Customer Reviews

Dragon Eye 1

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Here's a brief history of what's going on it the story. Humanity was close to becoming extinct when a virus called the "D Virus" infected the majority of the populace; including animals. Those infected turned into vicious beasts called "Dracules," which quickly lose their mind and go on murderous rampages.

Those who survived the virus were ones who posed strong antibodies; they were able escape infection 99% of the time. They developed an anti-Dracule civil organization and built cities to protect all future citizens (ones who do not have the high-level of antibodies.) This group also gathered super-warriors called "VIUS," who use techniques incorporating sorcery and martial arts. Their purpose is to fight off Dracules and protect those not infected. Those who become infected have only one cure: death.

Story overview:

Forty years or so after the infection, in the city of Mikuni, candidates go on a hunt for Dracule in order to pass their final test to become a VIUS. There's an unexpected turn as high-level Dracules show up. These creatues attack the candidates in order to prevent future, potential enemies, but thankfully there was a hidden enlistment exam inspector named Issa Kazuma.

Issa reviles the secret Dragon Eye (hidden in the center of his forehead) to one of the candidates, Leila Mikami, who said it was her life's mission to possess one in order to avenge her parent's death. Easily defeating the foes, Issa tests Leila and finds that her motives may one day be genuine. He tells her that, in the future, he will give her his eye if she has a good reason (other than revenge) to use it.

Leila finds herself as part of the dreaded Squad Zero, only to learn that Issa is the leader. Since the old Squad Zero had been disbanded, she is the only member. Because of the small group, volunteers join Squad Zero on a mission. In the process one of the volunteers named Sôsei Yukimura attacks Issa. We learn that he was waiting for an opportunity to face Issa so that he could kill him. He claims that Issa killed his twin sister many years ago. Rather than be mad about the accusation, Issa convinces Sôsei to join his squad. The young man agrees as a way of getting more info from Issa and an easier way to fulfill his revenge. On their first mission together as a team, Squad Zero discovers that an extremely powerful Dracule was able to get into the city limits and it's up to them to work together to stop it.

My thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I love the casual personality of the main character, Issa, who has a serious side he covers up. The other characters are very dynamic as well and a pleasure to watch interact. I also liked the chart of Japanese Honorifics at the beginning which explains the different indications of relationship/status when characters speak to each other. For example -san is similar to "Mr. or Ms." and can be used like Isaa-san (name first, then the honorific).

James D. Maxon

Author of, "The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1440485275

Manga and speculative fiction reviewer:
http://booksforyouth.com/

"Dragon Eye" follows the battles between humans and "Dracules," bloodthirsty monsters. Those who are infected with "D-virus" become Dracules and there is no cure for them except death. The only hope left for humankind is the elite troops VIUS, and Kairi Fujiyama's comic revolves around a group of these warriors that belong to the VIUS squads including young, easygoing (but competent) Issa Kazuma and newly discovered talent Leila Mikami, a heroine who is determined to take revenge for her parents' deaths.

The manga's story is not very original, I admit. Some part of the comic (a sword wielding hero in alternate world, for instance) may remind you of other manga works like "Bleach" (and its Soul Society). Still the fast-paced comic keeps you interested with a nice mixture of humor and action. Despite the setting that could have been darker, "Dragon Eye" manages to be light-hearted all in all, and the artwork is beautifully done, especially its dynamic battle scenes.

The comic had been serialized in "Monthly Shonen Sirius" published by Kodansha. It is too bad that the author seems to have been taking hiatus since the May 2008 issue, by the time of writing.

The first volume includes "special extras," which are not very special. Otherwise, the comic starts promisingly.