Feng Shen Ji

More epic than Dragon Ball.

Eons ago the gods created the heavens, the earth, and the realm below. Having set the foundation of the world the ancient god Tian created humans in the image of gods. For centuries the Great Shang dynasty has prospered in service of the gods and relations have been amicable, until now. Emperor Zhou has grown tired of the gods treating human beings as their slaves. While he has great wealth and power, he understands that the gods use prosperity only to train humans as though they were dogs. What Emperor Zhou desires is not more wealth or power, but freedom for all people. When a messenger from gods informs the emperor that Tian wishes for him to conquer and enslave the surrounding kingdoms Zhou doesn't hesitate to express his discontent. He announces he will rebel against the gods and liberate mankind. The heavens have declared that there will be dire consequences for this act of rebellion. In the name of the Shang dynasty Emperor Zhou gives his royal decree - "Just Bring It."

 

Putting the fear of Man into the Gods.

Emperor Zhou fires the first shot against the heavens and while the gods mock him and regard him as a monkey, they quickly realize the status quo is about to change as Emperor Zhou turns one god into cold cuts and holds his own in a battle against five others - BY HIMSELF.

When Tian descends people die.

He puts so much pressure on the gods that Tian himself has to enter the fray to stop him, bringing Zhou's rebellion to a tragic and bloody halt. This isn't too much of a spoiler, because the story isn't about Zhou. This story is about his son Wu Geng who will later become known as Ah Gou - a legend in his own time.

Savior

I know the term epic has been essentially ruined by pop culture hipsters, but this is one of the few instances where the term is applicable. Zheng Jian He is a superb writer who clearly set out to make Feng Shen Ji more of a legend rather than a typical comic. This story is so huge that at times it makes Dragon Ball seem small by comparison. The story evolves through numerous plot twists, absolutely mind-blowing battles, and extensive development for its enormous cast of characters. There are all kinds of exotic animals and wildlife, and numerous myths in-universe about martial arts techniques, immortals, and even the origins of the gods themselves. There's even lore surrounding various weapons and locations. This epic tale spans more than 200 chapters and there are some huge plot twists that change the narrative only five chapters in.

Meet your new favorite character.

As mentioned above this is Wu Geng's story. After a series of extraordinary events which I won't spoil, Wu Geng finds himself trapped in the body of a previously dead slave named Ah Gou. This is the same slave who Wu Geng beat and tried to torture prior to the events of the story. Understand that Wu Geng was a terrible child who didn't inherit any of his father's love towards his fellow man. Once a proud and arrogant prince, Wu Geng now finds himself assuming the identity of Ah Gou - a slave and in his mind the lowest of all people. This is a humbling experience that changes him for the better. Wu Geng understands his old life is gone. He fully accepts his new identity as Ah Gou and learns to love and lead his fellow human beings after having suffered as they have suffered.

Step back Goku. Watch out Superman. Ah Gou is coming to town.

Feng Shen Ji follows Ah Gou from childhood, to adolescence and into adulthood so he grows a lot over the course of the story. His development is fantastic largely because he's so different from every other heroic character out there. After losing their parents, anyone else would be motivated solely by revenge and rightfully so. However, as a slave Ah Gou's first priority is survival. As he grows closer to those around him, he becomes less focused on his own survival and more focused on ensuring he's able to free his friends from servitude under the gods. Ah Gou isn't stupid. He's smart Maggle. Smart. Ever the opportunist, Ah Gou uses his captivity to make himself stronger, learn more about the gods and why they need humans to excavate bloodstones, and even work his way into the good graces of his owner so he can sabotage the entire operation. He uses his cunning to stay several steps ahead of his enemies and he ensures the survival of not only himself, but his friends.

 

To the window! To the wall!

