Chrno Crusade

I tend to be lenient when critiquing anything but my own work, but this series will stay with me for life. It connects the good and the bad in a driving force aimed at saving not humanity, but daemonkind. At first glance, it may seem light-hearted, but everything serves a purpose. The ending was somewhat unsatisfying, but it definitely leaves room for a sequel or even a prequel. Anyway, the art was awesome!!!

Honestly speaking, I didn't find the work particularly engaging, and it also strikes me as lacking in originality. The characters frequently utter typical phrases from the series, such as "Once again, I couldn't achieve anything" or "I don't want to burden anyone anymore; I want to become stronger." Even the dynamics of character relationships follow predictable patterns, like the revenge-seeking character who befriends a protagonist after realizing a misunderstanding, or the character struggling with human emotions who learns through another character's help. None of this is accompanied by meaningful additions that could make it more interesting.

Some characters encounter situations that prompt their development, but often it seems designed merely to allow them to overcome specific challenges without leading to genuine character growth, which we only see glimpses of towards the end.

The author tries to explore elements related to demon culture within the story, but even here, the demon cosmology and their culture fail to bring anything fresh or intriguing.

In terms of art style, the author's approach can be described as well-executed yet somewhat ordinary, effectively serving its purpose. However, at times, some onomatopoeias were so large they obstructed the understanding of the scene in the panel.

I did find the design of some demons quite appealing, though. I especially enjoyed the brief section of the work that introduced a Western atmosphere, complete with demons dressed as cowboys.

You know, a few years ago, I was at my local library one day and picked up the first book of this manga series. I got hooked almost instantly but had to stop after the third book because my library didn't have the rest! Over time, I forgot about this series, only remembering that I had read some of it, but not what it was about. Just a few days ago, I decided to revisit this series in search of a good read.

I wasn't disappointed.

Chrno Crusade is the best manga I've ever read, and trust me, I've read quite a lot. Now, if you're looking for a story that will tug at your heartstrings so much that you'll: a) demand a new ending, and b) crave more even after finishing all 57 chapters, then you've come to the right place. I guarantee you, your time will be well spent.

When people think of shounen anime and manga, they often envision narratives centered around perseverance and the power of friendship. Along their journeys, protagonists might acquire incredible powers or amass a group of admirers whose affections seem inexplicable.

However, some works deviate from this formula. The original Full Metal Alchemist anime took a darker turn than typical for the genre. Similarly, Akira explored its own bleak path driven by politics and science rather than alchemy. Casshern Sins traversed a post-apocalyptic world seeking redemption, while Black Lagoon delved into the darker corners of modern society.

Then there's Chrno Crusade, which at first glance may appear to be just another super-powered shounen manga. But looks can deceive...

Created by Moriyama Daisuke, the manga began serialization in Dragon Magazine in 1998 and ran for six years. In 2003, Gonzo adapted it into an anime, and both versions have since gained fans worldwide.

The story begins in 1924 with a cargo ship crashing into New York harbor. Officials are startled when a monster leaps from the flaming deck and starts attacking. They're even more surprised when a car crashes into it, revealing Rosette Christopher, a nun-like exorcist, and her partner Chrno. Sent by the Order of Magdala, they aim to "deal with the situation."

A common criticism is that the story has too much going on, packed into 57 chapters. It incorporates religious symbolism, action, demons, romance, sci-fi, magic, and... aliens. Yes, aliens, but unlike other series, these disparate elements work cohesively. While complex, each plot thread contributes meaningfully to the narrative.

Chrno Crusade stands out for advancing the plot during action sequences, a rarity in shounen tales. Unlike Bleach or Naruto, where fights halt the storyline, Chrno Crusade maintains character development and plot progression amid battles, avoiding lengthy exposition.

The artwork is generally strong, with detailed 1920s settings. However, character designs are somewhat generic, typical of shounen. Despite this, characters exhibit good visual expression. The lead characters, Rosette and Chrno, are surprisingly deep, sharing a pre-manga history and close bond.

Rather than developing traditionally, their characters become more defined as the plot unfolds. Supporting characters like Satella Harvenheit and Azmaria Hendric experience more conventional growth, reflecting a common shounen approach.

