Radiant Graphic Novel Volume 5 cover image

Seth, an apprentice Wizard, is one of the “Infected.”  Seth was infected by evil creatures called “Nemeses.”  Being an “infected one” is what gives Wizards their powers, and having survived the corruption of the Nemeses, Wizards are the only ones who can fight them.  Seth is learning how to use magic (called “fantasia”) to fight the Nemeses, but his ultimate goal is to find and destroy their mythical nest, Radiant.

As Radiant, Vol. 5 (Chapters 29 to 36) opens, Seth is ready to leave the Artemis Institute as he takes the next step on his journey to finding Radiant.  He is headed to Caislean Merlin, the kingdom of the Wizard Knights, whose archives may hold the secrets of Radiant.  Upon arrival, Seth ends up in a face-off with the “Merchant Barons.”  Then, he meets an aspiring Wizard Knight, Ocoho, and her dragon/raccoon, “Draccoon.”

Meanwhile, the people Seth left behind are fuming.  Plus, Seth will become embroiled in more conspiracy, some involving his mysterious brother.

[This volume includes an illustration by Hiro Mishma, creator of the manga, Fairy Tail, and a question and answer section, in which Tony Valente answers fans' questions.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Radiant manga is set in a world of wild magic.  It is also an original French manga that attracted the attention of a Japanese publisher.  Now, it has come to America, via VIZ Media, as an excellent graphic novel series.

Radiant Graphic Novel Volume 5 is this manga's high point.  I thought that Vols. 3 and 4 were the breakthrough volumes in the series.  While the previous volumes delved into Radiant's internal mythology, Vol. 5 goes deeper into the conspiracy angle of this narrative.  Now, nearly every page of Radiant offers some kind of treat for the readers.  Fans of magical fantasy manga will find that Radiant is one to watch.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of fantasy, action, and magic will want to read Radiant.

A
9 out of 10