Yuki Kaori - Angel Sanctuary, vol. 13-16 (Eng. trans.)
Sun, Nov. 26th, 2006 03:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
oyceterI probably shouldn't be posting reviews right now, given that I'm in a grumpy mood and it always leaks through and makes things sound worse than they are. But Yuki Kaori rocks, and while I may not be squeeing, possibly talking about insane angels will cheer me up somewhat.
Again, I read these vols. a long time ago, but decided to reread so that I could finish the series with some vague inkling of what the various plot twists were. Alas, this seems to be a futile effort, since I've read the entire thing in a few weeks and I still can't figure out how she got from vol. 1 to here. But hey, I'm not complaining, given the amount of crack put in!
YAY! I have finally gotten to what I love the most about the series! The Mad Hatter arc is fun, but Sara actually having agency and Setsuna actually thinking and ZOMG Zaphikel's backstory and Lailah and Sevothtarte and Lucifer and Kira and EEEEEE!
Also, I noticed that I have been reading "Zaphikel" as "Zaphkiel" this entire time. On another random note, for some reason, Viz decides to transliterate "Lil" as "Riru," starting from vol. 13. But it's still "Lil" in previous volumes.
I can't decide what's my favorite part! I mean... there's Zaphikel and more angst and Raziel and the revelation about secret angel embryos and hidden children and not seeing what's in front of you the entire time. And there's my absolute favorite zombie cannibal angel bit! Not that I know of any others, but this is why I read Yuki Kaori! I love that offering your surrogate father, now a brainless zombie screaming for braaaaiiiins, a bite out of your shoulder is the ultimate expression of love in Angel Sanctuary. And then there's Kira, who is remembering being the soul of Lucifer! And he is Michael's brother! And Michael hates him and wants to kill him, because of course that is the ultimate expression of brotherly love in this universe, a la Rosiel, unless the ultimate expression of brotherly love is Setsuna's love for Sara.
Or both!
Also, I love the entire Lailah reveal. I still can't believe that Yuki had it foreshadowed way back in vol. 6 or so, when Setsuna first goes down to hell and meets that random guy. I never thought I'd feel sorry for Sevothtarte, and yet, I do.
On another random translation note, I have no idea why everyone keeps calling Sevothtarte "Sevy." It seems rather undignified. Ditto with Raphael and "Raphy." Is this in the original? Is it a weird Viz decision? And if it's the latter, why?
I continue to skirt around being interested in Raphael's story; I am bored sick of him in love with Sara, largely because everyone is in love with Sara, since she's The Girl. Plus, I want to smack him over the head, because Bardiel is extremely awesome and kicks ass. It is "Bardiel"? I am too lazy to walk three feet to my manga shelves and flip through to find the three pages she's actually in. But I keep wanting to type "Bardiel" because otherwise it would be "Barbiel" and I would be thinking of barbed wires and Barbie dolls and suffering extreme mental dissociation.
I am starting to like Setsuna a bit. I usually do like the heroes and heroines of series, but it's taken very long for Setsuna to catch my interest. I think this made for a bit of a struggle in this series, largely because everyone else is extremely interested in Setsuna as Setsuna, and not just as the savior or the incarnation of Alexiel. This puzzles me, as I am (or was) largely interested in Setsuna only because he was the incarnation of Alexiel and obviously had a large and tragic Destiny. I think I've finally gotten to like him a little more because he's now not willing to sacrifice the entire world, underworld and Heaven for Sara, and so he's actually thinking about other people, for a change. I mean, I suppose he did before, but I would get really annoyed because everyone would be swearing their devotion for him up and down and all around, and he's mostly wander through and not notice at all.
Kurai continues to do her thing, though I wish there were a little less weeping for Setsuna and more cool politicking.
Ok, actually, I do know what my favorite part is, because really, what could beat Rosiel killing Kira to piss of Setsuna and Kira saying he's lived too long?! And that panel of him thinking, "I never wanted to be human... but what if I just wanted to remain Sakuya Kira a little longer?" Kira! You haven't been around that much! But you totally steal any scene you're in!
Also, on a shallow note, he was in military uniform for a bit. I love how Yuki Kaori explains that she basically just stuck him in uniform for the fans (ditto for Rosiel) and then had to make up a reason.
Again, I read these vols. a long time ago, but decided to reread so that I could finish the series with some vague inkling of what the various plot twists were. Alas, this seems to be a futile effort, since I've read the entire thing in a few weeks and I still can't figure out how she got from vol. 1 to here. But hey, I'm not complaining, given the amount of crack put in!
