The Elusive Samurai

The Elusive Samurai[lower-alpha 1] is a Japanese historical manga series written and illustrated by Yusei Matsui. It has been serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump since January 2021, with its chapters collected into four tankōbon volumes as of January 2022.

The Elusive Samurai
Cover of the first tankōbon volume, featuring Hojo Tokiyuki
逃げ上手の若君
(Nige Jōzu no Wakagimi)
GenreHistorical[1]
Manga
Written byYusei Matsui
Published byShueisha
English publisher
ImprintJump Comics
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Jump
DemographicShōnen
Original runJanuary 25, 2021 – present
Volumes4

Premise

Set between the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, during the Kenmu Restoration, the story follows the tale of Hojo Tokiyuki, a boy on the run after his family is overthrown by Ashikaga Takauji. With his only allies being a shady priest and his followers, the young lord must seek revenge and regain his glory, with his only weapon: a superhuman ability to flee and hide.

Publication

Written and illustrated by Yusei Matsui,[2] The Elusive Samurai started in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump on January 25, 2021.[3][4] Shueisha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on July 2, 2021.[5] As of January 4, 2022, four volumes have been released.[6]

In North America, the manga is licensed for English release by Viz Media, who simultaneously publishes the chapters digitally as they are released in Japan on its Shonen Jump website.[7] In October 2021, Viz Media announced that they will publish its volumes starting in Q2 of 2022.[8] Shueisha also simulpublishes the series in English and Spanish for free on the Manga Plus app and website.[9]

Volume list
No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 July 2, 2021[10]978-4-08-882710-0July 5, 2022[11]978-1-9747-3251-7
  1. "The Slaughter of 1333" (滅亡1333, Metsubō 1333)
  2. "Hide from the Demon 1333" (鬼ごっこ1333, Onigokko 1333)
  3. "Revenge 1333" (仇討ち1333, Adauchi 1333)
  4. "Suwa 1333" (諏訪1333, Suwa 1333)
  1. "Hunting 1333" (狩猟1333, Shuryō 1333)
  2. "Retainers 1333" (郎党1333, Rōtō 1333)
  3. "Archery 1333" (弓術1333, Kyūjutsu 1333)
2 August 4, 2021[12]978-4-08-882734-6September 6, 2022978-1-9747-3397-2
  1. "Dog-Shooting 1333" (犬追物1333, Inuōmono 1333)
  2. "Ogasawara 1333" (小笠原1333)
  3. "On the Run 1333" (逃げながら1333, Nigenagara 1333)
  4. "Son of Wealth 1333" (坊っちゃん1333, Bocchan 1333)
  5. "Sneaking In 1333" (潜入1333, Sen'nyū 1333)
  1. "Infernal Ears 1333" (地獄耳1333, Jigokumimi 1333)
  2. "Command 1333" (コマンド1333, Komando 1333)
  3. "Takauji 1333" (尊氏1333)
  4. "Worried 1334" (心配1334, Shinpai 1334)
3 November 4, 2021[13]978-4-08-882793-3November 1, 2022978-1-9747-3398-9
  1. "Education 1334" (教育1334, Kyōiku 1334)
  2. "Rogues 1334" (悪党1334, Akutō 1334)
  3. "Defensive Battle 1334" (防衛戦1334, Bōei-sen 1334)
  4. "Buddha 1334" (仏1334, Butsu 1334)
  5. "Bleeding 1334" (出血1334, Shukketsu 1334)
  1. "Revered Buddha 1334" (御仏1334, Mihotoke 1334)
  2. "Homage 1334" (臣従1334, Shinjū 1334)
  3. "Mysteries 1334" (不可思議1334, Fukashigi 1334)
  4. "Divine Power 1334" (神力1334, Shinriki 1334)
4 January 4, 2022[6]978-4-08-883010-0——
  1. "Kokushi 1334" (国司1334)
  2. "Wanting to Die 1334" (死にたがり1334, Shinitagari 1334)
  3. "Nasty Drunk 1334" (悪酔い1334, Waruyoi 1334)
  4. "General 1334" (将1334, Shō 1334)
  5. "Mounted Battle 1334" (騎馬戦1334, Kibasen 1334)
  1. "Desire to Survive 1334" (生きたがり1334, Ikitagari 1334)
  2. "Sashimi 1334" (刺身1334)
  3. "Generation 1334" (ジェネレーション1334, Jenerēshon 1334)
  4. "Etiquette 1334" (礼儀1334, Reigi 1334)
5 April 4, 2022[14]978-4-08-883073-5——
  1. "Question and Answer 1334" (問答1334, Mondō 1334)
  2. "Warrior Woman 1334" (女傑1334, Joketsu 1334)
  3. "Reform 1334" (改革1334, Kaikaku 1334)
  4. "Tumult in Shinano 1335" (信濃動乱1335, Shinano Dōran 1335)
  5. "Hawks 1335" (鷹1335, Taka 1335)
  1. "Three Great Generals 1335" (三大将1335, San Taishō 1335)
  2. "Mask 1335" (覆面1335, Fukumen 1335)
  3. "Mikoshi 1335" (神輿1335)
  4. "Military Strategy 1335" (軍略1335, Gunryaku 1335)

