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Blackguard #1
ブラックガルド 1
『デビルズライン』の花田陵が描く
戦慄と哀切が渦巻く、ダーク《バトル》ファンタジー、開幕!
突如現れた化け物「ショウジョウ」に、世界は蹂躙されていた。
凶暴な力で人に牙をむき、少しでもショウジョウに傷つけられた者は
あるウイルスに感染し同じショウジョウとして蘇ってしまう。
人々は「空中都市」を作り、「ガルド」と呼ばれる討伐部隊を組織して
ショウジョウに対抗していた。
そんな中、死をまったく恐れることもなくショウジョウの群れに
突入し、「黒刀」によって殲滅する、一人の若者が現れる。
南七雄ーー通称ブラックガルド。彼はなぜ死を望んでいるのか。
戦慄と哀切が渦巻く、ダーク《バトル》ファンタジー、開幕!
突如現れた化け物「ショウジョウ」に、世界は蹂躙されていた。
凶暴な力で人に牙をむき、少しでもショウジョウに傷つけられた者は
あるウイルスに感染し同じショウジョウとして蘇ってしまう。
人々は「空中都市」を作り、「ガルド」と呼ばれる討伐部隊を組織して
ショウジョウに対抗していた。
そんな中、死をまったく恐れることもなくショウジョウの群れに
突入し、「黒刀」によって殲滅する、一人の若者が現れる。
南七雄ーー通称ブラックガルド。彼はなぜ死を望んでいるのか。
208 pages, Paperback
First published February 21, 2020
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143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
May 12, 2022
Personal Ratings : 4
A new series from the author of Devils' Line, Vol. 1 , and it was not bad.
Plot : 4/5
Drawing style : 2/5
Characters : 4/5
Overall storyline : 3/5.
I would say, for the first volume of the manga, it started just enough to attract attraction to readers to continue the series.
Short Summary
Set in a dystopian world where a deadly virus had invaded Earth and turned humans into Shojos; monkey-like-creatures who eats humans and infect others too, the Reserve Unit Nanao Minami is one of the most famous guards in town. Known for his suicidal ideation and famous sword skills, Minami pairs up with Miyaji and a study of his character is involved. A story that looks normal on the surface, but its quite deep.
Personal Thoughts
Whilst I didn't like the drawing style as much, the plot was actually not bad. It has the vibes of Osamu Dazai who has a suicide ideation but is somehow just a naive person when his character is studied. Volume 1 served an introduction of characters and the current situation of what had happened to the world. It had the vibes of Psychopath but with more action as it handles with a virus that went rampant, in which turned humans into monsters. There is a philosophical vibes to it, and I honestly don't mind it. Would definitely pick up the second volume as I'm curious to see how Minami's character will grow, and I suspect that it will be a good one.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for this e-copy of this manga!
A new series from the author of Devils' Line, Vol. 1 , and it was not bad.
Plot : 4/5
Drawing style : 2/5
Characters : 4/5
Overall storyline : 3/5.
I would say, for the first volume of the manga, it started just enough to attract attraction to readers to continue the series.
Short Summary
Set in a dystopian world where a deadly virus had invaded Earth and turned humans into Shojos; monkey-like-creatures who eats humans and infect others too, the Reserve Unit Nanao Minami is one of the most famous guards in town. Known for his suicidal ideation and famous sword skills, Minami pairs up with Miyaji and a study of his character is involved. A story that looks normal on the surface, but its quite deep.
Personal Thoughts
Whilst I didn't like the drawing style as much, the plot was actually not bad. It has the vibes of Osamu Dazai who has a suicide ideation but is somehow just a naive person when his character is studied. Volume 1 served an introduction of characters and the current situation of what had happened to the world. It had the vibes of Psychopath but with more action as it handles with a virus that went rampant, in which turned humans into monsters. There is a philosophical vibes to it, and I honestly don't mind it. Would definitely pick up the second volume as I'm curious to see how Minami's character will grow, and I suspect that it will be a good one.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for this e-copy of this manga!
February 8, 2022
[Content warning - LOTS of suicide talk]
The shojo have invaded and in this case that term refers to an infectious space virus that wants to do more than get senpai to notice them. No, this shojo infects and mutates humans and one man, the titular Blackja… sorry… Blackguard, dares to fight them with a sword instead of a gun and if that sounds like a guy with a death wish, well, you might be onto something there…
What in the sweet mercy was that? I will give this manga this much - for something that crams in a lot of ideas and exposition in its first volume, it is all very clearly presented and easy to follow. At no point did I utter a ‘wha?’ or a ‘huh?’ when it came to what was being conveyed (the content is a whole other matter).
And when your story is about a Blackjack-looking dude (no, seriously, that has to be an homage!) who wants to die but can’t kill himself fighting against a bunch of white monkeys who keep evolving that were caused by a virus from an alien planet, you kind of want that clarity.
The art is… not to my own tastes, which is my polite voice calling it a touch ugly. It gets the job done surprisingly well at times - the moulded suits the guys wear for combat is pretty neatly applied and the initial appearance of Minami, our titular hero, is a series of action flashes that look for all the world like a set of freeze frames. Nice effect.
Because he’s too damn good yet too damn suicidal, Minami gets a partner, the rather brash Miyaji. The dynamic between the two is some of the strongest stuff in the book, as Miyaji quickly turns into Minami’s caretaker. When Miyaji introduces the concept of food to Minami over what essentially amounts to a date (these two have definite chemistry), it’s a lot of fun.
The other characters aren’t quite so great, with one psychopath bearing a very odd grudge that leads to him maintaining plausible deniability while being a complete nutter. He’s all too good at messing with Minami’s head, but ludicrously over the top.
There’s also a very young graduate who wants to join Minami’s one-man show that is swiftly growing far beyond that definition. She has the best answer to Minami’s tortured issues surrounding death, although the choice to have these two hold hands given their ages is a whole other thing (I’m hoping for a mentor/student thing but it’s manga, so who the heck knows).
The action is serviceable, if bland, not helped by some wonky guns. For something where limbs and heads are flying, Gantz and Battle Royale have nothing nothing to fear in the gore department.
