Review: THE ALCHEMIST WHO SURVIVED NOW DREAMS OF A QUIET CITY LIFE

Now we turn from the 80s to the modern day.  These days fantasy owes a lot more to video games and other light novels than it does to D&D, and sometimes that means that it borrows some of the worst elements from its genremates.

THE ALCHEMIST WHO SURVIVED NOW DREAMS OF A QUIET CITY LIFE (Ikinokori Renkinjutsushi wa Machi de Shizuka ni Karashitai), based on the light novel by Usata Nanohara and character designs by ox, with art by Guru Mizoguchi.  First published in 2017 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Mariela lived in a prosperous city full of magic.  Under the tutelage of her master, she was well on her way to becoming a great alchemist.  Then the city fell to a wave of monsters, and Mariela puts herself in magical suspended animation to save herself.  She awakens 200 years to a drastically altered world.  The city she knew is gone, with its descendants scraping by within the walled center fortification.  Monsters are a constant threat and alchemy is all but extinct, which makes Mariela's potion-making skills incredibly valuable.  With nothing but her skills and an injured slave to help her, Mariela sets forth to understand this era and maybe make enough coin to keep herself comfortable.

Review: MADARA

So what happens when you take the creative team behind MPD Psycho and have them do a fantastical take on Dororo?  You get this.

MADARA (Moryu Senki MADARA), written by Eiji Otsuka  & art by Sho-u Tajima.  First published in 1987 and first published in North America in 2004.

PLOT:

For fifteen years, Madara was content to spend his days in his peaceful village, helping the local blacksmith out with the aid of his nearly all-mechanical body.  Then one day the forces of the evil Emperor Miroku invade, and Madara learns that not only are his mechanical parts capable of great power, but that unsealing that power and defeating powerful enemies gives him the chance to spontaneously regrow parts of his body.  Now with his childhood friend Kirin at his side, Madara sets out on what just may be a journey of destiny.

Review: RECORD OF LODOSS WAR: THE GREY WITCH

Well, it's time to this site to emerge from its own quarantine (which has nothing to do with my falling headfirst into Yakuza 0) for another month of reviews.  Since much of my readership is unable to travel or hang out with others in-person, it's a good time to look at some manga about fantastical adventures with brave warriors.  As such, there's no better place to start than with the franchise that started Japan's love affair with Western-style fantasy.

RECORD OF LODOSS WAR: THE GREY WITCH (Rodosuto Senki Haiiro no Majo), based on the novels by Ryo Mizuno with art by Yoshihiko Ochi.  First published in 1994 and first published in North America in 1999.

PLOT:

Parn has always yearned to be a heroic knight like his late father.  He gets his chance when he reunites with Etoh, his childhood friend and newly minted priest.  When the two set out to attack a group of goblins menacing their village, they end up meeting with other adventures: a wandering magician, a dwarven king, a mysterious elf, and an enterprising thief.  Together they learn of a dark and terrible conspiracy against the land of Lodoss, and together they decide to set out and stop it.