Customer Reviews

Alichino Volume 1 (Alichino (Prebound))

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

 

 

This is one of those titles that had so much going for it. As soon I saw the posterboy for Alichino, Tsurigi, on the Tokyopop website a year ago, I was entralled, although the only other information available was the title. I thought I'd never seen such beautiful manga art-and the prospect of an entire series having the same consistent style of gothic beauty was enough for me to commit myself to the entire thing, even though it wasn't going to be released for a while. As more information became available, I further and further intrigued; the author had won a prestigious award for her work; the preview was stunning, and throughly interesting; the chracter profiles on the site were fascinating. When i researched on the net, readers of the Japanese version had nothing but good to say.

I was so anxious to get Alichino that I acutally made a store employee search for it in the backroom when I couldn't find it on the shelf-and then I bought it on the spot. While I flipped through it on the ride home, a few things worried me- Alichino is only 130 pages long, a little more than half the size of a typical manga. and I already knew before that it was a discontinued series in japan, meaning only 3 were available for the planned english translation. I wondered how far they could possibly get with the story. Also, the poster included had somewhat faded colors.

I looked foward to this book so much it almost pains me to say it, but Alichino is actually pretty boring... The story, which doesn't really have any "plot" to it just yet, is more of an introduction. It seemed that all there was was explanation to what WOULD be in the future books, but with not much substance in the beginning. All dialogue is spent describing important terms like "Kusabi" and "Alichino" in long, drawn-out conversations. This was probably meant to add mysticism to what the two are, but in actuality it could have been summed up with the same impact with just a few lines. The fact that the characters, although breathtakingly lovely in thier costumes, are expressionless, only adds to a feeling of malaise. They literally never change expression, not even in intense moments.

Alichino is not a bad piece of work- every image has its own individuality, a discordant attractiveness that is reminiscent of Clover- each page able to stand on its own as an artpiece. Somehow, though, it just doesn't work. It reminded me of an artstyle where words accompany the image, which makes it SUGGGESTIVE of story- but still REMAINS an artpeice. While I could enjoy each beautifully dark picture, i couldn't string them together to make a story.

This is the first manga that's ever bored me- but it is a visual masterpiece, which is why it's at a 3. Also, judging from all the good press I got from other sources- it's going to get better, probably. Not only that, I think Tokyopop messed up the translation a little,which, even though it lowers the quality of the book, should leave the overall storyline intact. I very seriously considered returning this- but now I am keeping it for aesthetics, and on the gamble that the next book will be better. I am definitely flipping through it first in the store, though. I think anyone who was as swept away as I was by art should get the artbook instead of grappling with the manga. (It's expensive, though.)

Sometimes artwork is so beautiful that it can cover up even a limp storyline. That's nearly the case in the first volume of "Alichino," where exquisite beings grant wishes in exchange for the wisher's soul. It's graced with Kouyu Shurei's exquisite, luxurious artwork, but it can't hide that the plot is thin as worn silk.

Tsugiri has a deep loathing of alichino, even the one who lives in the same house as him. And when he stops an alichino from feeding on a vulnerable young girl, the alichino reveals something terrible -- Tsugiri is a "kusabi," a human with a powerful and pure soul. He is the only one who can kill an alichino, but if one devours HIS soul, it will become incredibly powerful.

Shocked, Tsugiri is only narrowly saved by a friend of his foster father Enju. Though he knows alichino can lie, he is having dreams of death and terror that seem to reveal him as a kusabi. So he enlists the help of the alichino Myobi, who can show how the part of his past that he cannot remember -- and the key to what and who he is.

The alichino are a very interesting idea -- exquisite winged beings who will grant whatever you wish, but will take your soul as payment, and can be very nasty if you don't do what they want. And artistically, "Alichino" is an exquisite trip for gothic aesthetes. As a story, it's pretty limp. Not bad, just limp.

Shurei's artwork is absolutely stunning -- detailed, sensual, with a gothic flair in the elaborate clothing and luxurious settings. It's also populated by beautiful, androgynous men, who are indistinguishable from women, and have long flowing hair and what appears to be lots of makeup. The one exception is Myobi, a kindly alichino who looks like a little girl in elaborate Victorian dress.

Too bad the plot isn't nearly as good. We're thrown in without much explanation, and everything that happens after that is pretty cliched. Special powers, a clueless young man, and creatures who are out for his blood. Sadly Shurei doesn't add much to this story, and as a result, nothing unusual or unpredictable happens for... the... whole... story.