There’s a definite war of viewpoints between Miyaji’s attempt to find what’s still good in this ruined world versus Minami’s suicidal tendencies, which you can see propped up by the fact that this world is clearly hanging on by a thread and the humans are essentially outclassed. It’s a decent enough idea.
Frankly, this is a pretty basic shonen story and not much else. It gets its points across and establishes a credible threat and some boo-hiss villains and a talking cat. There doesn’t seem to be an overarching plot per se, mind, and constant talk of suicide isn’t going to be fun for most people.
3 stars - not the high end kind of 3 stars, more the ‘this is good enough’ sort of thing. It didn’t bore me and it was certainly told very well, but I don’t know if I care enough about the actual content to read another volume.
The shojo have invaded and in this case that term refers to an infectious space virus that wants to do more than get senpai to notice them. No, this shojo infects and mutates humans and one man, the titular Blackja… sorry… Blackguard, dares to fight them with a sword instead of a gun and if that sounds like a guy with a death wish, well, you might be onto something there…
What in the sweet mercy was that? I will give this manga this much - for something that crams in a lot of ideas and exposition in its first volume, it is all very clearly presented and easy to follow. At no point did I utter a ‘wha?’ or a ‘huh?’ when it came to what was being conveyed (the content is a whole other matter).
And when your story is about a Blackjack-looking dude (no, seriously, that has to be an homage!) who wants to die but can’t kill himself fighting against a bunch of white monkeys who keep evolving that were caused by a virus from an alien planet, you kind of want that clarity.
The art is… not to my own tastes, which is my polite voice calling it a touch ugly. It gets the job done surprisingly well at times - the moulded suits the guys wear for combat is pretty neatly applied and the initial appearance of Minami, our titular hero, is a series of action flashes that look for all the world like a set of freeze frames. Nice effect.
Because he’s too damn good yet too damn suicidal, Minami gets a partner, the rather brash Miyaji. The dynamic between the two is some of the strongest stuff in the book, as Miyaji quickly turns into Minami’s caretaker. When Miyaji introduces the concept of food to Minami over what essentially amounts to a date (these two have definite chemistry), it’s a lot of fun.
The other characters aren’t quite so great, with one psychopath bearing a very odd grudge that leads to him maintaining plausible deniability while being a complete nutter. He’s all too good at messing with Minami’s head, but ludicrously over the top.
There’s also a very young graduate who wants to join Minami’s one-man show that is swiftly growing far beyond that definition. She has the best answer to Minami’s tortured issues surrounding death, although the choice to have these two hold hands given their ages is a whole other thing (I’m hoping for a mentor/student thing but it’s manga, so who the heck knows).
The action is serviceable, if bland, not helped by some wonky guns. For something where limbs and heads are flying, Gantz and Battle Royale have nothing nothing to fear in the gore department.
There’s a definite war of viewpoints between Miyaji’s attempt to find what’s still good in this ruined world versus Minami’s suicidal tendencies, which you can see propped up by the fact that this world is clearly hanging on by a thread and the humans are essentially outclassed. It’s a decent enough idea.
Frankly, this is a pretty basic shonen story and not much else. It gets its points across and establishes a credible threat and some boo-hiss villains and a talking cat. There doesn’t seem to be an overarching plot per se, mind, and constant talk of suicide isn’t going to be fun for most people.
3 stars - not the high end kind of 3 stars, more the ‘this is good enough’ sort of thing. It didn’t bore me and it was certainly told very well, but I don’t know if I care enough about the actual content to read another volume.
May 28, 2022
Rating: 4.25 leaves out of 5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 3/5
Story: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre:Scifi
Type: Manga
Worth?: Yes!
TW: Suicidal thoughts
First want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review! I stepped outside of my comfort zone and wasn't disappointed. At first I was greatly concerned I wouldn't like it because of the art style but by the end it wasn't an issue and the story. Ah, how I love the story. I am so excited for volume 2. If you like the future, viruses, fighting scenes, and more than this is for you. I even have a ship though there isn't really romance in here. Lol.
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 3/5
Story: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre:Scifi
Type: Manga
Worth?: Yes!
TW: Suicidal thoughts
First want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review! I stepped outside of my comfort zone and wasn't disappointed. At first I was greatly concerned I wouldn't like it because of the art style but by the end it wasn't an issue and the story. Ah, how I love the story. I am so excited for volume 2. If you like the future, viruses, fighting scenes, and more than this is for you. I even have a ship though there isn't really romance in here. Lol.
May 3, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Blackguard is a science fiction, dystopian story from the creator of Devils Line.
A mist has rolled in, and with it comes crazed mutants that can turn you with just a bite. It is up to the famous Blackguard and his organisation to kill these mutants and save people.
As a big fan of Devils Line I was looking forward to this one quite a lot. In the beginning the characters felt very flat, but they gained some meat on their bones as the story progressed.
Perfect for fans of Ryo Hanada's earlier works and for poeple who are looking for a cool sci-fi manga.
Blackguard is a science fiction, dystopian story from the creator of Devils Line.
A mist has rolled in, and with it comes crazed mutants that can turn you with just a bite. It is up to the famous Blackguard and his organisation to kill these mutants and save people.
As a big fan of Devils Line I was looking forward to this one quite a lot. In the beginning the characters felt very flat, but they gained some meat on their bones as the story progressed.
Perfect for fans of Ryo Hanada's earlier works and for poeple who are looking for a cool sci-fi manga.
September 5, 2023
4.5 stars
WOW, this manga was action packed, straight away you jump right into action, and the mysteries keep coming. Can't wait to see where the author goes with this!
WOW, this manga was action packed, straight away you jump right into action, and the mysteries keep coming. Can't wait to see where the author goes with this!
September 17, 2024
Reread on 9/17/2024 before reading rest of series.
This was a manga I'd been eyeing for a long time that finally grabbed me enough to try for two reasons: it's by the same creator as Devil's Line, and it has unexpected LBGT rep.
