Brother against brother.
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Aya Kanno
Translation/Adaptation: Jocelyne Allen
What They Say
An uprising draws King Edward, with Richard at his side, to battle. The aftermath could result in a new king. But who will take the throne? If Richard has anything to say about it, it will be neither of his brothers.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
I expected the worst when this volume opens. I half expected to see a literally decapitated Henry, but because Henry’s fate is well documented that’s not the case. Richard never sees the captured Henry, only hears his voice behind a door, unable to take revenge and kept away from the truth about the identity of his kindred spirit.
Richard remains torn about his own identity and what path to choose. He willingly finds himself drawn to Anne and enjoys the time he spends with her until he overhears the end of her conversation with her father where she declares she will not marry Richard. Suddenly he doubles down on his distance, haunted by the ghosts of the past which continue to whisper to his worse aspirations. His memories of Henry torment him, and he tries to push those feelings away. Even his father haunts him, that part of Richard’s psyche telling him to push everyone away and to not feel. Every time it looks like the torn Richard is going to turn away from the spiral of bloodlust he’s reminded that everyone is out for something and that he should trust no one because none of them could love him for what he really is.
Warwick meanwhile tries to play every side of the conflict. He tempts George to turn on his brother, the King Edward. He offers George his daughter Isabelle as a prize and the support of the King of France. On the other side, he invites Richard to his castle to spend some time with Anne. His plotting goes so far as to involve the former Queen Margaret, who goes to the King of France for help, and she proposes Anne become her son Edward’s wife. By the end of the volume I started to believe that Warwick was in over his head.
Edward’s scheming queen Elizabeth, who is still depicted with the pupils of a goat-like creature of pure malice, is pregnant with what she hopes is the heir to the throne. She is a character who has fallen completely to revenge, and it’s interesting to see her plans squandered when she gives birth to a girl. Quickly she moves to conceive yet again, and the wheel turns.
In the end, George and Warwick align. Edward and Richard stand against the rebellion, and Richard once again finds himself on the battlefield. It’s there that he once again becomes the target of unwanted advances. His bound breasts save him from one fate only to deliver him into another. Kanno has gone to great lengths to keep Richard as androgynous as possible in her artwork, and it works for the most part. I can’t help but wonder about depictions of him as a full grown adult will look. Catesby inexplicably happens to come to intervene at the right moment, the only other person who knows Richard’s secret, and whisks him to safety. Richard leverages Catesby’s honor to mount a two-man rescue of King Edward as this volume draws to a close. Richard isn’t thinking of restoring his brother, but of how neither him nor George are fit to rule.
In Summary
Requiem of the Rose King continues its beautiful and tragic course. Alliances swiftly shift in this volume, as Warwick lures the brother apart with promises of Kingship and rightful rule. Richard finds himself further confused about his own emotions, about his sexual identity, and still tempted by thoughts of revenge and conquest. Only his most loyal retainer and the guileless Anne remain to ground him to a peaceful life. It’s the most tenuous grip he could have. Yet it’s not time for King Edward to fall… no, not yet. Richard’s ambitions will have to wait.
Content Grade: A –
Art Grade: A –
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: A –
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Viz Media
Release Date: May 10th, 2016
MSRP: $9.99
