Blade of the Immortal (1996) comic books 2004

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by HIROAKI SAMURA FOR MATURE READERS Manji's fiercest and sexiest combatant returns! When they fought in the "Dreamsong" storyline, Makie Otono-Tachibana, as swordswoman of the Ittö-ryü, left our near- immortal hero lying helpless in bloody dirt. Now, Anotsu finds her in a small town as he flees Kaga, and she's a run-down husk of the warrior she once was. What brutal and unfortunate circumstances drove her to hate...and hunt...her own father? When she finally found him, something happened to turn her into a quivering, suicidal wreck. Will Anotsu's love for both Makie the woman and Makie the warrior still hold true after he sees the physical scars of her despair? ? Winner of Japan's prestigious Media Arts Award and America's own Eisner Award. ? Ten volumes of fantastic translated works in the Dark Horse backlist! Cover price $2.99.

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HIROAKI SAMURA (W/A) MATURE READERS On sale February 11, b&w, 32pg (3 of 3), $2.99 MIRROR OF THE SOUL: Part 3 (of 3)?The "Mirror of the Soul" storyline concludes, as Makie, wayward swordswoman of the Ittö-ryü, lies emotionally wasted and ready to die. Will her precarious relationship with Anotsu lead her back into the land of the living? The fate of her hated father is revealed, as Makie questions her own future and faces a crippling vice. With the surviving members of Kensui's Shingyötö-ryü clan on his heels as he flees to Edo, Anotsu doesn't have much time to spare...but he makes time to possibly save the woman he truly loves and respects. The fan-fave female warrior is back! Questions are answered and heartaches abound, as major players in this torrent of action begin to converge yet again. Cover price $2.99.

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HIROAKI SAMURA (W/A) FOR MATURE READERS On sale April 14, b&w, 32pg, $2.99 Hunted by the surviving members of the Shingyötö-ryü clan, Rin continues her flight towards Edo. She travels in a strange alliance with Anotsu, her sworn enemy who is suffering from a mysterious ailment. Will Rin have her chance to finally take him out...or will she find herself fighting alongside him? Done in Hiroaki Samura's kinetically masterful fashion, the thrilling action sequence in this one-shot issue is on par with Rin's "Flight of the Golden Wasps" move. With Manji also hot on Rin's trail, several major players in this revenge epic begin to move closer to an inevitably bloody reunion! Cover price $2.99.

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(W & P) Hiroaki Samura; Known for its cast of vibrand punk rock characters, Blade of the Immortal promises a future chock full of new color with the chapter. We're introduced to bizarre, new members of the Ittoryu and thier odd hairstyles, costumes, and weapons, as players in the secret, outcast Mugairyu crew conspire in the background. Also, with their flight towards Edo interrupted by Anotsu's illness, will Rin finally take this opportunity to end his life...or will she wind up defending it? Hiroaki Samura is about to turn his Samurai epic in a strange, new direction! Cover price $2.99.

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HIROAKI SAMURA (W/A) FOR MATURE READERS On sale June 9, b&w, 32pg, (1 of 5), $2.99 It's the reunion we've all been waiting for! Sporting one of the most heart-wrenching covers Blade fans will ever see, this issue delivers both the emotional impact of Manji and Rin's much-anticipated reunion and the harrowing beginning of another Samura-style sword fight. The surviving members of the Shingyötö-ryü clan have also caught up with Rin and her strange companion, Anotsu. Will Rin finally turn against Anotsu, giving him up to Iriya? The only certainty is that, if he has to, Manji will cut his way through these revenge-hungry swordsmen to get to his dear "little sister!" ? Winner of Japan's prestigious Media Arts Award and America's own Will Eisner Award. ? Ten volumes of fantastic translated works in the Dark Horse backlist! ? Look for our Essential Manga reading list on page 27. Cover price $2.99.

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HIROAKI SAMURA (W/A) On sale July 14, b&w, 40pg, $3.50 FOR MATURE READERS After last issue's jaw-dropping reunion, the surviving members of the Shingyötö-ryü clan, led by the vindictive Iriya, face off against Rin and the weakened Anotsu. Manji is back on the scene, confused by Rin's strange alliance, but willing to fight the Shingyötö- ryü swordsmen in order to be with his dear "little sister" again. Another classic, frenetic Samura-style fight begins, as two fan-favorite warriors, Magatsu and Makie, also return to Blades' pages, providing further complications and unavoidably twisted bloodshed! ? Winner of Japan's prestigious Media Arts Award and America's own Will Eisner Award. ? Ten volumes of fantastic translated works in the Dark Horse backlist! Cover price $3.50.