The relationship between our death-seeking lead and his reluctant partner is certainly a draw, as the partner's simultaneous confusion and compassion towards the lead results in both humorous and moving moments. Minami may want to die, but Miyaji is determined first to show him what it is to live.
The art is not my favorite, although its sparsity of detail is often quite effective at conveying the horrors of some of the violence in this bizarre post-apocalyptic world.
There are definitely enough unanswered questions, and there is enough chemistry between the leads to make me want to read more.
This was a manga I'd been eyeing for a long time that finally grabbed me enough to try for two reasons: it's by the same creator as Devil's Line, and it has unexpected LBGT rep.
The relationship between our death-seeking lead and his reluctant partner is certainly a draw, as the partner's simultaneous confusion and compassion towards the lead results in both humorous and moving moments. Minami may want to die, but Miyaji is determined first to show him what it is to live.
The art is not my favorite, although its sparsity of detail is often quite effective at conveying the horrors of some of the violence in this bizarre post-apocalyptic world.
There are definitely enough unanswered questions, and there is enough chemistry between the leads to make me want to read more.
August 9, 2024
TW: Suicidal Ideation
Solid read! Ate this up in one sitting
Solid read! Ate this up in one sitting
June 19, 2022
4/5 stars
I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was an interesting, post-apocalyptic book! A virus turns people into monkey-like creatures when bitten. The remaining humans are doing their best to fight back, building sky cities and training Guards to fight these creatures.
The story focuses on one particular guard named Minami. He's insanely good at killing the creatures, but there's just one problem: he wants to die. He goes into each fight with no regard for his life. Obviously, this concerns the higher-ups as he's one of the best fighters they have, so they assign him a partner who is essentially there just to keep Minami from dying.
The story seems interesting so far. The art style isn't my favorite, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment. I like Minami, and I hope to see him grow as the story continues. This first volume spent a lot of time introducing the world and characters, and I'm curious to see where things will go from here. There are a lot of things about Minami in particular that remain a mystery from both the reader and even himself.
If you're into the dystopian genre and enjoy some psychological vibes, you'd probably like this series! I hope to pick up the next volume at some point!
Content: suicidal thoughts/talk, violence, maybe some swearing?
I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was an interesting, post-apocalyptic book! A virus turns people into monkey-like creatures when bitten. The remaining humans are doing their best to fight back, building sky cities and training Guards to fight these creatures.
The story focuses on one particular guard named Minami. He's insanely good at killing the creatures, but there's just one problem: he wants to die. He goes into each fight with no regard for his life. Obviously, this concerns the higher-ups as he's one of the best fighters they have, so they assign him a partner who is essentially there just to keep Minami from dying.
The story seems interesting so far. The art style isn't my favorite, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment. I like Minami, and I hope to see him grow as the story continues. This first volume spent a lot of time introducing the world and characters, and I'm curious to see where things will go from here. There are a lot of things about Minami in particular that remain a mystery from both the reader and even himself.
If you're into the dystopian genre and enjoy some psychological vibes, you'd probably like this series! I hope to pick up the next volume at some point!
Content: suicidal thoughts/talk, violence, maybe some swearing?
May 11, 2022
I like trying all sorts of new (to me) manga. Some are to my taste, some not so much. Sometimes I suspect that going in, sometimes I don't.
I will say that my affection for dystopian media pretty much begins and ends with X-Men's Days of Future Past.
So while this was definitely not my favorite read, it wasn't through any fault of its own. The harsh art style (not to my taste) suited the story (which was also harsh and not to my taste.)
Sci-fi and fantasy manga have it hardest because they have to balance world building with character development within a limited amount of pages. Blackguard did alright with that balance, though none of the characters really grabbed me. (Not their fault, this one is purely on the reader - me.)
So if you like dark dystopian, go for it. If you've read The Hunger Games and you're done now, maybe pass.
I will say that my affection for dystopian media pretty much begins and ends with X-Men's Days of Future Past.
So while this was definitely not my favorite read, it wasn't through any fault of its own. The harsh art style (not to my taste) suited the story (which was also harsh and not to my taste.)
Sci-fi and fantasy manga have it hardest because they have to balance world building with character development within a limited amount of pages. Blackguard did alright with that balance, though none of the characters really grabbed me. (Not their fault, this one is purely on the reader - me.)
So if you like dark dystopian, go for it. If you've read The Hunger Games and you're done now, maybe pass.
May 24, 2022
Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this manga to review!
This manga follows the Blackguard Nanao Minami, an elite fighter with a death wish who protects the other units of survivors as they battle against the alien mutant virus zombie-like Shoujou.
This manga comes from the creator of Devil's Line but is instead a near-future dystopian Tokyo psychological battle story. The special units must try to eradicate the Shoujou to be able to survive. Nanao Minami has psychological issues and there is a Suicide Warning at the beginning of this manga, which I think is appropriate. Chris is assigned to be his partner and minder to ensure his gung-ho nature doesn't get him killed.
The art style is not to my personal taste, as is the font chosen - it feels a bit lazy. However, in saying that it does seem to suit the genre of the story. The cover art work is quite pretty so don't be misled, it doesn't continue inside!
This manga follows the Blackguard Nanao Minami, an elite fighter with a death wish who protects the other units of survivors as they battle against the alien mutant virus zombie-like Shoujou.
This manga comes from the creator of Devil's Line but is instead a near-future dystopian Tokyo psychological battle story. The special units must try to eradicate the Shoujou to be able to survive. Nanao Minami has psychological issues and there is a Suicide Warning at the beginning of this manga, which I think is appropriate. Chris is assigned to be his partner and minder to ensure his gung-ho nature doesn't get him killed.
The art style is not to my personal taste, as is the font chosen - it feels a bit lazy. However, in saying that it does seem to suit the genre of the story. The cover art work is quite pretty so don't be misled, it doesn't continue inside!
May 20, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha, Vertical Comics, and Ryo Hanada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a zombie-esque storyline in a world where Shojo (monkey-like monsters) first appears forty years in the past. Their bite will transform their victim into one of them and there is no cure. This world has Units-groups of fighters seeking to take back the world and defend what is left of it. Unit 1 is special, as it has only one member: Minami.
