan Jackson! * 2006 Eagle Award winner for Favourite Manga Title. * Winner of Japan's prestigious Media Arts Award and America's own Will Eisner Award. * FIFTEEN volumes of this modern classic available in the Dark Horse backlist!
Blade of the Immortal's level of unsettling horror gets kicked up a big notch in "Barefoot, " Samura's current story arc. Doc Burando is put back into service in the dark prisons under Edo Castle. Kagimura gambles that he can get his top lunatic doctor back on track with just a few . . . unconventional adjustments. While surveying the grounds around Edo castle, Rin and Doa make a startling, stomach-churning discovery. Doa finds some ghastly clues and is thrown into another one of her furious fits of blind rage. Will Rin be able to calm her down before their search-and-recovery mission is blown? FOR MATURE READERS
Doa and Rin finally realize that they have something very strange in common! They begin a heated exchange over the existence of the murderous Itto-ryu sword school before being interrupted by a clue that literally begs for their attention. Sounds odd? It is . . . and we won't be giving anything away here! As Doa and Rin come across a huge, horrific breakthrough in their quest to find Isaku and Manji, crazy Doc Burando revels in his newfound power. Imprisoned in an underground torture chamber deep below Edo Castle, Manji doesn't know what's worse, having his mystical bloodworms and healing powers tested every day or--as a "captive audience"--having to listen to Burando's insane rants on modern medicine and immortality. Enjoy an episode of discoveries and heartache, as Samura's two powerhouse heroines reach a major turning point that will change their relationship forever! FOR MATURE READERS * 2006 Eagle Award winner for "Favourite Manga Title" * Winner of Japan's......
As the horrific "Barefoot" story arc comes to a close, Kagimura's prisoners are getting restless, and Burando continues to accelerate the pace of his deadly experiments. The other doctors in Edo call his "immortality research" blasphemous and shameful. Burando feels that he's making medical history, though, and he becomes frantic and confrontational when Kagimura wants to put a test subject out of his misery. Burando's a new man, Manji's a sliver of his former self, and Doa helps Rin steal something that may be extremely vital to their rescue mission. Features the final image in Hiroaki Samura's "China Cat" pinup series. Full color Manji pinup by Guy Davis ( B.P.R.D. )!!
In this "Life in Death" one-shot issue, we catch up with Giichi and Hyakurin, the two former Mugai-ryu warriors who have been somewhat on the sidelines as Rin hunts for the missing Manji. Hyakurin is still recovering from the brutal events chronicled in the "Beasts" story arc, and Giichi-now a despondent drunk after losing his son-has some objections when she tries to solve a lingering problem on her own. Doc Burando reaches another milestone in his experiments. Although he's ridiculed by the doctors of Edo, Burando still believes that his bloody work is for the good of the country. Features a full-color Manji pinup by artist Farel Dalrymple!!
The "Badger Hole" is a tunnel of death that leads into the bowels of Edo Castle, where Kagimura and Burando have been killing scores of prisoners in their attempts to transfer and duplicate the " kessen-chu immortality effect" that runs through Manji's veins. Mutilated body after body has been dragged out of the "Badger Hole" by prison guards and beggars, as most of the immortality experiments have been failures. Rin and Doa begin a reckless descent into this darkness, hoping to find their captive friends, Manji and Isaku. The girls are reckless, indeed, but they're not going without a few new tricks up their sleeves! * 2006 Eagle Award winner for "Favourite Manga Title" Featuring a wraparound cover and the beginning of a new story arc!