After escaping captivity he trains with powerful teachers and also in solitude. At first Ah Gou can't even throw a punch, but as time goes on he becomes strong enough to do battle with the gods, even trouncing some of them with ease. While the gods initially scoff at him, they come to recognize him as a terrible threat and the Dark Ones - a race long opposed to both gods and humans acknowledge Ah Gou as their equal.

 

His evolution knows no limits.

Ah Gou is cocky enough to laugh in the face of the gods and he's resourceful enough to tear them from the heavens and take the throne for himself. He's similar to Yusuke Uremeshi, but 100x more badass. Thus he's not your typical, boring shonen character (Naruto, Ichigo, etc.) who always wins all the time in absurd ways. Ah Gou is the embodiment of epic, but he's not a Marty Stu. In a world where literally everyone is a badass and his enemies are the gods themselves, Ah Gou isn't ashamed to ask for help nor is he above using dirty tricks to take down his enemies. Even if said trick involves kidnapping the son of a slave owner to get what he wants. He'll do what he needs to do to get the win and he'll flip-off his enemies while doing it.

 

And so a child will lead them.

There are times when he lets his power go to his head and his inexperience at life does get him into trouble from time-to-time. There are also occasions where he becomes too cocky and even comes to blows with his uncle Zi Yu - the godslayer. His flaws make him an endearing character because it's his imperfections that make him feel more human. Despite his shortcomings he becomes a folk hero even as a teenager and he attracts followers of different races and species from all over the realms because of his charisma, power, intellect, frank manner, and rather eccentric personality. I could easily spend the rest of this review talking about Ah Gou, but he's just one of many in a manhua overflowing with fantastic characters.

 

The Dark Generals

The Dark Ones are an ancient race with centuries of bad blood with the gods. Led by thirteen generals who follow the command of Ni Tian Er Xing (far left) the Dark Ones have been looking for an opportunity to emerge from the shadows and take their revenge on the gods. A combination of Emperor Zhou's rebellion and Ah Gou declaring war on the gods brings them out of hiding and they provide a badass boon to mankind's coup d'etat. But don't think they're all on the same side. What's great about these characters is that not all of them get along just because they're from the same culture. The writing is more natural than that. They all have different personalities, beliefs, and feelings towards other races and each other. Many of the Dark Generals are actually enemies whose only reason for teaming up is the destruction of the gods. For example Si Wang Yen Shen (far right) despises the other generals, Er Xing in particular and makes it known that after the war is over all bets are off. Yen Shen also despises Ah Gou and the two have some tense interactions. In addition to having their own myths, the Dark Ones also have different styles of martial arts not seen anywhere else in Feng Shen Ji thus adding another layer of authenticity to their civilization.

They Descend

Don't think of the gods as being specist mind you. While the vast, vast majority of them do regard humans as animals some have different ideas. While none of the gods think humans can ever be equal, some feel that humans should be left to their own devices, others think the humans need to be led, and one god in particular couldn't care less because he just wants to party and hit on hot women. Similar to the Dark Ones and the humans, not all of the gods get along just because of their divine nature. There are differences in their personalities and even status. Also similar to the other cultures we see in this manhua, the gods have their own martial arts never seen in the mortal world and trust me when I tell you that the words "shock and awe" could not be more appropriate. And there are still other races and martial arts the reader encounters in Feng Shen Ji besides the ones I introduced.

 

The best battles you'll see anywhere.

The battles in Feng Shen Ji are simply mesmerizing. Saying they put DBZ to shame would be an understatement as animating even a handful of them would likely bankrupt a studio. There are your classic speed lines, special moves displayed in giant Chinese characters, entire cities being leveled brick-by-brick as these warriors deliver tremendous blows that shake the heavens and the earth. The battles just get bigger and more epic as the manhua goes on and some phenomenal artwork is on display. Cheng Kin Wo and Tang Chi Fai bring their A-game and firmly establish themselves as the best artists in China. Every fight looks and feels like it's going to be a cataclysmic conflict and it almost always is.

 

This is going to hurt. A lot.

