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VAGABOND #S 1 & 2
Recommended (7/10)
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Viz Comics
Writer/Artist: Takehiko Inoue
English adaptation: Yuji Oniki
Letters: Steve Dutro
Editor: Andy Nakatani
Price: $4.95 US/$7.95 CAN each |
In the most general terms, I've found that manga and anime fall into one of three categories: over-the-top science-fiction, over-the-top fantasy and legends about quiet, lone warriors. It's clear from this title's very name into which category it falls. I usually don't care for those stories of ancient Japanese culture, examinations of the ways of the samurai or what have you, but Inoue includes some universal human elements in the story that made it easier to relate to the characters.
Ages ago, two young men and friends from the same village -- Tazeko and Matahashi -- are the only survivors of a fierce battle that wiped out their people, and so they begin to wander the countryside. Matahashi, something of a coward, doesn't know what to do, whereas Tazeko, who quickly proves himself to be a fearsome warrior, simply yearns for a nomadic life, to be a vagabond. The duo happens upon a pair of thieves -- a young girl and her mother -- and together, they end up facing the wrath of a gang of brigands.
 I have to admit... reading from right to left, from the back of the book to the front in traditional Japanese style, took some getting used to. I also have to admit, though, that I enjoyed the new challenge. Mind you, that doesn't reflect on this comic book, per se, but the new approach affected my appreciation of the reading experience.
Imagine being a brave, solitary sword-wielding warrior, wandering the countryside. No, I really can't place myself in those shoes either. Fortunately, through the all-too human Matahashi, Inoue provides the reader with a gateway into this almost alien landscape and culture. His voice is down to earth, and his fears and desires are ones to which I can relate.
Inoue's art in this book is remarkably detailed and realistic, while still maintaining that uniquely manga tone. Once one gets used to the right-to-left reading flow, the visuals progress with clarity and appropriate dramatic impact. The color sequences are oddly peaceful, and the colors are almost ghostly. The most impressive aspect of the art was the sensuality the artist instilled in Oko and even her daughter, while not presenting them simply as sexual objects. There's strength, sadness, passion and vulnerability in their eyes.
Though I find Inoue's examination of Tazeko's growing ferocity, the more blood-thirsty sequences distanced me from the story. Not because of the violence or gore, but because it reinforces the epic and alien nature of the premise and setting. Tazeko is the lead figure in this story, yet he is the most impenetrable character. It's not a criticism of the work here, per se, but the genre, I suppose. These kinds of books rarely hold my interest, and for Vagabond to have succeeded in that regard to any extent speaks volumes about its quality.
These comic books were not among this week's new releases.
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