Samura's "Badger Hole" story arc continues, as Rin and Doa begin to explore the network of tunnels that wind below Edo Castle. One of these dank, dangerous tunnels may lead them to Kagimura and Doc Burando's blasphemous "immortality workshop, " where they hope to find their missing friends. However, before they face the horrors of this demented bangashira's operating room, they'll have to get past more of Kagimura's foot soldiers. If Doa has her way, they'll be cutting a bloody path right to Isaku and Manji! Readers will also enjoy a flashback that sheds some light on hotheaded Doa's past, detailing an early encounter with her beloved leader (and Rin's nemesis), Anotsu Kagehisa. This issue will also feature a full-color pinup by rising star Rob Guillory! * Winner of Japan's prestigious Media Arts Award and America's own Will Eisner Award. 2007 Eagle Award winner for "Favourite Manga Title" FOR MATURE READERS
Rin and Doa slink deeper into the "Badger Hole, " hoping to find their missing friends at the end of one of the dark tunnels that wind below Edo Castle. Going in through the "back door" won't be easy, as these tunnels are filled with Kagimura's foot soldiers and other dangers. When a surprise turn of events finds the ladies in an awkward, defenseless position, how will the arrival of a new Itto-ryu warrior sit with Rin? Meanwhile, Hyakurin reflects on a recent heart-to-heart she had with Rin and how her current role in the "Badger Hole Rescue Mission" has placed her shoulder to shoulder with the angry women of Edo--a growing number of citizens fearing for the lives of the many men who have been disappearing into Edo's prison system. * 2005, 2006, AND 2007 Eagle Award winner for "Favourite Manga Title" Features a full-color pinup by rising star Joshua Boulet!
The "Badger Hole" story arc comes to a close, with Rin and Doa still lost in the dark, dangerous tunnels below Edo Castle. Trapped by angry Edo soldiers, Rin is tortured while her friends hang helplessly nearby. A piercing, overpowering sound heralds the full introduction of a bizarre Itto-ryu warrior who's only been barely glimpsed in past issues. His arrival promises some vicious swordplay, as manga master Samura flexes his creative muscles to bring us another unique, fast-paced battle! Heads will fly! * Featuring a full-color pinup by American Splendor and Meathaus contributor Zachary Baldus and a black-and-white pinup by Pirates of Coney Island illustrator and Last Call creator Vasilis Lojos!
Having made it through the stressful Sekisho , Rin must decide how to proceed. Should she follow Anotsu to Kaga? And where in Kaga? And so, hoarding her money, she strikes out across Japan alone, a dangerous prospect. Can she trust the "kindness" of others? Meanwhile, Manji is making shifty deals on his own with the fabulous Magatsu, if he can restrain himself from getting in a duel with the estranged Itto-ryu bad boy. Each divergent path has a drama of its own in the continuing, award-winning saga that is Blade of the Immortal .
From the dark recesses of her memory comes the story of Hyakurin, full of tragedy, blood, and mystery. Learn how Hyakurin came to be the killer she is today. Reel with the knowledge of why she killed her husband. And gasp as you find out. . .who she works for...Maybe! But what's important is that she's been rescued from the torturous grasp of those Itto- ryu outlaws. Now she's resting with Giichi by her side and wandering through the past, darkly. It's another issue of mysteries revealed and brutalities uncovered. Strong characters, slowly revealing their true nature, and a setting that takes its time showing you the gritty back alleys. More of what you've come to expect from award-winning, long running series, Blade of the Immortal .
Damn! The sword battle between Shira and Magatsu continues, and refuses to end or wane. And it's not like swords are the only weapons here, there are plenty of mental games being played, and some odd stabbing tools to use as well. This makes for a fantastic issue, because not only does the reader get a full issue of fantastic Blade of the Immortal sword fight action, but also lots of spicy, telling dialogue. And neither of these guys is going to go down easy. But, mind you, be prepared, because this issue is really going to finish up with a cliff hanger.
Yaaaargh! Cliff hanger indeed. And so we return to the cliff and let the hanging begin. Hiroaki Samura has never been one to let a tense moment pass too quickly, and this issue is a testament to the art of hanging by a thread, for a little while longer. But rest assured, there will be a break to this tension, on of our dueling swordsmen will fall victim to a cruel fate, and then we'll even rejoin sad, lost little Rin on her grueling solo adventure in the woods of Kaga. Still seeking vengeance, poor samurai girl Rin is at wit's end, and only a surprise can save her from death by exposure. Another exciting and fantastically rendered samurai comic from the heavy metal sensei , Hiroaki Samura.
And now we return to romance. Ah, the wind in the trees, the white heron of love flitting through the branches, the...setup for what's looking to be a deadly trap! It's back to Anotsu and Hisoka, fresh from their romantic walk in the woods, and back into the lion's den that is the Shingyoto ryu . Anotsu might still have to compete for control of the ryu , but now there's a surprise element that could change the game for good.