While most Unit soldiers use guns to fight, Minami uses his sword. He will never run out of ammo and seems to not care to put his life in danger, seemingly even wanting to die. But why doesn't he just let the monsters kill him? Why does he fight with such finesse? Attempts to add a partner to Minami's unit only result in conflict, but someone has to make sure their best fighter doesn't die.
The art is okay, but not really my favorite style, though I do find it suits the particular genre well and offers a nice edge to the Shojo monsters. The story itself is excellent, an action-packed intrigue from start to finish.
This is a zombie-esque storyline in a world where Shojo (monkey-like monsters) first appears forty years in the past. Their bite will transform their victim into one of them and there is no cure. This world has Units-groups of fighters seeking to take back the world and defend what is left of it. Unit 1 is special, as it has only one member: Minami.
While most Unit soldiers use guns to fight, Minami uses his sword. He will never run out of ammo and seems to not care to put his life in danger, seemingly even wanting to die. But why doesn't he just let the monsters kill him? Why does he fight with such finesse? Attempts to add a partner to Minami's unit only result in conflict, but someone has to make sure their best fighter doesn't die.
The art is okay, but not really my favorite style, though I do find it suits the particular genre well and offers a nice edge to the Shojo monsters. The story itself is excellent, an action-packed intrigue from start to finish.
May 4, 2022
CW: suicide ideation. In fact, much of this book is about suicide ideation, because one of the main characters has a mental illness that causes it. That's the motivating factor for the other characters, because Minami is a super soldier in the fight against the shojo (as in the word for a mythical long-tailed ape) and if he dies, humanity may well be screwed. In some ways, this is a psychological study masquerading as a SF action story, becasue Minami's flat affect and suicidal thoughts drive the story more than a virus that transforms humans into monsters, although I suspect that eventually we'll get around to the idea that humans are plenty monstrous all on their own. It's interesting enough to be worth a second volume, but don't ignore that content warning - it really means it.
May 14, 2022
Blackguard is an interesting read, it’s not that I hated it or anything but rather I just wasn’t a fan. I could tell after the first chapter this wasn’t for me, and might be a series that only hits home with a handful of people.
The story starts with a team of I’m assuming solders losing the whole squad but 1 person, who is saved by BlackGuard, our suicidal main character who goes into battle hoping it’ll be his demise. All due to a chronic mental illness called Morbus Si.
This series was a miss with me, I’m sorry to say.
The story starts with a team of I’m assuming solders losing the whole squad but 1 person, who is saved by BlackGuard, our suicidal main character who goes into battle hoping it’ll be his demise. All due to a chronic mental illness called Morbus Si.
This series was a miss with me, I’m sorry to say.
June 6, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for a free review copy!
This was such a great first volume! I really like the premise (even though it's not anything new). I like the characters and the shojo are pretty interesting monsters. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes. Overall, not anything new but if you like the monster hunter/protecting the townspeople trope then you will definitely like this!
This was such a great first volume! I really like the premise (even though it's not anything new). I like the characters and the shojo are pretty interesting monsters. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes. Overall, not anything new but if you like the monster hunter/protecting the townspeople trope then you will definitely like this!
June 16, 2022
Well, I am not vibing a lot with the art very plain and simple. The Lore sounds interesting but it had so little that did not give us a ton of information. the characters are just 1 dimensional that they just have one set, the story it's interesting sometimes and others a bit boring not having the vibe to continue this manga.
May 20, 2022
Had high expectations going into this, and they weren't quite met if I'm being completely honest, but it was a good start to the series nevertheless! I found all of the characters really compelling, and definitely want to find out more about them, so will definitely be continuing with the series, and I think there could be a few really cool fight scenes in later volumes...
May 27, 2022
Thank you to kodansha and netgalley for the arc.
I don't really know how to react to that story... I like the plot, it is interesting and I can see a lot of way it could be developed. However I did not like the drawings... it felt like it got worst since devil's Line...
I don't really know how to react to that story... I like the plot, it is interesting and I can see a lot of way it could be developed. However I did not like the drawings... it felt like it got worst since devil's Line...
November 8, 2024
Tihihii me like
May 13, 2022
Blackguard reminds me of Planet of the Apes somehow and there's some Aeon Flux in it too. The atmosphere is oddly distant and shapeless, which makes this eerie. Minami is a blackguard, famous for killing shojo and well, wanting to die while doing it. Shojo are ape-like creatures, who eat humans. It's virus that transforms humans into these creatures and once you get it, there's no cure. Chris is assigned to be Minami's partner and we mostly look at Minami through his eyes. Minami has a mental disease that makes him want to kill himself and Chris needs to look after the guy, since Minami is needed in the fight for humanity. The setting is interesting and the series is only five books long. We don't get know the characters that well, but somehow that approach works and makes this dead and soulless in a good way. There's a philosophical aspect in it too.
The art looks quite stiff though. Perhaps Hanada's style hasn't found it course yet, since we mostly see talking heads and hardly ever backgrounds. The faces look blank and empty, but that too makes this interesting in a weird way. Sometimes the characters look like a kid had drawn them, which bothers me. I hope the art gets better in the other volumes, since it's the biggest downfall now.
The art looks quite stiff though. Perhaps Hanada's style hasn't found it course yet, since we mostly see talking heads and hardly ever backgrounds. The faces look blank and empty, but that too makes this interesting in a weird way. Sometimes the characters look like a kid had drawn them, which bothers me. I hope the art gets better in the other volumes, since it's the biggest downfall now.
November 2, 2024
Giggling laughing dying
November 28, 2022
Content Warning: Suicidal Ideation, Suicide, and Self Harm are basically all anyone talks about in this book.
Other Content Warnings: Attempted Murder, Blood, Death, Depression, and Violence.
I don't know why I kept reading this like I legitimately spent 3/4 of this book gritting my teeth thru reading. 1. It's sad to know that mental health stigma/treatment is just as bad in 2070 as in 2020, if not worse. 2. Apparently, someone's suicidal ideation is what people just spend their lives thinking about to an obsessive amount.
