Samurai Manga

[emotoaster]

Which samurai manga do you prefur? I'm having a hard time decideing one out of all of them (have way to many other manga to catch up on). I was thinking either:

RK
Samurai Deeper Kyo
Blade of the Immortal
Peacemaker

[Smith]

Out of the four you listed, I prefer and collect Blade of the Immortal. The other three just did not appeal to me. I am not sure Peacemaker is still getting released here, I think I read somewhere that ADV put it in limbo.
I collect another samurai manga, Vagabond which is based on the book Musashi, about the legendary samurai Musashi Miyamoto. CrossboneGundam has said a few times that the book Musashi is better than the manga Vagabond. I went in a Vagabond collecting frenzy last summer and I think I have the first 10 or 14 volumes, and haven't really collected it since, because I decided to put it off until later, and I was and am currently collecting other manga.
Vagabond is more realistic, while BotI is pure fantasy, but not too far fetched. I like how Manji (the main guy in BotI) has a whole arsenal of blades, and most of his foes have an assorted array of weapons which keeps things interesting. There is one battle in the early volumes where Manji faces another immortal who has killed thousands of men(Manji has killed over a hundred) and in the battle, they stick a dozen blades into each other. It is quite a sight. :)

[Rain]

RK all the way, man. I'm too restless and tired to type up why, so I'll do that tomorrow if I remember.

[Daishikaze]

Blade of the Immortal out of those listed, but I suggest grabbing Lone Wolf and Cub, its a true classic of the genre

[Manafairy]

As far as those four go, I really enjoyed Peacemaker (Although I still haven't gotten around to reading Peacemaker Kurogane), the single volume worth of BotI that I've read was quite good, SDK is irritating and after 17 volumes, my patience is wearing thin, and Rurouni Kenshin never compelled me to read past the first volume. Thus, my favorite of those is going to have to be Peacemaker, as I've a more complete experience with it than I have with BotI, and I quite thuroughly enjoyed it.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I haven't read Blade of the Immortal, and although I've seen the Peacemaker anime, I haven't read either manga series. (I'm delaying getting into the manga, since I've heard ADV has put the series on limbo.) I've only read the first volume of Samurai Deeper Kyo, but the series didn't really grab and hold my attention in the same way that Rurouni Kenshin did. Perhaps it had to do with the timing, and maybe if I went back now and read it again, I'd find it more interesting. But as things currently stand, Rurouni Kenshin is my favourite.

[FURUBA4EVER]

The only one that I haven't read from that list is Blade of the Immortal.

I'll start with Samurai Deeper Kyo first. The series, while having an intriguing plot, didn't really deliver, IMO. I've only read the first four volumes, but the series just didn't have enough to interest me. I haven't reread them in quite a while, but I know that I couldn't understand how the series had lasted for over 30 volumes (and counting). I suppose it might be interesting to those who like the whole split personality thing, but it just didn't appeal to me.

As for Peacemaker...I liked what I read of the first three volumes of the manga (that ADV released). Since the series itself was basically cancelled along with most of ADV's other manga titles, it was still quite interesting. Although it's a sequel to the original Peacemaker Kurogane, the story still revolves around young Tetsunosuke and his experiences while working as a page in the Shinsengumi. While you may not like being left hanging on 3 volumes, I still say that it's worth reading. (Let's just hope that ADV somehow releases the other volumes in the future...though I heard that the manga-ka herself didn't end the series [meaning it went on hiatus in Japan or something].)

Out of the samurai manga I've read, Rurouni Kenshin still remains my favorite. The blend of action, drama, romance, and [some] comedy always managed to keep the story fresh and interesting; the characters were also fun and easy to relate to. While RK is certainly not exactly a realistic samurai manga, it was still a lot of fun to read. The series' last volume was recently released here in the U.S., so now would be the best time to start it (if you haven't already). ^_^

[Imasyon]

I prefer SDK most of all. I admit that the story in the beginning is a bit meh, but after Kyo begins to be more important part of the story, it becomes very interesting and captivating. I like the series mainly because the bad-guy is leading the story and the secrets of his birth and his fate are related to all the battles and even to the characters themselves, so it never gets boring (after you read a few volumes, at least).
Even if I don't buy BOTI, I have to say it's very good, the art is astonishing and the sotry is captivating too. I liked this series very much, so IMO it's equal to SDK.

