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.

Prototype 2 (2012)

This is how you go out with a bang.

Developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Activision, Prototype 2 is the sequel to the 2009 action-adventure game Prototype. In the original Prototype, a plague unlike any seen before is sweeping across New York and killing people en masse. You played as an amnesiac named Alex Mercer. Voiced by Barry Pepper, Alex Mercer discovered that while he had no memory of his past, he possessed incredible power including shape-shifting, durability, and immense physical strength, the kind of strength that allowed him to pull off such feats like drop-kicking helicopters. Eventually Mercer learns his powers come from the Blacklight virus which is the same virus that is destroying New York. I won't go into the specifics because it's a game you absolutely must play but long-story short Mercer saved the day as all video game protagonists do. Or did he?

Mercer. Heller. Heller. Mercer. Let's get it going.

Prototype 2 takes place two years after the events of the first game and centers on a new protagonist, U.S. Marine Sergeant James Heller. Sergeant Heller is returning home from Iraq and discovers his wife is dead and his daughter is missing. Not only that, but a virus strangely similar to Blacklight is slowly creeping through New York putting the city in jeopardy once again. Worse yet it seems that Alex Mercer himself may be at the heart of it. Heller rejoins the military and after encountering Mercer himself, is thereafter infected with the same virus Mercer contracted. When Mercer informs Heller that the situation isn't what he thinks it is, Heller's world is turned upside by a national conspiracy, a potential pandemic, and a Darwinian conflict that will bring the city to its knees.

Shepherd of Fire

From a narrative standpoint the game is mostly similar to the original. Protagonist gets viral powers and has to save the people of New York from a threat that no one else can stop. Like Mercer, Heller has to fight against the PMC (private military company) Blackwatch and the genetic research company Gentek. However, Mercer has his own faction which rounds out this black waltz and places Heller in a scenario where he can't trust anyone, even those who claim to be his closest allies. Similar to the first game there are plot-twists but here they're presented in a much more logical fashion and it's very effective to boot. The game is good at building a sense of paranoia and I found myself questioning if some of my allies were any different than the enemies I hunted down.

Allies or Enemies?

Cutscenes are presented using both in-game graphics and CG where everything is in black and white, and all colors are muted but red, blue, and yellow. It stands out immediately and gives the game's presentation a unique feel. The story is good enough to keep most gamers interested but it certainly helps that the gameplay is on a level of BADASS few games can touch.

Prophet is that you? This isn't Crysis.

For those who didn't play the first Prototype, it was similar to the Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction which was also made by Radical Entertainment. Prototype 2 follows suit and what this means is Heller can toss cars like they were nothing, rip tanks and helicopters apart with his bare-hands, and take an RPG like a champ. Heller can also turn his arms into claws, giant fists, a viral whip, a blade capable of slicing through a tank and then some. Heller's powers will also evolve when he gains a certain level of experience points which can be used to buy some seriously badass upgrades. These upgrades can be used to improve offense, defense, unlock new moves, and improve Heller's already existing abilities.

IT'S OVER 9000!!

For example, you can improve Heller's accuracy with firearms, his effectiveness at piloting tanks, helicopters, and so forth. There's even an upgrade you get early on that makes Heller completely immune to bullets. It's a good thing too because Prototype 2 throws everything at you. Heller will be attacked by tanks, combat helicopters, a hoard of infected, Brawlers, evolved humans, Blackwatch mercenaries, and the U.S. Army. I've had some truly epic battles in plenty of non-scripted, real-time gameplay scenarios. One of my favorite memories of this game is when I was chasing after an evolved while Brawlers, Blackwatch soldiers, tanks, and helicopters were gunning for me. After hitting a Brawler with a brainbuster, I threw a car at some Blackwatch mercenaries, before leaping over an enhanced soldier, pouncing a helicopter, and tossing the charred remains at a tank before continuing the chase.

Those infected have no idea what they're up against.

