Requiem of the Rose King: Volume 1 manga review

Manga
Requiem of the Rose King: Volume 1 manga review
By Leroy Douresseaux
March 9, 2015 - 22:33

Viz Media
Writer(s): Aya Kanno, Jocelyne Allen
Penciller(s): Aya Kanno
Letterer(s): Sabrina Heep
ISBN: 978-1-4215-6778-5
$9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK, 192pp, B&W, paperback
Rating: T+ (Teen Plus)

Requiem of the Rose King Volume 1 cover image

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Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”

Requiem of the Rose King is a dark fantasy manga from Aya Kanno, the creator of Otomen and Soul Rescue. Requiem of the Rose King is loosely based on two plays by William Shakespeare, Henry IV (1591) and Richard III (1592).

Requiem of the Rose King, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 4) opens in medieval England. Henry is king; he belongs to the House of Lancaster, represented by a red rose. Richard of the House of York (represented by a white rose) covets the throne, so he leads his forces into battle. Thus, begins the “War of the Roses.”

Into Richard of York's house is born a third son, a sickly child that he names Richard after himself. Richard feels a special connection with young Richard, but his wife, Cecily, who is also young Richard's mother, hates the child. She proclaims to anyone who will listen that young Richard is a demon child who will lead to the death of her husband. As the battle between Lancaster and York rages, Richard dreams of his family ascending to the throne, a throne that will one day be his.

THE LOWDOWN: The Requiem of the Rose King manga reminds me, believe it or not, of Rei Toma's manga, Dawn of the Arcana, in terms of story and of graphic narrative. The difference is that in Requiem of the Rose King, Aya Kanno focuses on a lead character around whom swirls omens, portents, and dark motivations.

I find myself repulsed by young Richard, but not in the way a great villain makes being repulsed such a good thing. Actually, I like Richard when he is contrasted with King Henry, who exudes light and the urge to be a genuine Christian. Their time together is lyrical and poetic, and I wish the series were built around their relationship. Requiem of the Rose King has much potential. I want to see where this goes.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE: Fans of Aya Kanno will want to try Requiem of the Rose King.

Rating: A-/10