Nor do the characters really get developed, since only Myobi has any dimensions beyond angsty-young-man. They don't grow, and they don't even change expression, which adds to the feeling that we're watching a beautiful painting that hints at a story, but never actually tells one.

The first volume of "Alichino" is a case of "style over substance," with its staggeringly beautiful artwork and limp plot. Worth checking out for a pretty, light read.

Story: Other reviewers have already covered that ;).

Art: Stunning! In a way it reminded me a bit of Sang-Sun Park's ("Les Bijoux" & "Tarot Cafe") style but still had it's own originality. The art is what lured me to the series.

Character Development: I have to say, despite how beautiful every character is they're personalities are not well developed at all. Every character is unpredictable in their actions and not neccesariliy in a good way.

Overall: I found that it jumped into everything a tad too quickly, there was no introduction whatsoever. The plot is very slow-moving (mind you, I have only read this volume), almost to a fault. Very little actually happens in the first volume and it leaves a lot to be desired. There are many mysteries that need to be solved not only with the characters but with the whole world "Alichino" is set in.

Reccomended: Yes, if you aren't a fan of fast-moving plots. Otherwise, stay away from it--you won't like it.

I heard about "Alichino" via a promo freebie from Suncoast. Now, I've gotten some good manga that way, but most of them have been titles that require some close attention. (In other words, there's no real hook.)

Alichino has the best artwork I've seen outside of the "Angel Sanctuary" manga, and is at least as confusing. The sheer detail to the artwork is amazing (strongly featuring fineline and lots of delicate lines without being overly wispy, good use of tone and ink), and if you believe in letting the picture tell the story... well, they won't, but you'll enjoy the view.

The "world" of Alichino is vague at best. It's obviously a fantady world--maybe, judging by the outfits which fit into no established culture (lots of draping lace-up tunics, sashes, strange bodice/girdles for the female characters) and the ready availability of swords. It appears to have some level of technology/industry, and scienctific development, but there just isn't enough to say just what kind of world we're dealing with.

The focus is on Tsuguri, a 'kusabi' (the term is not defined in Vol. 1, and while I've seen the word before, I have no idea what it means), who is feared by humans, fought over by the Alchino (who also fear him). He grew up in the Stereotypical Manga Isolated Village, where Bad Things Happened. He has the requisiite blocked memories of a gothic manga hero, and the mysterious companions to hammer home the idea that the supernatural will be a major theme in this story.

(That may sound facetious, but that's pretty much the framework we have to deal with.)

I'd love to give a summarization of the story/plot... but there really isn't much to tell. The girl who introduces the reader to the world of "Alchino" and Tsuguri isn't even given a name, so her grief loses much of its impact, and it's utterly unclear why, after failing in her quest to find an Alichino, she's still hanging around. Nor is it apparent why an Alichino is living with him as an owl--apparently under orders, who/what Enju is, and the most fascinating character, Hyura, appears so briefly there's nothing to say about him. (Except I immediately got a BL sense from the way he was acting/waiting for Tsuguri to grow up, but by that point, I was looking desperately for *anything* to make sense in the story.)

While the art is gorgeous beyond words, it does become difficult to tell the characters apart. There's an attempt at humor which falls flat, subtle horror (which works very well), and mystery to the point of bafflement.

The high point for me (which may not apply to all readers) is that I'm learning Japanese, so the 'sneak peek' which is all in Japanese provided a nice addition to my reading material. (Not that it makes any sense, so out of context.)

The layout of the text is confusing in places, with the sentences broken up in odd places, even for a translated work. Worse, too many of the speech ballons have no tails, so it's difficult to determine who is speaking, and many of the balloons/captions are on a tone background, with a tight white space "halo" around them to make them a little more legible. (Black ink on textured gray is very difficult to read.)

I honestly don't know if I'll buy Vol. 2. I want to know more about Hyura than I do anyone else in the storyline, so if there's a change of his return...

The first thing one notices about this manga is how gorgeous and detailed Shurei's illustrations are. It really is a great book to pick up if you're looking for something new in a fantasy.

However, in this first volume, the story was quite slow and weak. Nothing really happens at all, and though you'd think, 'Well, it's the introduction, characters need to be developed', there is close to no characterization. Her characters are somewhat shallow and dead, except for the dynamic Ryouko and Myoubi, who save this first volume for me in the character section. The action scenes can be a bit hard to follow, as they mostly consist of blood-spattered or 'swooshy' panels. The character expressions don't change very much, not even when they should be angry, or very happy. Sometimes, but not very often. Just blank, but always beautiful. I personally barely ever see any subtle hints of emotion, like some people say they do in Alichino's pages.

