黒執事 XXII [Kuroshitsuji XXII] - Yana Tobo... My first and only KS volume of the year

It is impossible NOT to love this volume. Since it was the characters vote for the 100 chapters, it is obvious Toboso-sensei let this influence her. And it made an awesome volume, I don't think any fan would be disappointed -entirely-.

What makes it a fabulous volume:

- That cover. I love Meyrin, specially since she is a badass character but also a comedy relief. She is not cute as Elizabeth, nor imposing as Lady Frances, but she is my favorite recurring female character in KS. At number #22, she finally gets her recognition.

- The end of the Emerald Witch arc, at least in Germany. This arc had it flaws but it ends satisfactorily. I confess I like the little girl, she is cute and sometimes very funny.

- Tanaka-san. The epitome of perfect -human- butler, when the Master is in danger! Of course, once the danger has passed, he goes back to "ho, ho, ho" XD

- The Shinigami Dispatch Society. We don't really get to know these two new Shinigami, Ludgar and Sacha, BUT... **rumbling drums** Grell and William are back! Just for fanservice though, but it was an incredible surprise that left me with a huge smile. And also, just one panel but still, Eric is shown crying while holding Alan's corpse. For any fan who has seen the musical, it is a bit nostalgic and a nice touch.

- Undertaker. He is in #3 in the character votes! (in my ranking, he is also #3, but instead of being behind Ciel, he is behind Grell ). His story with Dietrich and Vincent Phantomhive and another unknown guy, seems kinda like the Marauders. Vincent definitely was James Potter; and Undertaker seems like he is Sirius (looks like he loved Vincent the most, if we trust his tears).

- Ciel being a worrier. Kyaa, is Ciel getting, err, nicer? He asked Sebastian to save Wolfram (Sullivan's butler) and Sebastian himself tells him this, that he is worried for the girl. Of course, being Ciel he says this, and that, but we all know the truth: Ciel is getting nicer and seems like Sebastian is getting more human. It is all there in their conversations, like an innuendo but we fans know better!

- The Tutor. Back to England, Sebastian is in charge of making Sullivan a lady, to meet the Queen. That means manners at the table, good clothes, etc. I love sadistic tutor Sebas-chan. Not only he looks so handsome, but he is so... S. He never fails to make laugh with his methods.

- The dressmaker. Who we don't see since that unforgettable chapter where Ciel dressed in pink. She is such a fun, crazy character.

- The last and extra chapter, The Akuman 6, which doesn't really contribute anything to the story, but it was so much fun. They all look so polish (Grell and that outfit XD Undertaker and that hairstyle XD) and Viscount Druitt is such a fun.

Basically, all characters that are popular (including Lao, Agni, Soma, Snake, the Charles) are in this volume. Everything scream FANSERVICE! (including when Sebastian says to Ciel: If you disappear, I will be most distressed and worried. Because if my master is not here, I wouldn't be able to be your butler) but alas, since all characters are here, that means Elizabeth is also here. I still don't like her, and well, she is the reason I don't rate this 5* :(


How in the world are Vincent in #5 and Phillips in #6! How in the world isn't William in #5 and, I don't know, Viscount Druitt in #6! **shakes head**

*My, I was inspired. Only because I am able to read one volume per year lately *

黒執事 XXI [Kuroshitsuji XXI] - Yana Toboso Chapter 98-102

I was not expecting too much since the arc turned out differently than what I wanted. But once again, YT proved me wrong. Excellent battles, they were all so exciting. Sebastian and Ciel, as sadistic as ever. So many good moments, like when Sebastian dodged all the bullets (hello Neo!). Or Sebastian in all his demon-like forms. And although the extra chapter (from Book of Circus, which I just must watch, like, yesterday) was not so funny as the last one, I laughed when Sebastian teases Ciel.

Can I say -again, I guess- that I love the Phantomhive servants? I was with my mouth open when all four of them had their shining moments. I am so satisfied that they are now getting their own cover (next one is Mei-Rin). They are awesome.


my new obsession: Kuroshitsuji The Musical

There were tiny moments where you can just tell Sebastian cares for Ciel. Like in that extra chapter, where Ciel interrupts him. Or when Sebastian rubs Ciel's face.

