Vagabond Is “Boring” 

The moment that truly broke me was during the farming arc when Musashi asked for help and in the subtext it wrote "inside Musashi strength bends to kindness"

Vagabond is a beautiful story about growth, realizing the true meaning of strength and many other themes, definitely more than just artwork

Vagabond has some of the most beautiful artwork I think I've seen

People throughout all the medias people forget the value of life, because in shonen and senien manga, or in general media life is thrown left and right. Sometimes I reflect on things like for example a one man army scenario, how many families were ruined because of that feat. And how much a mental toll that can take. Is there off a lot of off camera Grief from families or have they approached antagonist or protagonist. It’s always interesting to see a series actually dive into value of life such as this one.

Vagabond was the first manga that ever made me cry. It is such a beautiful story about life and growth, truly a masterpiece

I'm currently writing a story and I come every now and then to this channel for advice on characters. I just love how you go into depth in characters and show their secrets when( and I'm being honest) sometimes I can't understand a certain character. You clear up any misunderstanding I could've had on them and make me have ideas for writing my story. THANK YOU SO MUCH MASKED MAN!!

Just completed the Yagyu arc... I can confirm that this story really begins to shine after the Hōzōin battles. I know there's more to the story than its art, but what I saw in this video was absolutely biblical art and I can't wait to see the evolution, especially in the later arcs.

I read Vagabond last year in February. Best decision I made that month. I wish I could read this masterpiece again for the first time

Vagabond is maybe the closest I've seen a manga embody the deeper philosophical principles behind martial arts. Interestingly enough, I feel that an anime adaptation might not capture it. The stillness of the page goes a long way in a story like this.

Haven’t read vagabond yet but after watching this I’ve decided to start reading it 👍 great video btw

My biggest mistake was reading vagabond as one of my first mangas

Music choice, editing, your pacing of story, the way you combined these elements to make this video I really loved it, thank you. You paid great respects to a story I really adore

The timing of that video is crazy, yesterday I had just decide to continue reading Vagabond (Which I started a few months ago) after I took a break from it. I was at Ch.53 when I stopped and I only read the chapter and went "Man I don't know how I feel about this" and didn't go on. I don't think it's bad in any way, probably just not what I expected from hearing so much about it. This video really gave me some drive to keep going so thanks for that, I'll read more and probably get hooked :P

I read Vagabond in September of 2020 and I had my jaw dropped most of the time. The story is good on it's own, but the art is realistic, yet incredibly beautiful. Ngl, some panels look like something you'd see in a gallery. It's honestly an amazing experience reading it, I tried reading it a second time, but the first is incomparable. I would recommend it to anyone who would listen.

No way he called me out 1:15 dawg... anyways all my "Real" fans come in and support 🙏🔥❤️

You are only one who gives balanced view on stories and characters. I am following you precisely for sane and valuable advice on storytelling. Rather than being swayed by the temptation to validate others' opinions you put an honest one. Love your work. keep it up.

Thank you for this video, I respect the way you described Musashi's character and how he learns to live a life, honestly, one of the best videos I've recently watched.

I recently re-read vagabond and it is always something that truly stands out. No other manga makes you feel the way vagabond does

I have never been so invested in the future of a rice paddy field.

Amazing video man! Very well put together. Seeing this video reminded me of the time I binge read the entire manga in 3 days cause I couldn't stop.

I'm 16(almost 17 ) and i still love vagabond hoping to at least to have a comeback. back when i started reading vagabond in age of 12 i started to love it and got totally obsessed with it because of how musashi grow not only physically but also mentally.I don't know why tf some teens like me don't like it but it really gives many life lesson and realization about life...

Also, this video is exquisite. It has amazing editing and the arrangement of colours and images makes it even better.

Love your content!! Keep up the good work!!!

bro that music you used at the end was gorgeous

Checked vintage stock for weeks and FINALLY got vol 2 and 3 omnibus today. 3 hours later you upload this video. Lets go the hype is massive.

