Vagabond, vols. 1 & 2 (by Takehiko Inoue)

OMFG.

Not very articulate, I know. But that was my first reaction after reading these. And actually, I was ooh'ing and aah'ing in the very first pages.

I don't know a lot about manga - this is really only the fourth series I've even started. But I do know a bit about illustration in general. I've followed my favorite children's book illustrators and SF&F cover artists for a couple of decades now (one of my most treasured gifts of recent years was Shirley Hughes' illustrated autobiography, A Life Drawing). And man-o-manischewitz, Inoue can draw! And paint! The artwork, both B&W and color, is stunning.

Plus, the way Inoue's started out this story - a fictionalized biography of legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi - has got me completely hooked. At this point in his life, the famous author of The Book of Five Rings is a thuggishly handsome 17-year-old peasant, with little discipline and barely any sense of honor. He's got a long road ahead.

( Read more - includes some spoilers )

I'd really, really like to thank my friend Petrefax for recommending this series.