Title: Angel Sanctuary, Vol. 1
Author: Kaori Yuki
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Copyright: 1994
ISBN: 1591162459
Pages: 198
Price: $9.95
Rating: 5
Synopsis:
Angels, Demons, and Sinners...
Why is Setsuna so mixed up? Despite his attempts to be noble, he'll fight anyone anytime; he ignores all authority; and he harbors feelings for his sister that can only be described as "incestuous." Why is he such a mess? The reason may be found with two demons from the underworld and their enemy, and insane angel who is distributing an insidious computer game called Angel Sanctuary.
Review:
This graphic novel takes every taboo known to man and breaks it.
Yuki has planned out her angel and demon hierarchies with utmost precision, but ruined the effect by throwing in too many foreshadowing moments and unleashing a current of presently unneeded information strong enough to drown even the most meticulous reader.
While the majority of her art wasn't breathtaking, it had its moments. The "Electric Angel" Rosiel's appearances were possibly the best scenes in the book, as Yuki's technical drawing skill far surpasses that of her human (or higher being) anatomies. Her characters all looked flawlessly identical, and they all seemed strangely androgynous (granted, half of them were transsexuals).
We have a typical heroin in this book: Sara Mudo. She consistenly relies on her big brother (and object of love and lust) Setsuna for help, and blatantly calls him absolutely NOTHING but "Big Brother!" throughout the duration of her part. All in all, she was rather disappointing, but had potential.
The delicate-minded and morally-bound should stay far away. Yuki is not afraid of anything - themes explored in her novels include incest, pedophilia, necrophilia, rape, resurrection, multiple personalities, child abuse, suicide, forbidden love, prostitution, serial murders, the nature of sin, the psychotic nature of God, and the nature of humanity.
This most definitely isn’t the book for a beginner, but if a more experienced manga-fan finds themselves looking for a challenge, I would highly recommend it. Kaori Yuki revives the overdone "angels and demons" plot, and her style still needs development, but I predict (and hope) she will grow with the rest of her series.
Related links:
Official Manga Site
