Info:Art Rating: A-Packaging Rating: A-Text/Translation Rating: Cheap Beats BAge Rating: 16 and UpReleased By: Yen PressMSRP: 10.99Pages: 224ISBN: 978-0759531154Size: B6Orientation: Right to LeftSeries: Crimson ShellCrimson Shell Vol. #01Crimson Shell Vol. #01 Manga Review<br><br> By Kate O'Neil November 24, 2009<br>Release Date: November 17, 2009<br><br><br>Crimson Shell Vol. #01<br>© Yen PressTrust and betrayal make up the core themes of this single-volume work. Unfortunately, there’s not enough time to delve deeper into them.<br>Creative Staff<br>Writer/Artist: Jun Mochizuki<br>Translation: Tomo Kimura<br>Adaptation: Tomo Kimura<br>What They Say<br>Rescued Louis Vuitton Outlet Online from the darkness by Xeno, a mysterious swordsman, Claudia the Rose Witch is http://www.west-coast-creative.com the foundation of the Crimson-Shell, a special division of the Red Rose-an organization aiming to capture the results of one mad scientist's experiments, the deadly Black Roses. But when Xeno's loyalties are called into question, will Claudia be strong enough to believe in her dearest friend? And what is the color of Louis Vuitton Outlet the rose blooming in Xeno's canada goose jackets heart-a deep, passionate crimson . . . or a traitorous jet-black?<br><br>The Review!<br>Technical<br>Like most of the Yen Press titles, “Crimson Shell” is a good looking book with good paper stock and solid blacks. The front cover features Claudia lying against a white background as she clutches at one of her Christian Louboutin Sale rose vines. The image continues to the back, where Xeno lies in the opposite direction with his eyes shut, leaving room for the book blurb. The title runs down the edge of the cover in a blocky, beats by dre black, serif font with some of Claudia’s vines overlaying it. It’s an attractive design and I think it works well. The first page is a color plate foreshadowing future events, with Claudia lying bloodied on the floor of a dark room.<br><br>The translation reads smoothly except for one nagging detail. The very first page says the story takes place in Southwest Britain. Despite that info, it doesn’t take long before characters show up using “kun” and “chan” when addressing each other. While I’m sure that Yen is just sticking to the script, and they footnote what the honorifics mean, it’s an annoying incongruity in the setting. Sound effects are translated in-panel, first with a literal translation then into English onomatopoeia. The literal translation is an odd choice as it http://www.kinrossrendermedia.com has little meaning for the average reader. <br><br>The artwork is cute and attractive. The characters are drawn distinctly from each other with a good balance of blacks and white space. Screentone is used sparingly. Everyone wears detailed costumes that are a cross between gothic military and student uniforms. The backgrounds are utilitarian in their simplicity but mesh well with the character art. Most of the story takes place in a single location, so this works fine. There are no extras except a brief “thank you” afterword from the author.<br><br>Content:<br>Claudia, a young girl with the pandora charms power to create man-eating rose vines from her body, works for the Red Rose organization. Their purpose is to destroy others, like Claudia, called the Black Roses, and their victims, which turn into zombie like monsters when infected with the venom from their roses. Claudia takes her job seriously even while she’s looked upon with fear from the researchers. She’s not alone in http://www.irenechalmers.com her fight because she has a division called the Crimson Shell to back her up. Among those keeping an eye on her are Xeno, a swordsman, and her sworn protector, Wilhelm. Claudia adores Xeno, who was able to help her michael kors canada come to terms with her frightening powers. Wilhelm doesn’t seem to trust Xeno, especially not after an attack on the organization leaves several people dead and Xeno to blame. Claudia, however, can’t believe that Xeno would turn traitor. Distraught and injured, her powers go haywire.<br><br>What follows is a search to discover who the traitors are. The entire story plays out in the Red Rose headquarters, a complex of buildings that looks like a cluster of mansions. The mad scientist who created the black roses once used the place as his laboratory and his secrets are thought to still be somewhere on the premises. The story keeps the reader guessing at the motives of several of the characters and especially the motives of both of Claudia’s protectors. The cool and mysterious Xeno is an enigma. Wilhelm appears jealous and is a little too “hands on” with Claudia, especially since he seems to be at least ten years older than her. The author writes this off with a throwaway line to explain that Claudia and Wilhelm haven’t aged http://www.centralindyhomereports.com in several years due to Claudia’s rose seed and her parasitic guardian relationship with Wilhelm. None of that is expanded upon, and it doesn’t alleviate the pedophile vibes he gives off, even if Claudia is in complete control of their strange relationship.<br><br>The story faces the problem of trying to explain the complicated mechanics of the world in too little space and time. The author created this extremely detailed science-fantasy setting and then tried to cram it all into one volume of manga. This results in a lot of exposition and some unnecessary plot elements that could have been cut. The secondary characters are well designed and all of the characters look good. The trio of kids that shows up to help Claudia are generic in personality but still likable; so I forgive them. Some of the plot twists and turns are actually clever and Christian Louboutin Discount the end result of the frantic search for the traitors is bittersweet. Everything progresses at a brisk pace and very little space is wasted. Claudia’s a likeable kid and behaves in a believable manner for the situation she’s been put into. Elements of the ending left me wondering how much she may have grown Burberry Outlet as a character during the course of Beats By Dre Cheap her story. There’s just enough left unresolved at the end so the story could continue. Even the chapter titles seem to suggest the story was just a beginning. Sadly, it’s left up to the reader to wonder where the story might go for these characters. <br><br>In Summary<br>One volume series always make me weary. It’s not that they can’t tell a good story, but in http://www.silvermoonsorbet.com the world of manga they very rarely do. “Crimson Shell” manages to avoid some of the usual pitfalls but it still feels like only a taste Michael Kors Handbags Outlet of what could have been. I’m left wanting to know more about the characters and the world of the story. So, on that point I have to concede to the author for creating a compelling universe and a sympathetic lead. Readers on a budget looking for a single volume story in this vein might want to check it out. Unfortunately, seeing how this was a first work and the author has moved on to Pandora Hearts, this prologue will probably remain just that. <br> <br>Submit Your Own Review<br>jiaoliuQQ:pici3-8-16x3-8-16
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