The truth behind the origin of the guignol virus is revealed, but Lucille is no closer to stopping the plague.
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Kaori Yuki
Translation/Adaptation: Camellia Nieh
What They Say
Lucille and company visit the residence of Duke Rhodonite–a member of the opposition to the queen–in search of information about the new type of Guignols they discovered at the Vienne Abbey. When the Duke holds a party to announce his betrothal, Lucille is captured through a nefarious plot!
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The opening of this volume finishes off the episode started in the last, with Eles and Lucille is a battle with Lucille’s former pianist, Berthier. Berthier taunts them, playing into Eles’ suspicions and Lucille’s past mistakes. The convent’s secret is now out in the open, and with their horrific crimes exposed the whole operation of creating controllable guignols comes to a fiery close. The troupe makes their escape, with Berthier getting away in the chaos.
With a solid lead on the financier behind the convent the troupe arrives at the estate of Duke Rhodonite (continuing the gemstone and mineral naming theme). The two groups begin a tense standoff, each waiting for the other to make the first move. Complicating matters is the return of Spinel, the palace spy and former friend of Lucille’s. She was already working the scene when they arrived, and isn’t happy to see her plans spoiled again. The troupe is merely amused to reencounter her, especially since the tough as nails spy is playing the role of a besotted lounge singer and newest bride of the treacherous Duke. Spinel relents and throws her support behind Lucille once again, recalling their days together at the academy and realizing that he never really betrayed her.
While all this is going on, we get a look at the past of Gwindel. When the two orchestra members said they were criminals, they weren’t kidding. Gwindel’s bloody past is exceptionally tragic and horrific. Eles is willing to give the man the benefit of a doubt, even as it grows increasingly likely that the man is a monster. His backstory was a welcome surprise that I wish they had spent more time on, rather than the quick flashes of it that we get to see.
The Duke and the troupe finally clash, with Lucille taken hostage and the others fighting to rescue him. Lucille accuses the Duke of creating the virus which created the guignols, all why suffering the effects of it as the Duke attempts to infect him. Lucille suffers it all with a grim smile that’s defiant and confident, and the scene is great fun to watch play out. Lucille continues to grow more mysterious, as it’s hinted that his talent is otherworldly and divine, and that a normal human couldn’t hope to match him in song. The Duke is the opposite, a rather bland one-sided typical villain. The author admits in the side notes she doesn’t enjoy drawing him. He wants immortality and delights in torture. It’s disappointing, but he’s only a stepping stone to get to the real antagonists behind him, le sénat.
In Summary:
Grand Guignol Orchestra continues the beat laid down in previous volumes. We’re halfway through the story, and the ending of this volume adds even more complications to Lucille’s quest. The troupe must press onward, now as wanted criminals, if they want to save the land. There are no great surprises here, most of the actions that happen fall into the usual “I’m betrayed, or am I?” cliche, and it’s easy to guess what’s going to happen next. However, the story remains a fun read and is consistently well put together, with some amusing antics from the cast in the midst of the horrific crimes against humanity they keep encountering.
Content Grade: B +
Art Grade: B+
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: B+
Age Rating: 16+
Released By: Viz Media
Released Date: June 7th, 2011
MSRP: $9.99