Some of the fights take their cues from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure where opponents basically try to out-gambit (or out-Joestar) each other. On occasion  an enemy will be on the offensive, only for Ah Gou to say "AHA! I knew you'd do that so here is my real plan". To which an enemy will respond, "AHA! I knew that this was your real plan all along and I'm two steps ahead." Only for Ah Gou to finish with "AHA! I've been five steps ahead this entire time." It's awesome in this somewhat absurd, meta-way and it makes for some entertaining fights and reactions from the characters therein.

 

Siri did it to me again.

The world of Feng Shen Ji is massive and there are numerous moments where the characters themselves are just as amazed as the reader at what they discover. There are legends older than the gods themselves, civilizations even the Dark Ones regarded as mere fairy tales, and the reader bears witness to first contact between cultures. There's more going on in this world than even the characters themselves know about and you learn as they learn.

 

Uncle BADASS

The central themes of Feng Shen Ji are freedom, responsibility, and family. Regardless of where they're from the majority of the characters want the freedom to live their lives in the way they think will best suit them. Most of the cast has tremendous physical, spiritual, and even political power, but very few use it for the right reasons. The majority of the problems in this manhua stem from an authority figure abusing their power and it's not always the gods. The cast has to learn that if they don't wield their power responsibly they stand a very real chance of worsening the same problems they're trying to solve.

 

Family

Family also plays a role in Feng Shen Ji. Ah Gou forges a strong bond with his uncle Zi Yu who he sees as a teacher and father-figure. After proving his strength, the Dark Ones come to see Ah Gou as their brother and he is welcomed as one of their own by "most" of them. Ah Gou (and hopefully the reader) learns that blood isn't the only thing that makes a family, but also who you love, honor, and protect.

Ah Gou vs Tian: He will avenge his father or die in the attempt.

As you've probably surmised Feng Shen Ji is a truly epic tale. Any reader interested in this title should take note that it does require a substantial investment of your time. Recall that the story follows Ah Gou from childhood to adulthood and so you won't see any titanic battles for quite awhile. After the introductory chapters, the majority of the first part is Ah Gou developing as a human being not just a fighter. However, once he comes of age and begins to strut his stuff get ready to see some truly awe-inspiring conflicts. With fantastic artwork, superb writing, several plot twists, a great cast of characters and mythic story-telling that makes this world seem alive, Feng Shen Ji is a gripping tale from start to finish. I highly recommend this comic for anyone and everyone interested in a modern myth they won't ever forget.

City of Darkness

 

The epic begins.

Chen Luo Jun is a member of the Baoli (literally "violence group") arguably the baddest gang in all of Hong Kong. Despite being with the gang for only a year he's quickly become the strongest member of the group and is known and feared throughout the criminal underworld. In his quest to conquer ten territories for his boss he's crushed numerous gangs, often times single-handedly. One evening when Luo Jun is returning to his hide-out he finds the members of his gang slaughtered by the dozens. More unsettling is the party responsible for the attack turns out to be The Boss. Luo Jun goes after The Boss to get answers but receives a sound-thrashing and a price on his head. Luo Jun flees Hong Kong for his life but vows to return one-day and claim his revenge. He seeks refuge in the City of Darkness (Kowloon), a place so dangerous even The Boss won't set foot there.

Welcome to Kowloon, the City of Darkness.

Written by Yu Er and drawn by Andy Seto, Situ Jian Qiao, Yuyongliang, and the Chenjing Group, "City of Darkness" is a manhua (Chinese comic) taking place in 1990s Hong Kong and largely centered on a fictional version of Kowloon Walled City (not to be confused with the bustling, economic powerhouse Kowloon). The comic is a wuxia title and it may be one of the best wuxia to use a contemporary setting. For readers who may be unaware, wuxia (martial hero) is a genre of Chinese fiction centered on the adventures of martial artists in ancient China. The heroes of wuxia tend to follow a particular code which corresponds to the virtue they most often symbolize. Wuxia heroes are typically chivalrous outcasts similar to Robin Hood or western gunslingers. Another aspect of wuxia fiction is the the code of xia; eight attributes (benevolence, justice, individualism, loyalty, courage, truthfulness, disregard for wealth and desire for glory) which tie into Confucianism. There is usually a character which represents each attribute but some characters can embody several which leads us to our protagonist Chen Luo Jun.

