Kari’s Manga Corner: First Impressions Of ‘Black Bird’
Want passion, mythology and demons? Then you need to check out Black Bird by Kanoko Sakurakouji. There is a whole world of demons and spirits that intersects ours but only a few can see it. Young Misao Harada can, and not only that, she is the Senka Maiden! If a demon drinks her blood they will become more powerful, if they eat her flesh they will become immortal, and if they marry her their clan will thrive. Suddenly a handsome and mysterious man, Kyo, comes into Misao’s life and apparently they knew each other as children. Well, it turns out that Kyo is also a demon, and not just any demon, he is the head of the Tengu (bird demon) clan! Is Kyo the same as Misao remembers? Does he want her for his bride? Does he have sinister motives? Or does he really love Misao? What’s a sixteen year old girl to do?!
I have enjoyed reading this title. The art is a bit different than I have seen before. The characters have wider faces than typical anime/manga characters. Kyo especially has a wide face (narrow oval eyes that are wide and a wide mouth). It is like his face has been pulled to the sides, yet he is still good looking. Misao has HUGE round eyes that add to her childlike personality. Also, everyone’s pupils have this scribble/scratchy look that gives them all a dream-like quality. There are lots of detailed patterns on the clothing which gives artwork a sense of realism. Emotions are a big part of Shojo manga and they are expressed nicely in this series. They range from a sly smirk to over the top, but it all comes across as believable.
The story is engaging and the characters are likeable. However, it flickers across the line between sexy and slightly uncomfortable. For example: Misao is a typical teenager who falls madly in love with Kyo and there are jokes about his advances that are playful but it is clear Misao is not thrilled with his forwardness most of the time. Then the story redeems itself by having Kyo tell Misao he does not want to pressure her into sex and will wait until she is ready. Their cuddling and kissing is super romantic and you just want them to be together. Also, you should not be bothered by blood because there is a bit of violence and Misao is constantly tormented by smaller demons in the beginning. As the Senka Maiden, Misao is occasionally kidnapped and held prisoner which presents a sort of BDSM situation (one situation is particularly graphic). Be warned: Misao cries a lot! This makes most of the scenarios a lot less sexy or just awkward. Even with all of that, I thoroughly enjoy reading the intense romance between Kyo and Misao and I enjoy the series pushing the limits.
Currently I am almost done with volume 5 and plan to finish the series. One other thing the series has going for it is there is a lot of humor which helps lighten the mood. Black Bird captures the passion of young love and explores different kinds of relationships that make Shojo manga so enjoyable to read!