Next arc looks SOOOO promising. Shinigamis...

黒執事 XX [Kuroshitsuji XX] - Yana Toboso I really think KS chapters are the shortest. And no, it is not only because they are fun to read. They are really short, comparing to other mangas. It ends so fast and then we have to wait forever for the next release

Seems like the arc is coming to its end, and frankly, this volume was a bit disappointing. Half of it was about Ciel facing his fears and then coming to his self. (Although, major thumbs up for the image of Sebastian in his "demon-about-to-eat" mode!).

I love Snake, I approve him as part of the gang... it is impossible not to.

The mystery about the werewolves. Hmph. Not the paranormal thing I was hoping. Oh well... I am sure I will change my mind eventually. Yana Toboso has that kind of power.

Extra chapter: 5 stars. Not sure if only this manga online has it or the real volume has it, but I love it! An extra chapter in the circus (which is one of my "I loved it, I hated it" arc). The story about the tooth fairy was really sweet (the one with Doll) but Sebastian's one... He is so naughty when he is drunk. And Ciel's reaction... (This kind of reaction never fails, ever).

Some spoilers below.

 

I'm starting to see a pattern here, and if it continues I'm thinking I will never love this series as much as some people do.

I liked that this volume had more of a storyline than the first one. It wandered less, colored Sebastian's character a bit more, and actually introduced a couple of slightly demonic elements to the otherwise bland environment. I also was really, really happy when Ciel's secondary servants didn't appear past the first chapter, because MY GOSH they are so pathetic. They aren't funny, they aren't cute, and their existence makes no sense whatsoever. I think if Ciel knew how adept they really are, he'd have them kicked out of the mansion before they could get out a syllable of protest.

.....Unfortunately for me, Ciel really isn't intelligent enough to notice things like that, and Seb insists on covering for them every step of the way. I mean, it says in Seb's contract that he should loyally carry out Ciel's orders, right? It doesn't say that he has to do everything himself, whether Ciel wants it done or not. Does it?

The cover art on this volume is so boring. It looks just like the cover art on the first volume. No different colors, no different characters, nothing. I'd like to see a little more imagination, please?

One thing I didn't post in my status updates: I'm noticing a creepy almost-romance thing going on between Seb and Ciel, and it's really really nasty. Ciel is TWELVE, isn't he? And human. And nothing but prey to Seb, who is a who-knows-how-old monster. I'm hoping the doe-eyes and suggestive gestures stop really fast, because it's disgusting to me.

So is dressing Ciel up like a girl for half the volume. I don't find that funny, I find it mildly insulting.

So . . . yeah. I'll read the next one and hope I get more demons, fewer household catastrophes, and absolutely no more doe-eyes.

 

My original status updates:

 

1) "The artwork on these can be pretty some of the time, if nothing else. The roses drawn on the endpapers are really well done."

 

2) "I dunno, Seb, I personally think you could do with a haircut. You'd look so greasy in real life with that hair..."

 

3) "How on EARTH did this girl get a job as laundress?! Ciel lives in a big mansion, I'm sure he pays a lot. Wasn't there a single remotely competent person vying for the position? Not one?

She can't even read. Good grief. I can think of more interesting ways to make Seb look like a hero, than showing us that he can read Roman Numerals..."

 

4) "So, Seb likes cats. He just went up a point in my estimation.

He'll go up again when he kills off the house staff..."

 

5) "Seb's hair keeps changing. When he's facing to the left, the long piece is on the far side. When he faces the camers, it's on the same side - his right. BUT when he turns around, sometimes the long piece moves inexplicably to the left side of his head.

I don't get it."

 

6) "That panel is so a Break ripoff. -_- Let's draw Ciel with his head tilted at that angle, one eye covered, that expression on his face, and a fork in his mouth. My conviction that Yana Toboso worships Jun is growing by the page.

And no, I'm not impressed. Give me 20+ characters of your own that I can love, and then we'll talk. *sigh* I shouldn't be reading this. I'm not in a fair state of mind. Sorry, guys..."

 

7) "Woooow, those sure are some disguises. Every single person looks exactly like they normally do.

Seb, dude, the glasses disguise only works for Superman. You might not have noticed, but you're not Superman."

