'Vagabond' by Takehiko Inoue
37 volumes, 327 chapters
1998 - 2015 (on indefinite hiatus)
Following Uzumaki, I decided to jump headfirst into one of the most well-regarded manga of all-time, and one that was significantly longer, denser, and more impactful by every conceivable metric. I read the first 20 volumes of this one over the course of a single weekend, and I still consider this one of the absolutely best manga I've read, and I doubt that will ever change. The characterization is wonderful, the story flies by in the most satisfying of ways, and the artwork is insanely good. I was in awe of this manga pretty much the entire time. Deeply philosophical, horrifically violent, and filled with unforgettable sequences and character development throughout, as many positive things as I hear about Slam Dunk and Real, I can't see this ever being topped as Inoue's masterpiece. It might not be my #1 favorite manga so far, but it's ridiculously close.
