Yuki Kaori - Godchild, vol. 01 (Eng. trans.)

[oyceter]

I read this at Borders, and after I read it, I was so completely boggled by the cracktasticness and sheer Victorian gothic insanity that I promptly went upstairs to look at knitting books, because nothing else in the manga section could possibly compare.

I'm not quite sure if I like it or not, but it's definitely cracktastic like nothing else. Every time I thought things couldn't get more insane, they did.

Apparently Godchild is a sequel of sorts to Count Cain or The Saga of Count Cain or however Viz is choosing to translate the title. It doesn't seem as though it's been published here yet.

The very first panel of Godchild kindly tells us that Cain is the mysterious son of the dead Earl of Hargreaves; his incredible loneliness means that his one hobby is poisons. (I am reduced to incoherent giggling at this, but wait! It gets better!) He has a half-sister Mary Weather, bastard child of the Earl and a non-noblewoman. Mary Weather is 10, doll-like and innocent and spunky, but luckily not enough so that I wanted to throw something at her. Yet. Cain is served by the mysterious butler Riff; together, they fight crime! Not really, but they investigate the aftermath.

Then, things get even more insane! Apparently Cain's father was the head of some super-secret society, and a beautiful blonde doctor, Jezebel Disraeli (I think), who was also part of said secret society, has a dread love-hate relationship with Hargreaves and desperately wants to kill Cain, fuck with his mind, or just have sex with him, or all of the above, or all of the above at the same time, since this is manga. And then it ends with the announcement that apprently Jezebel collects eyes and wants Cain's beautiful golden eyes.

Just to remind you all, this is the first panel summary of Count Cain.

The story takes place in Victorian England, but has absolutely nothing to do with Victorian England and much more to do with the Goth-Lolita fashion and aesthetic so popular in Harajuku. Aka, baby-doll dresses in Victorian fashion, long ringlets, little cloth caps or sashes in the hair, platform shoes and striped stockings, lace and lace and lace, and lots of black. There's a little nursery rhyme or children's story in front of each short story mystery except the last -- the first is something like the White Rabbit or the Mad Hatter, the second is something about the crooked house on the crooked lane, and the third is "Baa Baa Black Sheep." The fourth is some sort of bridle or torture mask, which is really rather indicative.

The first story is on a serial killer in a white rabbit mask who beheads young girls, ala the Queen of Hearts' "Off with her head!" The second story has to do with creepy dolls come to life or death or something, which I'm sure is in no way a spoiler, because how else could a Victorian goth murder mystery short story with a room full of life-size, lifelike dolls end?

So far, the relationship between Cain and Mary Weather isn't quite incestuous, but he wants to protect her innocence from the world, and she says she wouldn't mind being caged like a bird, as long as it was caged in his love. I suspect incest will enter shortly, or some sort of devotion that isn't quite proper.

Then there's Riff, the dark and mysterious butler, who is the only one Cain wants dressing him.

Then, of course, there is the absolutely insane Jezebel, who lusts after Cain's golden eyes.

My problems with the story are the same problems I have with Angel Sanctuary -- the guys are ten times as interesting as the girls, and I'm really hoping Mary doesn't turn into a Sara-esque character. I'm not quite sure why I don't mind this with Saiyuki... maybe it's because there aren't the child-like younger sisters who are beautifully innocent.

On the other hand, the sheer cracktasticness! It hurts my brain! I am still completely stunned by how absolutely Victorian gothic Lolita insane this is. I spent the entire walk back from Borders trying desperately not to cackle out loud.

ETA: coffeeandink on Godchild 1. I agree with her; Viz's translation is horrible.

Comments

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

My problems with the story are the same problems I have with Angel Sanctuary -- the guys are ten times as interesting as the girls,

This is a frustration I have with so much manga! At least Angel Sanctuary has Alexiel. (And Sara actually does something really interesting in V12 or V13; I don't know if you read that far.)

[oyceter]

Le sigh, indeed it is. I wish there were more with Alexiel in AS because I love her so much. I haven't gotten up to vol. 12 yet, but am incredibly thankful to hear that Sara has something to do.

I'm not sure which is worse; not having many female characters at all, or having female characters who only are there to be rescued by the brooding male character of angstiness.

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

I am trying to remember which volume my favorite Alexiel scene is, so I can tell whether I'd spoil you by discussing it. Somewhere in 10-13 is as far as I can narrow it down.

So far manhwa has much bitchier women than manga. It's an immense relief.

[oyceter]

You know, just the fact that there is a favorite Alexiel scene is extreme incentive to keep reading.

I adore Alexiel and am sad that there isn't more of her. I mean, Setsuna in Alexiel's body was immensely funny, but not quite the same as the rebel angel going against God.

I need to read more manhwa!

I also wish there were more non-bitchy, non-super-sweet women in manga.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Merry Weather? Serious WTF? Who was taking what drugs after which lobotomy to come up with that?

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

How about Jezebel Disraeli?

[weirdquark]

Jezebel, some of my roommates and I have decided, is the bastard love child of Watari and Muraki, who escaped the world of Yami no Matsuei and went to Harajuku England.

We've also decided that Cain is vampire. Not because he's done anything to prove it, but because he's never done anything that contradicts this theory.

[oyceter]

I think this means I really need to watch Yami no Matsuei. Thankfully, Netflix just sent me disc 1!

I think Cain is the reincarnation of Cesare Borgia a la Cantarella. Maybe as a vampire. It explains so much.

[untrue-accounts.livejournal.com]

Also, it will render you the perfect audience for the YnM/Count Cain/Sweeney Todd crossover I'm not writing!

[oyceter]

More reason to watch!

How did I miss that Count Cain was involved before? Eeee!

I send imaginary squeeing feedback for your imaginary fic.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

FYI, I thought the individual mysteries were frequently kind of boring. However, it is worth sitting through them in order to get to the tremendous angst that comes later and, at times, in between. Plus there's a chopstick battle for dumplings, and a magic floating chicken wearing a bonnet and tennis shoes.

[oyceter]

Already I am in love with the magic floating chicken!

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Jezebel Disraeli is authentic Japanese WTF. Merry Weather is contrived Japanese WTF, because there'd be a period between the two names if that's what the Japanese said. But in Japanese it's all one name, so it's properly Merriweather.

[oyceter]

Ahhh, the Yuki Kaori special brand of crack ;).

PS

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

I must profess my instant and very deep love for your icon.

Re: PS

[oyceter]

Isn't it awesome? And oh so true!

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Just to remind you all, this is the first panel summary of Count Cain.

This write-up is just the funniest thing ever.

[oyceter]

I was sitting there reading it, and by the second line of the first panel (this is all not just the first panel, but the first text box of the first panel), I was trying desperately not to snort coffee up my nose or laugh so hard that I fell off the chair.

[seajules]

It doubtless says very disturbing things about me that between this and Mely's write-up, it's all I can do not to hunt this puppy down and buy it right now. Because that is quality crack, right there, and the florist assassins just aren't cutting it for me these days.

[oyceter]

Heee!

To be perfectly honest, Mely's write-up was totally why I dug it up as well.

[seajules]

I surrendered to the madness. Mmm, chewy goth. *G*

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

Yes! Read the Kaori Yuki crack!

[seajules]

I did! And whoa, you weren't kidding about the crack part. Pretty, though. I now wonder if Muraki is related to the Hargreaves.