We love them or hate them, we are talking about vampires, dark and controversial figures, born in the very distant eastern Europe of the seventeenth century, now fully entered into our literary and cinematographic imagery. Elegant dresses and voluptuous looks, this is their classic formula, fully respected also in Rosen Bloodmanga shojo signed Kachiru Ishizue that a few days ago has also gained space in the Italian market thanks to our local company Star Comics.
The story that Rosen Blood intends to tell is as simple as it is effective. After being rescued fromfascinating and mysterious Levi Ruin, the young Stella is taken to a splendid mansion surrounded by a lively forest of brambles. In this mansion she begins to work as a maid amidst eager looks and dark secrets of the four men who live there, of whom he soon got to know. “The men of this house are dangerous” Friedrich mockingly warns her in their first meeting, words that will immediately prove prophetic. Thus begins Stella’s adventure, who will notice increasingly strange events, from hidden voices that seem to moan in the estate, to the unusual candies that the four eat, blood-colored candies that appear to shine like crystals.
- Original title: Rosen Blood: Haitoku no Meikan
- English title: Rosen Blood
- Japanese release: 2017
- Italian release: February 23, 2022
- Number of volumes: 4 (in progress)
- Publishing house: Star Comics
- Kind: sentimental, gothic-fantasy, slice of life, reverse-harem
- Drawings: Kachiru Ishizue
- History: Kachiru Ishizue
- Format: 14.5 x 21, b / w, dust jacket
- Number of pages: 160
We reviewed Rosen Blood through a press volume provided to us by Star Comics.
Taste of déjà-vu
The plot chosen by the mangaka Ishizue does not stand out for its originality, as well as the setting in gothic and Victorian hues, on the contrary it openly rests on clichés often re-proposed in the romantic-vampire sub-genre. The four men of the estate are all very fascinating, surrounded by an aura of mystery. Levi Ruin, a figure so important that he almost plays the role of co-star, appears similar in features and construction to Kaname Kuran of the famous shojo Vampire Knight, as well as the result of the imagination of Matsuri Hino dating back to 2005, to which the author of Rosen Blood certainly looked for inspiration. This similarity, visible in the atmospheres and tones as well as in the character and attitudes of the characters, does not prevent the actors shaped by Ishizue from enjoying a good characterizationcapable of giving them clear and distinct personalities.
The aforementioned Levi presents a strong feeling of protection towards the protagonist Stella, with whom he weaves a relationship destined to evolve in the course of the continuation of the events. Yoel is immediately recognizable as a very smart and amused boy and, despite his childish appearance, he proves to know the fact of him. Friedrich, full of energy, is outgoing and casual, while Gilbert proves to be the most dangerous and indomitable from the very first pages, both in appearance and in actions. Stella finally embodies the sweet and naive protagonist, surrounded by the constant presence of men whose dangerousness she underestimates, thus adhering to a script by now famous in the world of Japanese comics. Definitely appreciable as in the protagonist, even at the front of some reactions that frankly seem not very crediblea path of growth and maturation.
An elegant dance
Just as the instruments of the orchestra accompanied the nineteenth-century dances with grace and elegance, so the pen and the stroke of the Japanese author play a crucial role in dictating the rhythms of its history. The speed of the storytelling is decisive and pressing from the first to the last vignette, accompanied by a clear and never confused stage representation. Stella, having arrived in the mansion, falls victim to a whirlwind of actions and characters strangers to her, a whirlwind that drags her from one room to another with agility, giving the right space to numerous meetings and dialogues. It is also very interesting to note how the dynamism of the screenplay is opposed to one almost total static as regards the setting: every single action shown takes place within the limits marked by the bramble forest. Last but not least, we cannot fail to highlight the images shown by the author, some of which are particularly evocativelike a successful scene of the third chapter, which in the moonlight marks the first step towards what will be the final twist.
Under the banner of technical quality
Speaking of the graphics sector, it is necessary to highlight how i designs are very accurate, very pleasing to the eye, and therefore play a first-rate role in promoting clarity of presentation and highlighting all the particularities of settings and characters. From the cover there is a meticulous and precise stroke which, while not filling the backgrounds of all the cartoons, highlights slender bodies and captivating poses, generating a pleasant overall sensation.
Left alone in the world, Stella sets out on a journey in search of a job, but ends up involved in an accident. Luckily for her, a fascinating and mysterious man intervenes and rescues her, and then takes her with him to her mansion, a seductive villa surrounded by poisonous roses. Levi – this is her name – lives there with three other men of extraordinary beauty, and Stella, who has nowhere to go anymore, offers to work for them as a waitress to pay off her debt. The girl is still unaware of how risky it can be to put oneself at the service of four… vampires! Passion, intrigue and gothic and decadent atmospheres in a mini series written and illustrated by the teacher Kachiru Ishizue.
Buy Rosen Blood following this link at the special price of € 6.55 (instead of € 6.90). Available from January 7, 2022. Support Akiba Gamers by purchasing on Amazon through this link!
There the quality of the paper edition produced by Star Comics is very high, and in the paper, through which the drawings on the back are not visible at all, and in the binding, which, thanks to the choice of a larger format than usual, makes it very easy to leaf through the volume without risking damaging it. The presence of one is also very welcome dust jacket with color glossy print, which reproduces the same image printed in black and white on the cover of the volume. For those who bought this first edition, some gift postcards in limited edition that will certainly be welcomed with great favor by fans of fan service, present but not invasive within the story. At home the work is close to ending with the fifth volume, while the release of the second volume in Italian is currently scheduled for 23 April. Recommended for anyone looking for one reading in a pleasant and fluent Victorian stylewhich does not shine for originality, but effectively follows the canons of a narrative vein particularly in vogue about fifteen years ago.
A pleasant manga, but not for everyone
Rosen Blood it is therefore a pleasant manga that, while falling into several clichés, can boast an impeccable technical sector. The first volume of this miniseries lays quite interesting foundations, on which a solid plot and characters can be further developed. The shots and the rhythm cadenced by the author Kachiru Ishizue they stage a real dance between the different rooms of a Victorian mansion, where a dense aura of disquiet acts as a constant presence, thus hiding the numerous contradictions and hypocrisy of the Victorian Age. A romantic work with gothic hues, which lays its foundations on a consolidated formula, but never forgets its own identity; a must have for lovers of the genrewhich in no way precludes the possibility of offering a pleasant afternoon even to beginners.
A traditional and intriguing shojo
#Rosen #Blood #Review #volume