Customer Reviews

Alice 19th, Vol. 6: Blindness

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Holed up in the Metropolitan Building skyscraper, Mayura seems to be coming back around to her real self. But it might be too late because the Master of Maram, Darva, is consuming her body at a frightening pace. Our heroes must make a last-ditch attempt to reach her inner heart before she is killed. Good thing that two new Lotis Masters have appeared on the scene to help them, the American Billy, and Mei Lin from China. They will still have to deal with Darva's minions and also their own inner demons as they struggle to reach Mayura before time runs out.

This volume was more my speed because Watase's ill attempts at humor which tend to ruin her dramatic scenes are largely absent. There's also a little more blood and murder than in the other installments and less froo-froo. The highlight of "Blindness" has to be that we learn a little more of the pasts of some of the supporting characters. Watase says that she had originally planned to cover all of the characters but space demanded otherwise. It would have been a better series if she had.

I think the other volumes before this one have had more action and adventure. Here we see A LOT of story and typical Watase shocking twists. I'd rate this a 5 just because of Frey! Anyway, it's very good. I was pretty impressed that this was the 6h volume, cause once you finish it, it's REALLY hard to believe that it will all suddenly finish in the 7th volume. Well, let's see what's waiting for us there. As to Volume 6: Good Art, excellent characters, wonderful twists, not so much laughter as in previous volumes, but quite okay, and well, tons of character stories. With those guys, no, actually, JUST with Frey, this book is more than worth it. So go ahead, read, and let's hope the last volume is GOOD.

This volume is very thrilling, and anticipating. Romantic, and a great B-4 the climax volume. This well drawn and detailed volume consists of revealed charecters, and epic pasts. i.e. Chris's past, and how he got his swallow.
Shaky parts: A bloody arrow-through-hand scene, brief nudity, but not like volume 4, and a car accident.
-Mangafreak

I adore the entire series, not just this volume. It's a short and amazing series that has flown under the radar among many. I love the character development of Alice, watching as she grows from meek to strong-willed, but sweet all the same. For me she is a very believable character. The storyline itself is compelling, and I find myself doodling the symbols when I get distracted. The art is top notch, true to Yuu Watase. My only quibble is that I am left wanting more, which is what all good stories do.

Despite this being the penultimate volume of the manga, with the lotis masters battling to save Mayura from Darva, I still am left with the feeling that not much happened. Several of the characters have to battle the darkness of their past, during which we learn more about them, but it feels rushed and really doesn't have much of an impact. The ease with which the characters are able to overcome these things thanks pretty much only to Alice's tearfully shouted words of encouragement, is a little hard to accept, even with the whole suspension of disbelief that's required for a magical girl series.

If I had to cite the strongest reason for recommending this manga, I would probably say that the boys (particularly Frey) are pretty. The story is so-so, and if the art were likewise, I probably wouldn't have continued with it as far as I have. That said, having invested all this time and money, I am at least mildly interested to see how the inevitable ending is achieved.