Writing Blade of the Immortal

[oshi]

Has anyone else read this manga? It's one of my very favorites. I think the author's name is Hiroaki Samura. Blade is the only manga I've heard of by this artist, but it's an incredible one. It's got such a unique drawing style, intricate plot, and twisting storyline that it's hard to wait until the next one comes out. They're still printing it right to left, so it's pretty costly--but it's also worth it.
It's about Manji and Rin, and how their lives seem to be drawn together by Rin's wish to avenge the lives of her parents. I won't say any more, because anything can give away pieces that are just better if you get them on your own.
My favorite character is Anotsu Kagehisa. I just liked his looks at first, but now he's just intriguing all around.
Any comments?
oshi

[Dagger]

I will admit that I'm not much of a manga person. There are only a few series which I've ever truly liked (Demon Diary and Nausicaa being two of them). However, Blade of the Immortal has been sitting at the top of my Amazon.com wish list for about six months, and from what I've seen of its first volume, it would be worth buying for the artwork alone.

How long is Blade of the Immortal, anyway (assuming that it's already wrapped up in Japan)? Just as I try to avoid overly long anime, I tend to be a little leery of any manga that exceeds twenty volumes. But if, as you say, it's held together by more than stunning imagery, I'd like to give this series a try.

~Dagger~

[oshi]

I don't know how many there are, actually. There are a lot (we own all except the most recent one), but there is absolutely no repetition--the story is still unfolding, and we're on maybe the thirteenth or fourteenth volume. It's a good one :)
oshi