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...
Yana Toboso (枢 やな Toboso Yana) is a female Japanese manga artist born in Warabi, Saitama Prefecture, Japan and currently resides in Yokohama. She is best known for Black Butler (黒執事 Kuroshitsuji), a popular shonen manga series.
She has also written yaoi under the pen name Yanao Rock (簗緒ろく).
Appearance Yana Toboso draws herself as a devil with a black body and horns, a white head, and a pointed tail. She has never uploaded a picture of herself, so her actual appearance is unknown.
Who knew there was such a badass hottie hiding under that ginormous top hat? Plus, the guy loves to laugh. *swoon*
Those eye(s)!
And a shinigami to boot?! UNF!!!
Black Butler, Vol. 13 begins with a surprisingly sweet backstory on Lizzie. I have to admit that I initially despised her when she broke Ciel's ring, but after the unexpected twist in the last volume plus seeing how much she truly cares about Ciel, I'm quite digging her. She isn't the silly little girl she comes across to be. Lizzie is rather kick-ass and has her man's back at any cost.
I thought it was so amusing to see Lizzie make Ciel blush and Sebastian razz him for it.
To be honest, the rest of the volume becomes a blur once Undertaker's true intentions are revealed.
Hey now...
Hawwwwt!
I enjoy watching Sebastian battle it out with all of the shinigami. This demon's got mad ninja skills and looks to have the upper-hand until Undertaker pulls out the big guns blade.
Death Scythe!
As much as I take great pleasure in seeing Sebastian and Undertaker battle it out, the cliffhanger ending made my heart stop. Granted, logically, I know that he is an immortal demon but seeing Sebastian gutted is a sight I'd rather not ever see again.
Thank goodness there is an entertaining backstory that immediately follows this tragic ending to distract your mind from Sebastian's possible demise. The origin of the contract between Sebastian and Ciel is told with eerie suspense sprinkled in with wonderful snarky humor.
My favorite scene is seeing Sebastian's subtle transformation from demon to butler.
I love that Sebastian is named after Ciel's dog. What a punk.
I found it strangely hot when Sebastian gets assertive and stops taking Ciel's shit.
I have such a weakness when there is food in manga. I dare you not to drool.
The last page summarizes their relationship perfectly.
The artwork is breathtaking as usual. There is so much painstaking detail in the costumes and surroundings in every single scene. I especially love the scenes with the flowing cinematic records. The fluidity and darkness in these illustrations add to the macabre. I also love how Yana Toboso draws shoes. It almost makes me wish she would design a shoe line.
Seeing Grell playing footsies with Sebastian is hilarious!
At the end, Yana Toboso explains her venture into becoming a mangaka. It amazes me that she didn't have years of experience in the manga world before Black Butler. All of her illustrations are impeccably drawn that one would guess only a seasoned professional could possibly have this skill. It just goes to show how much natural talent oozes out of this phenomenal artist. I don't know if she's won any awards yet, but she certainly deserves the accolades.
The inside cover of the black and white image with a splash of vibrant color is so beautiful.
Just gorgeous.
This series gets better and better with each volume. I cannot wait to find out what happens to Sebastian and what role Undertaker will play in future volumes. I surely hope he will stick around indefinitely.
There is officially some new eye candy to give Sebastian a run for his money! I ♡ Undertaker.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The back story of Elizabeth was good. She tries so hard for Ciel. It's obvious how much she cares for him. And the part where Ciel blushed... It's obvious he cares for her too but I'm not sure if it's in the same level as hers. Lizzie's brother was funny and I'm glad Snake is out of danger. No offense but he's nowhere near the league of the shinigamis and Sebastian so he's better off... away.
It's sad that the Undertaker has "betrayed" Ciel now. Lau's the only one left. Well, I already mentioned that but still. He's seriously the only one left. I didn't count the Undertaker so much because Ciel wasn't that close to him. -sighs- The Undertaker was cool though. I could understand why he protected the Viscount. I mean, he does love laughs and the Viscount could certainly give him some.
