Manga Review: Black Butler GN 18

Black Butler volume 18
Author: Yana Toboso
Yen Press
176 pages

Their elaborate schoolroom deception at an end, Earl Ciel Phantomhive and his peerless manservant, Sebastian, finally hit upon the truth behind the incident of the vanished students at Weston College. Just what tragic steps did the elites of the school, spurred on by their overwhelming sense of justice, take to stamp out the bullying running rife in the halls of their institution?! What began as a seemingly simple case of missing persons goes round and round, spinning out of control into a great menace, one capable of perplexing even a devil...

After finishing the latest volume of Black Butler, I spent a good five minutes trying to nitpick the contents of it, looking for a major flaw or distraction. I found none. Maybe it needs more old man Tanaka? Okay, every book could use more Tanaka, so that doesn't count as a valid nitpick.

In this collection of chapters, Yana Toboso has packaged together a perfect combination of her signature stylish art, madcap action, thrilling plot twists and screwball humor for the conclusion of the Weston College story arc. Amid the eighteen volumes of Black Butler released so far in English, the newest one is truly among the top of the crop.

Manga Review: Black Butler GN 17

Black Butler volume 17
Author: Yana Toboso
Yen Press
176 pages

Following the outcome of the annual cricket tourney and due in no small part to Sebastian, his uncommon butler, Earl Ciel Phantomhive finally has earned a seat at the Midnight Tea Party hosted by Weston's enigmatic headmaster. As moon-pale petals bloom on the lapels of the students who have been granted a place at his table, the man who holds all authority at the college reveals himself to his guests. Will his appearance shed light on the fate of the missing students or conceal the path to the truth in yet more darkness?

Don't be fooled by the official synopsis. A good chunk of this volume—about half of it, really—is dedicated to the end of the cricket tourney. It's a ridiculous, farcical take on the English sport but it's so darn Kuroshitsuji I can forgive it. The whole book is very Yana Toboso, from the elaborate outfits to the unexpected plot twists and the cameos from favorite characters, and it pushes us through into the final act of the Weston College mystery arc.

Manga Review: Black Butler GN 16

Black Butler volume sixteen
Author: Yana Toboso
Yen Press
176 pages

Earl Ciel Phantomhive and his invincible butler Sebastian may have succeeded in sneaking their way into the elite Weston College, but their investigation quickly hits a wall. To earn an audience with the headmaster, Ciel's only option is to attend the "Midnight Tea Party," an exclusive gathering hosted by the elusive head of the school. And the only way a lowly first-former like Ciel, earl or no, can land a seat at that table is by being elected the Most Valuable Player in the College's annual storied cricket tournament. (Source: Yen Press)

If you had told me last year that one of my favorite Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler story arcs would have involved Ciel infiltrating an elite boarding school and playing cricket, I probably would not have believed you. Several volumes of prefects and fags and Unexpected Soma! later, and the Weston College arc has become a personal favorite of mine, up there with Ripper arc, Soma's introduction, and the Circus arc. Not only does it do a good job switching between school hijinks and drama, but it expands upon the existing background of the Phantomhive clan, something I've been waiting for for a while.

Wednesday Briefs: Agni Goes To Market

As of this week, Nagareboshi Reviews joins the ever-growing circle of bloggers who participate in Wednesday Briefs. It's pretty simple: write flash (short) fiction based on prompts that are made available each week, post and share. Boom! Done.

This week, I've been inspired for my first brief to write a little Black Butler flash fiction, featuring everyone's favorite Indian butler, Agni. No major spoilers for the manga besides knowing who Agni and Soma are. Enjoy!

Spice and Butler: Kuroshitsuji, Agni-centric, G, prompt - "spices in an Indian market"

Manga Sprites: Of Demons And First Love

Some times, you have time to write a 1,000+ word review of a single book. Some times, you just don't. For those times, we have Book Sprites, our latest semi-regular manga feature, with compact book reviews for the discerning reader with no time to lose. No major spoilers lie here!

Today, I'm tackling Black Butler, Strobe Edge, and Blue Exorcist. It's a Yen Press and Viz bonanza!

Black Butler volume 15 by Yana Toboso: This week on Kuroshitsuji - Ciel in a high-class school uniform and Sebastian in fancy dress and glasses and cravat! If you are already salivating over these images, you are Black Butler's target demographic and this arc is going to be your favorite. This latest mystery involves students disappearing in a posh boarding school and naturally only Ciel can go undercover to figure out what is going on.

Naturally, Ciel stumbles across the strangest boarding school in the country. The younger students fight to be completely subservient to the older students, an eclectic bunch of upperclassmen rule the student body, the head of campus is never seen by average students, and backstabbing and treachery abounds in every hallway. Oh, and they start their school day at six o'clock in the morning. Ugh. Ciel really has to watch his bag lest he blow his cover.

