Comics / Manga

Romeo x Juliet Omnibus

By Chris Zimmerman
June 29, 2010 - 08:28

Everyone knows the story of Romeo and Juliet. The classic Shakespearian tale of love and tragedy has captivated people for years; whether it be through its original form as a stage play or a reinterpretation meant to reach a larger audience, Shakespeare’s story of two lover destined for tragedy has been recognized as the definitive love story. The Romeo x Juliet Omnibus is unique in that it is a reinterpretation of a reinterpretation.

As is usually custom for a popular anime, a manga is usually commissioned that is meant to tell the same basic story while adding a different spin so as to add variety to the series. Romeo x Juliet is no different, following the same story beats while slightly deviating from the original work so as to add its own flavor to the mix. For those who are familiar to the anime, the manga won’t hold many surprises, but it is still entertaining nonetheless.

Adding a fantasy spin on the classic, Romeo x Juliet is set on the floating island of Neo Verona, where the town’s people are ruled over by the ruthless Montague. For years, a mysterious vigilante called the Crimson Whirlwind has challenged his reign, often interfering in public persecutions and the like. Though the Crimson Whirlwind’s true identity remains a secret to the larger population, a select few know her as Juliet, the last Capulet and true heir to Neo Verona.

Meanwhile, Montague’s only son Romeo struggles with his father’s autocratic treatment of the people, often criticizing his actions without bringing himself to take any of his own. Through happenstance he meets Juliet, and the two falls instantly in love with each other, all the while knowing that their two families are destined to collide.      

While certain elements are shuffled around to better suit the pacing of a manga, the relationship between Romeo and Juliet remains the prevalent, retaining the innocence and uncertainty that defines their love as well as the tension and heartbreak that follows.

Yen Press took an interesting approach to the release of the series in that it bundled the complete series into one volume, including the covers of the original volumes as well as the afterwards by the authors included at the end of each book. As one would expect, Yen Press includes a few color pages at the start of each volume and translation notes located at the tail end of the book.

Artwork is provided by COM and is a mixed back in terms of quality. The environments are detailed enough while the character designs are carried over from the anime but the action sequences are confusing and even difficult to follow. There are also instances in which some of the pages appeared rushed and excessively sketchy. .

Fans of Romeo x Juliet will probably get more out of the manga than others unfamiliar with the series but as a standalone work, it isn’t quite as endearing as other romantic titles on the racks. Yen Press churns out their usual superb presentation and while it doesn’t hold a candle to the original work, it can still be considered a sweet and engaging adaptation complete with all the interesting bits that made the anime a joy to watch. Just don’t go into it expecting a different ending.

Rating: 7.5 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12