The path he walks does not change with the times.

Like other heroes in the genre, Luo Jun experiences tragedy and endures tribulations that make him a better martial artist and more importantly a better person. The streets of Hong Kong are a dangerous place and Luo Jun knows how to survive largely because of his immense skill in battle and charisma. However, he's not an Arrogant Kung Fu Guy trope nor is he a generic shonen hero. He's a simple man who just wants to build a better life for his mother and he's doing so the only way he knows how. He doesn't boast about his power or show off and he's not interested in being rich or famous, but he just wants a better life than what the streets have to offer. He carries himself with a sense of pride, but he's never conceited. He walks his own path and these and other qualities draw others to him and even his enemies admire him. However, he is loyal to a fault and this "flaw" becomes the impetus of the story's conflict because one character who doesn't share Luo Jun's code of ethics is his employer - THE BOSS.

THE BOSS

The most powerful crime lord in Hong Kong, indeed the only crime lord in Hong Kong, the Boss has made a name for himself for being cunning, ruthless, and absurdly powerful. He surrounds himself with the toughest fighters in the criminal underworld, but he's not the type to hide behind his men. Wielding fear and respect as a weapon, he'll disappear a guy to make a point and he has no problems getting his hands dirty if the situation calls for it or even if he's just bored. He conquered 18 districts in Hong Kong and if that wasn't badass enough he killed a guy with a durian (a fruit). Luo Jun summed up the Boss quite fittingly: "If the Boss wanted rain he got rain. If he wanted wind he got wind." Power, violence, and deceit are the virtues of the underworld and the Boss thrives in this environment. Faced with such a foe Luo Jun doesn't stand a chance so it's a good thing he meets unlikely allies who join him in his fight.

The Kliq

Luo Jun meets a number of allies who agree to fight alongside him for various reasons. Some of whom have similar goals while others start off as foes, but forge some manner of understanding or mutually beneficial relationship.

 

Twin Fates

Similar to Luo Jun, Shi Er Shao is a gang leader working under the Boss. When the Boss has one of his violent mood swings, he burns Er Shao's district to the ground and critically injures his friend Jixiang. According to the Boss this event was merely a test, but there's little doubt the Boss is trying to keep the troops in line after Luo Jun's defection. Shi Er Shao does not take kindly to having his friends killed and neighborhood destroyed just so the Boss can set an example and this betrayal strengthens the friendship between himself and Luo Jun.

 

Swim with this loan shark and get eaten.

Xin Yi is Kowloon's resident loan shark and he and Luo Jun start off as enemies. Calculating and professional, Xin Yi is a business man through-and-through and he's as violent as he needs to be, but not ruthless. He has his own code of honor and when the Boss threatens to expand his territory into Kowloon, Xin Yi rises up to protect his community.

Jason Vorhees? Not quite.

Luo Jun and AV meet during a death match and Luo Jun's trip to Kowloon is almost a short one. It's an interesting meeting for both men as Luo Jun quickly finds out the Boss is not the only monster in China while AV is impressed that anyone could survive one of his punches. I won't spoil much, but as we learn more about AV and his past I found him to be one of the most interesting characters in the comic and he quickly became my favorite. He has so much depth and backstory that he could easily be the main character in his own right.

 

This Tornado travels by Benz.

