Vagabond, Vol. 19

This is volume 19 of Takehiko Inoue's Vagabond, collecting chapters 73 through 76 and centering on the conclusion of the Hozoin arc. At the end of the previous volume, Musashi dodges Inshun's lethal strike and brings him down; whether either man won their contest remains an open question, and this volume continues to ask what that duel—"not a fight to the death"—actually means. Musashi is thus forced to reexamine his motive for "wanting to become stronger": is he pursuing flawless strength, or confronting loneliness and weakness? Is the sand scattered over his body meant to hide his sins, or to fill the emptiness in his heart? As the Hozoin battle comes to a temporary close, this volume puts a period on a long and oppressive period of training while laying groundwork for Musashi's journey ahead. In his production notes in this volume, Inoue also discusses the physical toll of long-term drawing and the creative process of experiencing fear, anguish, and confusion alongside Musashi.