Black Torch, Vol. 1

by Tsuyoshi Takaki | Graphic Novels |
ISBN: 9781974700462 Global Overview for this book
Registered by HI77 of Fort Myers, Florida USA on 10/10/2020
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by HI77 from Fort Myers, Florida USA on Saturday, October 10, 2020
A cute ball of fur,

that leads down a path
that feels all claws.

Journal Entry 2 by HI77 at Fort Myers, Florida USA on Thursday, October 22, 2020
I can’t say much for the cover. It’s pretty average fare for the manga industry. Basically it just lets you know it’s an action based book.

I can see this as a fun anime to watch. It has all the right elements for it. It seems like a fun concept but definitely following a troupe of those that have come before. So while I don’t think this is bad, I can see what’s coming next so easily, that I was getting bored with it. I think that if this were my first of this type I’d run across, I’d be gung ho about it, but at this point I’m a little ‘manga jaded’… lolol

Journal Entry 3 by HI77 at Fort Myers, Florida USA on Thursday, October 22, 2020

Released 3 yrs ago (10/22/2020 UTC) at Fort Myers, Florida USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The God of Luck and Shiny Things has poured down upon me! And another book trade has commenced! LOL

Here's to a book finding a new reader! Cheers! ;)

Journal Entry 4 by wingGoryDetailswing at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Friday, October 30, 2020
The box of books and bonus surprises arrived today - in the middle of the first snow of the season, yet. Many thanks!

Later: While this story has a lot of familiar elements, I really enjoyed the way it was presented, from our first meeting with a tiny Jiro trying to cope with his speak-with-animals skills and the trouble it gets him into to his meeting - and bonding with - the powerful spirit Rago, "he who devours the sun - the black star of doom!". At first Rago seems to be a badly-wounded black cat whom Jiro saves, but there are dangerous powers searching for Rago and now for Jiro as well. Another fight leaves Jiro on the brink of death, so Rago - urged by other demons to devour the human - opts to let the human "devour" him instead, merging his spirit with Jiro's! And lo! Jiro is now not only a really capable ninja but is possessed of demonic shadow-talons as well. This... may cause problems...

Loved the testy relationship between Jiro and his grandfather (whose reactions to Jiro's relationship with Rago seem extreme until we learn more of the background), and the glimpses of the "Black Torch" team are fun as well, though it isn't clear who's on what side until near the end of the volume.

I liked the artwork, too, whether it's funny - as when Rago-in-cat-form first realizes that this random human really *can* understand animal speech; the panel showing his reaction shot is hilarious! - or terrifying, as when Rago first reveals his black-flame-shadow form, or when the more ravenous of the enemy demons/mononoke turn up.

In some ways the story reminded me of Buso Renkin, with the "embed magic to save him" and "suddenly a member of an elite squad with cool tools/abilities" elements.

[There's a TV Tropes page on the series, with some entertaining tidbits.]

Journal Entry 5 by wingGoryDetailswing at Little Free Library, Fiske St. in Carlisle, Massachusetts USA on Saturday, November 14, 2020

Released 3 yrs ago (11/14/2020 UTC) at Little Free Library, Fiske St. in Carlisle, Massachusetts USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Guidelines for safely visiting and stocking Little Free Libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic, from the LFL site here.

I left this book in the Little Free Library; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in MA here.]

*** Released for the 2020 e-less challenge. ***

*** Released for the 2020 Keep Them Moving challenge. ***

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