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A review by arnrockwell
Black Butler, Vol. 3 by Yana Toboso
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This volume continues, and concludes the second story arc of Black Butler, the Red Butler arc. The identity of Jack the Ripper is revealed and this volume is the encounter with the criminals and aftermath. Sebastian faces off against the first half of the duo that together make up Jack the Ripper, another but different immortal being, while Ciel deals with the other individual involved, who is closer to him than anyone initially expected.
Much of what happens in this volume is heartbreaking and emotional. It is a tragic tale of how far someone is willing to go when pushed to the limit. If you are familiar at all the what is known of the real Jack the Ripper murders and the victims involved, that is a hint of what to expect. No, I won't go into anymore detail. In the words of River Song from Doctor Who, "Spoilers!"
The volume doesn't end on a dark note, however. In fact, it ends with Ciel's thirteenth birthday. It's another chapter of witticism and shenanigans that balances out the dark tone of the rest of the book.
Once again, Yana Toboso proves that she is great at both art and storytelling. The art style is detailed and clean, easy to follow, and helps the flow of the story itself. As is typical for manga and anime, there are some funny manga-esque moments scattered throughout. Depending on how you enjoy manga, this will either love it or hate it. I like it for the most part, but I did feel like it took away from the seriousness at times.
While this book is not perfect, it is still a fine entry in the Black Butler series and great example of manga storytelling overall. Looking forward to the next volume.
Much of what happens in this volume is heartbreaking and emotional. It is a tragic tale of how far someone is willing to go when pushed to the limit. If you are familiar at all the what is known of the real Jack the Ripper murders and the victims involved, that is a hint of what to expect. No, I won't go into anymore detail. In the words of River Song from Doctor Who, "Spoilers!"
The volume doesn't end on a dark note, however. In fact, it ends with Ciel's thirteenth birthday. It's another chapter of witticism and shenanigans that balances out the dark tone of the rest of the book.
Once again, Yana Toboso proves that she is great at both art and storytelling. The art style is detailed and clean, easy to follow, and helps the flow of the story itself. As is typical for manga and anime, there are some funny manga-esque moments scattered throughout. Depending on how you enjoy manga, this will either love it or hate it. I like it for the most part, but I did feel like it took away from the seriousness at times.
While this book is not perfect, it is still a fine entry in the Black Butler series and great example of manga storytelling overall. Looking forward to the next volume.