 

8) "I don't like the way Toboso so blatantly copies her panels. She doesn't even try to make it look like she drew each one by hand..."

 

9) "I'm assuming the viscount is Yana Toboso's verion of Vincent Nightray? Because he looks like he has a hero-worship thing going for Vincent...

Also, Ciel hasn't been trained to walk, talk, curtsey, eat, or generally act like a Victorian-era lady. His disguise would never EVER fool even a blind person."

 

10) ""Whether it be to avenge or take revenge on someone's behalf, these are just pretty words..."

They are? I know this is just a translation from another language, but is repeating yourself in THIS language pretty? Hahaha, I'm so confused..."

 

11) "Ohhh, so SEBASTIAN is a Shinigami? What, there are no other words for Japenese beasties out there that Toboso might have used?

No red cloaks yet, but Seb'll probably throw one on here in a sec."

 

12) "Wait, what? There was evidence like that just lying around, and no one suspected enough to actually take a closer look?"

 

13) "Ahhh, and a scythe, too. Naturally, we couldn't not have one of those."

 

14) ""Unfun"? Seriously? My family and I have been laughing at people who say that for years."

 

15) "Ahh, here we go, the gloves come off. Again. Seems like the whole manga was just building up to Seb removing his gloves."

Some spoilers below.

 

Ehhh. I enjoyed reading this one at first, but since I know more about the manga now I've changed my mind. This review is, however, mostly exactly like my original.

The humor in this volume is really . . . slapstick. And jokes tend to be repeated over and over. And over. The only characters with any depth to them are, naturally, Sebastian and Ciel. The others - the servants and the "important" visitor and the "villains" - seem to exist mainly just to make Sebastian look ridiculously.....I don't know, cool? Competent? Overrated?

The first two chapters didn't do anything for me, I'm not sure why they existed at all. Nothing even happened until the third chapter; before that, every panel was spent on Sebastian dusting, sweeping, gardening, baking, etc. I get it, he's a butler. I get it, he has to do all the work in the house because the rest of the servants can barely walk in a straight line. Move on, you know?

From a manga that proclaims itself to be "thrilling" and "exciting" I'd honestly expected more action. Instead, the only thing that happens in this volume is that Ciel gets kidnapped, and Sebastian rescues him.

Sebastian's method of rescuing him was to steal all the silverware out of Ciel's mansion, by the way, and to use them as throwing knives. Most of the panels in the fight consisted of him doing backflips with forks and butter knives in his hands, while in the background people with guns stood staring in awe/terror. I swear, nobody even tried to put up a fight.

Also, there were some serious inconsistencies with regards to setting and timeline. This manga seems to pride itself on being set in Victorian England. (I know this because it bludgeons me over the head with that fact every few pages.) But why call it Victorian England, if you're going to play around with it so much that it's practically unrecognizable? I mean, people were ooh-ing and aah-ing at Japanese rock gardens that I'm pretty sure no one should have recognized as Japanese rock gardens. People were talking on cell phones. CELL PHONES. People were driving what looked like big expensive cars. Et cetera. I'm fine with that stuff being in the manga, it's the author's world and she can do what she likes with it, but why try to pass it off as Victorian England?

A few pet peeves:

The scene where the girl is running. Sebastian scolds her for running in the mansion, and she tries to explain that she has broken glasses and couldn't see very well.....what? Your glasses are broken, so you run? Do you have a death-wish, girl?

The pie. Good grief, was that joke overdone. If these servants can't clean up because they're distracted by a pie, why are you paying them? Ciel doesn't seem like the type to waste space or resources on those losers.

The tablecloth scene. The silly girl spills wine all over the cloth, and not only does the guest conveniently turn his head away, but he fails to notice the loud splashing sound of a gallon of wine hitting the table. Also, none of it splattered onto him. And he didn't notice a thing when Sebastian whipped the cloth away, causing everything on the table to rock and rattle. Convenient much? Is this guy blind and deaf?

The Superman reference. I'm pretty sure Superman of the red and blue wasn't invented way back in "Victorian England". They could be talking about some other Superman, of course, but how many people read this manga and find that and don't think of a red cape?

The demon/butler puns. I didn't know you could squeeze so many of those into so few pages.

I am underwhelmed. From all the hype this manga gets, I'd expected so much more.