Following the success of Tatsuya Endo’s Spy x Household collection, his Blade of the Moon Princess manga has obtained a US launch from Viz Media. The primary quantity, which was initially launched in Japan in 2010, is now accessible in English, and followers received’t have to attend too lengthy for the second quantity as it is going to be launched in December. General, the coming-of-age collection primarily based on a Japanese folktale will span 5 volumes.
“Defiant and vulgar, Princess Kaguya Takenouchi just isn’t the inheritor to the moon’s Silver Courtroom that her mom’s retainers had hoped for. However when the empress falls unwell throughout a wave of terrorist assaults, Kaguya resolves to do proper by her individuals and rise to the event,” reads the synopsis. “Sadly, Kaguya’s enemies are a step forward of her, and she or he finally ends up ejected from the moon and stranded on the primitive Tainted World beneath. Can she discover her means again to the moon and reclaim the throne that’s rightfully hers from the usurpers?”
A manga collection typically lives or dies because of its protagonist. Fortunately, Kaguya Takenouchi is sort of the likable one. She’s royalty who desperately desires nothing greater than to be a traditional lady fairly than the long run chief she was born to develop into. It’s not probably the most distinctive of circumstances, however Endo’s implausible model and writing shine by means of in making her an pleasurable character who proves as much as the duty as soon as her mom’s well being begins to fail.
Blade of the Moon Princess has an attention-grabbing historical past because it was initially a one-shot manga that was launched in 2000. It wasn’t till a decade later that the collection went into full manufacturing, which is an efficient factor because it allowed Endo to develop his abilities. The manga is fantastically illustrated, and the terrorist group that makes use of Tengu masks appears to be like fearsome. For followers of Spy x Household, this serves as a take a look at Endo’s inventive development and his vary, as it’s fairly totally different from his greatest hit.
(Picture Credit score: Viz Media)(Picture Credit score: Viz Media)
Instructed by means of three prolonged chapters, the primary quantity of Blade of the Moon Princess is a fascinating and pleasurable learn for its 192 pages. The motion sequences, significantly the segments the place the terrorist assaults happen, are thrilling, whereas Kaguya’s development and resolve to go from a troublemaking brat to wanting to be a pacesetter for her individuals is the excessive mark of the narrative. It’s a extremely robust begin to a narrative that I can’t wait to see develop. You’ll be able to’t ask for far more from the primary quantity of a collection.
Issues actually begin getting attention-grabbing as soon as Kaguya is compelled off the moon and onto the “tainted world” — Earth. This model of Earth serves as a spot of exile for criminals and suffers from famine, a far cry from the royal upbringing that Kaguya had. It’s the right place for Kaguya to develop as each a warrior and an individual whereas additionally on the run from 5 elite assassins that the terrorists despatched in pursuit. Whereas the motion is on the forefront, there are some good moments of comedy thrown in as nicely that present levity to what are some fairly critical themes of familial responsibility, political intrigue, and what it means to be a pacesetter.
Blade of the Moon Princess Vol. 1 Evaluation: Ultimate Verdict
If you happen to’re a fan of Spy x Household, then choosing up Blade of the Moon Princess Vol. 1 is a no brainer determination, because it’s quite a lot of enjoyable having a look at Endo’s earlier work. Even in case you’re not a diehard fan of SxF or wish to see Endo’s development as an artist, there’s so much to love right here because the story is about in an attention-grabbing world that mixes sci-fi and dystopia with a standard Japanese folktale as its base.
Disclosure: ComingSoon was despatched a replica by the writer for our Blade of the Moon Princess Vol. 1 evaluation.