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Reviewed by Penny Kenny Misao is the bride of demon prophecy. Her blood grants incredible powers and if a demon eats her flesh, he'll become immortal. Ten years ago, Kyo was Misao's neighbor and friend. Now he's the head of the Tengu demon clan and ready to claim her as his bride. But does he love her? Or is he just after her blood? A lot happens in this second volume of Black Bird: Misao meets Kyo's vassals - four of whom happen to be real hotties; is introduced to Kyo's older brother Sojo; learns why she has so few memories of her childhood; and is nearly raped. The main focus here, however, on Misao's confusion over Kyo's intentions. Misao's insecurities, while understandable, can get tiresome; but her angsting is generally interrupted by some new plot revelation. Kyo, though he often comes across as a jerk, is given some nice scenes that show he's more than a dominating male. These are generally flashbacks to his childhood that also serve the purpose of explaining some of the pair's back history. The introduction of his brother Sojo adds a different dynamic to Kyo and Misao's relationship. Unfortunately, the brothers' connection, though intense, is dealt with fairly quickly. I hope author Kanoko Sakurakoji will revisit and explore it in greater depth at a later date. Likewise, the six vassals are given some lines suggestive of an interesting backstory, but then they quickly become part of the background. I wouldn't be adverse to more of their stories being told in the future. Sex and violence are closely intertwined in this story. The threat of rape is a constant in Misao's life. Her power, after all, is tied to the drinking of her blood and eating of her flesh. That Sakurakoji chooses to base most of the humor of the volume on Misao acting out violently against Kyo, the one guy who seems to really care for her, is an interesting storytelling choice. Just when it looks like the pair will go all the way, Misao will pull back and hit Kyo with a well-placed kick, punch, or slap. It's handled in a light way, but it's still slightly disturbing. Black Bird is a very sensuous story and that's reflected in its art. Sakurakoji delineates her characters and settings with a fine line. There are very few sharp angles; only smooth, flowing, curving lines. She also favors close-ups; forever zooming in on Misao's tear-stained face. While this is an effective technique for getting the emotion and drama of the moment across to the reader, it can be problematic. With all the intense focus on small details, it's sometimes hard to follow the overall action due to the chopped-up images. Though the characters are nicely differentiated, due to the placement of the word balloons it can be difficult to determine who's speaking. I had to read a couple of scenes twice to understand what was going on. Overall, however, if you enjoy angsty teen-age romance leavened with physical humor and hints of the supernatural, you'll enjoy Black Bird. A copy of this book was supplied by the publisher. Interested in writing for MangaLife? We're always looking for talented reviewers and columnists, so drop us a line! Charles Webb Editor-in-Chief, MangaLife.com |
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