That said, you'd think I'd hate this manga! But I don't! Shurei's wonderful artwork saved it, and the story was novel enough for me. The fact that the action seemed lacking made me wonder if it picked up at all in the next volume, and it does. ^^

Beautiful creatures that are beckoned by human sorrow, desires, and longing. They grant any wish of your heart's desire, but you must be ready to pay them back! All they ask for is to be compensated with the same 'weighted' price as the wish itself.
To many manga enthusiast, it will be apparent from the start that the art work is amazing. But as a forewarn, this manga is cut short. There are only 3 Volumes to the series, and Volume 4 is on hiatus. I only 'wish' it could continue =)
Alichino is about a young man who has the ability to attract Alichino since birth, but he never knew why. With this mysterious connection he has with these creatures all those around him end up hurt, killed, or dying. What is enticing these beautiful beings? Only one way to find out.

This is a Really good book. It's a dead end series though...It's been over 3 years and the fourth book never came out.

The stroyline is nothing to amazing until the third manga, but the art is the best in the world. I love the art. The art on the cover is just as detailed as the art in each and every panel of every page.

It's a fantasy story about alichino who grant your deepest wish for your soul. It goes into the story of a boy's past and his life. The boy is to be sacrificed to the alichino.


I recommend this to everyone just because of the art. even to those who don't like anime will like the art.

I adored this manga when I first got hold of it and quickly worked my way through all three volumes pausing only to admire the extraodinarily detailed gothic artwork. I disagree with the previous commentary stating the characters lacked emotion. personally, I felt the facial emotions were subtle and yet managed to convey deeper emotions than your typical manga (perhaps due to the high level of angst in this manga). I would have to say that the portrayal of emotions between this manga and those with more obvious facial expressions is equivalent to the difference between emotional portrayal in anime and disney. The subtle often feels more powerful.

The detailed introductions to "kusabi" and "alichino" in the first volume were not only necessary but essential to future volumes in that a few sentences would hardly make the same impact as the occurrences which the mangaka illustrates. I found the introduction of "kusabi" to be particularly poignant as its importance is revealed through a flashback sequence of tsugiri's tragic childhood.

I would agree however, that hardly anything REALLY happens in the first three volumes (which is where the mangaka has seemingly discontinued the work a few years back). The majority consists of character development/introduction and the occasional flashback. For that reason, I would rate this manga a 4 rather than a 5. There simply isn't enough of a substantial plot, although there appears to be a fairly interesting lead-up into the main story as well as a significant plot-twist at the end of the third volume (which will remain a frustrating loose end due to the lack of further publications).

I admit that I am attracted to pretty boys. Pretty girly boys. But Alichino takes this whole 'pretty girly boys' to a ridicuous level! >.<

I mean honestly, when a person has read the story twice and STILL doesn't know the gender of half of the characters, something is SERIOUSLY wrong.

My first attraction to the book was its cover. The artwork was amazing, and I knew with art that detailed and well-done, I would be hooked. Unfortunately, I'm a writer myself, and was immediately disappointed by the huge lack in storytelling. Kouyu Shurei either has no storytelling skills at all, or after all that hard work on the pretty faces, she forgot to make their dialogue anything worth telling.

The story has a confusing beginning, the characters have little or no personalities (the only one with promise is Ryoko, and he doesn't show up until the last few pages, in which his scenes are blocked out by flashbacks and Tsugiri dialogue anyway), and the action scenes are crap. Except for blood dripping everywhere, and lots of long hair being swished around, you don't get any sense of fighting. I would think the amazing artwork had to be a drawback on such scenes, and I'm sorry that Shurei thought it would be alright to continue her detail work when there are guts spilling.

But not to worry those of light stomachs, no intestines are shown, or anything of the kind. The pretty boys don't dip their pretty fingers in anything but earnest, angst-ridden blood spillage (and never in mass quantities, excepting finger pricks) and the storyline doesn't dip its delicate fingers into anything but a confusing and extremely dull plot. Nothing happens, and no one says anything interesting. There is no humor, no romance (although with all these pretty boys running around, we can only imagine the hentai that is going to start) and no interesting characters take the stage.

You will love the art, appreciate the effort, but you are probably going to be extremely bored by the storyline. I am going to read the next ones because I feel obligated to finish the story, but my hopes are not high for improvement.

I saw an ad for this manga in my GL magazine, and it looked pretty interesting to me. I didn't even get to the next chapter of the book when I bought it. I thought that the art work was horrible and the story line was awful! I thought that this would be a good story because the author is very famous for his stories and his art work and he has won very many awards. I don't think you would want to waste your time reading this book.

-Chibi