The challenge in Prototype 2 may be substantial or minimal depending on how well you play but to a greater extent the game is about empowering the player like few before it have done this effectively. Heller is immensely powerful and early on the skilled player will be tearing apart tanks and taking down helicopters with Shoryukens. The game's story and presentation justifies this level of strength as: 1) Heller is infected with the same virus that made Mercer the most powerful life-form on the planet 2) Blackwatch considers Heller a threat to the entire organization and 3) Gentek considers Heller a potential global threat.

Constantly evolving.

In my playthrough I might have died once or twice but that's largely because I was familiar with the mechanics as they're nearly identical to the first game. But someone coming in fresh will likely find the game challenging and so Heller's OP status probably won't stand out that much for them. I don't think the difficulty or lack thereof is detrimental to the game in any way, but I felt the need to point it out. This game is about power and Heller has that in spades. There are some missions that require stealth but even if you get caught you can usually power your way through and complete your objective.

Can you hear me now?

Similar to other open-world games, Prototype 2 places you in a large, bustling city where you head to different mission objectives on the map. The main missions are given to you by characters you meet who are integral to the plot, while side missions are sprinkled throughout. Completing side missions will not only reward you with upgrades and XP but they'll also reveal additional secrets about what goes on in Gentek and Blackwatch via some very intriguing cutscenes that make use of quick cuts, eerie echo effects, and some disturbing dialogue that really shows how messed up some of these characters are.

Beats American Airlines.

Due to the infection Blackwatch has instituted martial law so some areas are restricted. To enter them you'll need to disguise yourself to slip in unnoticed. Heller will be attacked on sight if spotted by Blackwatch, but if you're disguised as a civillian they won't know it's you. Try walking onto a base however and you'll find yourself greeted by alarms and gunfire. So sometimes you'll need to sneak up to a Blackwatch mercenary or scientist while disguised as a civilian and then consume your target so you can take on their appearance and enter a particular base or area. Some bases have doors that will only work for a particular DNA and so you'll need to find the person carrying that DNA and consume them before being able to gain entry. And you'll need to do it covertly. Things like gliding, jumping off rooftops, and benching cars tends to standout no matter your disguise, so while the game allows you to go all out whenever you want, it's good at building scenarios where discretion is the better part of valor. In addition to an interesting story and fantastic gameplay it helps that the cast of characters is interesting even if leaning more heavily on tropes.

You wouldn't like him when he's angry.

Our main character U.S. Marine Sergeant James Heller is the Angry Black Man of the game but to an extent he has a lot of characterization that goes beyond that trope. Heller is coming home from his tour in Iraq and learns his wife is dead, daughter is missing, and he has to ally himself to the prime suspect to get to the truth. He's been dealt quite the hand and this is without the whole plague thing looming over New York. While Heller is prone to fits of rage we see he's very compassionate towards the people he cares about and doesn't hesitate to help people in need even if he knows he himself will be in a great deal of danger. Some of his dialogue is funny as he can be quite snarky towards people he has an uneasy relationship with, and he never backs down from anyone even Mercer. His angry black man status aside he's actually a good character I found myself empathizing with.

He is evolution.

Predictably enough, Alex Mercer serves as the games ultimate antagonist. Despite being the face of Prototype he turns heel in the sequel for reasons that aren't fully explained. While this is a short-coming of the script, Mercer himself plays an interesting and at times unpredictable villain. He's affable, forthcoming with information, but there's also a sinister, bone-chilling attitude about him when he discusses some of the most horrible plans he has in mind for the human race. His dialogue with some of the other characters also drives home just how dangerous he is because no matter how inhumane his orders are his followers act on them without question. Mercer stays one step ahead of everyone and when the situation between he and Heller reaches its breaking point it leads to a believable and well presented climax.

Talk about complicated.

