The June issue of Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine has announced that Renji Takigawa and Ryū Suenobu's sequel manga Mugen no Jūnin: Bakumatsu no Shō (Blade of the Immortal - Bakumatsu Arc), a spin-off of Hiroaki Samura's Blade of the Immortal manga, will conclude in the next issue on May 24.
About the Sequel
The sequel is set in the Bakumatsu period of the 19th century, a shift from the original manga's setting in the Edo period. It continues the journey of the main character, Manji, who, initially living in seclusion in the Tosa domain, heads to the capital for a specific reason. Throughout the story, Manji finds himself confronting the era's most formidable warriors.
Manga Release
The series made its debut in May 2019, and since then, it has been serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine. The ninth compiled volume was released on November 22.
Hiroaki Samura's *Blade of the Immortal* manga originally premiered in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine in December 1993, concluding its run in 2012. With 30 volumes in print, the series has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 22 languages. Notably, the manga won an Excellence Prize at the 1st Japan Media Arts Festival Awards in 1997 and the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material in 2000.
Adaptations and Recognition
*Blade of the Immortal* has seen various adaptations and received critical acclaim. Dark Horse Comics published the manga in North America, and it is now being re-released in omnibus form. The manga was adapted into a television anime in 2008, with Media Blasters handling its English release.
Takashi Miike's live-action film adaptation premiered in Japan in April 2017, ranking #6 in its opening weekend. It garnered significant attention, selling 145,000 tickets and earning 189 million yen (approximately US$1.68 million). The film premiered in North America at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, in September 2017, followed by a wider theatrical release in November 2017.
With its unique storyline, compelling characters, and widespread popularity, Blade of the Immortal has left an indelible mark on manga enthusiasts worldwide. While the Bakumatsu Arc is coming to a close, fans eagerly await the next chapter in the saga of this beloved series.
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