Featured pick
5.0 / 5
Year
1998
Publisher
Weekly Young Sunday
Comics
Core shelf
Vagabond
by Takehiko Inoue
Takehiko Inoue's masterpiece adapts Eiji Yoshikawa's Musashi. Vagabond follows the legendary swordsman Musashi on his journey to become an undefeated warrior, exploring themes of redemption, enlightenment, and the way of the blade.
Geek’s cut
Comic-book storytelling with the density of a good tech spec: every panel doing double duty, every line of dialogue carrying lore, emotion, or both.
Deeper dive
Inoue's artistic brilliance transforms the classic novel into a visual spectacle. Vagabond is a meditation on the path to mastery, featuring stunning artwork that captures both intense sword combat and quiet moments of introspection. The story of Takuan and Musashi's spiritual journey stands as one of manga's most accomplished works, blending historical fiction with philosophical depth. Every panel is meticulously crafted, making Vagabond as much an artistic achievement as a narrative one.