Sebastian's memories helped fill the gaps in what really happened. Oh, we were given the general idea but not the complete picture. And now we have that picture. Kuroshitsuji is a brilliant series!!! I don't know which one I love more, this or Pandora Hearts! I love them both!
For the ones interesting in Ciel & Lizzy in Modern AU: Dusk till Dawn
Who would have guessed that our little Lizzy is so bad ass!
For the ones interested in the character of Lizzy I discovered a wonderful video that portraits her very clearly!
Despite the revelation of Lizzy, I am happy that she has a deepness that we all thought she didn't have. Lizzy truly loves Ciel despite of what some fans say!
In parallel I loved this volume not only because of Lizzy but also because we saw how the contract was made and in the same time how Ciel and Sebastian became more then strangers and NO, I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT YAOI! I remember that when I first started this series I was influenced by the yaoi fans but now that I read at least 60 chapters I can see for myself that between them is nothing romantic .
اپدیت ۵ شهریور ۴۰۰- درسته که تویست لیزی خیلی deus ex machina طور بود، ولی میتونه استفاده موفقی ازش حساب بیاد. در نظرگرفتن جزئیات همیشه راه نجاته XD و اینجا حتی توی دولوپ شخصیت هم کمک کرده. اما ستاره این جلد حقیقتا اندرتیکره. . . جذابیتهای بصری فراوان، شخصیت فریک، اطلاعات کم راجع بهش و داس خفنش. واقعا حضور خیرهکنندهای بود بخصوص با صفحه رنگیش. در اخر هم نفرت حقیقی سباستین از نیموجبی شرور واقعا فرحبخشه. البته که دونستن چیزای که قراره بشه و قبل از این شده، خیلی شیل رو قابل درکتر میکنه. ترسش رو، خشمش رو، حرصش رو. این حجم از فورشدویی که میس کردم ناراحتم میکنه.
میدونم الان فحش میخورم که پشت سر هم دارم برای این مانگا و مخصوصا این سری داستانش ریویو می نویسم... ولی باور کنید ارزشش رو داره! برای من داره! :دی این جلد هم مثل جلد قبلی همون هیجان و اکشن و اتفاق های غیر منتظره رو داره! نقاشی ها هم که عالی!کلا همه چیز عالیه! و واقعا مانگاکا کارش حرف نداره! اینو از همون سری "جک د ریپر" فهمیدم! که از حقایق دنیای واقعی با تغییر و تحول بسیار (!!) تو مانگای خودش استفاده میکنه و تونسته با هیولای فرانکنشتاین و تایتانیک کردن کشتی و فرد پشت این قضایا بهترین چیزی رو خلق کنه که من تا به حال خوندم (از بین مانگاها). یعنی هیجان و اکشن به حدی زیاد بود که من هر صفحه میرفتم جلوتر به تعداد "ف*ک" گفتن هام هی افزوده میشد. و دقیقا هم با این قیافه ":|". جنگ بین دو شینیگامی و یک شینیگامی سابق و یک شیطان. خدای من. اون لحظه داشتم به دوستم میگفتم اگه دیدی من نیست شدم بدون سکته کردم از دست این! :دی
و تا یادم نرفته... اون اوایل جلد که داستان الیزابت بود... واقعا عالی بود. واقعا الیزابت رو تحسین میکنم. و بعد از گرل یکی از شخصیت های محبوبم شده!
و خب بعد از اینکه یه اتفاق غیر منتظره ی دیگه اتفاق میفته و شاهد چیزی که بر سیل و سباستین گذشته میشم نمیدونستم باید بخندم یا گریه کنم؟ نه واقعاً؟ خیلی غ�� انگیز بود. و در عین حال کیوت و این حرفا. :دی
ریویم تموم شد... ولی سه تا عکس دارم که باید باهاتون در میون بذارم :دی عکس ها رو میتونید توی وبلاگم ببینید :دی http://theunfortunate.blogfa.com/
Hay tantos guiños a cosas que en la primera lectura, hace ya AÑOS, no me había dado cuenta. Y ahora, con esta relectura, no puedo creer lo ciego que fui. Increíble.
En fin, un tomo asombroso. De los mejores (y con la mejor portada).
