Melty Blood

Do we change our nature or does our nature transform us?

In the town of Misaki, where last year's so-called 'Vampire Murders' occurred, a curse is gradually revealing itself. Anxiety among the townspeople is on the rise. Rumors circulate that the serial killings are starting up again. The sweltering heat and minor misfortunes plaguing people seem like ordinary, everyday problems. However, Sion knows all too well that these are merely preludes to something far worse.

As a sequel to Tsukihime, there’s considerable backstory involved. Depending on which adaptation you’re familiar with, the starting point may differ from what you remember as the ending. Consider this the Best Case Scenario’s next chapter. All significant characters from Tsukihime return in some form, along with a few new additions—including our new protagonist.

A common concern when introducing a new main character into an established cast is compatibility. In the worst cases, they feel unnecessary, perhaps a pale imitation of an existing character or a blend of several others. Not so with Sion Eltnam Atlasia. She holds her own alongside the current heroines and possibly rivals them in depth.

Melty Blood is ultimately her story, told primarily from her perspective, shaped by her fears and hopes, framed by her limitations and talents. From Alexandria, once a great center of learning and now home to Atlas Academy, she is a powerful alchemist. As an alchemist, she has no aptitude for magic but compensates with her genius-level intelligence and technological prowess.

Sion is a scientist and a loner. Selfish and calculating, she takes anything valuable for her research. Yet, she’s socially awkward. Her fellow alchemists at Atlas have avoided her, stunting her emotional growth. Adding to this, her self-imposed isolation further complicates her ability to interact with others.

To her, people are tools at best… usually just dead weight.

Thanks to her self-absorption, she possesses remarkable mental abilities. By quickly analyzing situations, she creates predictive models for likely outcomes, adapting her actions accordingly. This logical foresight is enhanced by her ability to partition her mind for multiple thought processes simultaneously. It's a clever concept, puzzling why it hasn't been explored more in major cyberpunk works.

Shiki Tohno has the second-largest presence in the manga. His affectionate and friendly demeanor contrasts sharply with Sion’s standoffishness. It confuses her deeply—why help someone without profit? Why be so reasonable, understanding, and kind?

Sion can predict his moves in a fight but struggles to understand why he would help a defeated opponent.

Unfortunately, other characters remain largely in the background. Aside from two, most push the action forward without significant roles. Even the subplot emerging halfway through feels out of focus. While it becomes central in Melty Blood ACT:2, here it adds mysterious overtones but lacks depth, keeping the manga from reaching its predecessor’s epic feel.

Fighting is central to Melty Blood and always looks magnificent. Each impact’s kinetic force affects both the victim and environment. Some battles leave lasting scars, fueling rumors. Earlier fights can feel pointless in retrospect, their resolutions seeming forced. Despite this, it doesn’t detract significantly from the story’s quality.

The art is high-quality. Environments are creative and memorable, pacing and transitions spot-on. Fights feature spectacular special powers, leading to glorious full-page spreads. Attention to character emotions is praiseworthy, making each page visually engaging.

Given the extensive background material, it’s hard to recommend this manga to those unfamiliar with Tsukihime. The first chapter alone contains major spoilers. Yet, if that doesn’t bother you, it might be a fun entry point. Like Sion, you’d experience this world anew.

Towards Waiting for Godot’s end, Vladimir notes, “The air is full of our cries. But habit is a great deadener.” This embodies Sion. Locked into her familiar world, she overlooks obvious truths about her existence. So focused on herself, she’s tragically oblivious to her essential nature. Sion resists fate, logic, yet misses the point entirely.

Melty Blood begins and ends with a question. Whether it’s the same one is debatable, but Sion risks everything seeking answers. Her journey’s extent of success or failure is crucial, but her stubborn path makes her struggle meaningful.