Lunar Legend Tsukihime #2
Reviewed by Kat Avila - Sequential Tart
Credits
Writer: Type-Moon / Tsukihime Project
Artist: Sasakishonen
Distributor: DrMaster Publications, Inc.
Translator: Michiko Nakayama
ISBN: 1-59796-076-4
Grade: 7
Like the front cover of #1, Lunar Legend Tsukihime, volume 2, features a medium shot of a cute girl with her left arm flung out to the side. When you flip the book over for the rest of the graphic, the girl's hand reveals an element of menace. In #1, the girl is "true ancestor" vampire princess Arcueid Brunestud whose fingers end in deadly spikes; in #2, church-associated exorcist Ciel holds three small swords, part-cross, part-stake.
The action picks up with the planned execution of the murderous "dead apostle" vampire Nero Chaos by Arcueid and the inexperienced demon-killer Shiki Tohno, a schoolboy. Killing Nero will not be easy as he holds within his body hundreds of beastly familiars (volume 1 covered their horrific feeding spree on an entire hotel's guests and employees). Moreover, both Arcueid and Shiki are recovering from injuries; Arcueid from Shiki's unfriendly disassembling attack when they first met, and Shiki from one of Nero's monster wolves at the hotel.
A color collage composed of close shots of Shiki's younger sister Akiha, Arcueid, and Ciel is inside the manga cover. Panel pages run dark, which is a shame since much striking visual detail gets lost or obscured.
Lunar Legend Tsukihime is filled with plenty of bloody meat, enough to satisfy the werewolves among manga readers. A suspenseful, mysterious storyline helps to keep interest high. It seems the story ends with volume 2, but fans who have seen the related anime know there is more to come.
Written: January 22, 2006
Published: February 1, 2006