Now we get a little backstory about Elizabeth in the first half of the story. We can tell how much she does feel for Ciel, but it still comes off as an unhealthy obsession. I almost feel sorry for her, because she fears becoming too strong of a woman, one who Ciel would be afraid of and would not need a man to protect her. I hope as more volumes come out that her characters evolves and learns she can be strong on her own, but also be a good partner to someone without acting like dead weight.
Also there was some epic fight scenes in this one and we learn a little bit about what it was like when Sebastian first became Ciel's butler. Very interesting stuff here everyone!
I love seeing Sebastian's past but the Grim Reapers were stupid not realizing it's a Scythe. I mean I was like duh isn't obvious. But I love seeing Sebastian angry, it's hilarious.
Superb cover, featuring Elizabeth the formerly hidden warrior with her sword. The always-overjoyed, immature Lizzie has embraced her true self when faced to save her fiancé Ciel's life. Ciel embraces the real, strong, Elizabeth, to her great relief.
The zombie/Titanic storyline ends. In a blockbuster surprise, the true story of how Ciel and Sebastian, the demon butler, met and made a covenant is revealed.
A third surprise Grim Reaper with the Ultimate Deathscythe makes an appearance.
Second reading 10/5/15, 4 stars
Rereading volumes 11-17, prior to the new to me vol. 18, 19 & 20, as the library will only send in ten book sets.
It's been great fun to reread and refresh my memory. I've noticed little things I missed or had forgotten. As fabulous as the story and artwork is, the Translation Notes, Author's Notes, Downstairs with Black Butler, and the back cover, which feature a quick brainstorming-a-possible-storyline with pictures is very entertaining as well.
Vol. 13's Downstairs with Black Butler, Yana reflects on her earlier volumes, and reveals her surprising beginnings as a manga author: "I'd never studied drawing exclusively or went to a pro manga school. My high school was an ordinary school."
Yana says she gets requests "like, please teach me how to draw handsome men." Yana's replies, "I'm still drawing the main character's face by trial and error, people! But I'd like to know how to do that too!"
Yana says "I'd never drawn an original manga until I sent my work to the Square Enix Manga Contest." One of her earliest works a publisher was going to fit into space in a magazine was almost cancelled, as Yana, in her inexperience, had drawn in "the gutter margins" (the part of the pages that, when bound, are not visible. The publisher scolded her, saying it was just common sense, and told her she should at least read a book about drawing manga. Yana shows her embarrassment and how flustered she was in her artwork accompanying this info. She did manage to redraw her story, avoiding the gutter margins, just in time.
Yana confiding this information to her readers touched my heart. With her amazing talents, it would be easy to assume she had been drawing and telling stories since childhood, as gifted as she is. That she reveals her inexperience and early rocky road with manga, makes me feel more affectionate and closer to her.
As I said in one Black Butler review, for the question "Which author would you most like to have dinner with?" -- I've never been able to come up with any author. Favorites, yes, but to have dinner with? Yana is absolutely an author I'd love to have dinner with. I heart Yana.
With Undertaker becoming a bad ass, the series officially don't have any hero. All are anti-heroes or villains, and the 'legendary shinigami' I knew in the anime version...vanished :(
But still, Undertaker will always be my most favorite character (sorry, Professor Michaelis, you're number two now :p), especially when he reveals his shinigami eyes and saying to his juniors "all shinigamis are near-sighted--certain things can only be seen with other than your own eyes" thing.
Despite of his viciousness, he's a genius; no one in Black Butler's gonna have a thought about modifying cinematic record, or saying, "All living beings instinctively try to fill up whatever they lack. If your body gets wounded, it will close it up. If the spirit feels lonely, one will seek others in order to fill this emptiness. That's why they also instinctively seek what they lack. In order to find a 'soul', they will try and open up the bodies of the living."
Or disarming two powerful shinigamis and one talented demon all at once. Undertaker. Is. Definitely. Powerful.
I would love to have a butler like this one...... but I'm not sure I would like to pay the price.
This issue gives a much better insight into the butler and his attachment to his master, as well as giving us a follow up to the Earl of Phantomhive's fiancee and the introduction to her secret skills that are disparate to her femininity and childishness.