Dana Mercer returns from the first game and pulls triple duty in not only fighting against Gentek, Blackwatch, and Alex, but also supporting Heller, and serving as a human character in this Darwinian conflict between people who have the potential to destroy the world. She knows what her brother is doing is wrong but she keeps moving forward, fighting against him because it's the right thing to do. She suffers more than anyone else in this story but she never gives up. Her resources and intellect make her the third most dangerous target on Blackwatch's hit list, surpassed only by Heller and her older brother. The gaming community can have their Lara Crofts and Fem Shepherds, but I'll stick with Dana Mercer.

As a whole the game's score isn't outstanding. The music isn't bad by any stretch, I just can't see any major reason to buy a soundtrack. However, I will say "Murder Your Maker", the theme played during the final showdown is not only fitting but very intense.

Available on all systems.

The game isn't perfect. Some of the missions (infiltrating bases, hijacking intel drops) can get repetitive, the motivations behind Mercer's heel turn aren't exactly believable, and if you're looking for a really challenging game you probably won't find it here. But the gameplay is addicting, it has a great presentation, characters that made me care about them, and some truly great battles. A very much appreciated New Game+ feature is also in place to ensure that your powers carry over in successive playthroughs and there are plenty of Blackwatch secrets to collect. If you're looking for a fun action-adventure game look no further.

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.

Veritas (2005)

And you thought Crows was BADASS!!

Set in a near future in Seoul, Korea, Veritas is centered on a delinquent named Ma Gangryong. One day when Gangryong let's his mouth and bad attitude get the better of him, he finds himself facing down a gang and a serious beating. Just when things look hopeless a mysterious man known only as Lightning Tiger shows up and defeats the gang in seconds. Gangryong learns that Lightning Tiger practices an ancient art known as Enlightenment of Thunder and Lightning (EOTL). Having witnessed these incredible feats, Gangryong jumps at the opportunity to learn such a powerful art and after much convincing, eventually persuades Lightning Tiger to take him on as his apprentice.

Badass Bookworm? Close enough.

After training for some months and becoming a proficient EOTL user himself, Gangryong is entering a high school called Reunion which is named after the mega conglomerate which owns the school and pretty much everything else in Seoul. However, before Gangryong can even pass the front gate, suits from Reunion approach Gangryong and delivers to him the charred arm of his master and inform him that Lightning Tiger is dead. Who could have killed one of the most powerful martial arts masters in the world? Is Reunion connected? And why is Reunion using a high school to gather the most skilled martial artists of this generation? Gangryong enters the school with the resolve the beat the answers out of everyone he comes across.

The gauntlet is thrown!

Veritas is set in a world of badasses where the rule of cool is definitely on display. On its own, this approach isn't all that unique but Veritas is able to shine because it constantly defies conventions when it comes to dialogue, narrative, fight scenes, and even character development. When reading the manhwa the first thing one notices about Gangryong is how dissimilar he is to shonen heroes. He has a bad attitude, he's unapologetic, he's not altruistic, and he is more of a anti-hero than anything else. Another aspect of Gangryong I found interesting is either in whole or in part, often times his character traits play on conventional virtues. For example, Gangryong believes men and women are equal  and because they're equal he's fully justified in fighting a woman with the same ferocity and ruthlessness with which he'd fight a man. While this might offend some people I found it a very interesting character trait and I thought it was very creative how these traits carried over in the story and fight scenes.

Think Gangryong won't hit a girl? I'm afraid I've got some bad news.

One of the best fight scenes in the manhwa takes places between Ma Gangryong and Eunhwa Lee and without spoiling anything it is a fierce battle to behold with Lee not trying to play on her gender and Gangryong really not caring either way. It's quite telling because not only are both fighters highly skilled, but Gangryong shows another aspect of his character through his commitment to being the Dirtiest Player in the Game. If he had powder in his track pants you can rest assured he would have used it.

When Vera ties her hair back people die.

It's a good thing our protagonist isn't afraid to Ric Flair it up if it gets him the victory because he has to contend with a student body composed of fighters just as good if not better than himself. One student in particular, Vera Linus not only stands at the apex but also serves as our primary antagonist.

Told you.