This was incredibly disappointing as someone whose experience with suicidal ideation is quite similar to Minami's, where it is always there but primarily passive.
The fact that Hanada chose to only focus on the suicidality also means that we are missing out on the opportunity for growth because Minami's depression is obviously not being successfully treated and is; as a result, a husk of a human being. This man does not have any hobbies, does not take days off, and eats solely nutrition cubes whose flavors are basically decided by RNG.
This choice to only focus on a symptom rather than the illness as a whole also means that when we have a moment that should have been impactful and an actual realization for Minami, it ends up falling flat. For example, not being his time to die could have been an impactful and thought-provoking moment for Minami.
My final and possibly biggest peeve is the entire last half of this book. Anyone who has been through any mental health triage training will tell you it never hurts to ask someone if they are considering killing themselves. By doing so, you will not be giving them the idea. Hanada takes this knowledge and burns it to the ground.
While there is some difference in how this question is presented by the antagonist vs. how it would be by someone meaning to help. The fact that Hanada chose that to be the reason that Minami spirals was infuriating. Especially when you hear that he hadn't previously considered methods of killing himself outside of dying in the line of duty.
The world is intriguing, but everything else is honestly hot garbage, and I hate it.
Other Content Warnings: Attempted Murder, Blood, Death, Depression, and Violence.
I don't know why I kept reading this like I legitimately spent 3/4 of this book gritting my teeth thru reading. 1. It's sad to know that mental health stigma/treatment is just as bad in 2070 as in 2020, if not worse. 2. Apparently, someone's suicidal ideation is what people just spend their lives thinking about to an obsessive amount.
This was incredibly disappointing as someone whose experience with suicidal ideation is quite similar to Minami's, where it is always there but primarily passive.
The fact that Hanada chose to only focus on the suicidality also means that we are missing out on the opportunity for growth because Minami's depression is obviously not being successfully treated and is; as a result, a husk of a human being. This man does not have any hobbies, does not take days off, and eats solely nutrition cubes whose flavors are basically decided by RNG.
This choice to only focus on a symptom rather than the illness as a whole also means that when we have a moment that should have been impactful and an actual realization for Minami, it ends up falling flat. For example, not being his time to die could have been an impactful and thought-provoking moment for Minami.
My final and possibly biggest peeve is the entire last half of this book. Anyone who has been through any mental health triage training will tell you it never hurts to ask someone if they are considering killing themselves. By doing so, you will not be giving them the idea. Hanada takes this knowledge and burns it to the ground.
While there is some difference in how this question is presented by the antagonist vs. how it would be by someone meaning to help. The fact that Hanada chose that to be the reason that Minami spirals was infuriating. Especially when you hear that he hadn't previously considered methods of killing himself outside of dying in the line of duty.
The world is intriguing, but everything else is honestly hot garbage, and I hate it.
May 10, 2022
arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Blackguard is a post-apocalyptic story following a soldier named Minami. In a world where a rapidly adapting zombie-like virus has taken over much of the population, Minami is an exceptional warrior that battles with the intent to die, until he's assigned a monitor, Chris, who's made to protect his life with much irritation.
This manga has a good concept but suffered from a very simplistic style. I don't think backgrounds need to be drawn all the time, but I was a bit distracted by how blank the pages were. That being said, I enjoyed the characters, but would have liked to see more depth overall. I think I would read volume 2 if it came to a reviewing site, but probably not on my own.
Blackguard is a post-apocalyptic story following a soldier named Minami. In a world where a rapidly adapting zombie-like virus has taken over much of the population, Minami is an exceptional warrior that battles with the intent to die, until he's assigned a monitor, Chris, who's made to protect his life with much irritation.
This manga has a good concept but suffered from a very simplistic style. I don't think backgrounds need to be drawn all the time, but I was a bit distracted by how blank the pages were. That being said, I enjoyed the characters, but would have liked to see more depth overall. I think I would read volume 2 if it came to a reviewing site, but probably not on my own.
June 20, 2022
The content of the plot is really interesting and is new. I really am fascinated by how to story will process. However I felt that the proportions of the figures where odd in some parts like the head being bigger than the rest of the body which took me out of the story as I then became focused on how they were drawn and the issues rather than flowing through the plot.
I would recommend the manga based on the plot as the is 5/5 but as the artwork was very strange to me in terms of proportions at some parts I will have to knock off some points as this really distracted me from the plot.
I would recommend the manga based on the plot as the is 5/5 but as the artwork was very strange to me in terms of proportions at some parts I will have to knock off some points as this really distracted me from the plot.
September 24, 2022
Boring. Art is not really enticing. Storyline is simple and dressed up to cover obvious holes in plot and character development. A recluse main character who can chop everyone up and wants to die. Yawn.
May 19, 2023
2.5 down to 2 since it doesn't build interest in the reader imo. It does have a meat world and an enjoyable soft and somber atmosphere (which at times creates tonal dissonance or is annoying as people can lack of rational emotions in some scenes), but I don't care about anyone, anything, or any over arching mystery. It doesn't make me want to see more of the characters, plain fight scenes, or its weird (dystopia but also not) world.
The world is ok. It's a dystopian world where evolving monkey aliens have infected humans with there virus. But it's also one of those weird dystopian worlds where the MCs and all of humanity live in a safe, modern day-esque city so you can have shippable slice-of-life moments. I don't mind that but it does create some dissonance.
The storyline is equally ok. You get a solo-lobo MC getting to deal with terms that he has to work with a partner. All the while he has to deal with a sci-fi mental illness that gives him mild suicide ideation. This part came off of as annoying though as apparently no in-universe understands mild suicide ideation. Like, the doctor says its mild suicide ideation and everyone knows its mild and yet everyone is amazed he's not gunning to kill himself like he has severe suicide ideation or suicidal tendencies (both of which the doctor explicitly says he does not have). It does end with something of an overarching villain in but I find them to be a weak villain. Their motivation is odd.
I didn't really attach to any of the characters either. The main three are Nanoa, Chris, and Chihaya. I didn't really care for Nanao nor Chihaya. Nanao is too odd while Chihaya just feels like a self-insert for the strong female readership Hanada has accrued. Chris is alright but nothing special. The series is a bit bi tho as Nanao is given shipping moments with both Chris and Chihaya which is cute.
