Dear Journal I was straight up giddy to be handed the latest issue in the Absolute Batman series, one that proves that the Dark Knight is the best superhero in any universe. Issue 11 left us with the ominous scene of Bain standing over Batman's closest circle of friends, who, in the regular universe, positioned themselves as his greatest foes. I guess it just goes to show that Bain is positioned against Bruce, no matter which timeline they traverse, although this time, he shows that there's more than one way to break a bat beyond bending a back. In one go, Bain becomes the common origin source for The Penguin, Two-Face, Croc, and the Riddler, and what a way to do it. Halt, hear all ye squeamish ninnies, the visuals from #12 will give you nightmares, but the response from Batman and Alfred has me salivating, and while the entrance of a very cool looking Cat Woman was welcome, it's Joker's (hopeful) entry that I'm hoping and holding out for. Now what to read whil...
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Vagabond is an enthralling and visually stunning manga from the beautiful mind of Takehiko Inoue and inserts itself as yet another stellar medium for representing Japan’s proud history and culture. The unassuming title houses a thoughtful biopic of one, if not the greatest swordsman in the nation's history. The name, Miyamoto Mushashi, should ring with a slight degree of familiarity given his immortalization into popular culture, as well as his contribution to military strategy in his magnum opus, The Book of Five Rings. However, if none of these ring a bell for newcomers, then Vagabond will serve as a great introduction to one of the genuine exemplars of the martial way.
Born as Shinmen Takezo to an otherwise uncaring and unnurturing family life, Takezo would find mother nature to be a suitable stand-in for an uninterested father and neglectful mother. Indeed, the harsh landscape of the mountains would steele Takezo against the hardships of life to come, and he would eventually grow into an adult tasked with finding meaning for his life beyond the family and clan. After he and a childhood friend survive a bloody battle, the two would set out to make a name for themselves as Ronins - masterless samurai committed to mastering the way of the sword, with Takezo standing out to be more physically and mentally up for the task.
The eventual return to his home village would not provide him with a hero’s welcome, or any welcome for that matter but would instead be the appropriate starting point for a rebirth into a life that was injected with a newfound purpose. Naming himself after the very village that had scorned his existence, the newly christened, Miyamoto Mushashi, would travel from one town to the next to test his strength against the best that his country had to offer. Vagabond thus invites readers on a journey of self-discovery that encourages perseverance through hardship, and the dogged determination to be more than what one is.
An impressive addition to an otherwise modest resume, Takehiko Inoue is certainly an artist who appears to place quality over quantity. While manga has a small learning curve given that the stories are read from right to left, it is well worth the effort to be rewarded with intricate storytelling and unrivaled artistic depth. The use of black and white in this and similar titles, penetrates directly to the heart and soul of the piece, providing a richly diverse reading experience that regular comics may not always provide. Vagabond thus positions itself as both a visual feast and an engrossing representation of the swordsman's journey that deserves a spot on any and every collector's shelf.
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