RWBY Official Manga Anthology: Volume 4 manga review

RWBY Official Manga Anthology Volume 4 cover image

Based on the animation from Rooster Teeth Productions; RWBY created by Monty Oum

Streamed over the Internet, “RWBY” is an American animated series.  The late Monty Oum created the series for Rooster Teeth Productions (an American company), which is known for its web animated series.  “RWBY” is produced in a Japanese anime style, although some consider it to be an actual anime series.  It is the first western-produced anime series to be distributed to Japanese television.

“RWBY” is set on the world of Remnant, which is beset by “Grimm,” horrific monsters bent on the destruction of humanity.  The kingdoms of Remnant have risen to combat these monsters by training powerful Huntsmen and Huntresses at academies around the planet. “RWBY” focuses on Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long, four such Huntresses-in-training who are collectively known as “Team RWBY.”

RWBY The Official Manga Anthology collects original short manga and comics set in the world of RWBY.  Each graphic novel in the series showcases a particular member of Team RWBY.  RWBY The Official Manga Anthology, Vol. 4 is subtitled “Burn.”  This volume focuses on Yang Xiao Long, the RWBY member who is also the older half-sister of Ruby Rose.

The stories offered in “Burn” reveal how hard Yang works at her warrior skills, at being a sister to Ruby, and at being a good teammate.  Sometimes, she finds herself walking the dog, Zwei.  Other times, she fights with two sisters over a teddy bear.  Yang worries about her weight and tries to plan a party.  Often, she has to play make up to her sister, when the entire team isn't fighting demons.

[This volume contains commentary one-panel cartoons from the cartoonists that contributed to this volume.  It also includes “Message from Ein Lee” and “Message from Barbara Dunkelman.”]

THE LOWDOWN:  As I have stated in previous RWBY manga reviews, I had not heard of “RWBY” until I received a VIZ Media press release that it was going to collect Shirow Miwa's 2015-2017 manga adaptation of the anime.  My VIZ Media press rep has sent me all four volumes of the RWBY The Official Manga Anthology manga published to date.

RWBY The Official Manga Anthology Graphic Novel Volume 4 is a nice read, although it is not as good as Vol. 3, the best volume of the series, thus far.  Yang Xiao Long is not a particularly strong character in these stories, as she seems one note.

The stories here are written by new, emerging, and amateur manga creators.  Some the stories are pleasant, but nothing is standout material here.  I do like the work of some of the artists, for instance EMO, who offers a particularly strong panel featuring only a pair of eyes.  Beyond that, I think Vol. 4 is especially for RWBY fans.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of the “RWBY” anime will want the VIZ Signature title, RWBY The Official Manga Anthology.

B
6 out of 10