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A young Catholic priest named Amakusa Takara possesses holy powers that he uses to exorcise demons, and occasionally even the Devil himself. He has a unique ability to manifest the 'sign of the cross' on his forehead, which banishes demons back to Hell. However, this process pushes him to the edge of insanity and causes intense physical pain.
Shizuha, a woman who can produce ancient scripture inscriptions on her body, becomes a target for both demons and cults. She seeks Takara's help when her parents join a cult intent on capturing her.
Feeling drawn to the young priest, Shizuha wishes to protect him in return.
Cross was published in English by Tokyopop from November 9, 2004, to January 10, 2006.
To start, each manga volume contains two or three seemingly independent short stories. The characters are consistent throughout, but each story appears to stand alone without affecting the next one. They are engaging and develop reasonably well on their own. However, this changes in volume 3. While plot development is minimal in volumes 1 and 2, it gains momentum in volumes 3 and 4. The standalone stories extend into a single narrative with a central theme emerging. The underlying storyline about Cross and Matsuri's relationship only slightly progresses, maintaining its presence in the background.
Regarding character development, Cross shows some improvement here, though it remains sparse overall. The only character who seems to develop significantly is Cross himself; insights into his youth help readers understand him better. Beyond that, readers aren't provided much else. It’s evident that he has feelings for Matsuri, but these glimpses are fleeting. One might speculate that she reciprocates his feelings, but there’s little evidence shown so far.
A few elements detract from this manga. It takes quite a while to gain traction, and even though the storyline is now continuous, it still feels somewhat disjointed. Hopefully, the early standalone stories will be integrated into the broader arc, giving them purpose. Additionally, there are numerous action sequences, which some may enjoy, but I prefer at least a bit of dialogue on every page.
This isn’t to say that this isn’t a good manga. There are sections with excellent writing and very appealing artwork. The characters have significant potential, and the manga is well-researched, introducing intriguing concepts.
All things considered, if you don’t mind the chapters not fully connecting and you enjoy action with occult themes, this is a worthwhile read. Don’t expect to become completely engrossed just yet, but it’s worth giving it a try.
Nanashi Moriko *Not quite a Cross fan girl but did go out and buy the manga to find out what happens next*
27/05/07