Let's discuss Vagabond, one of the best manga series
Ok, let's pick up the pace, after my shoujo recommendations, which you can check here:
Now, it is time for Vagabond, a manga that has stuck in my mind for ages. it is still ongoing, and I normally will come back to it once a year, and read it again from the beginning until the last tome I can get. It never gets old, it never gets boring, and each time I read it, I find new awesomeness both in its story and the magnificent art that illustrates its pages.
Let's look at some basic information:
This manga, based on Eiji Yoshikawa's novel Musashi, tells the fictionalized life of Miyamoto Musashi, considered by most as the greatest swordsman of medieval Japan. That in itself is amazing, as Musashi lived in a period in which the art of war and fighting with swords was at its peak, yet he showed again and again his superiority. Also, he is a great character, that slowly goes from a careless teenager brute, to a great thinker and immensely refined fighter.
I do not know exactly how to categorize this manga. It has a little of everything. Medieval awesomeness, great action, but also some great insights into the philosophy of the times, with lots of drama and even some romance. After several tomes, the perspective changes for many, many chapters, so we can get to know from the beginning, the story of Musashi's greatest adversary. And even with this change in pace and setting, things do not get boring at all, quite the contrary! When an author does this kinds of story-shifting, risks losing the interest of its audience, yet in this case it's done perfectly, presenting us with great characters.
Another remarkable thing is the pace in which the author develops the story. At the beginning, Musashi is just a kid that wants to be the best swordsman in the world. The pace is fast, as he advances and conquers over weak enemies. But later, he will learn that the road to becoming the best has no shortcuts, the way of the warrior is a tough and lonely one, and as he meets very strong adversaries, he will have to start from scratch and accept the help of some great teachers along the way. But this is not Shonen, so forget about waves of enemies that grow stronger and stronger. In fact in the first half of the story we will get to know some great characters, young and old, that will be the measuring rod for Musashi, asthe are both very talented fighters, and with a strong mind.
One thing that stands out in this manga is its art. The expressions, the movement, the beautiful female faces, how he captures surprise, bravado, anger... it's amazing. Many times I find manga in which action is not correctly captured and translated into the drawings, with convoluted movements and unclear resolution. In vagabond, you feel as if you were there, meters from the fighters, contemplating it all. Even if the story sucked, this manga would anyway be worthy of a place in your book shelve, just so you can enjoy its art.
I sincerely recommend you to read Vagabond. it is also the perfect gift for someone that loves medieval stories, japanese culture, sword-fighting, or great art.