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HIROAKI SAMURA (W/A) FOR MATURE READERS On sale August 11, b&w, 32pg, $2.99 The Shingyötö-ryü swordsmen, on a quest to avenge the strange death of their schoolmaster, are split into three groups and fighting the three classiest swordfighters in the Blade universe! The stuttering, vindictive Iriya is determined to kill Anotsu, his now- decrepit target, but must first face Makie, the beautiful-yet-vicious angel of death. The young, swaggering Magatsu is locked in close combat with one of the Shingyötö-ryü clan's most honorable students, and a confident Manji, almost finally reunited with Rin, begins to dispatch his share of bloodthirsty opponents to the netherworld. Join us as Hiroaki Samura continues to reinvent the bushido grudge match by mixing elements of classic samurai tales and epic Western films with modern punk rock sensibilities. Winner of Japan's prestigious Media Arts Award and America's own Will Eisner Award. TWELVE volumes of this modern classic available in the Dark Horse backlist! Cover price $2.99.

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HIROAKI SAMURA (W/A) FOR MATURE READERS On sale September 8, b&w, 32pg, $2.99 Stunned by conflicting emotions and indecision, Rin watches as the revenge-mad Iriya confronts Makie, the skilled angel of death. Iriya's seen what Makie can do, but with Anotsu finally within his sights, a bloody battle is unavoidable. Nearby, Magatsu and Manji cross swords with the remaining Shingyötö-ryü swordsmen. Magatsu, still recovering from his last terrible fight, tries to hold his ground against one of the Shingyötö-ryü clan's most honorable students, while Manji, eager to finally be reunited with Rin, hopes to send a few more opponents to the afterlife. As his latest dogfight gets messier, Hiroaki Samura continues to reinvent the bushidö grudge match by mixing elements of classic samurai tales and epic Western films with modern punk rock sensibilities. ? Winner of Japan's prestigious Media Arts Award and America's own Eisner Award. ? TWELVE volumes of this modern classic available in the Dark Horse backlist! Cover price $2.99.

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HIROAKI SAMURA (W/A) On sale October 13, b&w, 32pg, $2.99 Hiroaki Samura's Last Blood story line comes to its conclusion! With revenge-lust hanging thick in the air, our main event is the deadly showdown between the starving and weakened Anotsu and his crazed, quick Shingyötö-ryü opponent, Iriya. Makie has evened out the playing field in a bloody flurry that puts Kill Bill Vol. 1 to shame, while Manji and Magatsu try to survive separate dogfights with Shingyötö-ryü swordsmen on the sidelines. Manji battles in order to be reunited with his beloved Rin, Magatsu engages his opponent in order to defend Anotsu, and any survivors of these gory encounters will face each other and their own shifting, uneasy alliances! This issue's dramatic cover mirrors the intensity inside, as Samura continues to reinvent the bushidö grudge match with a sharp, modern edge. FOR MATURE READERS Cover price $2.99.

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HIROAKI SAMURA (W/A). b&w, 32pg, $2.99 Magatsu, licking his wounds after last issue's bloody showdown, plays samurai detective after he journeys to the site of an Ittö-ryu massacre. In a weird turnaround, it's a batch of new Ittö-ryu warriors who are massacred! Crossbow expert Hyakurin is also convalescing, under Giichi's protection while she slowly becomes battle-ready. A heartbreaking conversation provides some insight into Giichi's character, and the ever- present Blade cliffhanger leaves us wondering about Hyakurin's future. Gracing this issue are two stellar pinups by rising comic book stars Jonathan and Joshua Luna! FOR MATURE AUDIENCES Cover price $2.99.

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On sale December 8, b&w, 32pg, $2.99 HIROAKI SAMURA (W/A) Trying to recover from a Mugai-ryü ambush, Anotsu assembles a colorful group, his finest surviving Itto-ryü warriors, to re-affirm loyalties and focus their anger. Once again, revenge-lust hangs heavy in the air, as Anotsu sets his followers against the man he feels is responsible for crippling his sword school. Reunited and recovering from their last ferocious battle, Manji and Rin rest at an idyllic cabin. Rin hones her swordfighting skills and drops a huge surprise on Manji. Their break from the fray may be short-lived, however, as the bald, spectacled Giichi arrives with an unsettling proposition. ? Winner of Japan's prestigious Media Arts Award and America's own Will Eisner Award. ? TWELVE volumes of this modern classic available in the Dark Horse backlist! FOR MATURE READERS Cover price $2.99.