Life continues … whether in the past or present.
Creative Staff:
Art: Aya Obara
Original Story: Usata Nonohara
Character Design: ox
Translation: Erin Husson
Lettering: Rochelle Gancio
What They Say:
When a stampeding horde of monsters threatened to destroy the world, Mariela the Alchemist would go on to survive. At the advice of her master, she placed herself in a state of suspended animation and awoke unaged and unharmed – two hundred years in the future! Alchemy is now a lost art, and potions have become scarce. As the last remaining alchemist, Mariela just wants a quiet life. But while she and her newfound allies work to carve out a slice of home for themselves in the Kingdom of Endalsia, keeping a low profile is harder than she thought.
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
An ominous thunder echoes across the sky, but as Mariela and Sieg attempt to discern what could be the cause of this foreboding noise, the frightened alchemist cannot but feel the crushing dread of being alone once again, recalling what happened two hundred years ago in the Kingdom of Endalsia, a similar sound signaling the arrival of monsters and the eruption of a Stampede, yet as those painful memories threaten to bring back profound sadness, a familiar redhead questions what this couple is doing and to hurry inside the tavern. But the warning falls upon deaf ears as this confused girl ignores the warning and excitedly points upward, stumbling over her words before asking about the soaring shapes, only to have any enthusiasm defused once Amber understands the source of her anxiety and smiles in amusement, questioning if this is the first time she has seen flying toads, the creatures swarming every few years, with this sense of wonderment quickly vanishing once Emily chimes in with the declaration that they taste great when fried up. As this bewildered young woman is stunned by an odd choice of food, the poster girl of Yagu Drawbridge Pavilion does not waste time by happily explaining the ecology of these strange amphibians even as her messy hair is brushed by her comforted customer, but as the story ends, the curvaceous server brings an unsettling conclusion to the discussion by stating these creatures are a cheap but delicious meal, even as Mariela is repulsed by a platter of corpses resting upon the bar counter. It is then when a gruff voice breaks in and states they would taste better if they had some ginger, the pungent root helping to disguise any gamy flavor, Ghark declaring he could not find any in the Labyrinth and the Fell Forest has been picked clean, lamenting these toads will not taste the same without the spicy plant and hoping to gather some before winter to make cold remedies, yet as all regret the absence of this zesty addition, Amber sends off her friends with a share of the meat plus payment for the medicine delivery, causing the thoughtful alchemist to wonder what she can do, before announcing to Sieg they are going to gather some herbs.
In Summary:
Upon hearing there would be a new possibility of extending our adventures within The Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams of a Quiet City Life, an enthused audience would most sincerely be looking forward to reading this promising book, and yet during the opening pages, it is clear this initial volume is a retelling of Nonohara-sensei’s wondrous story, accelerating the events within the first two light novels, and yet curiously calling itself a ”link story”. Yet this duplicity goes beyond the hopeful chance of seeing what might have happened to Mariela and Sieg after the closing pages, particularly for insightful readers who recall what happened over the course of defeating the Labyrinth, our young master alchemist needing to fabricate the ultimate panacea to save Endalsia, in other words, an Elixir, and so to use this meaningful reference within the title The Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams of a Quiet City Life: Cycle of the Elixir is either a careless mistake or mangaka Obara-sensei does not recognize the importance of a supposedly insignificant word, the creation of this medicinal concoction being the key to overcoming a generational struggle which has plagued the Labyrinth City for over two hundred years.
While we may be able to overlook this naming stumble, it is the reconstruction of cherished sights that is exasperating due to its mundane nature, for though Obara-sensei may have attempted a creative adaptation of the light novels by broadening moments via a mismatched stream of consciousness narrative, the emotional undertones that made Nonohara-sensei’s adventures so moving are unfortunately lost in lieu of presenting a captivating display of this mangaka’s work, hoping the audience will be enthralled by astonishing details within fleeting images, pushing once a disinterested reader to stare in amazement as we delve into each amazing panel which is now a visual treat to explore. Yet it is the absence of original material within this unique title that is regretfully troubling, for while it may be excusable to consider this a ”link story” due to the purposeful connection of events, there is nothing that allows experienced viewers to consider this book to be a new series when compared to the manga published less than five years ago. The inclusion of an inconsequential opening idea adds little to the substance of this moving series, all while a curious audience wonders how The Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams of a Quiet City Life: Cycle of the Elixir can expand upon what we know of Mariela and Sieg life within Labyrinth City, the narrative boredom of an unfulfilled promise now a sincere disappointment, forcing a teetering audience to wonder what sort of incentive we have to continue this repetitive visual exploration.
Content Grade: B
Art Grade: A-
Packaging Grade: A-
Text/Translation Grade: A-
Age Rating: Teen
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: March 26, 2024
MSRP: $13.00
