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A review by arnrockwell
Black Butler, Vol. 1 by Yana Toboso
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Black Butler takes place in the Victorian Era and follows our two main characters: Earl Ciel Phantomhive, a twelve-year-old boy who inherited the family earldom and business after the deaths of his parents, and Sebastian Michaelis, Ciel's mysterious butler who seems to be capable of just about anything.
This first volume contains the first story arc, the Black Butler Arc. Four chapters that serve as an introduction to the supporting cast and allow us to learn more about Ciel and Sebastian. You meet the other loyal servants of the Phantomhive family: the chef Baldroy, the gardener Finnian, the maid Mey-Rin, and the steward Tanaka. You also meet Elizabeth, a girl the same age as Ciel who he is per-ordained to marry due to status. By the end of the book, you also know about the dynamic of the relationship between Ciel and Sebastian.
For anyone reading this who is new to the series, I will not spoil details. It is not only wonderful to see what Sebastian does when certain situations arise, but also the dynamics between himself and those he comes into contact with, particularly Ciel. By the end of the volume you learn why he is loyal to Ciel, and... you will find it interesting, I think. It definitely adds an extra layer to the relationship between Ciel and Sebastian. If the whole Victorian period setting doesn't pull you in, I think that revelation certainly will.
The biggest thing I enjoy about this series is the art style. It's very clean, very detailed, and very beautiful. From the clothing to the architecture. You can tell Yana Toboso did her research when it comes to the setting, and still maintained her own unique style and I haven't seen before this.
A fun start to the series with beautiful art, Black Butler is a good start for someone who wants to get into manga who loves period pieces. For those who are already readers of manga, I feel it will be a welcome addition to your library.
This first volume contains the first story arc, the Black Butler Arc. Four chapters that serve as an introduction to the supporting cast and allow us to learn more about Ciel and Sebastian. You meet the other loyal servants of the Phantomhive family: the chef Baldroy, the gardener Finnian, the maid Mey-Rin, and the steward Tanaka. You also meet Elizabeth, a girl the same age as Ciel who he is per-ordained to marry due to status. By the end of the book, you also know about the dynamic of the relationship between Ciel and Sebastian.
For anyone reading this who is new to the series, I will not spoil details. It is not only wonderful to see what Sebastian does when certain situations arise, but also the dynamics between himself and those he comes into contact with, particularly Ciel. By the end of the volume you learn why he is loyal to Ciel, and... you will find it interesting, I think. It definitely adds an extra layer to the relationship between Ciel and Sebastian. If the whole Victorian period setting doesn't pull you in, I think that revelation certainly will.
The biggest thing I enjoy about this series is the art style. It's very clean, very detailed, and very beautiful. From the clothing to the architecture. You can tell Yana Toboso did her research when it comes to the setting, and still maintained her own unique style and I haven't seen before this.
A fun start to the series with beautiful art, Black Butler is a good start for someone who wants to get into manga who loves period pieces. For those who are already readers of manga, I feel it will be a welcome addition to your library.