Masked bro i just found out you have made an Ig and interacted and made content with people I'm friends with. Out of burnout finally binging all of your content taking reccs lol much love you're the goat

Yes, Vagabond was always about the soul

Please man make more vagabond stuff there’s literally nothing to watch about it WE NEED MORE

Luv this video man very quiet and power . Keep doing what u want to

Been following your channel for a long time now, and I have to say this is almost without a doubt the best analysis I’ve heard from you. Really entertaining to watch you grow alongside the series you cover and develop your analytical skills.

love yo vids bro keep it up and can u do ranking jojo part on a tier list pls

Vagabond mentality: -This is the story of how i became the worlds greatest swords- *This is the story of how i matured,and learned to live with myself*

Love the video! I love getting my manga analysis fix here! Have you checked out the show Urasawa Naoki no Manben by Naoki Urasawa? I think you would love it! It really gives you a behind the scenes look at the philosophies of mangaka and their works.

You should do a comparison between Inoue's panels and Kurosawa Akira's shots. The vibes they give off are so similar to each other in how serene it is at one moment and how explosive it is at another.

Thats was a really good and straightforward video on vagabond. I love it!

I just recently finished vagabond and I was surprised by how good it was. Vagabond is not just a samurai manga but it is beautiful written character arc of musashi which is similar to Dante Aligeri journey in ",Divine Comedy". Musashi goes through hell which represents his angry selfish violent stubborn arrogant self , he goes through purgatory starting to understand his sin and weakness to learn from them and he goes through paradise in farmland arc by being a better person and understanding the values and philosophy of life. Takuan is The Virgil who associate Dante by helping him through the journey and Otsu represent Beatrice which is Dante loves and light in darkness. My favorite moment in the entire series would be the stick fight between Musashi and Kojiro. It was a simple child play with so much depth character writing and tension between two beast who seeks to become strong. While I found it boring and with some flaws sometimes, is something where you get really invested at all the characters even Matahachi which wether you like him or not is also an amazingly written character. The fight are all entertaining with pieces of character writing and the art is gorgeous.(Chefkiss to Inoue) Overall for me is 9/10. Recommend this to anyone.

Vagabond really is so much more than art and that first art you showed is actually my wallpaper right now lul also Hanamichi is such a great character I kinda relate to him sometimes as much as I hate to say it

Nearly finished my second read of it and you’re honestly exactly on point with everything you’ve said. Amazing video

Need more videos like this good job masked keep it up🔥🔥🔥

I think the weirdest criticism I've ever heard about Vagabond is that it's (too) philosophical, which is weird because the person who said that loves Berserk, which is just as philosophical.

I need to read this series at some point, I feel like it would be right up my alley and does anyone know the name of the song at 14:28? it’s really beautiful.

I am not really good in how to put what in my mind into words in describing some things but the first thing that comes to my mind about vagabond that its beautiful in every aspect, this is one of your best videos I've seen i think, keep the great work.😁 Also this made it more accurate 1:53 😂

Hey man, always love your videos. Give us some manga recommendations or a few upcoming mangas.

Hot Take: Even though Vagabond is my second favourite manga, I'd rather see Inoue finish Real first. With Vagabond we know the end, and we know who wins the duel as well as the story in general since it's a novel adaptation. But Real is an entirely new and original story and I want to see where those characters end up

I came here after crying in the farming arc but you made me cry more by adding the ping pong ost. Man i love that series.

Vagabond is one of those series which I haven't even read yet but I already know that I'm gonna love it and it's gonna be in my top 3 just from everything I've gathered, - It's one of the highest rated series and everyone calls it a masterpiece. - Every panel or artwork I've seen has been nothing but breathtaking. - I love character focussed stories. - It has to do with the philosophy of life. - I fucking love samurai shit. Samurai Champloo is one of my favourite anime and anything that has something to do with samurai are already an awesome/10 in my book.

i just finished reading vagabond today and this last arc with the farming of the rice fields and the traveling of mushashi while healing his leg injury is for me what has made me appreciate vagabond the most tbh.

Love how readers of vagabond isn’t just chewing this dude out cuz he titled vagabond “boring” This really shows how this manga had impact on people.

