|
|
Yep, no doubt about it here. I purchased Alichino because of the awesome cover art. I was thrilled to discover that almost every page of this manga has equally amazing artwork! The detail shown in the character designs and backgrounds is outstanding! I don’t even have to have any idea whatsoever as to what is going on in this one to be happy that I purchased it! It is so~~ beautiful! This is a series that is currently running in the shoujo manga monthly ‘Eyes’ I am not sure how many tankoubon of this series are available right now, I would expect there to be a second or third one out by now. I did make an attempt to follow the story, and I must say that after many tries, I am still only vaguely sure of what is actually going on.
It is a story that revolves around a mysterious creature called ‘Alichino’. Apparently it is a strange beast of legend that has the power to grant people’s desires. Yet I get the impression that it is not some happy creature, it’s dark, sinister, and you may have to pay a great price for finding it. The volume begins with the arrival of a young girl to a dark, gothic-looking town. (Everything in this manga looks gothic). She comes across a young man sitting under a tree and asks him if his good looks are real or somehow fabricated. This is because his looks are too handsome to be real, perhaps he is the powerful Alichino she is looking for. The man, Tsugiri, claims he is but an ordinary man. The girl follows him to a tavern where he is greeted by a man standing behind the bar. The girl arrives and tells the story of how she is on a search for the legendary Alichino in an effort to help her brother. Strange things happen from there as more characters enter the story, including a young woman who can turn into an owl, and the man she calls master. And lets not forget the mysterious Alichino itself. The mood of the story is dark and dramatic. The main focus is on the young man, Tsugiri, who seems to have a tragic past. Once again, I say that the artwork in here is enough of a basis to purchase the manga on. Every page is stunning 🙂
Fortunately, this series was actually licensed in English, so if you can get you hands on an English copy, you’ll probably have a better idea than I do what the series is about, lol.