Black Butler, Vol. 30

黒執事 [Kuroshitsuji] #30

by Yana Toboso

While searching for Ran-Mao, Mey-Rin’s successfully uncovered the covert operation in Baron Heathfield’s manor—but an unforeseen hurdle stands in the way of a job well done. A tantalizing offer of employment has Mey-Rin reflecting on her own blood-soaked history that binds her to the former Earl Phantomhive…Will she remain the master’s devoted servant, or will she abandon her post for good…?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Comics, Graphic Novels, Historical, Young Adult, Historical Fiction

178 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 2020

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Victoria ✮⋆˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I read this series as the chapters come out and add them as they get published)

The fact we're at volume 30?? That's insane! I love this series so much and the current arc is just *chefs kiss* I love it so much

[Elizabeth Aguilar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked learning more about Mey-rin's background but it felt kind of awkward making 99% of the volume that. I even forgot what the last volume was about until the last few pages since it's been almost a year since I read it.

[Mahdiye HajiHosseini · Rating 5 out of 5]

اپدیت ۱۰ شهریور ۴۰۰-
خوب من عاشق بک استوریم و این جلد بک استوری می‌رین رو برامون گفت که یکی از شخصیتای محبوب منه.
اصلا می‌رین بدون عینک چند درجه ارت کلی جلد رو بهتر میکنه که این دفعه کلیشم داشتیم.
اماااااا متاسفانه باز هم انگوئینگ دارم میشم چپترا رو، و این جلدم اخرین جلد منتشر شده‌است و چپترها یه ماهه‌ان و به شدت کم حجم شدن جدیدا و ناراحتم چون قطعا دوباره یادم خواهد رفت و باید برگردم بخونم احتمالا باز از اینجا به بعد رو.
بیشتر از چهار سال این مانگا رو انگوئینگ بودم، کلی اتفاق برام افتاد و حالا این چهار سال با خوندن دوباره‌اش هم برام یاداوری شد و از این نظر خوشحالم چون حتی تجربه بهتری از دفعات اولی که خوندم داشت.
انگوئینگ شدن سریالی های ماهانه ولی واقعا عذابه. ⁦ಥ‿ಥ⁩

[Phantomº · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably going to be from 156 up to chapter 163~

Now I realise how much I have missed Black Butler. Seeing Sebastian and Finny in the garden casually talking was so nostalgic to the early days of the manga. Next will be spoilers for chapters 160-163 because 156-159 are mentioned in my previous review because I was reading them as they were released individually.

ch.160: Failed assassination attempt, but the failure was accidental?
ch.161: Sebastian didn't sense the sniper, running Sebastian panel is so gorgeous, Yana's art especially on Sebastian is so uh yes , "Perhaps it's because the eccentric master never bothers to look for anyone" OH SEBASTIAN I HAVE MISSED YOU. And here we see how Mey Rin entered the Phantomhive household.
ch.162: WHOLESOME WHOLESOME WHOLESOME So warm...
ch.163: "Welcome to the House of Phantomhive." OK FINNY TACKLING SEBASTIAN AT FULL STRENGTH WHILE CRYING BECAUSE HE BROKE ANOTHER SHOVEL *punches pillow* why am I getting emotional over this...;-; Finnian becoming friends with Mey Rin, he is such a sunshine!


This volume is full of backstory, a breath from the current arc and its darkness. We get to see how the servants of the Phantomhive manor came to be. Also, the greatly advanced art illustrating the past creates a connection between the early volumes to the evolution of today.

[TheBookishHobbit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning about Mey-Rin, but I also felt like this was a little bit of filler too. Think her backstory could have been condensed and the mini-arc finished in this volume rather than waiting on the next one. Oh well, I'm looking forward to future volumes!

[Nott · Rating 5 out of 5]

люблю флешбеки, в них Себастьян еще улыбается

[**Sognatrice di libri** · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ancora una volta ho trovato questo volume molto bello però la serie sta diventando davvero lunga.

[Lena , süße Maus · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was, unfortunately, very fun and good

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trop trop trop cool d'avoir le passé de May Linn, quelle boss !!!

[Rachel Thoen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Le passé de May Linn est enfin révélé dans son entièreté 💛

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series Info/Source: This is the 30th volume in the Black Butler series. I bought this.