Notably, the manga differs significantly from its anime adaptation, especially regarding omitted elements like aliens. Both versions are enjoyable despite being filled with shounen tropes. Moriyama excels in crafting a complex plot and strong characterizations amidst various narrative threads.

Beyond the action and religious symbolism lies a captivating tale centered on love, driving many characters' actions. This theme works surprisingly well within a super-powered shounen context.

Regardless of opinions on the story itself, Moriyama deserves credit for attempting something different, especially when the industry resisted new ideas. Given the success of Full Metal Alchemist, Casshern Sins, and Black Lagoon, perhaps the industry is finally embracing innovation.

I have much to say about Daisuke Moriyama's Manga Chrono Crusade, starting with the fact that it is one of the BEST Mangas I've read. In my opinion, it surpasses its Anime counterpart by far.

Let me backtrack a bit and explain how I was introduced to Chrono Crusade. A good friend recommended this series as one of his favorites, which piqued my interest. Initially, I watched the Anime. It was pretty decent on its own, but after reading the Manga, the Anime simply couldn't compare to Moriyama's original work.

Story:

The story unfolds in 1920s America, where Rosette Christopher, an Exorcist from the Magdala Order, hunts demons causing chaos in New York. Ironically, she has a reputation for causing more destruction than the demons. With her demon partner and close friend Chrono, Rosette embarks on a quest to find her lost brother Joshua. Along the way, they encounter new friends, allies, and formidable enemies. The plot amazed me with its depth; Moriyama turned a tale of exorcists and demons into a narrative about perseverance and overcoming odds. Some scenes were so poignant that they brought tears to my eyes. There are also humorous moments, like Rosette getting drunk for the first time.

Comparing the Anime by Studio Gonzo with the Manga, both versions start similarly but diverge significantly. For instance, there’s a side story where Rosette becomes a wandering ghost at night, which was amusing and enjoyable. This scene was omitted from the Anime, which I believe was a mistake. Instead, Gonzo included pointless side stories like zombies in Central Park or Chrono getting sick, which felt boring. Regarding the ending, the Manga version was sadder and more impactful for me. While the Anime was sad too, it didn’t resonate as deeply as the Manga.

Art:

The art deserves praise. From the first page to the last, it was fantastic and visually pleasing. The background detail of 1920s New York and the flying fortress of Eden were beautifully drawn. Even Moriyama's character designs surpassed Gonzo's. The fight scenes were well-executed and easy to follow, adding another plus for the Manga.

Characters:

This is what I really want to discuss: the characters. They were fun and engaging. Rosette, Chrono, Azumaria, Satella, and Aion each had distinct traits and personalities. Rosette was loud-mouthed and determined, while Chrono maintained a cheerful demeanor, trying to keep Rosette in check. However, there were changes in the Anime versions of these characters.

Rosette remained largely the same—she still had attitude and determination. Chrono, however, was more badass in the Manga. In the Anime, he seemed weak. Azumaria played a more significant role in the Manga, being more likable and useful. In the Anime, she mostly stood around looking cute. Similarly, Satella was more likable and caring in the Manga, unlike her stuck-up portrayal in the Anime. Finally, Aion was more calculating in the Manga, reminiscent of Light Yagami from Death Note. In the Anime, he was just your typical evil character.

Enjoyment:

I could elaborate further on how much I enjoyed this Manga, but I'll keep it simple. I loved the grand scale of the plot, the fine art style, and the fun, likable characters throughout their journey. I'd gladly read it all again in a heartbeat.

Overall:

This is the longest review I've ever written, but it shows how much I love this Manga. I'm glad I found all eight volumes of Chrono Crusade because nowadays, they're hard to come by. They're worth every penny. Chrono Crusade is easily one of my favorite Mangas of all time, and I highly recommend giving it a read.

Final score: 10/10.

This review primarily focuses on Volume 8.

After the cliffhanger at the end of Volume 7, I knew it would be tough to wait for the final volume. So, I seized the first opportunity to read it. In an earlier review, I mentioned that Volume 6 was the best in the series so far, and now I can confidently say that Volume 8 is equally impressive.

It's somewhat pointless to recap the story here; if you're unfamiliar with Chrno Crusade, you should start with Volumes 1 and 2. Volume 8 marks the conclusion, both literally and figuratively.

