Black Bird 8
Posted: June 8, 2011 Filed under: Black Bird Leave a comment »Kanoko Sakurakojo – Viz – 2011 – 13+ volumes
This is such a horrible guilty pleasure, but I enjoy every volume so much! It pours the bittersweet doomed romance on thick every time, and I just can’t resist. Again, one of my weaknesses is the devoted couple together through thick and thin, and Kyo and Misao fit the bill nicely. Especially in this volume.
Misao is growing increasingly sure that she wants Kyo to make her his bride 100%. And by that, I mean she wants to have sex. The only reason they haven’t had it yet is that they’re not sure what will happen to Misao when Kyo takes all her demon bride essence or whatever, so they’ve abstained. Kyo continues to do so, even when Misao pressures him at the beginning of this volume.
But the two have more to worry about than that when Raikoh, the demon slayer, starts living with Misao. Through a long series of events and trickery on both sides, Kyo winds up in a position where he has to take Misao’s demon bride essence in order to survive.
I can’t say anything more than that without spoiling it, and I can’t really… get more critical than that, either. Black Bird is what it is, and it’s quite good at melodramatic romance and action. Is there more to the plot than meets the eye? Not really, but it’s a wonderful ride for those who like that sort of thing. And I definitely do.
What I will say, in its defense, is that the scene at the end of this volume is one of the most artfully done of its type I’ve ever seen in a shoujo manga. It was honestly beautiful.
The cliffhanger it leaves in its wake, however, is wicked. Do I think anything bad will come of it? Not with another 6+ volumes available after this. And I’m hoping for… unusual repercussions. I’m guessing that won’t happen, either. But I still want to know very badly what happens after the end of this volume. And that’s why I keep coming back for more. That, plus the fact that Black Bird is now like a goth version of Sensual Phrase for me.
This was a review copy provided by Viz.
