“After the massacre of his family by the traitor Ashikaga Takauji, Tokiyuki flees with the help of a handful of loyal retainers who have also survived the purge. One of them is Suwa Yorishige, an ally of the Hojo clan and lord of Suwa Province. The slightly odd Yorishige also claims to be clairvoyant and foretells that Tokiyuki will one day become the ruler of Japan. But for the moment, escaping from enemy territory is the priority!” (Viz Media)
Mangaka Yusei Matsui has undoubtedly made a name for himself with the “Assassination Classroom” series. This title had reached cult status with the sci-fi comedy being adapted into both anime and live action–not to mention the popularity of cosplay among fans. Now posing itself to be the next big title from the creator, “The Elusive Samurai” sees its first physical release after digital chapters being published through Viz Media.
As an introduction to what is obviously going to be a long-running series, it is difficult to get a wider scope of how “The Elusive Samurai” will develop beyond being a new historical shonen series. However, the pacing of the first book is one of joyful excitement as it wastes little time in setting up Tokiyuki's tragic backstory and quests for revenge. This does not necessarily feel rushed either, as Matsui has proven himself to be a talent in creating characters with strongly defined personas that are accessible from the first introduction–mannerisms and speech give a quick sense of who the character is. Consequently, the series has yet to define itself but it will be obvious to the reader that they are in capable hands, with the wonderfully expressive way that Yusei Matsui crafts the world of “The Elusive Samurai”.
However, where the inaugural release really thrives most is in its artistic direction. Besides the expressive cast, the flow of action in the series is perfectly executed with the book's first major conflict between a slew of young fighters and a crazed samurai oozing all the cool and sleek action you would want from a series of this ilk. Fans of historic fiction will further appreciate the inclusion of familiar folklore that is imbued into these villainous characters. As an action series, combined with the strong character depictions, the title shows promise to escalate towards epic showdowns as the ability of Tokiyuki grows. There is also a welcome addition of light humor throughout, both in visuals and dialogue, that keeps the title from being dark in its overall tone.
While “The Elusive Samurai” is only in its infancy as a series that positions itself to be a long-spanning epic, the foundation it is jumping off of is certainly solid. It definitely needs time to develop, but the work already seems on the path that will have manga fans talking about key moments/fights that really astound or pull on the heartstrings–envisioning where the series is going evokes a lot of excitement.
“The Elusive Samurai” is released digitally and can be read a bit further ahead for those who prefer that format. However, those who like to collect will really appreciate owning the physical release for its lush artistic direction. Either way, fans of shonen will certainly not want to miss out on this one.