In addition to serving as the student council president, Vera is also the leader of Reunion - the group responsible for the death of Gangryong's master. Vera is quite the chessmaster, she has influence inside and outside Reunion, and is always calm in the most cold, almost mechanical fashion I've seen from an antagonist in quite some-time. Not only that but in a school full of martial arts masters from around the world no one has even attempted to challenge her supremacy in years. Yes. She is That. Damn. Bad. However, she isn't evil in a traditional sense so much as she is Machiavellian and I felt that this was a unique way to characterize Vera in lieu of making her a megalomaniac or "the victim" as we've seen in far too many titles already. It's scenarios like this and many others where Veritas makes the reader think it's going to stick to convention and then makes a left turn.

Boy meets girl? Not quite.

There is a refreshing sense of unpredictability here because there's less of a reliance on tropes and more of an emphasis on organic story telling where the narrative is driven by believable characters. Further still, it challenges our views on these characters as well. Not every pretty face is a good girl and a few of the females in this manga are outright monsters. Likewise, not everyone who looks like a bully or a jock actually is one. "Don't judge a book by its cover", while not a blatant theme in this manhwa, definitely comes across because the characters are so different from what you might expect especially if you aim to compare Veritas with other comics out there.

Boy meets drunk girl? Not on Gangryong's watch!

Because Veritas doesn't stick to convention there is a lot of suspense in many of the scenes - more so than many titles in the marital arts genre where tension is usually only present in fight scenes. Sometimes two characters might share verbal jabs and things erupt into a violent fist fight. Other times characters who have had as much as they can stand of each other just come to blows and level the parking lot. Then there are those times where characters only exchange thinly veiled threats and you just know things are going to get dire in the very near future.

That one-time the call should've gone to voicemail.

Veritas's commitment to defying convention also comes across in its intense martial arts battles. This isn't one of those comics where the main character is always going to win because he's the MC. Veritas is a little more complicated than that partially because while many of the martial feats in the manhwa are outlandish there is some believable logic behind the ebb and flow of many battles. Ma Gangryong picks up on techniques quickly, he's a combat genius, and he's a really dirty fighter, but a guy who just started practicing martial arts a short time ago isn't going to best fighters who have been training since they were children simply because he's the protagonist.

Fire Dragon vs Ma Gangryong! Hypefest 2005!

Unlike other titles, winners and losers aren't a foregone conclusion in Veritas and that is what makes the fights intensely satisfying no matter who wins or loses because you simply don't know. Maybe Gangryong enters a battle with a clear cut advantage and takes an L out of nowhere. Maybe he goes up against someone who completely outclasses him and pulls out a win. You never know until the battle is over and that is what's so refreshing about the fights in this manhwa. Other pros of these battles is that while Gangryong is the main character he's not the only student who has a bone to pick with Reunion.

Stand Alone Complex pose.

Other characters have their own issues with Reunion, Vera, the other students on the council, or the school system as a whole. I won't go into everyone's back story but for some the reasons involve bringing down the entire conglomerate while for others revenge is motivation enough. And then there are those characters who keep their cards to the chest and no one knows what their true motives are. Just as these characters have their own motivations for entering Reunion, and fighting against Reunion, they also have their own fighting styles to boot. Sure you have your fragile speedsters, your powerhouses, and so on but there are also fighters who use techniques you wouldn't expect judging from their appearance. The outcome of many battles in Veritas are decided based on factors such as experience, real-time strategy, and unpredictability, and rarely does one move guarantee a victory.

"Let's watch this city burn, from the skylines on top of the world".

For the negative aspects of the manga, some demographics might be put-off by some of the suggestive themes. Fanservice consists of some female characters wearing really short skirts or shirts with low necklines which for me wasn't a big deal as there are many shonen titles which show off a lot more skin than you see in Veritas, but I felt I should mention it for certain audiences.

"We'll show those punks from Cromartie what happens when you mess with Bass High".

