Onimusha: Way of the Sword Gets Official Prequel Webtoon, New Chapters Every Saturday

Onimusha: Way of the Sword launched last week, and we're calling it a 10/10 masterpiece. If you've already dived into the action or are just curious about the lore, you should check out the official companion webcomic. It serves as a direct prequel to the game and is free to read for anyone with a Webtoon account.

The Onimusha series is set in an alternate version of feudal Japan. In the game's canon, Way of the Sword takes place over two decades after the previous mainline entry, Dawn of Dreams, moving the Genma conflict into the Edo period.

The webcomic, subtitled 'Fated Rivalry,' kicks off shortly before the events of Way of the Sword. It follows Miyamoto Musashi's rival, Sasaki Ganryu, who stumbles upon an Oni Gauntlet during his vengeance-fueled quest to become strong enough to defeat Musashi.

The prequel is produced by Laurel Pursuit, a US-based studio that has previously distributed the Dungeon Crawler Carl graphic novel and original webcomics like Defiance of the Fall. The Onimusha webcomic features art from Webtoon creators jjolee, hilluhri, and BAEKSSE.

The first chapter dropped last Saturday and has already racked up over 20,000 views. New chapters will continue to release every Saturday, though the total length of the prequel series remains under wraps.

Here's the official description of the comic, which is free to read with a Webtoon account:

'When you live by the way of the sword, there's only room for one at the top.

Sasaki Ganryu has one goal: to become the strongest swordsman in the world. When a duel with the wandering samurai Miyamoto Musashi ends in humiliating defeat, Ganryu is consumed by rage. What follows is a bloody quest to reclaim his honor that leads him down a path of madness and obsession.

On his journey, he receives a mysterious artifact known as 'The Oni Gauntlet,' which grants him power no mortal blade could ever match. Hunting down ever-stronger foes sets him on a collision course to face the only man who has ever bested him in battle.'

This isn't the first time Onimusha has expanded beyond gaming. A film adaptation was pitched back in the early 2000s but ultimately canceled. What did come to fruition was an anime adaptation released on Netflix in 2023, though most fans don't consider it canon to the games. The webcomic, on the other hand, flows seamlessly into Way of the Sword while staying true to events from previous titles.