The art is simple and fine. Its very character focused and you can tell Hanada wants to be looking at his characters either out of attraction or badassery. There's big and spacious paneling with either no or simple backgrounds which highlights the character, their emotion, and their stance in a panel. It reminds me of how Kubo does it in Bleach. But the art is a bit too simple. It's very black and white with tons of blank space with only a bit of soft screentoning (which admittedly adds to the soft and somber atmosphere). The art also has some consistency issues. The science girl's hair changes to cover or not cover her eye, and general anatomy can be wonky with overly big heads or weird anatomy when attempting certain poses and angles. And faces on one-off characters just look weird sometimes.
Overall if you're a fan of dystopian action you might enjoy the softer and subtler feel this manga gives to the genre but otherwise its a bit weak.
The world is ok. It's a dystopian world where evolving monkey aliens have infected humans with there virus. But it's also one of those weird dystopian worlds where the MCs and all of humanity live in a safe, modern day-esque city so you can have shippable slice-of-life moments. I don't mind that but it does create some dissonance.
The storyline is equally ok. You get a solo-lobo MC getting to deal with terms that he has to work with a partner. All the while he has to deal with a sci-fi mental illness that gives him mild suicide ideation. This part came off of as annoying though as apparently no in-universe understands mild suicide ideation. Like, the doctor says its mild suicide ideation and everyone knows its mild and yet everyone is amazed he's not gunning to kill himself like he has severe suicide ideation or suicidal tendencies (both of which the doctor explicitly says he does not have). It does end with something of an overarching villain in but I find them to be a weak villain. Their motivation is odd.
I didn't really attach to any of the characters either. The main three are Nanoa, Chris, and Chihaya. I didn't really care for Nanao nor Chihaya. Nanao is too odd while Chihaya just feels like a self-insert for the strong female readership Hanada has accrued. Chris is alright but nothing special. The series is a bit bi tho as Nanao is given shipping moments with both Chris and Chihaya which is cute.
The art is simple and fine. Its very character focused and you can tell Hanada wants to be looking at his characters either out of attraction or badassery. There's big and spacious paneling with either no or simple backgrounds which highlights the character, their emotion, and their stance in a panel. It reminds me of how Kubo does it in Bleach. But the art is a bit too simple. It's very black and white with tons of blank space with only a bit of soft screentoning (which admittedly adds to the soft and somber atmosphere). The art also has some consistency issues. The science girl's hair changes to cover or not cover her eye, and general anatomy can be wonky with overly big heads or weird anatomy when attempting certain poses and angles. And faces on one-off characters just look weird sometimes.
Overall if you're a fan of dystopian action you might enjoy the softer and subtler feel this manga gives to the genre but otherwise its a bit weak.
May 11, 2022
Actual rating is more like 4.25 but it deserves a bump up for being refreshing.
In 2030, humanity visits another planet and brings back samples. One of them is a virus. One day the virus gets loose. Everyone infected turns into a mindless beast, hungry for uninfected flesh. One bite will infect you and rapidly turn you into one of them. Years later, elite groups of fighters are trained to try and combat the problem. The majority of them use guns. They are split into teams and cover assigned areas while others live safely in one of the last remaining stronghold cities.
Within that elite group is an even more elite group. Reserve units usually made up of 2 or more soldiers who are deemed the best of the best. One of them is known as Blackguard, a young man with a death wish who goes into battle equipped with only a sword. Usually he works alone because he dives head long into situations, hoping to die fighting.
He is teamed up with another soldier when the higher ups start worrying about his mental health. Basically, they gave him a babysitter. And the babysitter is, initially, not impressed. The two of them struggle to find some balance as a team, but forces within the guard have other ideas. One wants to destroy them. One wants to join them. Volume one sets the reader up for what looks to be an awesome series!
So what did I think about this start to a new series in particular?
It's interesting. If I had to compare it to other works I would say it's a strong mix of Resident Evil, and Attack on Titan with a side dash of Planet of the Apes. You might even call it a cautionary tale for future generations...if we ever get out of our tiny part of space.
I really enjoyed Minami (Blackguard). He's an interesting character who begins his journey being stuck in this dreary, partly of his own making, life; wanting to die, but only going so far as to hoping to die in battle. He doesn't just off himself and he doesn't just let the infected kill him. It's like this weird Klingon/Viking hope that he will die well, in battle, doing his best but failing anyway. It's both respectable and yet, to some probably, upsetting to think about. Only, he never thought of offing himself until someone asks him why he hasn't. The answer to this question comes from an unlikely source.
The art was quite striking, in it's own way. But I wouldn't say it blew me away. It actually reminds me a little of the art style of the early 2000s....
Trigger warnings for readers:
lots of blood,
gun and sword violence
death & murder depicted
suicidal character
In 2030, humanity visits another planet and brings back samples. One of them is a virus. One day the virus gets loose. Everyone infected turns into a mindless beast, hungry for uninfected flesh. One bite will infect you and rapidly turn you into one of them. Years later, elite groups of fighters are trained to try and combat the problem. The majority of them use guns. They are split into teams and cover assigned areas while others live safely in one of the last remaining stronghold cities.
Within that elite group is an even more elite group. Reserve units usually made up of 2 or more soldiers who are deemed the best of the best. One of them is known as Blackguard, a young man with a death wish who goes into battle equipped with only a sword. Usually he works alone because he dives head long into situations, hoping to die fighting.
He is teamed up with another soldier when the higher ups start worrying about his mental health. Basically, they gave him a babysitter. And the babysitter is, initially, not impressed. The two of them struggle to find some balance as a team, but forces within the guard have other ideas. One wants to destroy them. One wants to join them. Volume one sets the reader up for what looks to be an awesome series!
So what did I think about this start to a new series in particular?
It's interesting. If I had to compare it to other works I would say it's a strong mix of Resident Evil, and Attack on Titan with a side dash of Planet of the Apes. You might even call it a cautionary tale for future generations...if we ever get out of our tiny part of space.