You really knocked it out of the park with this one man. Incredible video

My top 1 Manga oat. Such a fantastic video that encapsulates the thematic beauty and Fantastic Groundwork of Inoue takehiko’s masterpiece known as vagabond.

i just got my first vagabond manga it comes with the first 3 volumes so i can’t wait to catch up

Damn it now I have to do a reread of this series, it’s too good. What’s the songs you used in this vid I’m curious.

you cant say vagabond is just art if you didn't read it its a masterpiece. keep up the good work

2002 I'm 15 years old. I go into my local comic book store. I'm just milling about looking at stuff. Indecisive about buying anything. Back then a volume of manga was $12+ the equivalent of a volume being $30 today. I wanted to make sure if I bought something it would be something I would like. The guy working the shop, couldn't have been older than about 22, asks if I'm looking for something. I ask what's something that's good with samurai or ninja. He recommended Vagabond. Bought volume 3, the newest and only volume in stock. I loved it so much I went back and ordered volumes 1 and 2 also. From that point forward I would check Viz's website every month hoping a new volume of Vagabond would come out. And yes, we few Vagabond fans of the time are better than the rest of you shounen loving heathens!

Ayyy my boy, you read Yoshikawa's Musashi yet. The audiobook is incredible and it's cool to notice how Takehiko changed the story in ways, famously how Kojiro was never actually deaf, and how Sejuro was wayyyy worse than Takehiko made him lol. I think it highlights Inoue's skills as a writer. Great stuff 😁

I recently read through the end of the golden age arc (around chapter 102 of berserk currently), I’m currently reading steel ball run finally and am have almost finished, and now I’ve set my sights on both vagabond and 20th century boys(I fucking loved monster and this is apparently even better so…). Life sucks right now, but I’m just so happy that I at least get to experience some amazing art, and this is only manga I’m talking about. I can’t even imagine all the legendary works of art across all mediums that I haven’t experienced yet. It makes me excited.

Can you please post the the links to the various background music that you use in the video? They sound great. You have good taste in music!

The trinity Berserk, Vagabond and Punpun complete

When I picked Vagabond mind you I'm still new to reading Manga and Manhwa and so on. But as i was reading Vagabond I found it boring but beatiful while reading I found myself pressing next chapter without realizing I was actually immersed in the story as hours passed by without realizing. So I would say it is boring at times but the story itself, artwork and deep thoughts about what true strength stands for make this Manga a memorable and a bittersweet read that I will look back on in the future hopefully it gets picked up in the future.

Vagabond is something amazing, its taught me so much and gotten me into Japanese swordsmanship. Its taught me so many life lessons. Vagabond will always just like demon slayer, black clover, jojo's bizarre adventure, and jujutsu kaisen have a special place in my heart.

Day #226 asking the masked man to watch/read black lagoon

You really put into words why this is my favorite manga series. It's not about the duels; but the quiet moments in between. And for someone with ADHD, the quiet moments is something I look forward too. The series starts out with awesome sword fights and as the series progresses it becomes deeper.

When Musashi went to ask for support to help the village and humbly lowered his head to the ground I think... I cried a little 😢

This is the second manga that was recommended by you and many others on RU-vid and I am going to be honest with the manga, to me it is great. I sometimes would rush many pages because of "I need action" to satisfy myself, but this manga was a bit different and it actually helped me with just reading it slowly, calmly, and trying to get a read of the character''s thoughts. Vagabond to me is very similar impact to Berserk both are differently great in their own ways and I cannot say that both of them are "boring"

The panels when Matahachis "mother" dies were so beautiful and heart wrenching at the same time. Almost made me cry ngl

Vagabond is about educating the reader on what different levels of contentment look like. Musashi- finding contentment Matamichi- dismissing contentment Kojiri- forced into contentment. This is why guts is so similar to musashi. Both of their stories are about finding contentment in life. The reason why so many of you are die hard fans is because you also realize the art in acceptance you just don't accept it yet.

what "path of the wind" remix is that at 6:10

That thumbnail art is 🔥🔥🔥

For me, Vagabond was always a philosophical story and yet, when the fights do happen, it was just as captivating. But the most thing that kept me on the edge of the seat was his relationship with Otsu. It kept me on the edge of my seat whenever they met

I remember the first time I read the Inshun and Mushashi's battle years ago I was so amazed and it's the one that sticks to me up to now.

hey man, i just wanted to say thanks for the samurai champloo part, i feel like the manga im making will be successful because you said that.