Thoughts: This volume doesn’t really progress the main story we left in volume 29. Instead, it goes back to show us how Mey-Ren came to work for Earl Phantomhive. It was well done and I really enjoyed the back story. At this point though I am starting to forget where we were in the main story and will have to go back and re-read the previous couple volumes to refresh my memory before Vol 31 releases.

As with previous volumes the artwork is amazing and I love the characters. There is a lot of humor in here and a lot of awesome “Sebastian in action” scenes.

My Summary (5/5): Overall this continues to be one of my favorite manga series. I love the beautiful artwork, the amazing characters, and the intriguing supernatural elements. This look back at Mey-Ren’s past was well done and I enjoyed it. I can’t wait to jump back to the main storyline in volume 31!

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Amazing Mai Lin story. Liked it a lot!

[Elmo Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was... A quick read. Entertaining as always.

[Ash(eaux)]

Mey-Rin u mean so much to me

[KSena · Rating 5 out of 5]

And now I’ve gotten to volume 30. Can’t believe I’ve kept it up for this long. But on the other hand Toboso is pretty smart. Every volume ends on a cliffhanger, so you have this feeling, I HAVE TO SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING!

Anyway, this volume continues on with the dark storyline. Our main character, Fake Ciel, keeps it up. His loyal thrustiest servants are sent out to various places to cut off the flow of blood to undead Ciel, because apparently he needs infusions of blood to keep going. Courtesy of the grim reaper Undertaker.

Many places are suspicious for being blood collection places. So Fake Ciel sends out his people to investigate. And we started to follow Mey-Rin and Ran-Mao in the last volume.

Here though most of the story is a flashback. To where the lovely Mey-Rin comes from. And excuse me while I sob a bit. That is not a nice childhood she had for sure. Poor poor girl. She’s being abused for her incredible eyesight her entire life. She can see incredibly far off, but is extremely nearsighted instead. Hence she’s clumsy when trying to do tasks close up to her, but a damn superhero when acting a sniper.

I really felt sorry for her reading about her childhood. I didn’t really recognize her at first, since she lived as a boy all the time until she ended up at Fake Ciel’s household. Safer, one would assume, considering where and how she lived.

I guess some readers don't like flashbacks since it drags out the story-line, but I find them interesting. Fake Ciel’s loyal servants are definitely an interesting bunch!

One more, and then I have to wait!

[Jaye Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sebastian's Black Widow pose on the cover is 👌👌👌.

This entire volume is Mey-Rin origin story and when she started working at the Phantomhive manor and it was sooo good. I feel like it could have been condensed a bit though because it doesn't even finish the arc the last volume left off on.

But I am obsessed honestly. Female sharpshooter assassin in Victorian era London that fails an assassination attempt and then gets hired by the one she was sent to kill??? Fascinating and so cool, 10/10 no notes.

All the domestic ass scenes of Sebastian in the manor like he was extra father this time, especially with Finny.😭 The cutest shit ever when Finny tackles him because he accidentally broke another shovel and Sebastian scolds him for jumping at him at full strength as that could break a regular person's spine.

Always loves displays of Sebastian being absurdly badass like him casually deflecting a sniper bullet he didn't know was even coming until it was there and then sprinting like a devil from hell at said sniper as she shoots at him.

I appreciate the tailor not being a fucking weirdo freak this time too like she was so nice and gentle to Mey-Rin.🥺 Utterly badass to learn her corsets are made of bulletproof material.

I love Mey-Rin's loyalty and the refusal to work for a man who deceives and exploits women like that's mother.

[María Amparo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiendo a puntual alto esta serie porque me he encariñado con los personajes y, no siempre, también me gustan los golpes de efecto de la autora. La historia de Mai Lin es un forma de alargar el chicle, y desde luego no es el colmo de lo original, pero me lo he pasado muy bien y no soy ajena a la simpatía de la autora por no separar a la mujer de acción de la imagen de la feminidad más convencional.... Sus personajes femeninos siempre sorprenden por sus habilidades precisamente por los estereotipos que todavía tenemos asociados a lo "femenino", a lo que puede o no puede hacer una mujer y a qué debe renunciar si quiere que se la tomen en serio.
Mai Lin empieza su historia disfrazada de muchacho. No es por comodidad, ni por exigir respeto, pues no lo tiene ni un ratero callejero lo va recibir de las Triadas. Es un disfraz de autodefensa. Si como muchacho lo tenía difícil, como mujer no tendría ni la más remota posibilidad, incluso con su habilidad casi sobrenatural-

[Magical_Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved getting to learn more about Mey-Rin and her back story. It has been a long time since I've enjoyed a Black Butler volume this much. The cliffhanger and sneak peak at the end has left me wanting the next volume to come out soon. I hope a release date for volume 31 will be announced soon.

