It's by no means a bad thing - the main character needed some time to cool off and think - but I feel that it took maybe a little too long, and spent most of that time repeating the same few talking points with maybe some small variables.

Musashi decides he must face Inshun of the great Hozoin warrior monks, even though he barely survived his last duel it seems he really has his heart set on getting killed as efficiently as possible. The fight scenes as always were impecable and with such an electrifying rush, I was constantly on the edge of my seat. In fact, I feel like the upcoming chapters I’m going to read will only strengthen what I’ve already mentioned above! I feel like there's something fishy in his identity, but since he did well in this volume, I knew I'm going to love him too. Like Slam Dunk, I must admit some fight scenes dragged on a little longer than they needed to and while I enjoyed Sasaki Kojiro’s arc, I was also desperate for it to end!Vagabond portrays a fictionalized account of Miyamoto Musashi’s life, in a loose adaptation of Eiji Yoshikawa’s novel “Musashi”. Matahachi isn't given much time in this omnibus but when he is, he steals the identity of a famous swordsman, that of Sasaki. I can vaguely remember my mouth hanging open through most of it and not swallowing my spit until it leaked out of my mouth. Then again, Vagabond is a quick read overall and Inoue’s jaw-dropping artwork carries the story through. He’s a natural combat genius who has never known “fear”, or had a truly serious challenge to his skills until now.

I know I’m constantly praising him for his artwork and storytelling, but there’s no denying that the man has abilities beyond this world. Even more impressive is that Inoue was able to make the duel so intense, suspenseful, and, well, awesome, in spite of the fact that it is made crystal clear early on that Musashi has no chance of beating Inshun, no matter how hard he tries (and he tries his damnedest). Kojiro is another enigma within the Vagabond universe, but I must continue to express my love for Takezo.I would not say that the character of Miyamoto Musashi has yet gained any true depth – he still comes across as rather flat – but the character gallery around him is starting to make up for it. Their release retains the color pages from the series' magazine run, and the company has published 37 volumes as of April 21, 2015. Inoue's artwork remains breathtaking and it became apparent to someone with no previous experience with his work as early as volume two of this series that the man knows how to weave a tale. As he aims to be as strong as his former friend, despite his bumbling nature, a situation leads him to impersonate Sasaki Kojirō after obtaining Kojirō's certificate of swordsmanship. But Musashi's growing feelings for his childhood friend Otsū may prove to be a fatal distraction in his match against Inshun, the austere master of Hōzōin's deadly spear technique!

Allow me to pour my heart out for the legend of Miyamoto Musashi beautifully illustrated in Inoue Takehiko’s best work yet: Vagabond. The legacy of expert swordsman Miyamoto Musashi lives on through Takehiko’s Vagabond and will hopefully awaken the dormant fighting spirit we all have inside of us. Though, I will not try to be as vague as possible, though I will use names and situations to express and explain my thoughts. Vagabondis the fictitious retelling of the life of one of Japan's most renowned swordsmen, the "Sword Saint" Musashi Miyamoto—his rise from a swordsman with no desire other than to become "Invincible Under the Heavens" to an enlightened warrior who slowly learns of the importance of close friends, self-reflection, and life itself. Characters relatable for they humanity and challenges along their journey in this volume makes it the definitive reason to not let go of this manga.I’m really enjoying how Inoue is not only focusing on the carnage to carry on his adaptation but he’s carefully threading a psychological web so we as the readers can understand a little bit more what goes inside the mind of the invincible Mushashi. Despite displaying his savage skill to the full and causing no small consternation to the monks who have never seen anyone so nearly equal to their master, this battle proves to be nearly too much for Musashi who finds Inshun’s composure and unerring skill unbeatable. Volume 6, The first half way great, I didn't love the end as much as I did the first half only because I despise Matahachi as a character but I believe that is the authors incentive. Conclusion: Vagabond is a masterpiece of storytelling and artwork that has captivated readers for over two decades. This allows the series to delve deep into the character's psyche and explore his motivations and emotions in a way that other manga series may not.

Matahachi’s on the run because of the arson thing, and a chance encounter allows him to also reinvent himself as the respected warrior Sasaki Kojirō. I can already see the future and imagine the character development that's about to take place and I'm so excited about it. And if you want the biggest collection/selection of manga and you want to save cash, then reading Manga online would be an easy choice for you. This volume continues the pre-Miyamoto Musashi life of Takezo Shinmen and it introduces the character who has become my favorite cast member of Vagabond, Takuan. The fact that the manga not only concentrates on the battle scenes that underscore the physical component of Musashi’s journey, but also take time to centre on his inner condition and the constant battle he wages against his own nature to better himself and learn from his mistakes in each step he takes towards perfection of the way of the sword makes for an enjoyable and enlightening read.I’ve commented before from the first volume, as despite the violent nature throughout this story, Inoue wants us to connect to these characters on an emotional level, not least towards Musashi, who in one stunning splash page, sits outside a decrepit house stating his loneliness.