Veritas is a martial arts manhwa filled to the brim with BADASSITUDE. From the fight scenes, to the dialogue, and character interaction it's a title overflowing with style but it also has a great deal of substance too. The plot gets deeper and deeper as the chapter progresses but it never crosses that line where a comic can go from believable to absurd. It has a large cast of characters and while not everyone gets as much development as Gangryong, you do learn a lot about them. The art style is very eye-catching, the battles are surprising and even unconventional at times, and while the manga is fairly serious there's some comedy involved too - usually when Gangryong is doing what he does best. This is definitely one of the best martial arts comics I've ever read and it was Veritas that got me into The Breaker. This manhwa gets a very high recommendation. Fun stuff.

Otoyomegatari (2008 - Ongoing)

Amira and Karluk

Written by famed mangaka Mori Kaoru, and published by Enterbrain in Japan and Yen Press in the United States, Otoyomegatari (A Bride's Tale) is a historical fiction/slice of life manga. Taking place during the late 19th Century and set in Turkic Central Asia, it follows the story of a young woman named Amira Hergal who is married off to a suitor named Karluk Ayhan as is the custom. Much to Amira's surprise however, her suitor is eight years younger than her. This unique irony is not lost on her or any of the other characters for that matter, but the two try to make the best of it. All is well until Amira's family shows up some months later and seek to end the arrangement with Karluk's family and marry Amira off to another tribal head who while possessing sizable land and military power, was also responsible for the deaths of his two previous wives who were also Amira's older sisters. When Amira's complete shock and utter terror isn't enough to deter her father's wishes, the breach in cultural norms turns into a full-blown tribal war.

Y'know how it is when your husband is a kid.

This might seem like something of a spoiler for a major plot point and while this conundrum becomes a focal point of the story there are events before and after the tribal war which not only focus on Amira and Karluk but other characters as well. Kaoru shows off her writing chops in building the main story and developing peripheral characters in addition to telling their stories as well.

Amira at home.

What is amazing about Kaoru's writing is that she is able to capture the beauty and significance in what might seem like the most mundane aspects of life but nothing here is trivial. She clearly did a great deal of research into the living habits and culture of 19th Century Turkish people and that comes across in nearly every panel in each chapter and is further accentuated by the characters personalities and habits across various tales. 

"All the power in the world resides in the eyes."

This is a "slice of life" manga which means that a lot of the narrative revolves around everyday things from family gatherings, to trips to the city, and hunting. This is important to note because these details also play a role in character development. We learn early on that Amira comes from a tribe of nomads and given their lifestyle hunting plays a major role in their survival. Even among her clansmen Amira is considered one of the best; excelling in tracking, archery, and horsemanship. On the other hand Karluk's tribe are pastoral in nature whose hunting techniques have been lost for at least three generations. There is a believable sense of amazement here not because Amira is a woman but because she not only knows "the old ways" but she excels at them. 

Amira is the best at what she does.

Amira is a great female lead in part because Kaoru never makes a big deal about how strong she is and how independent she is and omg look you guys she is so cool. In essence, Amira's role as a powerful female lead is a natural exploration of a nomadic woman from this time. In addition to being skilled at hunting, tracking, and horseback riding, she also knows her way around a fight and even her older brother who is an exceptional warrior acknowledges her. She isn't a superhero or the stalwart icon of anyone's particular agenda but a human character serving as a natural representation of the lifestyle and the times. At her core she's a badass normal character with personality and that is what makes her so appealing.

There will be blood.

All of the women in the manga are outspoken which in addition to being historically accurate also breaks down the western stereotype that outspoken women is somehow new. This is clearly seen in a thought-provoking and humorous exchange between the men and women of Karluk's clan when they argue about how Karluk and Amira should act towards each other, with neither of them being able to say anything. Karluk on account of not quite being a man and therefore having no say while Amira still being new to the family and not knowing quite what to say. While I'm tempted to go on about Amira for another three paragraphs (because she is cool she is badass and omg look you guys one of my favorite characters) she's not the only character explored in this title.

