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Title: Broken Blade Vol 1

Author:  Yunosuke Yoshinaga

Publisher:  CMX

ISBN: 9781401218829

May Contain Spoilers

In a world where everyone has the inherent ability to power up quartz, Rygart Arrow is an outcast. Quartz is the fuel source that makes machines run, and without the ability to manipulate it, Rygart is helpless. That is until he ends up trapped in an ancient battle suit.  With his country under attack by an army of invading mechs from Athens, Rygart’s ability to work the battle suit might just mean the difference between victory or defeat.

Broken Blade is a fast-paced action adventure yarn that big on battles and huge, powerful mechs.  The King and Queen of Krisna are old friends of the hapless Rygart, as is Zess, the cunning leader of the attacking army.  The invading army has made an offer for peace, but one of the conditions is the execution of Krisna’s royal family.   King Hodr knows that the odds of beating the mightier army from Athens are slim, but he’s not willing to sacrifice his family as easily.  After unearthing an ancient battle suit, he’s hoping that his own army will be strengthened after analyzing the old mech.  The only problem is that nobody can operate it, until, you guessed it, Rygart finds himself behind the controls during an attack by the enemy.

The story isn’t groundbreaking, but the art is clear and crisp, and it is very easy to follow the action as the battles unfold.  The mech designs aren’t exactly unique, either, but again, the detailed illustrations make them a little more interesting.  I am usually not very keen on battling robot stories, but there’s a believable sense of tension that builds up as Rygart desperately attempts to protect his friends and keep himself alive.  While the book does showcase some spectacular battles, the real focus is on the relationship between Rygart, and his group of friends.  I am interested to learn why Zess is so fired up to kill his buddies, and how Rygart is going to stop him.

I’m hoping that Broken Blade develops like the other CMX titles that I have enjoyed.   I am usually unimpressed with the first volume, but each subsequent installment builds on itself, making for a rewarding read.  I will admit that I judged this book by its cover and couldn’t resist Rygart’s determined stance or fierce blue eyes when I ordered it.  Yeah, I’m shallow and sometimes that’s all it takes to grab my attention – pretty boys and pretty art.

Grade: B-