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Volume 1 Review

release: September 4 2008

Length: ca. 195 pages

Colour pages: no, but mini poster

ISBN: 978-4-08-874508-4

Chapters: 1-5

 OK, so that shop made me wait, and it is entirely possible that the long, wistful wait has made me sentimental, and that I have idealized this manga in my mind... but either way, I think this manga is SO SHINY, YAY.

Artwork and extras

I truly adore the cover artwork. It is stylish, dark and sports both Watsuki's normal coloration style as well as the style he is using a lot for Embalming specifically, inspired by American comics I believe, with atmospheric, large black shadows...

It is a bit sad that the colour pages of chapter one - the chapter title artwork most notably - is only printed in black and white. It was another awesome example of the colouration style. But it's still fine in black and white.

To soothe the pain, there is a mini poster in colour, two pages in size, and folded once to fit in the manga. Sadly, it doesn't look like it can be removed without dealing dire damage to the book, but I was not planning on taking it out anyway. I'm a hopeless perfectionist who doesn't like ruining her manga...

The illustration used for the mini poster is the very, very first artwork of Fury, the one that was used in the advertizing of the magazine before its release. It does bring back memories, and is also clearly a little bit dated, because it shows Fury dragging this metal-made monster... probably an early design of "Titan", the monster who killed Fury's parents.

I think back in the day, based on this picture, I had completely different expectations of Fury!

 The Story

Since I already know the story, I can only wager an educated guess about how a first-time reader will experience it. I think it is very fortunate that the first volume covers the entire first arch. That way, what you get is a very neat story with a lot of twists and a conclusive ending, which is nevertheless clearly the beginning of a bigger story.

The "Dead Body ad Revenger" arch is, in my opinion, Watsuki's best achievement in storytelling so far, and makes for a really great first impression.

At least that's what I suppose. ;) As a reader of the oneshots, I am experiencing a different side, too: the impatience to see the characters from the oneshots again. The little glimpse of Elm at the end is exciting for everybody who knows who she is, and probably a good tease for those who don't. She also gives the greatest possible contrast to Fury and his deeply dark story.

Content

Additional to the mini poster and five chapters of manga, there are all five installments of the "Hakubutsushi" stories, the little chapters written in dialogue form that enlighten the readers on various cultural and historical details. I haven't actually read any of them yet... uhhh... my Japanese skills, dude. I am scared of text that comes without pictures. :(

There are also author's notes on each of the manga chapters, just like we're used from "Busou Renkin", and character files for all the characters playing significant roles in this arch, although only the main characters Fury, Wraith and Dr. Peaberry get truly detailed files - with blood type and birthdays, likes and dislikes.

Yup yup, I am really happy with this volume, as far as both story and presentation are concerned.

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