Prepare for trouble. Make that double.

This slice of life title doesn't just take slices out of Karluk's and Amira's life but the lives of several other characters as well. One of the side-stories involve two girls trying to find wealthy husbands so as to ease the financial strain on their family. What's funny is that the twins take off their head-coverings when they spot a man they want (because only a husband is allowed to see their wife's uncovered head) and try to use that as a ploy to force him into marriage. This never works and a fair share of the men they run into seem to pick up on the game right away. This doesn't stop them from trying it however. 

Beautiful but frail.

Another side story revolves around a young woman named Talas who is living with her mother-in-law without her husband. This detail is very telling of her compassionate nature because in this culture it is unusual for a woman to not return home after her husband has died. However, Talas's mother-in-law is very old and frail and Talas refuses to leave her on account of wanting to take care of her. This is reminiscent of Naomi and Ruth from The Bible. Some further intrigue comes into play when Henry Smith (a close friend of Karluk's family) runs into the mother and daughter on one of his trips and stays with them for awhile. Henry and Talas soon fall in love with each other much to the approval of Talas's mother-in-law who wants Talas to move on and find happiness.

Azel The Fang

Amira's older brother Azel also gets some character development as well. When the tribes are on the brink of war Azel gets a lot more panel time and we quickly learn he's a calculated and resourceful sort. While he's as fierce as the wolves his tribe is most often associated with, we also learn that in his innermost depths is a great deal of loyalty and devotion to duty. It's a character trait that is tested by fire when he must choose between his sister and his tribe. What's great about character development like Azel's is that it is reflective of the overall approach to this title and that's the emphasis on character interaction.

Azel is not impressed.

Otoyomegatari doesn't just go from one event to another but it focuses on how characters interact and associate with one another. One example includes Azel's interactions with his cousins when talking about the upcoming war and a lot is learned about Azel and his cousins based on how they discuss dealing with this problem. I also like the interaction between Henry Smith and Karluk's family. Henry has been staying with the family for months and apart from calling him Mr. Smith he is seen as a very close friend - if not another member of the family despite the fact that he's a westerner. We're not "told" the family gets along with him rather we see how the characters interact with one another at meal time and discussing everyday activities. One of the scenes I found most telling is when the patriarch is planning to purchase some things from the city and everyone including Mr. Smith starts making request with the only protest being the patriarch is buying everyone what they need and not what they want. Never is Mr. Smith excluded because he is a foreigner which is very telling of the inclusive nature of many tribes.

Just the tip of the iceberg where detail is concerned.

Kaoru isn't just a brilliant writer she's also an amazing artist as these panels have no doubt shown already. The amount of detail she puts into drawing characters eyes and even the position of their fingers in certain acitivities carries over into how she draws the environments and objects like cookware, weapons, rugs, and clothing. This manga is clearly drawn by someone who has both respect and admiration for the culture she is writing about which is outside the norm for most mangaka.

It's going down.

In addition to being a slice of life manga Otoyomegatari is also seinen. That means it has mature content but to a lesser degree than other seinen titles. There is violence but no gore to speak of and barely any blood. There is nudity but it's rare and where it is present it is done tastefully - typically when a character is bathing which makes the most sense. The mature content of the title largely comes in the form of these being characters with real problems. No one is trying to save the world or become hokage but characters are trying to live in politically and culturally turbulent times. Some aim to embrace the new ways while others prefer to stick to the old.

Thinking of home keeps Amira up at night.

With all this in mind Otoyomegatari is a fantastic read for someone looking for something different. It has great characters, a lot of touching moments, and even some humor and tragedy as well. And when the fighting does start Kaoru isn't afraid to let tensions run high, but she also has the integrity to know when to end a subplot and progress story. It's not for the culturally insensitive however as some of the practices explored here (marrying women off for x-reasons) are foreign to us but natural to the culture the manga is focused on. If you're willing to step out of your comfort zone you'll find a great story here that doesn't disappoint.