Crimson Hero Highly recommended

Publisher
Viz
Writer
Mitsuba Takanashi
Artist
Mitsuba Takanashi
Country of origin
Japan
Year
2002

First Look at Crimson Hero V. 3

By David Rasmussen
23rd Jul 06

Coming in August we’re going to get the third dose of two worthwhile titles from VIZ’s Shojo Beat line of mangas, Aishiteruze Baby V. 3 & Crimson Hero V. 3.
While I can’t give you a preview of Aishiteruze Baby I CAN tell you what you can expect from August’s release of Crimson Hero (since you see it each and every month in Shojo Beat from VIZ).
So, without further ado, your first look at Crimson Hero V. 3 (short and sweet).

Spanning the length of Shojo Beat V. 2, Issue #2 to #6 (which mean I just wrapped my read of the third volume of content), the girl’s volleyball team of Crimson Field has been reborn. With it’s six member finally joining the core group of girls (a former volleyball phenom who fell from grace when she was injured and forced onto the sidelines at the prime of her youthful “career”) it looks like we can finally start to look forward to the future of the girl’s team and their challenges on the court.

However, as you probably guessed, the challenges on the court seem to pale in comparison to the challenges that await off the court for Nobara and her crew.
First off the first days of training turn bad as Nobara, obsessing with the new team now that it’s been born, end up almost alienating her teammates which causes a rift between her and one of her original two teammates, as well as the new neophyte girl collapsing from being overworked.
But Nobara can’t just have her teammate problems to plague her, as she ends up having to come to the aid of her little sister after her mom practically prostitutes her out to some rich politician’s lecherous son who gets his (bleep) handed to him for being a jerk, but because of that Nobara ends up being screwed as the events of this “date” seals her fate post graduation… mother of the year material here, folks, right up there with that Andrea Yates woman and the one who went offspring flinging off the Golden Gate. Wondrous lady there, give her a Lemming prize… and by that I don‘t mean give her a copy of Lemmings for the PSP.

But even the ill will of her disturbed mother’s thinking processes can’t stop Nobara from having relationship troubles as she FINALLY begins to realize that she is, yes, a living human being and thus capable of falling in… wait for it… LOVE! Trouble can only come from that revelation even if she struggles to the bitter end to deny it. More once you pick up Volume 3, this August.
A full breakdown will be given out then, stay tuned.

In the meantime don’t forget to keep an eye out for Skip-Beat! V.1, which should be out now if you can get ahold of a copy for yourself. Also don’t forget to check Read or Die V. 3 (which is not part of the Shojo Beat line but part of VIZ’ line-up worth checking). That’s that. Nuff said.

-- David Rasmussen 23rd Jul 06