Customer Reviews

Black Butler, Vol. 2

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This manga is about a young boy who promised his soul to a demon in exchange for help finding the identity of the people who killed his parents and getting revenge against them. In the meantime, the demon masquerades as his butler and takes orders from him. The setting is in Victorian England, and the artwork is beautiful. I often find myself wanting Ciel's clothes. The storylines are at times funny and at times dark and serious. I especially enjoyed reading the author's behind-the-scenes stories at the very end of the manga, which you don't get if you only read the manga in serialized form. Some of the themes in the manga are dark, so it's more suitable for older children and adults.

Black Butler is my favorite manga. The artwork is beautiful and the storyline is amazing! The characters are funny, some sardonic. I would recommend this volume, (and the first one, and the ones to follow) to anyone who likes fantasy that is kind-of dark. If you don't like violence or gore, there is a little bit in this series, but there's not too much - it shouldn't be too bad for the faint hearted. :) The idea is brilliant and Yana Toboso does an outstanding job in playing it out; she makes Black Butler a memorable manga.

I love this series, and it keeps getting better with every volume.
I'd recommend this to anyone who likes dark/gothic type manga.

I loved this book. I got both volumes I and II for Christmas and finished them both in one day. I am now waiting for the next two volumes to be released. It was a great present.

Character development is a less in this second volume, pushed aside slightly in favor of plot. It seems almost a given that a faux Victorian gothic horror story will cover the Jack the Ripper tale and sure enough, that is what Toboso does, though she seems to value the story less for its historical roots and more for its horrific possibilities. She uses the tale as a jumping off point to begin exploring Earl Phantomhive's past, especially the death of his parents. The investigation also allows her to start showing her readers that evil is more pervasive than just one simple butler. Several new characters are introduced in this volume, each with motives uncertain to both readers and to the Earl. By the end, things have taken a slightly predictable turn, but the abrupt ending should lead to more exciting action and revelations to come.

One of the best touches in Toboso's second volume is the opening story. It is a humorous aside about Sebastian trying to get his work done while also dealing with the disasters caused by the other members of the Phantomhive staff. The chapter effectively introduces Sebastian, shows off his abilities, sets the scene at the Phantomhive residence, lays out the relationships, and tells a little bit of the previous volume's plot, all in a light story that won't seem repetitive to readers who have already read volume one, but which will help new readers get their bearings. From there the story takes a slightly slower turn, getting a touch soggy by the end, but it picks up dramatically on the last page, leaving readers eager for the next volume and the promised confrontation.

Toboso does not neglect humor, though. Wacky events and character behavior abound, even in the midst of gruesome or horrific moments. One particularly effective page uses her continual hints at homosexual relations between characters to good effect, though it is still subtle enough to keep the rating at an appropriate OT/16+. She also continues to find excuses to place the Earl in young women's clothing, much to his distress, but to the amusement of the other characters (and readers). Fans of the first volume will snatch this one off the shelves, but it is also a decent jumping off point for new readers. From here on out, though, the plot seems likely to take off, so be prepared for these volumes to move quickly.
-- Snow Wildsmith

I really liked volume 2. It is nice to see a little more of Sebastian's evil side peaking out with every new volume. I didn't think I would like this series when my daughter insisted I try it, but it has become one of my favorites. The weird relationship between Ciel, the young master, and Sebastian, his devil bound manservant is interesting in itself. The bumbling house staff and interesting touches of victorian England flesh out the stories nicely. Ciel is in service to the Queen and has to track down the infamous Jack the Ripper. This is the first part to that story, which also introduces some interesting new characters (love the creepy undertaker!). As usual the artwork is really beautiful, though I sometimes wish she wouldn't use such small print for her side notes. Overall, you won't be disappointed in this one.

This volume was just as good as the first, if not better. The author Yana Toboso continues to explain more of the characters' past experiences and motives. In this volume, Sebastian and Ciel are suppose to help discover who Jack the Ripper is on behalf of the queen. This volume contanis the famous scenes of Ciel in a dress. Yes, it's as adorable as you think it is. The artwork is beautiful. The backgrounds and clothing contain lots of details so it's a feast for the eyes. I don't want to say more about the story because it will ruin it. Trust me, it's good. There is a cliffhanger at the end of this volume that is immedaitely resumed in volume 3.

This graphic novel was funny like the first. I only rated it a four because I did see the anime part first, and it was like watching it over again, but the anime did not have all the funny things the graphic novel does though. In the anime you don't realize how much Sebastion loves cats. The other reason it got a four is because it ended when it just got good. I can't really blame it, but I really wanted to read more.

This is an interesting series, that only gives a little bit away at a time, which is why I keep coming back to Amazon to check out the third release date. First let me say that I love the butler's character and the little boy's character, I sincerely hope that there is alittle more teasing and flirting in future books. I have to say that the three outside characters were just a little too rough and rowdy and I think decreased the books over all. While I agree that having a humorous staff is a must, I feel like they are too funny, they try too hard to be bad at their jobs and sometimes it gets annoying.

I loved this volume because it was the butler and his master in England without the three extra staff members.

We find out more on how the the young master is the Queen's guard dog. He is sent to England to sniff out the murders caused by 'Jack the Ripper' along the way we meet a creepy undertaker, his slightly flamboyant aunt and some gruesome crime scenes, all is not what it appears though and his trusted butler will have to fight to the death to protect his master at all costs!

I hope this series really evolves into a more mature tone while still maintaining hints of humor, so far it has promise.