New Releases by Takehiko Inoue

• Featuring artwork from the 32+ volume manga series - Vagabond is on Japan’s top ten best seller’s list with over 100 million volumes in print. • Vagabond has sold over 22 million copies worldwide! (Not including Japan’s sales). • Vagabond is based on the novel, Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. Originally written in the early 40’s, Yoshikawa’s fictional account became so well known that his version has blurred fact from fiction. • VIZ Media is currently releasing the English translated edition of Vagabond only three months apart from the Japanese release! • The popularity of Vagabond has been attributed for the reason NHK produced its period drama TV series based on Yohikawa’s novel. • There have been 6 films and 2 TV series based on Miyamoto Musashi’s life. • Inoue received the 2000 Media Arts award for manga from the Japanese Ministry of Culture and the Kodansha award for best manga for his work on Vagabond. • Nominated for 2003 Eisner Award in the category for Best Writer/Artist! • "...reads like an Akira Kurosawa film captured on the printed page." -Cliff Biggers, Comic Buyer''s Guide • Inoue has personally created licensed merchandise on a small scale, so that the products will meet his standards of quality. • Inoue’s previous series Slam Dunk has over 100 million copies in print worldwide. • Everything Takehiko Inoue has published has hit the top ten sales list in Japan. Sumi presents Inoue''s magnificent pen and brush work in black and white. It also includes a behind the scenes look at Vagabond with rough sketches and photos of Inoue''s studio. In a recent interview, Takehiko Inoue claimed that in his first major follow-up to Slam Dunk, he wanted to delve as deeply as possible into visual artistry. The result was the incredibly realized world of Vagabond, the Sistine Chapel of manga. This artbook captures the very best of Inoue''s work, with images hand-selected by Inoue himself. Not one to skimp on reproduction and image quality, Inoue also hand selected the specific printer. Sumi presents Inoue''s magnificent pen and brush work in black and white. It also includes a behind the scenes look at Vagabond with rough sketches and photos of Inoue''s studio.

Three volumes in one! A prestige treatment of Inoue’s epic samurai series with bonus content, color pages, storyboard samples and more! Real-life figure Miyamoto Musashi was the most celebrated samurai of all time. The quintessential warrior-philosopher, Musashi authored A Book of Five Rings, a classic treatise in the canon of world philosophy and military strategy. But the path to enlightenment is an endless journey, and to get there through violent means--by way of the sword--makes mere survival an even greater challenge. Invincible Under the Sun At seventeen years of age, Miyamoto Musashi--still known by his childhood name, Shinmen Takezō--was a wild young brute just setting out along the way of the sword. In the aftermath of the epic Battle of Sekigahara, Takezō finds himself a fugitive survivor on the losing side of the war. Takezō''s vicious nature has made him an outcast even in his own village, and he is hunted down like an animal. At this crucial crossroads in Takezō''s life, an eccentric monk and a childhood friend are the only ones who can help him find his way.

Hanamichi Sakuragi never has any luck asking out the girls at school until Haruko becomes interested in him, but he must join the basketball team in order to impress her.

Hanamichi Sakuragi never has any luck asking out the girls at school until Haruko becomes interested in him, but he must join the basketball team in order to impress her.

"A motorcycle accident, bone cancer, a speeding truck crashing into a boy on a stolen bicycle--tragic, life-changing events turn the worlds of three young men upside-down. These three very different personalities have only one thing in common--their passion for basketball"--Page 4 of cover.

Hanamichi Sakuragi never has any luck asking out the girls at school until Haruko becomes interested in him, but he must join the basketball team in order to impress her.

Hanamichi Sakuragi never has any luck asking out the girls at school until Haruko becomes interested in him, but he must join the basketball team in order to impress her.

Hanamichi Sakuragi never has any luck asking out the girls at school until Haruko becomes interested in him, but he must join the basketball team in order to impress her.

Hanamichi Sakuragi never has any luck asking out the girls at school until Haruko becomes interested in him, but he must join the basketball team in order to impress her.

Hanamichi Sakuragi never has any luck asking out the girls at school until Haruko becomes interested in him, but he must join the basketball team in order to impress her.

