Blade of the Immortal #128

Blade of the Immortal, created by Hiroaki Samura, began its serialization in Monthly Afternoon in 1993. Issue 128 is a later installment in this long-running gekiga series, which follows the ronin Manji, a swordsman cursed with immortality who must kill one thousand evil men to regain his mortality. The series is celebrated for its intricate, painterly line work and unconventional panel layouts, marking a significant departure from standard manga aesthetics of the era.

Samura’s design philosophy for the series heavily utilized pencils and charcoal to achieve a gritty, textured look that stood out against the clean lines of his contemporaries. By the time issue 128 was released, the story had deepened into a complex examination of morality and revenge, reflecting Samura's mature narrative style. The series garnered significant international acclaim, eventually winning an Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material, cementing its place in the canon of historical fiction manga.