As you can see the comic is gorgeous. Manhua utilizes a very broad color palette and City of Darkness is head and shoulders above other works in this medium. Everything from tire treads and motorcycle exhaust, to dust and even litter are drawn with loving detail. The artists went to great lengths to ensure that Kowloon in the comic resembles Kowloon Walled City and this shows in the tight alleyways, open living quarters, restaurants, and what passes for parks and gardens in a city cut off from neighboring districts. Characters are drawn with extensive detail right down to the wrinkles and creases in their clothing. The raindrops, skyline, sunset, everything here has a level of polish you don't see outside Chinese comics and you all know how much I enjoy speed lines. The art is a major boon to the fight scenes which are stunning.

 

Is that... NANTO SEIKEN?!

Martial arts in wuxia stories are based on real martial arts taken to exaggerated heights. Imagine boxers punching through brick walls or practitioners of Heihuquan tearing through cars with their bare hands. It never gets that off the wall, but it has all the mainstays of wuxia such as fighters possessing superhuman strength, endurance, and agility leading to some spectacular fights. The characters have different fighting styles too. Luo Jun is a solid, all-around fighter who knows a variety of styles while AV doesn't have any particular style and is all about brute force. Jixiang and Xin Yi prefer swords, but Shi Er Shao is skilled in both swordsmanship and judo. If there are any flaws in this comic they rear their ugly heads in part two.

 

A fight you won't soon forget.

When I read City of Darkness I could tell it was an absolutely amazing title, but I worried if it could keep its level of polish and momentum forever. In my view it didn't. City of Darkness 2 continues the story a few years after the first part and this is where some of the issues pop up. Many of the characters are out of character in part two and while I do expect them to change and be different after the trials they went through, many of the characters go about their lives as though they didn't learn anything from part one. Characters who sought an escape from the criminal underworld in part one seem to be happy with their lifestyle in part two. This - predictably enough - draws them into some fierce, but unnecessary conflicts. While the colors remain vibrant and the fight scenes are jaw-dropping, characters are noticeably less detailed than they were in part one.

 

You don't cross THE BOSS.

Also, there are a lot of names and faces to remember. In part one the conflict was simple: our heroes versus the Boss. However, part two has at least three factions (our heroes and their enemies), gangs under those factions, and several coup d'etat within those gangs. Even as someone who's been with the series since chapter one, this was a lot to keep track of. I feel that part two went a little too big for its own good and this made it fall short of its predecessor's greatness.

 

If he dies, he dies.

Overall City of Darkness is a superb comic. Despite flaws that show up in part two it is easily the best Chinese comic I've ever read and one of the best wuxia I've read as well. It has a great cast of characters, unbelievable art, and mind-blowing fights. It does a fantastic job of building suspense, exploring the crime life and showing it's never what it's cracked up to be, but also tells an intensely captivating human story of people just trying to survive and find direction in a chaotic world. I highly recommend this comic especially if you're a fan of martial arts and crime drama.

Shuriken to Pleats

Growing through pain.

The Meiji Restoration was the start of a new age for Japan as the country changed from a feudal society to one driven by a market economy and heavily influenced by the West. This lead to a sharp rise in industrialization which strengthened Japan's military power. Unfortunately for the warrior class, the Meiji Restoration abolished the samurai system and many were faced with unemployment and poverty, while ninja were forced underground or abandoned their lifestyles completely. However, some managed to find a living by travelling overseas and becoming bodyguards or assassins for the rich and powerful. "Shuriken to Pleats" centers on Kirio Mikage - a young girl who is descended from one such clan and is currently under the employ of James G. Rodd. A kind and loving humanitarian, James treats Mikage more like a daughter than a shinobi and plans to adopt her officially. Before this can happen, he's assassinated by unknown assailants and Mikage finds herself alone in the world. To honor the wishes of her fallen master, Mikage tries to live life as a normal girl, but sinister forces at work will make that impossible.

