“Invincible is just a word.”
If you’re a manga fan (which you probably are), you’ve probably heard of Vagabond. Maybe, you’ve even read it already, you get points for that! It’s not as bright as the Shounen Jump series we’re all akin to knowing or as deep, dark, and depraved as titles such as Berserk or Monster. The best way to put it, it’s an adult manga. No not that kind of adult manga, get your head out of the gutter!
It challenges our morality, philosophy, and how we view opposition and obstacles in life. Oh, and lots of cool fights and violence. Makes sense, as the manga’s protagonist is Mushashi Miyamoto (fictionalized version at least). If you don’t know who that is, he wrote the Book of Five Rings, a recommended non-manga read.
-
A true legend within the seinen genre. But what to do after you’ve finished reading a masterpiece and hiatus fatigue hits you hard? Here are 5 other titles you might want to check out!
-
©Yukimura Makoto
Vinland Saga
Publication: (2005 - ?)
Chapters: ONGOING
MAL Score: 9.06
-
“I have no enemies”
This should be no surprise, unless you only know the meme… Vinland Saga, is an epic about Vikings and Thorfinn’s life as he navigates through challenges and hurdles. Remember? Questioning morality, philosophy, and how to view opposition and obstacles? Vinland Saga has just that, except instead of Edo-Period Japan, it’s during the Viking conquests. Here’s a quick synopsis:
-
“Thorfinn, son of one of the Vikings' greatest warriors, is among the finest fighters in the merry band of mercenaries run by the cunning Askeladd, an impressive feat for a person his age. However, Thorfinn is not part of the group for the plunder it entails—instead, for having caused his family great tragedy, the boy has vowed to kill Askeladd in a fair duel. Not yet skilled enough to defeat him, but unable to abandon his vengeance, Thorfinn spends his boyhood with the mercenary crew, honing his skills on the battlefield among the war-loving Danes, where killing is just another pleasure of life.
One day, when Askeladd receives word that Danish prince Canute has been taken hostage, he hatches an ambitious plot—one that will decide the next King of England and drastically alter the lives of Thorfinn, Canute, and himself. Set in 11th-century Europe, Vinland Saga tells a bloody epic in an era where violence, madness, and injustice are inescapable, providing a paradise for the battle-crazed and utter hell for the rest who live in it.” [MyAnimeList]
-
There’s violence here too, except it’s not just violence for the sake of violence. In the same vein as Vagabond, Vinland Saga is not an action manga, it’s an epic and violence is a part of the story. The focus lies in the lessons learned and the journey taken.
-
©Shin-ichi Sakamoto
The Climber
Publication: (2007 - 2011)
Chapters: 170
MAL Score: 8.74
-
A warrior without a blade but nevertheless the same mind. The Climber is an amazingly underrated manga here in the States. (Maybe because there is no English publication!?) Where does passion take you? Perhaps just by the foot of a summit? And that’s totally fine, sometimes the view is nice there and you’re happy with that (me too!). But for others, there is an ache to reach the tippity top. And once that’s conquered, they find themselves gazing up at another peak. And another. And… well you get the picture. That’s what you’ll find in The Climber. Here’s a quick synopsis:
-
“Through pain and arduous effort, one can reach the top of the world. Standing where no man has ever set foot before, there is an exhilarating feeling of success. This is what Mori Buntarou trains, works, and lives for.
His climb to the top starts when he transfers to a new high school. Despite his lonesome and solitary nature, Mori's classmates persuade him to climb the school building. Without a harness or hesitation, he begins his scale to reach the top. Edging past the point of no return, he halts when he is faced with a final intimidating obstacle—a horizontal overhang. Adrenaline courses through him, and Mori jumps for the final hold at the summit.
From there, he casts his eyes upon something that he normally would not have seen—another peak, another goal. With an awakened passion and newfound purpose in life, Mori explores the breathtaking sport of rock climbing.” [MyAnimeList]
-
Ever hear the saying, “It’s about the journey, not the destination.” Yes, The Climber encapsulates that. You follow Buntarou’s journey as he goes from a spark of passion in climbing to enduring the harrowing difficulties of the highest summits. You see how his character begins to shape, how he deals with adversities, and what accomplishment really means.