Anotsu Kagehisa and Asano Rin have followed separate paths in search of revenge. Now they find themselves travelling the same path together. Each of them will come to learn that they have been walking in circles. And because of another's quest for vengeance, Anotsu will lose someone who is very dear to him and one of the fiercest warriors to ever spill blood between the pages of Blade of the Immortal will die. * Winner of Japan's prestigious Media Arts Award and America's own Will Eisner Award. * Ten volumes of fantastic translated works in the Dark Horse backlist!
Rin Asano has traveled a long and difficult path on a quest for revenge. Now that she finds herself allied with Anotsu Kagehisa, the one responsible for the murders of her parents, her path is about to become decidedly more treacherous. Assassins are on their trail, and there's no telling where or when they will catch up to them. * Winner of Japan's prestigious Media Arts Award and America's own Will Eisner Award. * Ten volumes of fantastic translated works in the Dark Horse backlist! FOR MATURE READERS
Hiroaki Samura's Last Blood story line comes to its conclusion! With revenge-lust hanging thick in the air, our main event is the deadly showdown between the starving and weakened Anotsu and his crazed, quick Shingyoto- ryu opponent, Iriya. Makie has evened out the playing field in a bloody flurry that puts Kill Bill Vol. 1 to shame, while Manji and Magatsu try to survive separate dogfights with Shingyoto- ryu swordsmen on the sidelines. Manji battles in order to be reunited with his beloved Rin, Magatsu engages his opponent in order to defend Anotsu, and any survivors of these gory encounters will face each other and their own shifting, uneasy alliances! This issue's dramatic cover mirrors the intensity inside, as Samura continues to reinvent the bushido grudge match with a sharp, modern edge. FOR MATURE READERS
Magatsu, licking his wounds after last issue's bloody showdown, plays samurai detective after he journeys to the site of an Itto- ryu massacre. In a weird turnaround, it's a batch of new Itto- ryu warriors who are massacred! Crossbow expert Hyakurin is also convalescing, under Giichi's protection while she slowly becomes battle-ready. A heartbreaking conversation provides some insight into Giichi's character, and the ever-present Blade cliffhanger leaves us wondering about Hyakurin's future. Gracing this issue are two stellar pinups by rising comic book stars Jonathan and Joshua Luna! FOR MATURE READERS
Trying to recover from a Mugai -ryu ambush, Anotsu assembles a colorful group, his finest surviving Itto -ryu warriors, to re-affirm loyalties and focus their anger. Once again, revenge-lust hangs heavy in the air, as Anotsu sets his followers against the man he feels is responsible for crippling his sword school. Reunited and recovering from their last ferocious battle, Manji and Rin rest at an idyllic cabin. Rin hones her swordfighting skills and drops a huge surprise on Manji. Their break from the fray may be short-lived, however, as the bald, spectacled Giichi arrives with an unsettling proposition. Winner of Japan's prestigious Media Arts Award and America's own Will Eisner Award. TWELVE volumes of this modern classic available in the Dark Horse backlist! FOR MATURE READERS
The moonlit forest battle between Manji and Giichi concludes. A bit too confident in his mystical healing powers, Manji has survived several sloppy sword fights and recovered from severe injuries ... but never from a beheading! Giichi's fighting style and unique weapon of choice may be just what's needed to take the near-immortal warrior down. Rin, recently reunited with her beloved Manji, watches the fight from the shadows, while a strange figure lurks in the forest behind her with evil intentions. A cliffhanger ending ?? You betcha! Two bloodthirsty fan-favorites clash in another stylish Samurai showdown! FOR MATURE READERS
Written by: Arjun Gaind Art by: R.Manikandan Cover by: Ashok Bhadana He is a prince who lost his kingdom. A hero who struggles to be heroic. A name that would define a class of warriors. He is Kshatriya. Before the great civilizations of the world had begun, when myth, magic, sword and sorcery still existed and Gods walked the earth in mortal disguise, our hero was born to oppose an inexorable tide of darkness. Kshatriya's childhood was stolen from him, as he faces the evil forces of the demonic Shaitan-in the form of his own brother. Our warrior's fight has just begun, whether he is trained for itO or not. "
