Review by Karl Verhoven
As Vagabond Vol. 4 opens Miyamoto Musashi is unconscious. He’s pitted his own swordsmanship skills against those of a dojo in Kyoto, and although giving a good account of himself, he was caught up in the tragic events ending Vol. 3. His decision is to roam the country for a year honing his skills, but because he keeps accumulating enemies it’s not an easy path, and he’s unable to dissuade a boy, Jōtarō from following him, making for an additional concern. Another is his being associated with burning down the sword school, and the subsequent circulation of wanted posters.
While swordfights are a necessity of any samurai series, Takehiko Inoue continues to have his characters moving anyway. One memorable pairing of pages has Musashi jumping into a pool opposite a page of his wastrel mate being thrown out of his house, and although not the prolonged battles of the previous volume, the swordfights shown are well planned. New this time is Inoue switching techniques for moments of anger or aggression, the action no longer drawn in fine ink lines, but given a blurred charcoal look. The only slight fault with the art is Musashi’s resemblance to another dangerous character. The facial features are very similar, so only the clothing distinguishes them.
In addition to deftly setting up future physical accountings, Inoue is also setting up the drama of romance. After having driven her from his mind, Musashi is fixating on Otsū, against the advice of his trainer. “Once your heart is preoccupied your sword will not be true, then you will die”, he’s told. He’s also unaware that he’s captured another heart.
Lack of awareness is something of a theme. Inoue has other people pointing out how Musashi is, especially how a bloodthirsty nature could be his undoing. However, his bloodthirsty nature nowhere near matches that of person it seems he’s due to fight at the start of Vagabond Vol. 5. Alternatively, that’s combined with this in the second VizBig Edition.
Starting with two people, Inoue has considerably broadened the cast over three volumes, with now almost a dozen characters who recur. It’s plotting on a grand scale, and anyone who loves a samurai drama will be captivated.