I really enjoyed Minami (Blackguard). He's an interesting character who begins his journey being stuck in this dreary, partly of his own making, life; wanting to die, but only going so far as to hoping to die in battle. He doesn't just off himself and he doesn't just let the infected kill him. It's like this weird Klingon/Viking hope that he will die well, in battle, doing his best but failing anyway. It's both respectable and yet, to some probably, upsetting to think about. Only, he never thought of offing himself until someone asks him why he hasn't. The answer to this question comes from an unlikely source.
The art was quite striking, in it's own way. But I wouldn't say it blew me away. It actually reminds me a little of the art style of the early 2000s....
Trigger warnings for readers:
lots of blood,
gun and sword violence
death & murder depicted
suicidal character
April 30, 2022
Yay! A new manga by the creator of Devils’ Line! After finishing this one I think I might end up liking this series more than Devils’ Line, which is saying a lot since Devils’ Line is one of my favorites.
The setting takes place on a future Earth where a new virus has spread. Called PL-41 and brought to Earth from another planet, this virus turns people into beings called Shojo. Shojo crave human flesh and one bite from them will turn that person into a Shojo. They’re basically like zombies but instead of turning into the undead you change into a super fast monkey. The monsters are admittedly kind of weird, but they felt very unique.
In Tokyo there is a safe zone called Pricketpolis where life goes on as usual, but units go out to keep the Shojo at bay. Each unit has a reserve unit that act as backup in times of crises, and Sector B’s reserve unit is well known for only having one person. Called Nanao Minami but nicknamed the Blackguard he’s known as one of the best at taking out Shojo.
The first chapter drew me in right away. I wanted to know more about this world and the badass known as Nanao Minami. The second half of the volume felt kind of random though. I felt like what happened came out of nowhere and then got wrapped up too neatly. I still enjoyed the volume as a whole, but that second half did throw me for a loop.
More so than the plot, what really captured my heart were the characters. Minami reminded me of Dazai from Bungou Stray Dogs because he wants to die all the time due to a mental illness he has called Morbus Si. After almost achieving his goal of dying, the higher ups decide that since he’s their best agent they need to keep Minami from killing himself. To solve this issue they assign him a partner named Chris Miyaji whose main purpose is to keep Minami alive.
Minami was such a cutie. Since all he cares about is dying he’s kind of an airhead when it comes to other matters. I can’t wait to find out more about him since he has a mysterious past. Chris was definitely my favorite. He’s so sassy and confident. Both his and Minami’s introductions to the story were perfect. There were also some side characters introduced that I can see myself coming to like once I get to know them more.
Chris and Minami’s partnership will go down in history as one of my favorites. After proclaiming that he wasn’t going to care about Minami, Chris takes it upon himself to make sure Minami experiences new things so he can come to understand the joy of living. Do I ship them? Of course. Do I think a romance will actually happen? Doubtful, even though Devils’ Line did have a diverse cast. What I hope more than anything though is that the mangaka doesn’t create a romance between Minami and the main female character Chihaya Ogino because Minami is twenty-seven and she’s only fifteen.
I loved pretty much everything about Blackguard, and I’m glad the second volume is releasing a week after the first so I don’t have to wait so long. I want to know more about this world and I want to see more of Minami and Chris!
The setting takes place on a future Earth where a new virus has spread. Called PL-41 and brought to Earth from another planet, this virus turns people into beings called Shojo. Shojo crave human flesh and one bite from them will turn that person into a Shojo. They’re basically like zombies but instead of turning into the undead you change into a super fast monkey. The monsters are admittedly kind of weird, but they felt very unique.
In Tokyo there is a safe zone called Pricketpolis where life goes on as usual, but units go out to keep the Shojo at bay. Each unit has a reserve unit that act as backup in times of crises, and Sector B’s reserve unit is well known for only having one person. Called Nanao Minami but nicknamed the Blackguard he’s known as one of the best at taking out Shojo.
The first chapter drew me in right away. I wanted to know more about this world and the badass known as Nanao Minami. The second half of the volume felt kind of random though. I felt like what happened came out of nowhere and then got wrapped up too neatly. I still enjoyed the volume as a whole, but that second half did throw me for a loop.
More so than the plot, what really captured my heart were the characters. Minami reminded me of Dazai from Bungou Stray Dogs because he wants to die all the time due to a mental illness he has called Morbus Si. After almost achieving his goal of dying, the higher ups decide that since he’s their best agent they need to keep Minami from killing himself. To solve this issue they assign him a partner named Chris Miyaji whose main purpose is to keep Minami alive.
Minami was such a cutie. Since all he cares about is dying he’s kind of an airhead when it comes to other matters. I can’t wait to find out more about him since he has a mysterious past. Chris was definitely my favorite. He’s so sassy and confident. Both his and Minami’s introductions to the story were perfect. There were also some side characters introduced that I can see myself coming to like once I get to know them more.
Chris and Minami’s partnership will go down in history as one of my favorites. After proclaiming that he wasn’t going to care about Minami, Chris takes it upon himself to make sure Minami experiences new things so he can come to understand the joy of living. Do I ship them? Of course. Do I think a romance will actually happen? Doubtful, even though Devils’ Line did have a diverse cast. What I hope more than anything though is that the mangaka doesn’t create a romance between Minami and the main female character Chihaya Ogino because Minami is twenty-seven and she’s only fifteen.
I loved pretty much everything about Blackguard, and I’m glad the second volume is releasing a week after the first so I don’t have to wait so long. I want to know more about this world and I want to see more of Minami and Chris!
May 18, 2022
Who's in the mood for some science fiction with a helping of monsters and gore? If so, then check out Blackguard Volume 1 by Ryo Hanada.
The world is falling apart. Monsters by the name of Shojo roam the land with the ability to make more with a single infectious bite. It isn't a good time to wander the countryside or do anything other than desperately try to survive.
That's where the Guards come into play. They protect the aerial cities that humanity has turned towards. It is their job to step between the people and the Shojo. Minami is one such Guard. He's not like the others. While his presence gives much hope, in truth, Minami has what others would call a death wish.