With the world teetering on chaos and Rosette's soul nearly consumed, she uses her remaining time to find her brother and convince him of her identity. Several obstacles stand in her way, including a significant battle between Aion and Chrono, and death looms ominously close. It's quite remarkable how this action-packed volume still finds space for touching emotional moments between characters (one reason I ranked Volume 7 lower than 6 and 8). By the time I reached this part of the story, I cared deeply about Rosette, and every panel showing her tears made me emotional. Things don't unfold as she expected, and it's only through sheer willpower that events take their course. There's no easy way out here.

Without revealing specifics, let me just say that the ending is perfect for this series. Even the epilogue held surprises I hadn’t anticipated, which were impactful. The overall presentation of the epilogue, depicting the aftermath out of sequence and saving the most dramatic moment for last, pulled me in completely. It brought tears to my eyes and left me in such a state that even after finishing, it took a few minutes before I could set the book down. I've encountered plenty of stories with dark endings, artificially happy conclusions, or disappointing finales, but Chrno Crusade’s ending was none of those. It struck the right balance of happiness and sadness, making it incredibly effective and moving. My only regret is that such a charming series has come to an end.

I will likely reread this soon, and I suspect I'll be just as moved by the ending then as I am now. Rosette Christopher leaped off those pages and into my heart, where she’ll stay forever.

My first encounter with Chrno Crusade was when the anime was still airing. I found myself hooked, following it weekly until its tragic yet satisfying conclusion. Despite not giving it top marks due to its rushed Gonzo 'original story' second half, it left a significant impression on me.

Until last month, my interaction with Chrno Crusade ('CC' from now on) ended after the anime since I hadn't started reading manga until long after my memories of the show had faded. However, spotting an auction for the complete series reignited my interest, and since I always wanted to see the full, unedited story, I won it.

The covers of the volumes are truly beautiful and vibrant. The drawings are attractive, and the vivid colors enhance this appeal. This lovely color artwork isn't confined to the covers; each volume contains at least one color page inside, with early chapters featuring quite a few, while those near the end have one or two.

The standard black-and-white pages maintain excellent art quality throughout, thanks partly to the manga's monthly serialization allowing the author ample time to work. The art style has a distinct charm and stands out as one of the series' best aspects.

...However, I did face some challenges following certain action sequences. Planning fight scenes to ensure smooth flow is undoubtedly challenging within limited pages. Some artists excel in storytelling, others in action, and I feel CC's author leans more towards crafting stories than choreographing fights. That said, the fights were generally well-constructed, and I could understand most of what was happening.

A brief plot description for those unfamiliar with the anime: CC initially seems silly, focusing on Rosette Christopher, a nun/exorcist working for the Magdalen Order, and her demonic partner Chrono as they hunt demons across America. Comedy abounds, mostly through Rosette's fiery personality and playful banter with Chrono. Soon, though, the story deepens, revealing tragic past events leading Rosette to agree to a contract with Chrono, sacrificing her life for his powers.

Beyond Rosette's brother, the core revolves around Chrono's history as a sinner of Pandemonium. His betrayal of his kind to fight for Aion led to their eventual enmity, setting up the CC storyline.

What makes CC special is its theme of making the most of limited time. Rosette sacrifices years of her life each time Chrono uses his powers, creating a poignant bond between them. Their friendship is touching and tragic, portraying a depth of emotion rarely seen.

Rosette and Chrono's relationship deeply resonated with me. What kept me engaged wasn't the novelty of nuns with guns but their evolving bond. Their dialogue felt natural, showcasing strong mutual feelings even without words.

A minor complaint about the story pacing resulted in an 8/10 rating instead of 9/10. Too much story crammed into the final chapters made it harder to follow, losing clarity on some plot elements.

Manga and anime differences are notable beyond volume six. The anime includes filler episodes, altering character dynamics significantly. For instance, Aion appears earlier and behaves differently, adding sexual undertones absent in the manga.

Surprisingly, both endings are similar, fast-forwarding to the future in the epilogue. The anime ending wins for its depressing yet peaceful closure, plus a surprising twist at the end.

Overall, I loved the story and recommend it highly. If you seek a tale of someone shortening their life for a dream, this is perfect.

Rating: 9/10

I'm off to rest my poor back. Here's hoping the review helps someone!