In the beginning there was blackness, then there was blood. 

If I were writing a story to accompany this art book, that's how it would start.

Of course there is no story here, the occasional exploding word bubble remains empty.  However, the art speaks for itself.  Peaceful green scenes are rare in this world of black and white ink splattered here and there with bright red blood, but interspersed between desperate struggles, battlefields empty except for the dead and frightening oni are scenes of fishing, laughing, characters smiling (without blood on their faces even!) and playing in the snow.

Some pages concentrate on the intricate crosshatched details of scenery.  Others focus on faces, crying, screaming, smiling, laughing.  Despair, coy, fear and frustration, from the very young to the incredibly old, fresh faced or beaten and bloody.   This would be a great resource for those studying art in any form.

The author of the Vagabond series, where these characters originate.  The series itself is based on the (fictionalized) life of famous samurai Miyamoto Musashi.  If you liked Lone Wolf and Cub, you'll probably like Vagabond.  

No Mitsui in this volume, which makes me sad, but it's still hilarious and awesome. You wouldn't believe how much I adore these characters. Even the opposing team is seriously cool....which makes it a little difficult deciding who I want to succeed. I mean, I'm rooting for Shohoku, of course, but sometimes it makes me happy when the other team pulls ahead. It shows you just how good they all are, and how well they work together, you know? And I love that each member of each team has their own strengths and weaknesses. I could see how easy it would be to make all of them invincible, but they're not - I'm getting pretty good at predicting which maneuvers will get past which player.

I can't believe how good the art has gotten in this manga - it's come a long way from the first volume.

Oh, and one final note: this is the first volume of Shohoku vs. Kainan, and it's exciting.

I don't even....ONLY on Sakuragi would a silly tactic like that work. *facepalm*

They're actually targeting Sakuragi? O_O That'll send his ego into hysterics.