Raki has Clare so close that he can touch her; but can he draw her body out of the dormant form of the most powerful Abyssal One ever!?
Creative Staff
Story & Art: Norihiro Yagi
Translation/Adaptation: John Werry
What They Say
Rebel warrior Miria penetrates the headquarters of the secret Organization that created her, discovering the appalling truth about Yoma. Meanwhile, human warrior Raki joins the Claymores on the battlefield and seems closer than ever to his goal of reuniting with Clare, his Claymore companion. Yet the cycle of violence cannot be stopped—an epic battle is brewing and Priscilla, a powerful force for evil, is back in the fight!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Miria seems to have the Organization completely defeated. But she knows better than that; she knows that the leader is still hiding away somewhere with his finger on the pulse of the real secret behind the Yoma and Claymores. It takes some work to find him, but when she does, Miria finally reveals for the readers what the Organization has been doing behind their closed doors. It is something I have sort of suspected along the way, but I wasn’t sure until the author slapped me right across the face with it. Good stuff.
Once Miria kills the last of the Organization’s secrets, she regroups with all the other Claymores and Raki. It is an interesting part of this arc as it seems like the characters finally have a chance to take a breath and decide their next plan of action. Although, once Raki learns that Clare’s body is trapped with an Abyssal One near Rabona City, he tells everyone he wants to get Clare out. Some of the Claymore’s like Raki’s conviction, but some aren’t too convinced. In particular, Deneve rips her top off and forces Raki to look at her torso and whatever mutation all Claymores live with. This is a curious moment as the story has hinted at, but never revealed, something horrific on every Claymore’s torso throughout the series. Well, we still don’t get to see what it is, but after Raki tells the girls he doesn’t care that Clare has that mutilation, they all seem relieved and ready to help him rescue Clare.
Upon reaching Rabona, the Claymores are presented with an odd sight. The city was evacuated and only a few Claymores and the city guards remain. The really weird part are the dozens of male and female Awakened Beings surrounding the city, waiting for something to happen to the Abyssal One that has Clare trapped within her. These Awakened Beings can sense that this is the most powerful creature their continent has ever seen, and they are just calmly waiting to see what will happen once the Abyssal One comes out of its dormancy.
Raki is convinced he can get in touch with Clare’s psyche from within that Abyssal One and draw her out. Only problem is that Abyssal Ones love eating humans, so it seems more likely that Raki’s interference will only re-awaken this monster and then everyone is pretty much dead. Will Raki succeed or just piss of the Abyssal One? What is the worse problem; all the Awakened Beings around Rabona or the Abyssal One, or the remaining former number one Claymore that became an Abyssal One and killed the other two at the Organization and then left to reach Rabona?
In Summary
I am impressed that the author has been able to keep the two biggest secrets of this series under wraps for 23 volumes. This book finally reveals what Claymores are and how they were made, and what mutilation it is that all Claymores have on their torso. The torso thing also explains why Claymores suffer from that affliction. Aside of all this, it is fun to see the respect and companionship that has been formed between Raki and the Claymores and the human soldiers of Rabona and the Claymores. It is that cool moment when the odds are so stacked against you that you have reached a new found respect for your allies by necessity. But even better than this, is the opportunity for Raki and Clare to reunite after seven long years of searching for each other. Claymore #23 is full of great stuff and a must read for every fan, and anyone that has quit reading this series; go get this volume!
Highly recommended series!
Content Grade: A
Art Grade: B+
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: B+
Age Rating: 16+
Released By: Viz Media
Release Date: October 1st, 2013
MSRP: $9.99