- Blade for Barter
Infobox Asian comic series
name = Blade for Barter
imagesize =
caption = Cover, "Blade for Barter" volume 1
ko_hangul =
zh_hanzi =
romanized =
genre =
author =Jason DeAngelis
illustrator = Hai!
publisher = flagicon|United StatesSeven Seas Entertainment
publisher_en =
publisher_other =
demographic =
magazine =
first = 2005
last = ongoing
volumes = 1
chapter_list =
related =
content =
subcat = Seven Seas Entertainment
sort = PAGENAME
OEL=y"Blade for Barter" is an
Original English-language manga series written byJason DeAngelis , with art by Hai! (Honoel A. Ibardolaza ) and is published bySeven Seas Entertainment .Blade for Barter volume one was first printed in February 2005, after extensive previews on the
Seven Seas Entertainment homepage. Hai!'s art is based on that ofEiichiro Oda , the creator ofOne Piece . [http://www.gomanga.com/news/features_b4b_001.php]Plot summary
Blade for Barter is the story of Ryusuke Washington, a private
samurai for hire. He lives in New Edo, a hodgepodge city-state where New York City meets ancient Japan, where monolithic skyscrapers tower over ramshackle wooden huts, and salarymen and samurai walk side-by-side.Along with his loyal dog Hachiko, Ryusuke must deal with the likes of the corrupt Samurai Union, the Mafuza (a cross between the Italian
mafia and theYakuza ); a Ninja Union of clumsy ninja; a sinister Zen monk televangelist, and more - not to mention the temper-tantrum prone Lord Hoseki, who rules New Edo with bejeweled fingers and an iron fist.The world in which Hachiko and Ryusuke find themselves is an eclectic mix of Eastern and Western cultures. Such blending of East and West also is found to typify, Ryusuke Washington himself, a warrior for hire.
The side effects of such a mixed culture come back to haunt Ryusuke as he has to face striking
ronin who actively demonstrate, their very existence in real Japan would have violated traditional codes. He also has to face the control hungry Samurai union. Ryusuke is soon joined by the cute but over affectionate Hachiko the dog and Mac, akunoichi who takes a certain obsessive pride in her fuzz boots. The first volume also containsomake content not seen online.External links
* [http://www.gomanga.com/manga/b4b.php Gomanga.com the homepage of Blade for Barter]
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