Comics / Manga

Aion Volume 1

By Chris Zimmerman
January 26, 2011 - 10:39

Hypothetically, cute and horror shouldn’t mix. Then again, Japan has made a habit of meshing the innocent façade of children with the darker aspects of the horror genre to craft stories and images meant to disturb its readers. Yuna Kagesaki opts for the opposite, using cute characters to contrast the horror elements and add a lighthearted feel to her work. It worked for her in Chibi Vampire but can she repeat that success with another series.

Tatsuya Tsugawa is a student too gentle for his own good. He often finds himself being harassed by bullies, spurring his friend, Yoshiyuki, to come and help him. His parents met with an unfortunate end as a result of accident and he was left to inherit their fortune. At the urging of his father’s last words, he sets out to make something of himself.

His first act is trying to help the seemingly helpless Seine, who herself is also bullied. As Tatsuya soon finds out, Seine is far from the innocent girl he believed her to be, instead revealing herself to be an immortal locked in a violent struggle against a race of mermaids. Strangely enough, Tatsuya seems unfazed by this turn of events, instead using the revelation as a means to fulfill his father’s dying wish.

Aion’s premise is an interesting one but it falls short on many levels. Kagesaki’s art, though creeoy at times, is flooded with too many cute characters to truly make for an atmospheric piece necessary for a suspense drama like this. The main character of Tatsuya is also rather bland and is easily overshadowed by Seine who herself is a dull stereotype of every silent brooding protagonist found in manga.

Hopefully the series can find its footing with the next volume as it does hold promise.

Rating: 7.5 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12