The story absolutely packs a punch! And to make matters worse, some people are not who they appear to be and are definitely going to make things difficult.
Anyhoo onto the story I'm loving the Campania (read - Titanic) arc and the reanimated corpses. I love Lady Midford and what she was wearing and I want to be her when I grow up. I love Sebastian. Generally I just love this book.
Ce tome était tout aussi drôle que le précédent surtout la partie avec le vicomte de Druitt, ça fait plaisir d'avoir deux bons tomes d'affilés, très intéressant et où Ciel n'est pas insupportable. Biensûr les 5étoiles sont là grâce notamment à Undertaker qui a juste été pour moi le meilleur perso de ce tome ! On s'arrête ici sur le passé de Ciel et comment il a rencontré Sébastian et la fin nous donne très envie de lire la suite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Lizzie is soooooooo freakin' cool!!! She's the best in sword fighting! She kept it a secret to Ciel cause back when they were kids, Ciel said that Lizzie's mom is scary and that cause she knows how to use the sword. Lizzie kept it cause it's not CUTE for girls to do those things. But in my opinion, it's totally CUTE and COOL!
¡Lloré como loca con este tomo! Es que ese inicio es súper emotivo, olvidemos lo malo que ha hecho Elizabeth en los últimos capítulos y concentrémonos en que ella solo quiere ser linda para Ciel, realmente lo ama, lo cuida y lo protege a costa de ella misma y eso es lo que me da tantísimo sentimiento. Ahora es uno de mis personajes favoritos sniff... En este tomo veremos como el, otora lujoso, trasatlántico Campania se ha convertido en una trampa para los vivos y un festín para los muertos, la verdad es que no me terminaban de convencer los zombies en una historia como Black Butler pero con este tomo Yana me calló toca la bocota XD
"...¿De qué están hechas las niñas? De azúcar, especias y cosas lindas. Esos son los ingredientes que forman a las niñas. Poesía en vez de filosofía; bordado en vez de cocina; baile en vez de ajedrez. Ser un ángel inocente, grácil y elegante. Así es como deben crecer las niñas del país de las rosas...Yo también pensaba igual...Sin embargo...Yo era diferente de las demás niñas en un detalle fundamental..."
Momentos para fangirlear: -El flashback del inicio, es que leerlo es volver a sentir un nudito en la garganta! T_T -¡Los ojos de Undertaker! ¡Omg! Vamos que ya me lo esperaba pero...¡OMG! XD -Al fin tenemos una explicación a detalle del trabajo de los shinigamis y de como "recolectan". -Ahora comprendo de donde surgió el término de "Muñecos Grotescos" y este dato es trascendental para el futuro de la historia... -AMO totalmente el diseño de la Guadaña de Undertaker, es preciosa. -Al fin un vistazo de la primera vez que Sebastian y Ciel se encuentran...
"...Mis zapatillas de tacón bajo. Las enseñanzas de mi madre. La espada para protegerte.Esos son...Los ingredientes de los que estoy hecha ahora..."
Ciel has managed to get a reluctant Lizzie and her family to leave the doomed Campagnia by the sneakiest of means. This leaves the Queen’s guard dog and his devil of a butler to uncover the true mastermind behind the zombie attacks, along with one of the Undertaker’s biggest secrets. Any actions Ciel and Sebastian take are countered by the Grim Reapers Grell Sutcliffe and Ronald Knox, whom have plans of their own for the mastermind. Conflict is inevitable, but whom will emerge victorious?
The Undertaker moved from a passive, sinister, eccentric, yet helpful role to a more active and adverserial one without losing any of his enigmatic wisdom, tempered by madness. Grell exposed an additional layer of depth in his moral outrage over the situation (despite having done some morally outrageous things himself in the past). More of Sebastian and Ciel’s background came to light, answering questions posed by the overall arc of the ongoing story, strengthening their bond. This was balanced out by the stunning action sequences involving Sebastian, the Undertaker, and the Reapers. For an exciting story, which answered some of the mysteries which has been building up, depicted in a darkly attractive art style, this gets four stars.