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Reviewed by Michael Aronson “Clare and a group of Claymores are sent to the north to battle a group of Yoma that have banded together under the command of Isley, a powerful Awakened Being. When the warriors arrive, they find their new enemies to be unusually dangerous. They are incredibly strong, well-organized and seem to have a plan to dominate the entire region. Will the Claymores be able to stop this monstrous army?” Claymore is easily one of the prettiest serialized manga series currently being released. I really can’t get over the beautiful rendering, the Claymore armor, the creature designs and layout in general. Yagi demonstrates far more effort than most manga artists seem to put into their work, and the results are truly striking. The sharp presentation invites me to find far more enjoyment in Claymore far more than I’m able. The problem isn’t that nothing happens in the story, because there’s plenty of fighting – and for a strictly action series, that’s acceptable. Two-thirds of the volume consists of one extended battle – the Battle of the North – with the rest given to recuperating and preparing for the next assault. Much occurs in these battles, with fatalities and disfigurings aplenty – not that I’m really so familiar with the characters that I understand the significance of those who fall and suffer, but it’s easy to go along with. No, the real problem with Claymore is the reason for which the women are fighting and risking their lives. This is the reason given on page 93: “The real purpose of Miria dividing the teams is for everyone to gain experience fighting Awakened Ones and for high numbers to get tougher. In other words, it’s to raise the level of all 24 of us.” Say what? These fierce battles are nothing more than exercises in leveling up? Way to really cripple my interest. If the point to “level up” is simply to be stronger, and if strength in and of itself is the goal, then there isn’t anything at stake in their efforts. Of course, I skipped earlier volumes, so maybe I missed the actual premise, but this line doesn’t give me much hope. It’s a shame that a series almost entire comprised of female warriors has to fall back so heavily on characteristics of shonen books. Perhaps I misjudged, thanks to the gorgeous cover and art, that Claymore would be more than that. 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 |
1 September 2010
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