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Reviewed by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane Don't judge Dazzle (Hatenkou Yuugi) by its anime version--at least not by the first episode, which had interesting moments but didn't entirely make sense. When the same story appears halfway through the first volume of the manga, after a much more coherent beginning, it pulls its weight as part of the set-up for a very promising-looking series. Dazzle is a character-driven action manga, following its main cast as they travel from place to place and adventure to adventure, and revealing a little more about each of them as they go. Rahzel, the main character, is a fourteen-year-old girl whose doting father unceremoniously decides that it's time for her to see the world. Somewhat taken aback by the suddenness of it but otherwise undaunted, Rahzel heads out, and almost immediately crosses paths with Alzeid, a young man who strikes her as an ideal partner to take along on her journey. Alzeid, on the other hand, is much less excited by the prospect; he has his own plans, which have more to do with revenge than having a teenage girl tagging along with him. Unfortunately for him, Rahzel is both a good fighter and a magician...and impossible to deter. The world Rahzel ventures out into has a fairytale feel to it, but is very recognizable: the characters travel on foot between towns and forests, and navigate a society with clear class boundaries and a touch of feudalism. Contemporary Western-looking clothing, guns, and ice cream co-exist with swordplay, ghosts, and magic, providing the story with a framework where anything is possible. Most of volume one deals with stand-alone incidents--along the lines of theft, kidnapping, and exorcism--that Rahzel and Alzeid run into as they wander and get to know each other, but the last two chapters set up a more substantial plot that introduces other characters and continues into the second volume. As is often the case with this kind of story, the focus is on the journey, rather than the destination--the detours, the surprises, the ways strangers slowly bond when they're in it together for the long haul. (Yes, think Saiyuki, dissimilar as the characters are. No, that comparison is not original to me.) Rahzel is a surprisingly charming protagonist, somehow managing to sidestep the annoyance factor that's often part of the package with precocious, gutsy young heroines. By the end of this volume she and Alzeid already have an interesting relationship, one that's almost immediately complicated by the arrival of people from Alzeid's past, one of whom finds Rahzel very interesting indeed. In short, so far this title is a lot of fun, with a good balance of action and plot twists. Recommended for readers who like character-driven adventure stories. [Ritual disclaimer: current series editor/former series adapter Peter Ahlstrom encouraged me to check this title out when I initially expressed an interest. What can I say--enthusiasm is contagious! At the moment, I've read up to vol. 4 and am enjoying the underlying plot as much as the standalone chapters. I'm looking forward to reading more, and expect to give the animated version another shot to hear the voice acting.] Think you could have written a better review of Dazzle v1? Write us and we'll probably let you give it a shot! --EiC PC |
3 February 2010
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