Witchblade: Obakemonoby Deanna LytleReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk.
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Credits Grade: 6 If you have never read a Witchblade comic before, don't be intimidated about reading this graphic novel. You don't need to know plots and characters from the comic series to enjoy or even understand this story.From the first few pages, it is evident that Fiona Avery has really done her homework to write this story. I really give her credit for all of her research — it shows. You feel like you are in ancient Japan by the dialogue and characterization. I did appreciate the editor's notes at the bottom of the pages to explain foreign terms and phrases. It made the story easy to follow because I'm no expert in Japanese culture. At the same time, I got a little bit of a history lesson from reading this graphic novel. The artwork is stunning. I admired the cover when I purchased this graphic novel, but was sure it wouldn't be as detailed inside. How wrong I was. The artist handles the setting and characters wonderfully. Despite having to draw a gang of women, the artist took the time to make each character recognizable on the page, even in busy battle scenes. The facial expressions were right on target, as well. And yes, even though this is set in feudal Japan where ladies wear kimonos down to their ankles they still found a way for Shiori to be half-naked while wearing the Witchblade. Looking at it from a technical point of view, the characterization was well done. Each person had their own distinct personality and reacted according to it in certain situations. The main character changed as the story progressed, which, according to my high school English teacher, is a hallmark of great literature. But personally, none of the characters really clicked with me. There was no one I could relate to, despite the gap in time periods. I didn't feel emotionally entrenched in the story. I felt so distant, like I was watching these women struggle from far away, with no empathy for them whatsoever. When something bad happened, I shrugged it off. When someone triumphed, I was blase. So this graphic novel was a little bit of a let down for me in the character department. As I mentioned earlier, you do not need to be a regular reader of the Witchblade comic book series to understand this novel. But fans of the series will find something here, as well. There is a strong story of the blade wielder and how the weapon affects the woman's life, as with Sara Pezini in the present day. At the back of this graphic novel, you'll find three extras. Avery included a short story involving Shiori, the blade wielder, and the art team provides two pin-ups. I found Avery's story and its ending to be sort of cliche, but it was interesting to see Shiori through someone else's eyes. The pin-ups are gorgeous, and the one of Ren getting her hair done made me smile. Written: July 14, 2002
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