When Yukina is away … trouble only gets worse for Kojou.
Creative Staff:
Art: Tate
Original Story: Gakuto Mikumo
Character Design: Manyako
Translation/Adaptation: Jeremiah Bourque
What They Say:
Though Kanon Kanase is recovering from her ordeal, her father’s research has dangerous implications for the Fourth Primogenitor, and Kojou’s hopes of returning to a normal life are premature. The alchemist Amatsuka is after the Wiseman’s Blood, a powerful liquid-metal life-form, and he will spare no one in pursuit of his goal. Kojou would never back down from a fight to protect his city and his friends, but this time he will receive help from an unexpected ally…
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
With the long-awaited school trip finally here for Yukina, it is time to relieve herself of her obligations for keeping watch over the Fourth Primogenitor. And with that, she must now turn over her weapon the Snowdrift Wolf to her master Yukari Endou, but even in doing so, of course, she is worried Kojou will do something inappropriate. While her worries continue to mount with her teacher’s teasings, there is someone else causing problems at the old church Kanon lived in before it was destroyed. The alchemist Kou Amatsuka has brought his backer to the area to fulfill his promise and also to free what he wants most of all. By using the hardcore, a memento his teacher left him, this twisted opportunist releases the seal upon the Wiseman’s Blood, an adaptable liquid metal which is the ultimate prize of all alchemy. However in doing so, he must make a sacrifice to fully activate the life form, but nothing comes cheap when then prize is eternal life.
While the process appears to be moving forward smoothly, it seems his mentor left one final trap within the life form which causes it to go wild. As Kou watches with delight at the destruction, there is one other person in the vicinity which does not find it quite so amusing, Akatsuki’s childhood friend Asagi Aiba. During their last visit to the church, she lost one of her favorite earrings and picks now to look for the trinket, but in frustration calls Kojou for help. As she is on the phone with him, the Blood unleashes its fury by destroying everything in the area, causing the connection to be lost. In a panic, both the Fourth Primogenitor and his watcher rush to the area only to find the girl’s lifeless body lying amongst the rubble. Not wanting to believe the tragedy, and now unable to contain his rage or grief, the vampire’s anger erupts in a thunderous storm of epic proportions. This is the true power of his legacy, and unless his Himeragi can find a way to get through to him and calm his rage, this might be an end to the city and everyone he loves.
In Summary:
While the narrative itself is enticing, it seems the major draw for this volume was fan service, allowing Tate-sensei to show off a half-naked Asagi. Although Mikumo-sensei does a great job in driving forward the Wiseman Blood storyline, you cannot deny the fact watching Kojou see his childhood friend in a whole new way is one of the funnier moments of the title. And it does not help the new inhabitant of her body has no sense of modesty, walking around without clothes and allowing her hair to strategically cover more risque parts. But at the same time, it was enlightening to see how much the Fourth Primogenitor truly cares for the girl, physically allowing his rage to erupt in thinking he had lost Aiba. If he shows this much anger in seeing one of his closest friends suffering, it would be unimaginable to think what would happen if his sister Nagisa befell the same fate.
Strike the Blood has its moments for actual serious events where you begin to care for the characters, but this volume is split between comedy and emotional melodrama. Although this arc attempts to use the classic anime trope of seeing a guy’s nose bleed when seeing a half-naked girl to full advantage for humor sake, at the same time the story also uses those awkward moments to allow Kojou and his new friend to know each other better. This relationship helps the future storyline and also allows for Asagi to grow closer to someone she has liked for some time. Hopefully, the next book will try to develop the narrative more instead of introducing additional insincere adolescent jokes.
Content Grade: B+
Art Grade: A-
Packaging Grade: A
Text/Translation Grade: B
Age Rating: Mature
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: December 19, 2017
MSRP: $13.00
