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Title: Blood+ Adagio Vol 1 & 2

Author:  Kumiko Suekana

Publisher:  Dark Horse

ISBN:  9781595822765 & 9781595822772

May Contain Spoilers

I had a few problems immersing myself into Blood+ Adagio, and the biggest obstacle was not being familiar with the series.  This two volume story arc based on the Production I.G – Aniplex series takes for granted a basic understanding and knowledge of the Blood+ universe.  Instead of taking a little bit of time to fill in some background details in the first volume, the reader is plunged into the events, and is expected to know the meaning of terms and the characters relationships to each other.  It isn’t until the second volume that a helpful character guide is provided (with spoilers!), and there is a flashback scene to help fill in some of the missing details.

The setting of the story is Russia right before the revolution.  The Romanovs are still in power, and Czar Nicholas II is barely maintaining control of his empire.  With a sickly heir and a wife causing strife amongst the masses, the government is putting down one peasant protest after another.  Rasputin has earned the trust of the Czarina, much to the dismay of the ruling class.  With rumors swirling about their relationship and about the young heir’s illness, people are losing faith in the Romanovs’ ability to effectively lead the country in a time of rapid change and political missteps.  Into this growing cesspool of discontent walk Saya and Hagi, members of the secret organization the Red Shield.  They are hunting Chiropterans, and they believe that they have infiltrated the ruling party.

The intrigue is deftly threaded around the interactions of the members of the court, and that aspect of the story was compelling and kept me glued to the initial pages.  It’s when the monster hunting begins that I started to get lost.  There isn’t enough time allowed for the action scenes to unfold with a sense of danger and suspense – instead, Saya is thrown right into the fray, cutting down a suspected Chiropteran with little build up to give the act the necessary impact to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.  Even the revelation that she’s made a mistake and she’s killed a human doesn’t have an emotional punch.  Events begin to cascade out of control, and as they do, the plot becomes more and more jumbled.  This is another series that would have benefited from a couple more chapters, so that the disjointed plot sequences could have formed into a more cohesive whole.

There are several elements of the story that I did enjoy, and I think I might have to delve into earlier works set in the Blood+ mythos to get a better feeling for the series.  The relationship between Saya and her partner/protector Hagi had me curious, and I would like to learn a little more about both of their backgrounds.  Saya’s ability to slay the Chiropterans with a sword and a few drops of her blood is pretty cool, but I have to admit that I am partial to stories where the characters run around lopping off limbs.  It’s so much more interesting than when they run around shooting each other.

The art left me ambivalent, and I find the covers unappealing.  I mean, look at those poses. While Hagi looks very dramatic and intense on volume one, Saya looks like a Gumby with her head bent at a painfully awkward angle.   And what are Anastasia and Rasputin doing? Practicing their cheerleading skills?  It gives no indication that the pages are overflowing with blood, mangled limbs, and a chick with a really big sword.   Unfortunately, the covers don’t make me want to pick up the books and examine them in greater detail.  The interior art is better, though it’s lacking a spark that would make it engaging and visually gratifying.

I am going to have to say that if you aren’t familiar with previous Blood+ works, this series is not the place to start.  Though offering up an interesting premise, there isn’t enough background information given to satisfy newcomers to the series. 

Grade: C

Review copy provided by Dark Horse