 Kirio Mikage

Written by "Vampire Knight" mangaka Matsuri Hino, "Shuriken to Pleats" is a shoujo (girl's) comic with elements of action and romance. While I enjoy manga where the ladies take center stage, I typically stay away from shoujo as romance and friendship are themes I rarely find captivating. However, I was drawn to this manga because while those themes are still in play, they're not the major focus of the story. Shuriken to Pleats's major highlight are its characters and how they interact with one another. There isn't much of an emphasis on romantic interactions, but the nuances in human relationships and the dynamics thereof. Kirio Mikage is on a personal journey to find her place in a world that doesn't really need her while trying to find her own identity.

Promise ~

Mikage is a shinobi and only knows how to live in the darkness. Her clients have always treated her with fear or loathing, but this never bothered her because she sealed her emotions. She wasn't prepared when she became James' bodyguard and not only did he see her as a human being, but he grew to love her. Mikage herself couldn't help loving James in a way she couldn't really describe. After James was assassinated she was forced into a new, unfamiliar life, but it was one of emptiness and loneliness. Romance is the furthest thing from her mind as she's juggling an existential crisis that few would understand. Worse yet is that trouble seems to find her wherever she goes.

She will protect this life.

Mikage later encounters Wakashimatsu Mahito - a seemingly sinister individual with a sarcastic wit, pompous attitude, and stubborn streak. Despite being an abrasive individual, Mikage finds herself helping him because she remembers that her master would never leave a person in need. The plot thickens when the same assassins who are after Mahito may have been responsible for the death of James which forces Mikage to choose between pursuing her new life or blaze a trail towards vengeance. These are complicated situations for equally complicated characters and building these complex dramas is something that Matsuri Hino handles quite well.

Fighting for her future.

Fans of Matsuri Hino are familiar with her art style and several characters look like they walked out of Vampire Knight. The environments don't sport a whole lot of detail, but this is because each panel is drawn to emphasize the characters and the story unfolding between them not just in dialogue, but in their non-verbals such as their eyes. There is a painful story etched onto the faces of these characters.

Breathe

This is a manga that took me by surprise. As I mentioned I don't like shoujo, but this isn't a traditional shoujo-style manga. The characters struggle with deeper issues such as tragedy, family turmoil and self-perception. Matsuri Hino's artwork and writing are captivating. "Shuriken to Pleats" may not appeal to everyone, but I find it to be an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.

Claymore (2001 - Ongoing)

Claymore

Created in 2001, Claymore is a dark fantasy manga written and illustrated by Norihiro Yagi. Taking place in an unnamed world, creatures called yoma prey on humans and people live in fear. In response to this fear and the threat the yoma possess, a mysterious group known as The Organization has created half-human half-yoma hybrids to combat yoma. Often called silver eyed witches on account of their appearance, or Claymores because of the large swords they carry on their backs, these women warriors are the only thing that stand between yoma and the extinction of the human race. However, because Claymores are half yoma themselves, not only are they seen as objects of fear by normal humans, but Claymores run the risk of awakening and turning into a creature consumed by their own demonic power. Once they become Awakened Beings, they are relentlessly pursued by their own organization until they are destroyed.

Clare turning monsters into cold cuts.

Claymore opens with a young recruit slaying a yoma effortlessly, and then the scene switches to a village where its inhabits discover the body of a person who had been killed by a yoma. The increasing body count has the villagers worried and they put in a request to the Organization who sends in the recruit we saw earlier. Raki, a young boy from the village is curious about this warrior and after much insistence on learning more about her we learn that her name is Clare. It is soon discovered that the yoma Clare is hunting was masquerading as Raki's brother and while Clare makes short work of the creature, Raki is now alone and is cast out by the village. Eventually the two reunite and Clare agrees to take Raki on her journey, a journey wrought with peril.

Claymore is a difficult title for me to review not because the material is challenging but because Claymore has some very stand-out qualities early on that gradually and noticeably disappeared as time went on to the point where - at least to this reviewer - it barely resembles its original premise or even its own setting and narrative structure.