[Worm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I'm a big Mey-Rin fan now. 😭

I was always wondering how she and Baldo fit in to the mansion (since we've heard about Finny but not so much about the rest of the servants). And as much as I love her current design I also love her other hairstyles- though I love the consistency of her being a klutz.

[Nunya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that I love the backstory volumes!

[★julia✿ · Rating 5 out of 5]

jakim nikt sie nie skapnal w tym vhinskim cxyms ze ona to ona..
ale anyway mega fajne backstory i jest sliczna i nie zdradza !!
a lau zaliczyl straszny glow down w warkoczyku wygladal lepiej.

[Bailey Salinas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE MEY-RIN PEAK CINEMA

[Amber Scaife · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume gives us the background story of how Mey-Rin joined the Phantomhive staff. I really enjoyed this one, since she’s one of my favorite characters.

[Hennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh finally a great volume!!!

[Nicki Markus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally volume 30 is here. I feel like I have been waiting for it forever. Now to settle in for what will, doubtless, be another long wait for volume 31.

[Roan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main points of the volume:
-Mey Rin's whole backstory
-Her decision for Jane's offer, back to the present

Chapter overviews:
-In chapter 157, we see how Mey Rin lived in poverty as an orphan in the streets of London. She and her friends relied on her eyesight to steal people's riches to survive.
-In chapter 158, one day their plan didn't work out and Mey Rin shot a lady's ear. Her husband decided to get revenge on the one who hurt her and the two boys tell the men that it was Mey Rin's doing. The men, who are part of a mafia, made her shoot down another earring to be spared and she succeeded but the two boys were mercilessly killed. She was brought into the mafia, but that event scarred her.
-In chapter 159, ten years after that event, she became known as Owl and was thought to be a boy. She's ordered to kill Earl Phantomhive with a limited description of what he looks like. This is how they meet, it's interesting!
-In chapter 160, she stays outside the Phantomhive manor for a week, studying the details and eventually finds a time to shoot. The moment she does, Sebastian uses a teapot to prevent it hitting Ciel, so Owl had failed her mission. She scampers away, knowing that she'll either be killed by the manor's guards or by the mafia for the failed assassination attempt.
-In chapter 161, Sebastian captures Owl and brings her back to the manor to suggest hiring her as a maid, to her and Ciel's surprise. Sebastian and Ciel find out that she's female, so she's suited to the job.
-In chapter 162, we find out that there are three unique conditions for hiring a servant to the Phantomhive manor and Owl fits all of them. Her tummy growls loudly so they have a meal and at first, Owl is suspicious but soon devours the food, crying with joy.
-In chapter 163, Mey Rin accepts the offer to work at the manor and settles in. She meets Finny and their first interactions are so cute. He says, "Then starting today, we'll kill lots and lots of young master's enemies together!" hahaha, it's hilariously morbid.
-In chapter 164, Mey Rin has a bath and sleeps in a bed and it's so lovely. She meets Nina Hopkins who tailors her clothes. Oooh she makes bulletproof corsets! Nina is actually so sweet here, I love her. Mey Rin looks lovely in her new look and this way she can leave her past behind!
-In chapter 165, Mey Rin gets accustomed to working as a maid. Lau and Ciel meet for the first time and it's interesting. Lau used to have long hair! That's cool.
-In chapter 166, we come back to the present moment after Mey Rin reminisces her past and rejects Jane's offer, stating she could never work for someone who exploits women, no matter the cost!

Personal thoughts
I loved this whole story and reading about Mey Rin's backstory. I undertstand her better now and she's really cool! The art is incredible and Yana Toboso has improved wonderfully since the beginning of the manga.