YAY! I have finally gotten to what I love the most about the series! The Mad Hatter arc is fun, but Sara actually having agency and Setsuna actually thinking and ZOMG Zaphikel's backstory and Lailah and Sevothtarte and Lucifer and Kira and EEEEEE!
Also, I noticed that I have been reading "Zaphikel" as "Zaphkiel" this entire time. On another random note, for some reason, Viz decides to transliterate "Lil" as "Riru," starting from vol. 13. But it's still "Lil" in previous volumes.
I can't decide what's my favorite part! I mean... there's Zaphikel and more angst and Raziel and the revelation about secret angel embryos and hidden children and not seeing what's in front of you the entire time. And there's my absolute favorite zombie cannibal angel bit! Not that I know of any others, but this is why I read Yuki Kaori! I love that offering your surrogate father, now a brainless zombie screaming for braaaaiiiins, a bite out of your shoulder is the ultimate expression of love in Angel Sanctuary. And then there's Kira, who is remembering being the soul of Lucifer! And he is Michael's brother! And Michael hates him and wants to kill him, because of course that is the ultimate expression of brotherly love in this universe, a la Rosiel, unless the ultimate expression of brotherly love is Setsuna's love for Sara.
Or both!
Also, I love the entire Lailah reveal. I still can't believe that Yuki had it foreshadowed way back in vol. 6 or so, when Setsuna first goes down to hell and meets that random guy. I never thought I'd feel sorry for Sevothtarte, and yet, I do.
On another random translation note, I have no idea why everyone keeps calling Sevothtarte "Sevy." It seems rather undignified. Ditto with Raphael and "Raphy." Is this in the original? Is it a weird Viz decision? And if it's the latter, why?
I continue to skirt around being interested in Raphael's story; I am bored sick of him in love with Sara, largely because everyone is in love with Sara, since she's The Girl. Plus, I want to smack him over the head, because Bardiel is extremely awesome and kicks ass. It is "Bardiel"? I am too lazy to walk three feet to my manga shelves and flip through to find the three pages she's actually in. But I keep wanting to type "Bardiel" because otherwise it would be "Barbiel" and I would be thinking of barbed wires and Barbie dolls and suffering extreme mental dissociation.
I am starting to like Setsuna a bit. I usually do like the heroes and heroines of series, but it's taken very long for Setsuna to catch my interest. I think this made for a bit of a struggle in this series, largely because everyone else is extremely interested in Setsuna as Setsuna, and not just as the savior or the incarnation of Alexiel. This puzzles me, as I am (or was) largely interested in Setsuna only because he was the incarnation of Alexiel and obviously had a large and tragic Destiny. I think I've finally gotten to like him a little more because he's now not willing to sacrifice the entire world, underworld and Heaven for Sara, and so he's actually thinking about other people, for a change. I mean, I suppose he did before, but I would get really annoyed because everyone would be swearing their devotion for him up and down and all around, and he's mostly wander through and not notice at all.
Kurai continues to do her thing, though I wish there were a little less weeping for Setsuna and more cool politicking.
Ok, actually, I do know what my favorite part is, because really, what could beat Rosiel killing Kira to piss of Setsuna and Kira saying he's lived too long?! And that panel of him thinking, "I never wanted to be human... but what if I just wanted to remain Sakuya Kira a little longer?" Kira! You haven't been around that much! But you totally steal any scene you're in!
Also, on a shallow note, he was in military uniform for a bit. I love how Yuki Kaori explains that she basically just stuck him in uniform for the fans (ditto for Rosiel) and then had to make up a reason.
(no subject)
Mon, Nov. 27th, 2006 12:39 am (UTC)I think Kurai is kind of cool. I wish there were more Kurai + Alexiel flashbacks, but then I wish there were more Alexiel flashbacks in general because Alexiel is awesome.
I've always liked Setsuna. I don't know why. I may have been overwhelmed by love for the idea of Kira/Setsuna because really Kira/anyone is enough to drive me out of my senses.
(no subject)
Mon, Nov. 27th, 2006 12:54 am (UTC)I cannot wait until I read vol. 17 again because of SPOILER.
I adore Kurai, which is probably partially why I get a little annoyed at Setsuna for ignoring her, which is sort of irrational, but oh well. I also wish there were more Kurai and Alexiel flashbacks! I love Alexiel! And Kurai! I think I sound more down about Kurai than I actually am, mostly because I really love her and wish she got to do more and had more page time.