RK and PM are also good but I like the other two series better. Kenshin might have a good plot, but the art needed time to improve. For PM I have to say that it took time until the story got really interesting. The last volume is really good, and the continuation PM Kurogane is also good (but not finished at the moment, there are 5 volumes out so far).

[Funkmasta]

Why aren't Vagabond and Lone Wolf and Cub on that list?

[Loopy]

Never read SDK or BoTI, but I thought RK was garbage. Peacemaker was honestly the only entertaining one out of the bunch and had great characters.

[dreamer]

Go with Blade of the Immortal. It's superior than all others on your list IMO.
Vagabond is great too, you really should try it out if you're looking for some hardcore samurai stuff.
Never read Lone wolf and cub, but I've heard a lot of great things about it.

RK is ok, though some of the fightings are too unrealistic.
SDK... well... I gave up on it long ago. It doesn't worth my time. Too fantasy to be samurai series.
Peacemaker I don't know. I've only watched a few episodes of its anime, and I can't say I like it... = = But I've heard manga is better so maybe it's worth a try.

[emotoaster]

Why aren't Vagabond and Lone Wolf and Cub on that list?
To be honest never heard of em but I'm open to any segestions not just the ones on my list.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

To be honest never heard of em but I'm open to any segestions not just the ones on my list.
If you're open to suggestions, then there's another Peacemaker-like series (I wouldn't exactly call it samurai manga, since it's about the Shinsengumi, not samurai) that takes place around the same time: Kaze Hikaru. It's a shôjo series, and not as action-packed as the others on your list, though.

[Daishikaze]

Lone Wolf and Cub is something every fan of the genre should own, along with Koike's other works like Samurai Executioner and Shurayukihime (not samurai per se, but is is a period series that takes place in late 1800s with some great action.)

[Sumeragi13]

Lone Wolf and Cub is the best IMO, but on the list I like BotI.

[Professor Funk]

My favorite is RK and will always be RK. I expected alot more from BOTI, Alot of people put it out to be a masterpiece but I thought it was slow paced and actually kind of bad. The characters in BOTI are not memorable at all like the characters in RK, and the sword fights in BOTI are par at best.

Samurai Deeper was very good from volumes 1-3 and then it pretty much declined in my opinion.

I loved Peace Maker as well, The battles and story are very good as well as the drawings. The one thing that pissed me off was that the Saitou in Peace Maker was nothing like the Saito in RK.

I still need to read Lone Wolf and Vagabond.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I loved Peace Maker as well, The battles and story are very good as well as the drawing. The one thing that pissed me off was that the Saito in Peace Maker was nothing like the Saito in RK.
I actually found the difference in the two series' portrayals of Saitou interesting. Of course the two portrayals wouldn't be the same. A 20-year-old Saitou at the start of the revolution is not going to be the same person as the 35-year-old Tokyo police officer forced to make a living in the era his enemies created.

After watching Peacemaker, I took another look at Rurouni Kenshin and wondered if Watsuki's portrayal of Saitou was how he imagined Saitou always was, or how he imagined Saitou would have been after surviving the revolution and living to see what the victors had done with their loot.

I also found the similarities between the two portrayals interesting--such as how both Saitous are quiet and reserved, and tend to observe more often than contribute--but that's a discussion for another topic.

[Funkmasta]

Blade of the Immortal was cool, I wasn't all that into it, but that art was.....purty...

Vagabond I REALLY want to start reading...

RK was a let down really, people hyped it up as the best shonen around. Psh, One Piece and Hunter X Hunter are both much better. RK just really didn't do it for me at all.

Lone Wolf and Cub, I've only read 10 volumes, but I know whats a coming....its really amazing. You don't feel it right away, but eventually it wraps around you, and you can't help but love it. Volume 11 was amazing...

[H3ll_Pyro]

Samurai Deeper Kyo is one of the greatest manga series ever. Read past volume 5 and you'll never want to stop reading.

[emotoaster]

Looks like TokyoPop just got the rights to Peacemaker.

[Bernard_Monsha]

Out of the list Blade of the Immortal.

You left out Lone Wolf and Cub, Samurai Executioner, and Lady Snowblood.

[kitzu]

Samurai Deeper Kyo. After I finally get around to reading the next one in the series, I always want more. Not that I ever have it, however.

[Funkmasta]

Just finished Lone Wolf Volume 19....
The last 9 books are all straight core plot from what Iv'e heard...*excited*.

So far Voume 11 and 15 were the best.
"Thirteen Strings" was one of the most moving things Iv'e read for a long time.