I finally got Hakkenden volume 3 and Silver Diamond volume 9,
months after their publication. ;_; But they have both provided me with great amounts of joy so I guess I shouldn't complain too much (better late than never, right?). I love their combination of very detailed and pretty art with interesting and compelling characters and story lines. (My intro posts of
Hakkenden and
Silver Diamond from oh so long ago. )
First off, Silver Diamond. I love the mix of the slightly off humor (that comes from slightly off sensibilities) and drama. Rakan breaking into a huge lecture about being faithful to one person to Chigusa and Touji and completely forgetting the slightly dangerous situation they are in? Chigusa and Touji seriously taking Rakan's words seriously while the manga makes asides about the absurdity of a situation where a high school student lectures two grown adults? Chigusa, following Rakan's words, choosing to be faithful to one person, who subsequently has an "invisible" arrow pointed at him which Touji and Narushige sense? So funny and so cute!
I love the way Sugiura-sensei expands on Chigusa's basic ability to "see well" into such things as spying and seeing into dreams. It's logical and really trippy. I love how Chigusa misunderstands Rakan's attitude (it's so cute though logical!), while Rakan is embarrassed at his own thoughts (I can't tell three grown men not to fall in love because it'll be an inconvenience to me!).
Love the sakura in full-bloom. So pretty!
I can't wait for the next volume! What will happen to the two conscious guys with elf-girl plotting their demise? What will happen to the two guys in dream-land? I want to know!!!!
I'm very happy to see that this title has gained a lot of popularity since that first post I made about it over a year ago. I suppose it's only logical because it has so much going for it. Now
this series deserves to be licensed!
On to Hakkenden...it's a denser story, so I had to really take my time to wade through it. Also, I had to reread the first two because when I started reading volume 3 in earnest I realized I had been a bad girl and had only skimmed volume 2 and would have to go back...so I figured I'd reread it from the start. Um, wow? It's been a while since I've taken a look at Hakkenden, so it was wonderful to submerge myself in such pretty (and detailed!) art. As for the story...it's going to be of epic length (at least, it
feels like it should be of epic length), thus a lot of slow progression and occasional revelations is par for the course, unfortunately. I am still trying to puzzle out a historical time period to stick this manga in, and how things have changed from real history. When and how did the Church gain such prominence in Japan? Does it mean they were never suppressed in this world? And why are they so openly tied to supernatural elements (well, this last bit I can chalk up to the tendency of Japanese manga to ignore the realities of Christianity)? But besides questions on the setting and background of the world, I am filled with questions as to exactly what kind of story this is going to become. A quest? It the story just going to meander around or will it become focused in some way? Is this going to end tragically (I don't know if the original Hakkenden has a happy ending or not)? And of course, ultimately what will happen to Shino and Sousuke? Particularly Shino, as he will be left behind if things keep going the way they are. But there are hints about Sousuke that I find extremely unsettling....I like him, I don't want something bad to happen to him! I do like the relationship between Shino and Sousuke. It's odd and layered and very very complex.
I'm glad that Abe-sensei is once again providing us with an interesting variety of females, from the strong (but not bitchy) to the weak and tragic (though only mentioned, I found Nui to be an interesting contrast with the very strong-willed characters that dominate the manga).
I look forward to seeing the rest of the eight dog people. I assume that they will all turn out to be people who have been taken out of the cycle of normal human life because of a brush with the supernatural and their own powerful desire to live. What will happen to them all, and what kind of connection do they have with Mr. attached by Inu-gami hot young priest dude Satomi? And what connection does he have with Shino? GAH. Questions, endless questions.
I don't think this series is being scanlated, which is a pity if true because it's really damn cool.