Book Review: Shortcut (Blade of the Immortal, Volume 16) by Hiroaki Samura

Title: Shortcut

Author: Hiroaki Samura

Genre: Action (Manga/Graphic Novel)
Paperback: 200 pages

Publisher: Dark Horse (January 17, 2006)

Description: As Rin frets over her bodyguard Manji's disappearance, she is surprised by the arrival of two traveling warriors, the feisty, headstrong Döa Yoshino and her huge, brutish companion, Isaku Yasono-ökami. Rin quickly regrets her decision to let this strange couple stay with her, but her detective work takes priority when she returns to the stronghold of Habaki Kagamura to search for Manji. Meanwhile, Kagimura's medical examiners begin to test the seemingly immortal Manji, who is imprisoned, chained, and a very unwilling toy in their merciless hands!

My Review: I love this series, but I can't say I am dedicated. The art, the story and characters are great. But the price is a bit...much. the prices range from $15 to $20 and the books are a bit too thin for that price. So far I only own the first book and this one and have read the few copies my library owns of the 22 (26 in Japan) volume, and counting, series. But enough griping from me, I could shut my mouth and read the series online somewhere, but I need to read my manga while holding it.


I read this book two times, yes two. I actually started halfway through and when I got to the end I started over again...so maybe I read it one and a half times? This action of mine is unusual in two ways, one that I read it so soon after I've read it already...because I usually find no enjoyment if I reread something right away, that's just they way I am. And two that I actually started reading it at the halfway point. I am sure their is a very positive reason for that and I am thinking it was I flipped the book open there and I couldn't bring myself to stop reading and go to the beginning.


This volume is about Manji being kidnapped and beat around in the interest of finding the cause of his immortality. Rin is worried, but otherwise occupied. Nothing much happens, but who cares when every frame of this manga is gold. There is humor, romance, and lots of revenge and sorrow floating around. I really can't complain ever when I get through with a book in this series. Well I do whine a bit about not reading the next book soon enough.

Rating: 8/10

One of the best manga series out there. I am usually not a huge fan of action manga out there, but this one is NEVER EVER boring, and it is much more than your dull, repetitive action manga.