|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||
|
|
Reviewed by Jason Brice Bizenghast is a gothic-horror tale reminiscent in part of the high-adventure tales that are integral to British children's literature. Think The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe meets the original Hans Christian Andersen stories by way of Mary Shelley. The story’s protagonist is Dinah, an orphaned girl who now lives with her aunt in a partially renovated home in the eponymous Massachusetts town of Bizenghast. Formerly St. Lyman’s School for Boys, Dinah’s new home is arcane, coolly ivy-covered, and moss-laden; the perfect setting for a narrative about an angst ridden, unhinged teenager. Dinah’s constant companion is Vincent - all that you could want in a boyfriend; brave, selfless, caring, and sensitive. The plot centers about a lost graveyard hidden in the woods surrounding Bizenghast, and the terrors that Dinah and Vincent discover there. The pair are drawn into an other-wordly contract, which compels them to free spirits held captive in the graveyard. They must solve riddles and gently wake the dead. Spooky. LeGrow carefully sets up the premise for the series. It is very clear that Dinah and Vincent will encounter a new, tragic soul in each chapter of the series, overcome some peril and/or adversity, and see the trapped spirit on their way. While simple, this formula works exceedingly well, and we anticipate the strengthening bond between the pair as the series progresses. LeGrow’s art is very atmospheric and expressive. She pays particular attention to the architecture of Bizenghast and to the costuming of her characters. I’m certain this will be a delight to cosplayers. Initially, Dinah and Vincent’s age is somewhat indeterminate; they look very child-like but their reasoning, diction and vocabulary show them to be older than they are illustrated. This confusion is abetted by the fact that Dinah is referred to as an eight year old in the preface text, and nothing in the book indicates that a number of years have passed since the loss of her parents. However, this is a minor quibble, and a closer reading added this reviewer’s poor comprehension skills. Where Bizenghast can be faulted is in its uneven pacing, which may have contributed to confusion over the plot point described above. Like traditional manga, Bizenghast is a real pager turner in terms of art, but the dialogue has to be read carefully. A number of times I had to skip back pages to make sure I’d taken everything in. I would have preferred a move even pace throughout. I read an uncorrected proof of Bizenghast, so some of the issues I have concerns with may be addressed. I am certain Bizenghast will be loved to bits by its core audience. The minor hiccups in storytelling can be overlooked, the book can be regarded as a very solid start to an entertaining series. Comment on this review of Bizenghast v1 [I] on the Manga Life Forums. |
6 October 2009
|
||||
 |
| home | reviews | news | features | about us | advertise | privacy policy | contact us |