[Doc · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to hire a Phantomhive Maid

After discovering the fate of Ran-Mao, Mey-Rin reflects on her past leading to make a decision on whether to abandon her loyalty to her allies and join the villains who are sacrificing innocents for their blood or to tell her opponent who is not standing far away from her, also with a gun drawn, where to shove her treacherous offer. Of course if you are a Mey-Rin fan this is the volume for you as we see what motivated her to be a badass at times and a klutz in other moments. However the 30th volume of the series does not actually advance the actual story much being almost entirely set in Mey-Rin's past so may not appeal to others biting at the bit to see the story move on.

My one regret for this series is we are basically caught up on it so it takes some time for a new volume to be not only created but compiled into a book. Certainly I can get the chapters as they are being released in Japan thanks to Yen Press selling them as they are released and translated in electronic formats but that is not my cup of tea so it is a waiting game for me. Honestly it would be nice to see a summery of previous events in the series and characters considering it is about a year before we have enough for each new volume more or less.

[K.S. Trenten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meyrin has a few suprises in her past which come to the panels of this volume, telling the tale of whom she was, how she crossed the path of the Earl Phantomhive and Sebastian, and how she ended up with them. All of this was beautifully fleshed along with a character who’s often been portrayed as goofy, making me like her more than I ever have. The first meeting between Ciel and Lau was shown in all its flirty fun with a bit of an edge. Meyrin’s reaction to Lau was quite intriguing. The last panel showed a side of her perhaps not even she realized she possessed, a side which made me want to cheer.

This was a bit of a departure from other volumes, spotlighting Meyrin as the main character with Ciel and Sebastian as side characters, but it played beautifully into the overall arc of Sebastian’s seduction, corruption, and curious empowerment he offers not only Ciel, but Ciel’s entire staff. This book left me wondering if we’ll have future revelations about the other servants in future volumes. Exquisitely drawn, beautifully balancing action, plot, and character development in keeeping with the rest of the series.

[Kastie Pavlik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd completely forgotten where we are in the main story, and even after reading this, I'm still going to have to look at volume 29 as a refresher. That said, Mey-Rin's backstory was a pleasant break to give us an entire story in one volume. No mysteries or teasers or anything like that. Just this one person's story. But as I was reading it, I kept wondering how it would align with the origin of her glasses as it was given to us previously. I don't think it's perfect but it does a good enough job for how the series has evolved over time. My only real gripe is that they spend so much time about how she can't see close up but then when it comes down to the final pages, with a close up battle, she doesn't have her glasses on. I'm certain it's an artistic thing so we get the expression of her eyes but it makes no sense based on the story we were just told. That's not to say that she wouldn't be skilled enough to hit something at close range even if it's a blur, but still...🤔

[Tomo in Booksland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Butler est mon manga préféré et de loin donc je manque totalement de partialité à chaque nouveau tome qui sort et que je lis. Celui-ci n'est pas un coup de cœur, mais ça reste un tome incroyable.
Ce livre revient sur le passé de May-Linn, la femme de chambre de Ciel Phantomhive, son enfance et comment elle est rentrée au service de ce dernier. Le but de ce tome est d'expliquer pourquoi elle est fidèle à son maître et qu'elle ne va pas accepter la proposition de changer de camp qu'on lui a faite dans le tome 29.
C'est simple, les tomes de Black Butler sont rangés avec moi dans deux catégories, ceux qui construisent l'arc narratif qui sont généralement des coups de cœur. Et ceux qui sont des tomes de transition ou le passé de personnages secondaires. Ils restent très bons mais j'ai moins le sentiment d'avancer. Vous l'avez compris ce tome est dans la deuxième catégorie.
Ce tome est très prenant et je retrouve bien le charme de Black Butler c’est mélangé l’horreur, la dureté de la vie, la violence extrême… Et le côté léger et l’humour qui fonctionne toujours. J’ai donc pu retrouver l’ambiance que j’affectionne tout particulièrement.
En plus l’histoire de May-Linn était intéressante, mais surtout elle se lit toute seule, je n’ai eu aucun mal à le lire, je l’ai lu d’une traite.
Si vous aimez les mangas, que vous n'avez pas peur de lire des sujets difficiles et que les scènes violentes ne vous font pas peur je vous recommande chaudement Black Butler.