Kojou will never leave his friends behind … even when things seem hopeless.
Creative Staff:
Art: Tate
Original Story: Gakuto Mikumo
Character Design: Manyako
Translation/Adaptation: Jeremiah Bourque
What They Say:
Kojou is doing his best to stay out of trouble whiles his watcher is away, but that’s easier said than done when there’s a mad alchemist on the loose! Amatsuka still needs to gather more components to revive Wiseman, but a huge ship might just provide all the necessary metals – not to mention the spiritual power of the unsuspecting kids aboard, who’ve just set sail on their field trip! Kojou must find a way to crash the girls’ trip – and Amatsuka’s plans – before it’s too late! Catch the Fourth Primogenitor’s greatest battle yet, in the final volume of Strike the Blood!
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Yukina’s school trip has finally started, however as they leave port and head for their destination, it does not take long for the Sword Shaman to sense something is wrong. With the others gathering to prepare for an activity, she is secluded away in her room, tense for the worst of troubles, arming in case of danger since she is without her trusted Snowdrift Wolf. However, as the watcher leaves, she finds Kanase nervously standing in the corridor, also concerned of something ominous gathering aboard the ship and not sure what to do in this situation. Calming down her friend, Himeragi tells her not to worry, but Kanon cannot but voice her uneasiness, since this is the same presence she felt five years ago in Abelard Abbey, the same night she lost so many good friends. Now wary of her new mission, she asks Kanase to join the others while she confronts the intruder on the bridge, where there has been no contact and upon entering, the bloody scene soon gives her the reason why – an amorphous Amatsuka slithering among the bodies with a sickening grin.
Even as Yukina begins a new fight for her life, Kojou is nursing the fainted form of Asagi, all this the result of Nina abandoning this girl to gather spirit blood to compose a new body for herself. But even as the once powerful alchemist seems dissatisfied with her new form, Natsuki arrives to inform them of the situation and loss of communication with the ferry transporting the field trip. With the Fourth Primogenitor now seething in anger for the danger which Amatsuka has but his sister Nagisa and Yukina in, he pleads with his teacher to help them. However, she expected this reaction and planned for the situation, alerting a previous ally they will need her help – Princess La Folia. The resources of the Aldegia kingdom are at their disposal and can get them to the ship, but before the pair can leave, a familiar voice chimes with an objection – it is Yukina’s teacher. Also contacted prior to alerting Akatsuki, she has brought back her student’s weapon the Snowdrift Wolf, knowing it would be needed for this decisive battle. With everything now assembled, the only thing left is a manner of transport … and their royal accomplice has something in mind, but will Kojou be able to survive the trip and make it in time?
In Summary:
Although the manga concludes short since the original source material of the light novel is ongoing, we are nevertheless left with a satisfying story of watching Kojou and Yukina’s relationship flourish. Fans familiar with the anime will recognize the ending, but at the same time, they will also realize this compilation does not cover the entire series, leaving us with something which feels lacking. To see only a hint of what we know, you might consider these books as an introduction to their ongoing escapades, allowing us to see what Mikumo-sensei had intended as opposed to the show. But at the same time, reading these graphic volumes also opens up new details never revealed on screen, thus allowing the audience to become more engrossed within this intense, if at times silly, world of the Fourth Primogenitor; however as we uncover these unknown elements, I wish they were expanded upon, especially within this finale – to see new characters and situations disclosed, but then overlooked is disappointing all within what we can assume will be the conclusion to this storyline.
Strike the Blood has been an accomplishment for a vampire centered manga, allowing us to see one of these inhuman creatures attempt to live a normal life. While you can easily understand Kojou Akatsuki is not your typical teenager, to have a harem of charming, if not overbearing at times, beauties may be tempting, is it these girls who also surround him with trouble. Although I always cringed to see the title of Fourth Primogenitor displayed on the page, it is the outstanding artwork by Tate which made this series a pleasure to witness. Kojou, Asagi, and Yukina we fun to watch, and hopefully, this will not be the end of there adventures within their twisted world.
Content Grade: A
Art Grade: A-
Packaging Grade: A
Text/Translation Grade: B
Series Grade: A
Age Rating: Mature
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: April 17, 2018
MSRP: $13.00
