Hakushaku Cain Series

First published in Japan during the early 1990s, this prequel to Kaori Yuki’s Godchild aims to shed light on Earl Cain Hargreaves' early years. It's evident how much this Victorian gothic narrative has influenced mangaka such as Jun Mochizuki and Yana Toboso.

The Cain Saga series revolves around a nonchalant heir of a noble family (the protagonist Cain, with his tragic history and hobby of collecting poisons), his loyal butler Riff, numerous beautiful ladies and bishonen, alongside a plethora of mysteries to unravel.

The series consists of five volumes. The initial two are packed with short standalone stories. Most of the third volume is dedicated to one continuous tale. The final two volumes (dubbed volumes 4, part 1 and 2) form one extended story centered around a Jack the Ripper theme (sound familiar, Black Butler fans?). This lengthier narrative brims with all sorts of brilliance.

I have always greatly admired Kaori Yuki’s artwork, but it is her storytelling prowess that truly distinguishes her, in my opinion. If I ever venture into writing mysteries or even plot-heavy stories, I would look to her work as a model for constructing such narratives.

Before I dive into my review, let me warn you that this is one of the more challenging reviews I’ve had to write. Due to its nature, there might be a few more spoilers than usual, even if I try to avoid them. Moreover, this manga isn’t for everyone—it’s filled with blood, gore, torture, and stories that expose the darker side of humanity. While I’ve seen plenty of anime and manga involving torture, most involved demons or evil spirits. In contrast, this manga features humans as the perpetrators, which made many stories deeply disturbing, almost making me stop reading due to the emotional impact. Consider this your warning; it’s up to you whether you want to read the manga or this review.

The manga’s structure is reminiscent of several others I enjoy, featuring smaller stories within each chapter while maintaining an overarching plot centered around the main character, Cain. It shares similarities with xxxHOLiC or Petshop of Horrors (closer to the latter in terms of darkness). Despite my love for those stories, this one was particularly tough for me. The anti-climactic ending didn’t help either. Without giving away too much, the climax feels like it peaks a chapter too early, leaving the final conflict unresolved. If I read the chapters out of order, I apologize. Had they been correctly placed, the last chapter would have served as a great segue into the sequel, God Child.

Discussing the characters is tricky since many are tied to major plot points or have complex backstories full of spoilers. Nonetheless, I’ll do my best. First, there’s Cain Hargreaves, an eccentric upper-class gentleman. He’s kind-hearted toward the suffering but ruthless towards those causing pain, likely due to his haunting past. This history haunts not only him but also those around him, sadly extending to the manga’s end. His peculiar hobby involves collecting various poisons and studying them extensively, though he’s undeserving of much of the suffering he faces.

The other character I feel comfortable discussing is his butler, Riffael Raffit. There’s little I can say about him without risking spoilers. Riffael is fiercely loyal to Cain, beyond mere duty. Though never explicitly stated, there are hints suggesting deeper feelings between them, possibly romantic. This could just be my yaoi fan perspective, but during moments when Cain dresses as a woman to deceive others, Riffael seems unusually affectionate. Again, purely speculative.

The art style is highly detailed, sometimes making scenes difficult to decipher. The intricate hair and beautiful scenes are impressive, but excessive detail often blurs background from foreground elements. The thin lines used for both characters and backgrounds make it hard to distinguish focal points. Screen tones occasionally help, especially in angelic scenes, but their use is sparse. The manga alternates between dark black scenes, hindering visibility of dark-haired characters, and bright white scenes, obscuring light-haired ones.

In summary, the story and visible art are commendable, but at times, it becomes confusing to follow. Some tales are straightforward initially but grow complicated until the end. This thriller-style manga excels in mystery, earning high marks for that aspect despite its flaws.

So, in simple terms, Cain is a troubled young man who solves peculiar mysteries. The first two volumes of the manga include stories that are rather unexciting, making it quite easy for readers to predict the endings. While the second and third stories show some improvement, they still fall short on intrigue or any other elements necessary to maintain reader interest. Ultimately, I found myself mechanically flipping through the pages, merely waiting to reach the end. It seems the mangaka didn't invest much thought into these tales, evidenced by her repetitive use of the "girl taking the place of another dead girl" plotline—three times, no less! If this isn't a sign of a lack of imagination, then what could be?