Priscilla, The Dreaded

Claymore does a good job of setting up Clare's motivation early on which - predictably enough is a revenge tale which involves her trying to take down a renegade warrior named Priscilla who after having awakened is now the most powerful being on the planet. Clare's retainer Rubel tries to dissuade Clare from going after Priscilla who is far beyond her level, and much stronger than any other awakened being but because Clare is persistent, Rubel sends her on an awakened being hunt so she can learn firsthand the difference in power. While on this quest Clare meets up with other Claymore who have been given the same assignment and this works rather well because at this time Yagi isn't just dropping in characters with no explanation, but carefully introducing them in a logical fashion.

Phantom Miria

In addition, he establishes the different personalities of our starter team in a very short-time with Helen being the hothead, Deneve being the calm one, and Miria being no-nonsense team leader. While these character traits are more akin to tropes rather than anything else, they start to flesh out a bit more evenly after a few chapters. Another aspect of the narrative takes shape and that's the hidden nature of the Organization which Miria aims to investigate. There is an added element of suspense, even horror when the characters start to question the nature of yoma, Claymore, and the nature of the Organization itself. When you think about it the Organization is making biological weapons and while it is for the protection of the human race, is that really the ultimate goal? It is the need to answer these and other questions that broaden the narratives focus and Clare's story expands from there. Over-time, Clare and her friends come across Awakened Beings who - while not being as powerful as Priscilla - are highly dangerous in their own right.

Isley, King of the Northern Lands

As these and other questions slowly but surely creep their way closer and closer to the forefront of the narrative and puts Clare in a very complicated position on three fronts: 1) Clare has to work for the organization because given what she is she can't live a normal life 2) Working for the Organization is the only way to get Clare what she wants i.e. Priscilla's death and 3) Desertion isn't something the Organization takes lightly. It also has the added advantage of justifying why the Organization keeps dangerous and unstable Claymore in their ranks and also makes the story bigger than Clare's revenge tale. Another positive that Claymore has in the early goings are Yagi's character designs.

God Eye Galatea

The character designs in Claymore are Berserk-esque, well-drawn, and no two characters look alike. Even though all the Claymore wear the same uniform you can easily tell them apart due to the shape of their eyes, cheeks, chins, ears, and of course their hair styles. The Claymore themselves are hauntingly beautiful and there is an almost otherworldly air about them which in addition to being a minor element of the narrative comes across in the way the characters are drawn. There is an almost uncomfortable level of perfection in their appearance that is masterfully juxtaposed with their dangerous and at times monstrous nature.

Clare in the shadows.

The beauty of the Claymore not only works as a way to contrast the horror of their nature but also contributes to the aesthetics of the manga as a whole because while the world in which Claymore is set seems harmless enough, the yoma terrorizing the people and the death toll of the Claymore themselves make it apparent that this is not a romantic tale of swords and chivalry.

Alicia and Beth, The Black Ones

These warriors lead lonely, dangerous lives, and despite their untarnished beauty they are destined to die in the darkness. It's a mature read to be sure not only because of the nudity (which is used more sparingly than you think), and the gore (ditto), but because of the tone. Unfortunately, whether it was due to the demands of his editor or if Yagi wanted to shift his focus, there were extensive changes made to the narrative, character designs, aesthetics, and the overall tone of the manga and to this reviewer, these changes were not for the better.

If these characters all look alike your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.

As was popular at the time, Claymore went on hiatus when a major game-changing event took place in the manga. Predictably enough, as is also popular with manga, when Claymore returned it did so after a seven year time-skip which while moving the narrative forward and changing the players in this game, also brought with it a decidedly jarring shift in tone. After volume 11 or 12 Claymore no longer reads or looks like a dark fantasy manga but resembles a typical shonen title with all the cliches and tropes to boot. Yes it is true Claymore was shonen from the outset, but the dark tone, themes, settings, imagery, and narrative structure were much more mature and really made it stand out against other titles. After the time-skip however, it has lost most if not all of the qualities that made it unique. This is clearly apparent in the art style first and foremost, with the characters losing a lot of their definition and unique physical characteristics. It's no exaggeration to say many of the characters now look so much alike that I couldn't tell them apart on more than one occasion. And I've been with Claymore since the beginning.

