Miyamoto Musashi and Takehiko Returns!

[Pikachu]

I'm so relieved to see Inoue Takehiko back and drawing! I must say that chapt. 180 through 188 of Vagabond is the best drawn artwork I've ever seen in comics! I'm not talking style, I'm talking sheer technical skill and stunning leave you in awe struck art!

Finally Seijuro shows up and gets cocky with Miyamoto. I won't ruin the end, but this issue (volume 21 finally! after a year of waiting) has been the most stunning book I've ever read or seen. The wait was well worth it. Takehiko's work seems to be re-energized and better than ever. Vagabond and it's art is positively genius, Inoue Takehiko rocks!!

Pika! :)

[Pikachu]

Don't tell me you've all forgotten about Takehiko already! I know he's been gone for a year, but that's no reason to lose track of one of the greatest comic artists of our time.

I am interested in what people think about the title logo of "Vagabond" changing to a less rough and energetic brush stroke katakana to a more bubbly font? Any thoughts? I personally like the change, but still am fond of the original samurai-ish looking title.

Pika! :)

[Inkthinker]

I'm interested, but it doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot to me until the next VIZ volume.

[Pikachu]

The good news is that with the year buffer, Viz has caught up to the current volumes of the book. This means volume 21 is only months away from its American release, as Vagabond is a priority title under the Viz banner.

Trust me, the wait will be worth it!

Pika!

[Althalus]

@Pikachu:
BTW, just one little thing: Takehiko is his first name, his last name is Inoue. Not the other way around, like your posts suggest.


~Althalus

[Inkthinker]

Japanese names go surname first, personal name last.

So Westerners would say Takehiko Inoue, and the Japanese would say Inoue Takehiko.

Sometimes it's better to use the Japanese format... laying aside that it's more respectful, there are some names, like Ogure Ito, where you might not catch the pun that makes his more commonly known pen name "Oh! Great" if you called him Ito Ogure.

[Pikachu]

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f6/Torichan/Vagabond21cover.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f6/Torichan/Vagabond20cover.jpg

Here's the new Vagabond 21 issue cover followed by the older version from issue 20. The classic title font is a rough spackled brush stroke that looks like blood splatter, and the new one is a more straight edged geometric style. Just to note, Inoue Takehiko's name as well as the numerical fonts are changed. Issue 21's fonts are all raised and have a nice 3 dimensional quality to them which really make them pop out at the eye.

I like them both personally.

[Pikachu]

Of the above two title logos which do you prefer? The old or the new?

Pika!