-
©Samura Hiroaki
Blade of the Immortal
Publication: (1993 - 2012)
Chapters: 207
MAL Score: 8.43
-
Turning right back to violence (because we kind of like that), is Blade of the Immortal. Set in the same period as Vagabond, however it leans more on the fictional side. That’s not a downside though, as it creates an interesting premise. Here’s a quick synopsis:
-
“Manji is an infamous swordsman in feudal Japan who is known as the "Hundred Man Killer," as he has killed one hundred innocent men. However, there is something far more frightening than his ominous reputation: the fact that he is immortal. This is the handiwork of eight-hundred-year-old nun Yaobikuni, who placed bloodworms capable of healing almost any wound in Manji's body.
To atone for his crimes, Manji resolves to kill one thousand evil men. Yaobikuni agrees to this proposal, saying that if he succeeds, she will undo his curse of immortality. Soon after this promise, Manji meets Rin Asano, a 16-year-old girl who requests Manji's assistance in killing those who slaughtered her parents.
Initially reluctant, Manji refuses Rin's desperate plea. However, owing to her evident lack of strength, Manji changes his mind and agrees to protect Rin for four years. With this partnership set in stone, the two embark on a perilous journey of bloodshed, vengeance, and redemption, each to fulfill their own life's cause.” [MyAnimeList]
-
The characters are well-written, there’s dabbles in philosophy and morality, and plays around with the idea of immortality. Sprinkle in some romance, and you have Blade of the Immortal. If you like the period piece part of Vagabond, you’ll definitely like this one.
-
©Kentaro Miura
Berserk
Publication: (1989 - ?)
Chapters: ONGOING
MAL Score: 9.47
-
Uh… is this cheating? I feel like it’s cheating. I mean can you blame me? Generally, anyone who likes Vagabond has also read and enjoyed Berserk. There’s something about the anti-hero archetype. They’d probably be a fan of Deadpool too… Right, so you probably already know about Berserk, if you don’t, try reading it. It’s a lovely-joyful-happy story that will be sure to tug at your heart strings. Here’s a quick synopsis:
-
“Guts, a former mercenary now known as the "Black Swordsman," is out for revenge. After a tumultuous childhood, he finally finds someone he respects and believes he can trust, only to have everything fall apart when this person takes away everything important to Guts for the purpose of fulfilling his own desires. Now marked for death, Guts becomes condemned to a fate in which he is relentlessly pursued by demonic beings.
Setting out on a dreadful quest riddled with misfortune, Guts, armed with a massive sword and monstrous strength, will let nothing stop him, not even death itself, until he is finally able to take the head of the one who stripped him—and his loved one—of their humanity.” [MyAnimeList]
-
On a serious note, really if you like Vagabond and you haven’t read Berserk, here’s your reminder to start now! It’s amazingly put together, the goat of seinen manga. It’s dark, darker than Vagabond. But! It’s definitely worth the read and deserves all the praise it receives.
-
©Takayuki Yamaguchi
Shigurui
Publication: (2003 - 2010)
Chapters: 84
MAL Score: 8.13
-
The reasoning behind including Shigurui. Samurai and sword fighting is cool. That’s pretty much it. It’s a bit crazy and over the top visuals add to the insanity of it but overall, if you liked Vagabond because of the sword fighting and samurai aspect, this should be a pick up. It’s not to say that it’s all sword fighting and got no meat to it. Here’s a quick synopsis:
-
“The sadistic daimyo Tadanaga Tokugawa has decreed Japan's first martial arts competition with real swords, appalling even the most loyal of his retainers. However, when the spectators realize that the first match pits the one-armed Gennosuke Fujiki against the blind and lame Seigen Irako, even those with the most forceful objections declare the match to be a farce and the combatants' deformities an affront to their station.
Most of the attendees are unaware of the deep-seated hatred Gennosuke and Seigen hold for each other, which stems from their struggle to become the heir to the insane samurai Kogan Iwamoto, leader of the notorious Kogan-ryuu dojo. Their once-cordial rivalry for Kogan-ryuu and the hand of Kogan's daughter Mie quickly turns violent when one of the young warriors angers the master, causing a chain of events that eventually leads to their severe injuries.
Shigurui chronicles the decisions that led Gennosuke and Seigen to this desperate point, as well as the many lives ruined by the brutality of samurai culture.” [MyAnimeList]
-
This recommendation is purely for the samurai enthusiast, who wants to satiate their appetite for duels, sword fighting, and insert cool thing samurai. There’s more to it too, philosophy, cruelty, society, but we all know you just want to see some blades spark right?
-
Want to discover new manga series to read? Every month? Check out our Monthly Manga Box! Get 3 newly released manga each month. CHECK IT OUT
[All publications, chapters, and score are according to publication date: 5/22/24]