I think Ridley Scott is going to sue someone over this.

Another problem caused by this shonen heavy tonal shift is that it removes a lot of the suspense of the conflicts because the characters aren't in any real danger. In the first part of Claymore, our cast didn't rush headfirst into any battle with reckless abandon because the tone was more serious and the stakes were high. There was an awareness that death wasn't just a possibility but a likelihood so the warriors always kept a certain level of maturity about them. After the time-skip however they're trash talking during fights, toying with their enemies, and basically act like frat boys. The fan argument would be "Well after the time-skip they were much stronger so they knew they could handle just about enemy", but the logical counter to that would be even on those occasions where the Claymore fought yoma who were far weaker than them, they still maintained an air of seriousness because bravado was not only showy but unnecessary. While character growth and even changes in personality are always welcome, our heroes seem somewhat immature after seven years.

Ah the good ole days.

The battles no longer have any tension or believability to them because the Claymore are never in any real danger of losing much less dying. Even when they're up against enemies that are many times more powerful than them and they manage to escape, the enemy in question never gives chase. And even when one enemy (Priscilla) does pursue them, said foe never kills anyone despite having entire volumes to do so. And when the characters do overcome their enemies it's never because they are more skilled, as was the case in earlier volumes, but because they believe in themselves and their friendship. Playing the friendship card to explain how and why characters have inexplicably gotten stronger in addition to defeating enemies which the Claymore themselves explain how and why said enemies are dozens of times more powerful than them, is a weak move on Yagi's part which is not only cliche but almost regressive.

The Resurrected Number Ones

Another issue I have is the nigh indestructible nature of the Claymore. Yagi was very good at establishing the rules for the Claymore's durability, healing factor, and explain what kinds of wounds they could and could not regenerate from. After the time-skip however, the Claymore regularly survive getting disemboweled, massive hemorrhaging, even multiple stab wounds in the exact same spot which we're told a Claymore would instantly die from. If they're not shredded like cheese rest assured you didn't put them down. This would be fine if 1) Yagi established this from the beginning 2) Yagi did not already establish specific rules and limitations to their survivability or 3) this nigh-unkillable nature was unique to our main character instead of shared among pretty much every Claymore we meet. Yagi tries to increase the tension when the Organization brings out the big guns but by that time it was far too late for me to believe these Super Claymore or any enemy for that matter posed any serious threat to our main characters. Especially when characters start returning from the dead and no, no I am not kidding.

The most epic battle you will never witness.

Another complaint I have is that when the Organization's darkest secret is revealed and Yagi never does anything with it.  We are given the smoking gun, the Roswell event of this manga, we see what everything has been leading to and just like that it's dropped the very next chapter and it's suddenly so not a big deal the characters don't even talk about. We're given the stinger and then the plot does a complete 180 and centers entirely on the conflict between Clare and Priscilla. Also, like most other shonen titles Claymore seems to jump from one big battle to the next because readers love action and heaven forbid you provide an above decent narrative or close up those plotholes.

These are the girls you don't take home to mama.

This review was painful for me to write because before the time-skip Claymore was in my top three favorite manga of all time. After the time-skip however it doesn't even break my top ten. To me this manga started as something fresh, something unique among the shonen titles out there and I waited on pins and needles for the latest release. Today is a different story entirely. Claymore will probably appeal to people who read shonen regularly but the second part will likely lose readers looking for a sophisticated story. The mainstream affect on this manga is apparent and for this reader that's not a positive, it's a detriment.