Hanamichi Sakuragi never has any luck asking out the girls at school until Haruko becomes interested in him, but he must join the basketball team in order to impress her.

Musashi defeats the two masters of the mighty Yoshioka, the most renowned school of swordsmanship in Kyoto. But now with the entire clan out for revenge, will Musashi be forced to hack and chop his way through seventy bloodthirsty men, or will he leap right into their fold?

Shinmen Takezo is destined to become the legendary sword-saint, Miyamoto Musashi--perhaps the most renowned samurai of all time. For now, Takezo is a cold-hearted killer, who will take on anyone in mortal combat to make a name for himself. This is the journey of a wild young brute who strives to reach enlightenment by way of the sword--fighting on the edge of death.

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be. Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time! Legendary sword-saint Miyamota Musashi was one of the most renowned samurai of all time. But the path to greatness is filled with difficulty--Musashi is divided between his aspiration to be the greatest swordman in the land and his growing feelings of love for his friend from childhood, Otsu. As Musashi struggles to deal with these issues, he heads to Hozoin Temple, to challenge the practitioners of its famous spear fighting technique.

Shinmen Takezo is destined to become the legendary sword-saint, Miyamoto Musashi--perhaps the most renowned samurai of all time. For now, Takezo is a cold-hearted killer, who will take on anyone in mortal combat to make a name for himself. This is the journey of a wild young brute who strives to reach enlightenment by way of the sword--fighting on the edge of death.

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be. Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time! At last, the long-awaited rematch between Musashi and the leader of the mighty Yoshioka School is at hand. Literally head and shoulders above Musashi, Yoshioka Denshichiro granted Musashi a reprieve of one year for a rematch. Now the time is up, and the climax to Musashi''s epic clash with the Yoshioka is about to come to a bloody finale--or will it? Within one year''s time, Musashi has grown wiser and stronger, but can he really bring this spiral of blood and killing to an end?

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be. Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time! On the eve of his duel with the leader of the great Yoshioka School, Musashi takes a step back to reflect upon his past in order to acquire a higher level of understanding and awareness. However, a chance encounter with deaf-mute swordsman Sasaki Kojiro provides an impromptu preview of what will become the greatest duel in the annals of Japanese history.

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be. Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time! A tempest of a man has arrived in Kyoto and the entire city is in a fervor, anticipating the storm to come. Musashi has returned for a rematch against Yoshioka Denshichiro, and he''s prepared to take down all of the Yoshioka Dojo to defeat him!

In Tokunaga-era Japan, a new government has just taken power and the land is disarray. Amidst the turmoil, a young man sets out on a journey seeking spriritual enlightement by way of the soword, prepared to slay anyone who gets in his way. Adapted from the fictionalizad biography Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa, this graphic novel depicts the life and times of real-life "sword saint" Miyamoto Musahi(1584-1645)

"Parental advisory, mature content"--Cover.

"Parental advisory, mature content"--Cover.

Continues the adventures of Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be. Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time! Miyamoto Musashi is a man destined to be revered as a sword-saint and one of Japan''s most celebrated samurai. But Musashi wasn''t always an enlightened warrior-philosopher--for the path to greatness is filled with adversity and perilous danger. In this volume Musashi seeks out Shishido Baiken, a master of the deadly sickle and chain. Will Musashi''s sword be able to stand true against this most unusual of weapons?

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be. Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time! REMATCH! Martial arts is more than just battling to defeat your opponent; it''s a mental test to overcome yourself. Inshun of Hozoin Temple comes upon this realization in midst of his epic rematch against Musashi. Last time, Inshun was too much for Musashi to handle, but now the tables are turned as Inshun faces his own personal demons as well as a new and revitalized Musashi.

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be. Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time! Fear, failure, disgrace... Even the most renowned swordsman of all time had his low moments. For the first time ever, Miyamoto Musashi suffers a humilating loss when he takes on the deadly spear technique of Inshun, the second-generation master of Hozoin Temple. Dealing with defeat can be even more daunting of a task than facing the fiercest of warriors. Will Mushashi be up for his latest challenge?

Continues the adventures of the Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.

Sakuragi Hanamachi joined the basketball team to impress a girl, but there are two problems--he doesn''t know how to play basketball and the girl''s older brother is on the team.