Your video helps me to write my favorite book essay😀

What’s the song you use in your background? It gives early 2000’s vibes and it’s chill.

Btw, cool video, i really enjoyed the content. Awesome job!👌

vagabond is truly my favorite manga of all time. One of my favorite aspects of it was how inoue was able to make things that are typically uninteresting, so captivating and interesting. Like you said there was nothing necessarily flashy in the manga, yet I was hooked and inticed to read more and more with every panel, every page.

does somebody know the 2 songs at the end?

Started reading a while ago, just absolutely magnificent artwork and really interesting plot, it is just a masterpiece

Vagabond is a work of art, they create good characters and then manage to make them better through constant refining of characters and their skills. An amazing story and I’ve never felt bored once while reading

never thought I will watch until the end, but your explanation about this character is so legend like the manga is. thanks

Bro I thought you were talking about the elden ring class

11:37 that point is more nuanced tho ( obviously from what i understood and imho ). He draws those circles for the reasons u showed but there are also the scenes when he speaks/ listens to the little "demon" inside him and is battling against it, where it is kinda clear that he still wishing for people to enter the circle and fight him, which makes the character even more compelling and 3 dimensional ( although, yeah, while writing it i concluded that u couldn't really develop on all the nuances of the character and his developpement in a 15 min video, which isn't even a character analysis )

Art that is true to itself portrays more than the lines and colors that make up its image. It's also the personification, humanity, and life that is expressed in those images, and the stories that are conveyed both through the narrative as well as the observer's own memories and emotions. This amalgamation in its singular form is art; something that is both unique to us humans and is absolutely necessary for our own understanding and living through life.

Love all your videos. Keep it upp

What is the bgm especially the last one Went really well with this video

My top 2 manga of all time- 1) Monster (if you haven’t read, go asap and do it as a duty) 2) Berserk

As Takehiko Inoue said in that very same interview you've shown, the difference between a good story and just some normal manga it's that he doesn't think of his story as a tale or a fantasy story but he views it as a documentary protraying the characters he created, even if they aren't real.

masked finally made a video about the best manga let’s go

I highly, HIGHLY recommend the Musashi novel that this Manga is based on. The story is just as good (given it’s more I’m depth as it’s a 1,000 page story) and you can really see the changes the Manga author made (Kojiro isn’t deaf and loses the end fight because Musashi pisses him off). I actually read it before I knew the manga even existed so I’m happy that I got to experience both.

I haven’t started to read it yet, I’m missing vol 9 & 12. Hopefully I’ll start it soon.

my favourite manga hands down, such a beautiful experience, never hough that 30 chapters of a guy raising a lost child and battling nature to survive would bring me so much to think about never felt like this in manga the realistic question musashi poses to himself and the more he understands about himself the more he finds traits of him he doesnt know and question he doesnt know how to answer. never seen anything like this if someone knows of more stories with this kind of char development please comment i need more introspective manga (i read berserk)

I started reading Vagabond and now I'm in art school trying to get in Illustration. Thank you Inoue ❤️

Bro I don't know much about this channel or Vagabond, But I feel like your going get a lot of people coming for you.

After watching this i will read it as i also loved the climber which you recommended so much

After watching eyepatched wolf's video on berserk and then this one i truly believe that great stories with great artwork are doomed to never end

Masked Man’s videos are more than art

Vagabond was a truly great read and I appreciate the creator very much for the memories I have reading it

Do a in depth video of Vinland saga please.

Great video, im glad you did not take yourself too seriously

15:27 we actually know this concept from inshun he was unrivaled all his life until mushasi arrives but after duels he changed a lot he realized he was actually focusing on a leaf in a forest. So he turned his head to the past to understand himself