VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia
MANGAKA: Yoshiaki Sukeno
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Bryant Turnage
LETTERS: Stephen Dutro
EDITOR: Annette Roman
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0394-4; paperback (January 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
208pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.
Sōsei no Onmyōji is a shonen manga series written and illustrated by Yoshiaki Sukeno. The manga has been serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Jump Square (Shueisha, Inc.), since October 2013. VIZ Media is publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a series of graphic novels, entitled Twin Star Exorcists. VIZ has released the series first under its “Shonen Jump Advanced” imprint, and then, under its “Shonen Jump” imprint twice a year since July 2015.
Twin Star Exorcists focuses on Rokuro Enmado. He did not want to be an exorcist, but he met a mysterious girl named Benio Adashino. This 14-year-old was serious about being an exorcist, and she wanted to fight the monstrous creatures called Kegare. Because their destinies are intertwined, Rokuro and Benio are called the “Twin Star Exorcists.” They are fated to marry... and to conceive the “Prophesied Child.”
As Twin Star Exorcists, Vol. 14 (Chapters 49 to 52) opens, “the Hadare Castle Imperial Tournament” continues. The match between Shimon Ikuraga, “the Twelve Guardian Vermillion Bird,” and Unomiya Family head, Tenma Unomiya, takes a sudden, shocking, and ugly turn, so the tournament ends. Later, Rokuro's performance in the tournament impresses many, and more people, including entire families, request to join his recently formed “Enmado Family.”
Meanwhile, Benio continues her quest to regain her spiritual power, and it seems the only one who can help her make real headway is Kamui... the kegare that killed her parents! Kamui will lead Benio to Chinu, reputed to be the oldest and most powerful kegare, the one who can tell Benio how to restore her spiritual powers. However, collaborating with kegare could not only get her expelled as an exorcist, but it could also get her executed as a traitor. Plus, Chinu, of course, has so many shocking and unbelievable things to tell the young exorcist.
[This volume includes bonus comics, text, and concept art (on exorcist “hunting gear”).]
THE LOWDOWN: The Twin Star Exorcists manga is usually in a constant state of flux, as creator Yoshiaki Sukeno introduces new characters and new subplots at a steady rate. Then, there are times when the constant state of change is one big change.
Twin Star Exorcists Graphic Novel Volume 14, if what we learn within these chapters is true, will be one of the series' game-changing entries. Yoshiaki Sukeno never lets readers feel comfortable with this series. True, it is a battle manga, but it is also a dark fantasy story replete with elements of gruesome horror and gory monster fiction, and Vol. 14 gives us an origin of that gruesome and gore. Sukeno also offers a pivotal moment in Benio Adashino's development. What does she really want?, this volume seems to ask.
Once again, Tetsuichiro Miyaki (translation) and Bryant Turnage (English adaptation) deliver a strong English adaptation with an ending that will force readers to come back for more. And Stephen Dutro's lettering is perfect for this volume of utter surprises.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of action-fantasy, shonen manga will want to try the “Shonen Jump” manga, Twin Star Exorcists.
A
9.5 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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