Wow. I went into Blackguard Volume 1 and got something entirely different. I knew that it would be heavy (the very nature of the plot makes that much evident). But I was unprepared for the depths this graphic novel takes.
If suicidal talk is something you find triggering or uncomfortable, I strongly urge you to seek out another series to dive into. Blackguard Volume 1 doesn't pull punches, which means it addresses Minami's death wish.
I'll give credit to Blackguard Volume 1. It tackles a lot of heavy subjects. While I wasn't a massive fan of everything done in this volume, I can see why others have enjoyed it.
Thanks to Kodansha and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Comics
The world is falling apart. Monsters by the name of Shojo roam the land with the ability to make more with a single infectious bite. It isn't a good time to wander the countryside or do anything other than desperately try to survive.
That's where the Guards come into play. They protect the aerial cities that humanity has turned towards. It is their job to step between the people and the Shojo. Minami is one such Guard. He's not like the others. While his presence gives much hope, in truth, Minami has what others would call a death wish.
Wow. I went into Blackguard Volume 1 and got something entirely different. I knew that it would be heavy (the very nature of the plot makes that much evident). But I was unprepared for the depths this graphic novel takes.
If suicidal talk is something you find triggering or uncomfortable, I strongly urge you to seek out another series to dive into. Blackguard Volume 1 doesn't pull punches, which means it addresses Minami's death wish.
I'll give credit to Blackguard Volume 1. It tackles a lot of heavy subjects. While I wasn't a massive fan of everything done in this volume, I can see why others have enjoyed it.
Thanks to Kodansha and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Comics
May 31, 2022
📖 Manga Review 📖
Blackguard Vol#1
by Ryo Hanada
⚠️ Trigger Warning ⚠️
⛔️Minami is suicidal he has a mental illness in the story called Morbus Si. He goes into every mission hoping to not return. ⛔️
I was so excited for this one! I'm a huge fan of Hanada Sensei's Devil's Line so I couldn't wait for this! 🤩
Hanada's world building and storytelling ability is one of the things that draws me to her work. It's no exception here! We get the needed background of the Shojo and how the some of the human race came to be infected with the virus. 🦠
The character design is one I've come to expect from Hanada and it works for the manga. ✨
The art style isn't my favorite, it's very minimalistic it focusing more on the characters and not the background. Which actually works for tone of the manga. However a few panels are drawn with such details that it's stunning. 🤔
Minami is a very interesting lead, he's a badass when it comes to killing but he's aloof and childlike. ❤️
Miyaji is probably my favorite character so far I love his snarky personality. I like that he reluctantly helps or wants to help Minami. 💙
I want to learn more about Captain Asagari that's for sure! 🔥
Overall this was such a great read! So much to enjoy here from the story to
the small moments of levity here in the form of Minami’s expressions. 💕
I hope we get more of the Reserve Units and find out more about Kawakami. 👀🖤
Thank you @netgalley and @kodanshamanga for the chance to review this manga ARC!💙
Blackguard Vol#1
by Ryo Hanada
⚠️ Trigger Warning ⚠️
⛔️Minami is suicidal he has a mental illness in the story called Morbus Si. He goes into every mission hoping to not return. ⛔️
I was so excited for this one! I'm a huge fan of Hanada Sensei's Devil's Line so I couldn't wait for this! 🤩
Hanada's world building and storytelling ability is one of the things that draws me to her work. It's no exception here! We get the needed background of the Shojo and how the some of the human race came to be infected with the virus. 🦠
The character design is one I've come to expect from Hanada and it works for the manga. ✨
The art style isn't my favorite, it's very minimalistic it focusing more on the characters and not the background. Which actually works for tone of the manga. However a few panels are drawn with such details that it's stunning. 🤔
Minami is a very interesting lead, he's a badass when it comes to killing but he's aloof and childlike. ❤️
Miyaji is probably my favorite character so far I love his snarky personality. I like that he reluctantly helps or wants to help Minami. 💙
I want to learn more about Captain Asagari that's for sure! 🔥
Overall this was such a great read! So much to enjoy here from the story to
the small moments of levity here in the form of Minami’s expressions. 💕
I hope we get more of the Reserve Units and find out more about Kawakami. 👀🖤
Thank you @netgalley and @kodanshamanga for the chance to review this manga ARC!💙
May 23, 2022
Thanks netgalley and the publisher to let me read this copy!
I haven't read a manga in quite a while, but the story kinda intrigued me and so i took my chance here.
A virus has infested the world (sounds too real tho) and turns people into some ape-like things who even adept to their surroundings in a short time, you just have to get bitten and turn pretty fast after that, there is no cure but there are fighting units who hunt the „Shoujo“ and kill them before they can take more lives.
There's this mystery guy the „Blackguard“ who apparently is much stronger than everyone else and appears everytime there are a lot of Shoujo in one place and kills them, he usually works alone but get assigned a partner, Chris.
They are pretty diffierent kind of characters which makes the whole thing pretty intriguing cause i especially like Chris a lot, but i'm also very curious what the Blackguard's deal is, especially why he doesn't know anything about how a human behaves. Will definitely check out if there is more to this story. An easy 3 stars read :)
content warning: lots fo suicide talk.
I haven't read a manga in quite a while, but the story kinda intrigued me and so i took my chance here.
A virus has infested the world (sounds too real tho) and turns people into some ape-like things who even adept to their surroundings in a short time, you just have to get bitten and turn pretty fast after that, there is no cure but there are fighting units who hunt the „Shoujo“ and kill them before they can take more lives.
There's this mystery guy the „Blackguard“ who apparently is much stronger than everyone else and appears everytime there are a lot of Shoujo in one place and kills them, he usually works alone but get assigned a partner, Chris.
They are pretty diffierent kind of characters which makes the whole thing pretty intriguing cause i especially like Chris a lot, but i'm also very curious what the Blackguard's deal is, especially why he doesn't know anything about how a human behaves. Will definitely check out if there is more to this story. An easy 3 stars read :)
content warning: lots fo suicide talk.
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