It's a bloody return to Kurokawa with the release, on September 13, of the manga Goblin Slayer by Kumo Kagyu and Kosuke Kurose. This seinen for an informed audience is the faithful adaptation of the eponymous lite novel available in the kuropop collection on the same day.
Type : Manga
Year : 2016
Categories : Seinen
Mag. prepub. : Big Gangan
Genres: adventure, fantasy
Themes: magic, goblin
Audience: + 16 years Artist
: Kôsuke KUROSE
Writer: Kumo KAGYU
Synopsis :
A 15-year-old priestess emerges for the first time from the temple where she was raised. Her dearest wish is to become an adventurer to travel the world and help others. While she has just signed up for the guild, a group of young adventurers ask her to accompany them on a goblin hunt. Reputed as the weakest monsters, she finally accepts in front of the enthusiasm of her new comrades. Alas, once you enter the goblins' lair, nothing goes as planned. The team is decimated before the eyes of the helpless girl and, while she was about to suffer the same fate, a man in armor appears and coldly shoots the monsters one by one. The wheel of the girl's destiny was set in motion in the guise of the Goblin Slayer.
An almost realistic dark fantasy narrative
The world in which the story takes place is typical of science fiction fantasy. Dragons, elves, dwarves, brave adventurers, trolls, goblins etc. under the leadership of the gods who have been fighting each other for thousands of years.
Here, magic is a widespread art and the rural society is undoubtedly reminiscent of the European Middle Ages dear to role-playing games. However, adventurers are not uncommon to bite the dust and lose their lives. Here, the adventure is not idyllic and a twist of fate is always possible, the monsters defend themselves and, once you are lost in the dark, no one will come to save you if things go wrong. Young women pay the heaviest price.
It is interesting to note that it is often the naivety and lack of attention or preparation of adventurers that causes their loss to opponents such as goblins, yet reputed weak.
Interesting characters
The Goblin Breaker is an atypical hero in this world. While he is part of the elite with his silver plate attesting to his status, he persists in hunting only those creatures despised by accomplished adventurers. Specialized in this thankless task, his basic armor stained with blood and mud, always alone, he is the laughing stock of other adventurers, even beginners. Yet his repetitive and methodical work has saved many lives, especially in remote villages. Cold, almost mechanical at first, he is surprisingly considerate with his companions, even if it is in his own way. We quickly understand that this detached attitude is the shielding of his soul against everything he has seen for years. He runs neither after justice, nor glory or fame, but after vengeance. In this way, it is reminiscent of the personality of Velvet, the heroine of Tales of Berseria.
The priestess is a pretty ordinary girl who quickly loses her illusions. In the face of all the horrors she sees, she sometimes questions her faith. But, by helping her savior who turns out to be a good traveling companion, she is formed and gradually armors herself, without reaching the stage of her mute companion. Gradually, a bond is forged between them and she notices that other people are also kind to him.
Among the secondary characters, the cowherd and the hostess of the guild are the most interesting. The first is a childhood friend of the Crève-Gobelin, she is the one who knows him best. His feelings towards the warrior are ambivalent, but they mean a lot to each other. The hostess of the guild is, for her part, attached to this extraordinary adventurer who accepts missions of this type despite the low premiums and the lack of prestige. She is well aware of the work he has done and the number of lives he has saved over the years, and is sincerely grateful. She also appreciates that he never brags. She, whose heart sank every time a group of beginners goes to fight the goblins, well aware of the danger, she knows that he never fails.
A faithful adaptation
This first volume of the manga represents about the first third of the novel. Whether it's the plot unfolding or the dialogue, the two are very similar. However, the manga, more visual, focuses more on the action scenes and the fate of the young women captured. The novel, more descriptive, allows us to better define the character of the characters, explaining their ideas, their feelings. Although more detailed, it is also less believed in its evocation of the crimes of the goblins and can be read without a heart, without ignoring what happens to the captives.
Graphically, there is nothing to complain about, Kosuke Kurose respects the design of the characters created by Noboru Kannatuki for the novel. The protagonists are detailed and within the norm of what is currently being done. The Crève-Gobelins is very successful despite its full armor full of details. The shortcuts in the battle scenes are mastered and he even manages to characterize a little the different goblins represented.
Intended for an informed audience over 16 years old, as indicated on the 4th cover, the manga Goblin Slayer is not stingy in young girls naked and degraded by the vile little creatures. It especially offers many fight scenes of a good vivacity.
