Subject: CBG Manga Reviews: Key to the Kingdom, vol. 1 | Author | Messages | Billy Aguiar
Posts: 84
 | Posted: 11/30/2007 8:56:28 AM | Key to the Kingdom vol. 1
CMX Manga
$9.99, B/W, 160 pages, Available Now
Written and illustrated by Kyoko Shitou
Rated for 16+
Reviewed by Billy Aguiar
2 1/2 Stars
Asta is the second son of a royal line of a Laudere, which has been engaged in several hundred year civil war with two other kingdoms over who will eventually rule all three. When his brother and father are killed in taking a fortified castle, Asta being still young (around ten or so) wants nothing to do with taking on the crown, since it has only provided death for his family for centuries. Even before Asta stated his desire to not take on the throne, several other nobles were vying for the position due to Asta's youth and inexperience. In an attempt to manage the crisis, the royal councilors issue a challenge. If someone can find and return with the legendary artifact Key to the Kingdom, they will be named King, otherwise after two years Asta will be declared king. Accompanied by his brother's best friend and soldier, Badd, Asta leaves not to necessarily find the Key, but to follow the last instruction his brother left for him before dying. But the Dragon Men have reappeared after centuries, and their role to play is an uncertain one.
Asta may be a brat, but he is a brat with a plan and the courage to see it through. Badd is the stereotypical bad boy knight whose loyalty to his friend may be the only thing that keeps Asta alive despite himself. the art is clean and simple to follow comes across as someone who everyone always overlooked but has more within him even if he doesn't want the throne. This not a transformation on the par of Prince Hal (a Shakespeare reference for those who are confused) but does give us something to ponder while waiting for the story to begin in earnest. This volume is mostly concerned with getting the pieces into motion and place the mystery of the Dragon Men in play, but what direction everything goes from here is left wide open.
This is a weekly manga review here on the CBG site, but don’t forgot to check out my other review site, Prospero’s Manga for more manga reviews.
www.cmxmanga.com
Vol 1. ISBN: 1-40121-393-6
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