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume.

  1. "Bonds 1335" (繋がり1335, Tsunagari 1335)
  2. "Funny Faces 1335" (顔芸1335, Kaogei 1335)
  3. "Hair 1335" (髪1335, Kami 1335)
  4. "Face 1335" (顔1335, Kao 1335)
  5. "Kyo 1335" (京1335, Kyō 1335)
  6. "Extraordinary 1335" (凄み1335, Sugomi 1335)
  7. "Big City 1335" (大都会1335, Daitokai 1335)
  8. "Sugoroku 1335" (双六1335)
  9. "Basara 1335" (婆娑羅1335)
  10. Wicked 1335
  11. Scanner 1335
  12. Kusunoki 1335
  13. Assassination 1335
  14. Takauji 1335
  15. Return 1335
  16. Options 1335

Reception

In June 2021, The Elusive Samurai was nominated for the seventh Next Manga Award in the Best Printed Manga category and placed 6th out of 50 nominees.[15][16] The series ranked 8th on the Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2022.[17]

Anthony Gramuglia of Comic Book Resources wrote that the series has become one of the "highlights of [Weekly] Shōnen Jump's newer titles", adding that "[it] is not only surprisingly emotional but also surprisingly intense, starting with all cylinders at full-throttle and never letting up".[18]

Notes
  1. Japanese: 逃げ上手の若君, Hepburn: Nige Jōzu no Wakagimi, lit. "The Young Lord Who is Skilled at Escaping"

References
  1. “北条時行”検索する人続出 ジャンプ新連載の主人公で史実描き話題 作者は『暗殺教室』松井優征氏. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. January 25, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  2. Ryoko, Fukuda (July 19, 2021). 南北朝時代を斬新な切り口で描く『逃げ上手の若君』　魅力は松井優征の前作『暗殺教室』に通ずる“成長”？. Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved October 19, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (January 17, 2021). "Shonen Jump Launches New Manga by Assassination Classroom & Astra Lost in Space Creators, 2 Others". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  4. 松井優征の新作は歴史の狭間で“逃げる”英雄を描く逃亡譚、. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 25, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  5. 逃げ上手の若君：「暗殺教室」松井優征の5年ぶり新連載　コミックス第1巻　日本画家が着物や背景描く. Mantan Web (in Japanese). July 2, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  6. 逃げ上手の若君 4 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  7. Hazra, Adriana (January 22, 2021). "Viz Media to Publish Yusei Matsui's New Manga in English". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  8. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 10, 2021). "Viz Announces Summer 2022 Book Releases Including Junji Ito's The Liminal Zone, Takashi Shiina's Yashahime Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  9. Manga Plus [@MangaPlusENG] (January 24, 2021). "🇬🇧 New series! Yusei Matsui, the genius behind Neuro and Assassination Classroom, is now back with The Elusive Samurai! 🇪🇸 ¡Nueva serie! ¡Yusei Matsui, el genio detrás de Neuro y Assassination Classroom, vuelve con El Héroe Fugitivo!" (Tweet). Retrieved October 19, 2021 – via Twitter.
  10. 逃げ上手の若君 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  11. "The Elusive Samurai, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  12. 逃げ上手の若君 2 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  13. 逃げ上手の若君 3 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  14. 逃げ上手の若君 5 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  15. Loveridge, Lynzee (June 21, 2021). "Voting Opens for Tsugi ni Kuru Manga 2021 Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  16. Loveridge, Lynzee (August 24, 2021). "Kaiju No. 8, Oshi no Ko Win Next Manga Awards Web, Print Categories". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  17. 書店員が選んだおすすめコミック2022、第1位は龍幸伸「ダンダダン」. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 27, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  18. Gramuglia, Anthony (June 18, 2021). "Shonen Jump's 5 Newest Manga, Ranked". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
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