Manga Review: Black Butler GN 14

Black Butler volume 14
Yana Toboso
Yen Press
192 pages

The veil of mystery cast over the Aurora Society’s “absolute salvation” is torn away, and the true mastermind behind the scheme steps forward at long last. In the ensuing battle, Earl Ciel Phantomhive looks on in horror as Sebastian, his infallible manservant, is struck down by the death scythe of an unforeseen combatant. Devil though he may be, even Sebastian is not immune to the blade of a reaper’s scythe. As Sebastian’s cinematic record spills forth, the tale of how a devil became a butler to a little lost lord flickers to life in shades of sepia, blood, and ash… (Source: Goodreads)

Spoiler warning: Review contains spoilers for the Black Butler/Kuroshitsuji series so far. Read on with caution!

The best part of Black Butler's fourteenth volume is not the main story. Let's be real for a moment. We all know this boat is going down and everybody is dying like Yana Toboso is reenacting the Red Wedding on the water. No, for me, what makes this volume stand out from the others is our trip down memory lane through Sebastian's cinematic record, invoked thanks to a certain shinigami's scythe. It is seeing how Sebastian and Ciel became what we know them as: the Earl of Phantomhive and 'one hell of a butler'. It's an origin story that has been books and books in the making and now it is finally here and it is great.

Manga Review: Black Butler GN 13

Black Butler volume 13
Yana Toboso
Yen Press
176 pages

His betrothed's unexpected skill with a sword having narrowly saved him from a gory fate at the gnashing jaws of the undead, Earl Ciel Phantomhive, along with his intrepid butler, Sebastian, fights to see another day aboard the doomed Campania. But as they draw nearer to the heart of the Aurora Society's scheme to reanimate the dead, the pair are met by the beautiful young "Kaiser," who holds all the keys to this mystery in the palm of his gloved hand, platinum blond locks fluttering in his wake... (Source: Goodreads)

Spoiler warning: Contains some spoilers for the Black Butler/Kuroshitsuji series so far.

It's been a long time since I've reviewed a volume of Black Butler - it's been almost two years and twelve volumes since then, actually. Since then, this series has taken a whole lot of twists and turns, and it's always been fun following the adventures of Ciel and Sebastian. Lately, Black Butler has gotten a hell of a lot more bloodier than ever before. Victorian killer zombies on a doomed cruise at sea? Just another day for the Phantomhive child heir.

AMV Of The Week: Run Devil Run

This week's AMV is a big fun unusual Kuroshitsuji fan vid that will certainly please fujoshi and Ciel/Sebastian fans. A clever mix-up of anime, manga, and special effects makes this one of my favorite Kuroshitsuji fanvids yet.

Also, for SNSD fans wondering what the eff, read the video's notes for the history of "Run Devil Run" and how it actually started with Ke$ha, not Girl's Generation.

AMV: Run Devil Run

Author:  CeliaPhantomhive

Music: Ke$sha's "Run Devil Run"

Warnings:  Flashing lights, occasional strobe, quickly edited clips, scenes from the manga that may be seen as 16+ content.

PS: I think SNSD did a better version of this single, but the demo version works better with this video. You are, of course, free to disagree!

AMV Of The Week: Tik Tok (Kind Of)

This week’s AMV is a naughtily amusing mash-up of Victorian style and trashy pop parodies. In which Ciel Phantomhive is bad, very bad (although I imagine he's not worried about people telling his mum and dad). A most unlikely yet hilarious AMV from a fandom well known for its cracky vid ideas.

AMV: Tik Tok Parody

Author: bubbleontheedge (re-uploaded by nCrazy Tanyan)
Music: "TiK Tok Parody" by The Midnight Beast
Warnings: Vague spoilers for s1 of Kuroshitsuji. Contains some Kuro doujinshi - need I say more on that front? Lyrics are a bit rude.

Manga Review: Black Butler GN 1

Black Butler volume 1

Author: Yana Toboso

Yen Press

192 pages

When a terrible fire claims his parents, Ciel Phantomhive must step up as the head of his father's company and as Earl Phantomhive. It would be a lot for the young boy to handle were it not for his faithful butler, Sebastian. Ever at Ciel's side, it seems there's little Sebastian can't do, whether it's saving a dinner party gone awry or probing the dark secrets of London's underbelly. He's almost too good to be true . . . or at least, too good to be human . . .

Huge honking caveat: I love Black Butler with all of my heart and soul – and I love Sebastian and Ciel, the butler and his master, with the heat of a thousand suns. That said, I will try my damndest to provide a fair and critical review of Black Butler’s first volume, released in English by the always quality and timely Yen Press. As someone who has actually read ahead of this volume – enough to know that this series is not a pure comedy manga – I find this volume rather misleading for new and prospective fans. Despite some hints that Ciel and Sebastian’s relationship isn’t what it seems at first blush, this collection of chapters is a mix of madcap humor and action that makes it seems like said things are the primary focus of the story. Which they are not; this book doesn’t even give any inkling of a plot beyond “Sebastian does awesome things and Ciel is a frowny rich boy”.