Comic Review: Black Rose Alice Vol. 1
Posted By MaraW on August 13, 2014
Black Rose Alice Vol. 1 Review
Story and Art by Setona Mizushiro
Review by Mara Wood
Romantic horror is always a fun genre to play around with. Blend the creepy with the sweet creates a juxtaposition that leaves readers yearning for the love while being appalled at the gruesome. Black Rose Alice capitalizes on this interaction by spinning a new vampire myth featuring beautiful young men who can exert control over humans with little effort.
Oh, and bugs. Lots of creepy, blood-sucking bugs.
Dimitri Lewandoski is a tenor in 1908 Vienna. His talent has afforded him many opportunities in life, from entering the bourgeois to winning the affection of affluent women of court. His life is not complete, however. For years, Dimitri has been in love with Agnieszka, a sixteen-year-old aristocrat. Dimitri’s life turns upside down when a horse hits him on a busy street. A brief kiss from a butterfly changes Dimitri into a powerful vampire leader. Dimitri’s personality changes, altering his distant relationship with Agnieszka.
As with many vampire stories, the rules change. Gone are the weaknesses to sun and Christianity. Mizushiro’s lore presents nearly invulnerable vampires who have bugs for familiars. Reader beware: there are tarantulas in this manga. Additionally, if a vampire consummates his relationship with his one true love, he will die. Agnieszka is suddenly even further from Dimitri’s reach.
The tone and pace of the first volume changes drastically near the end of chapter three. The setting shifts gears from 1908 Vienna to 2008 Tokyo. At first, characters that appeared in the story so far aren’t introduced, leaving readers with no clue what is happening with Dimitri and Agnieszka. The time and character differences creates a disjointed feeling that may be off putting at first. However, Mizushiro links the two stories together, setting up the fate of the new characters while continuing the doomed romance of Dimitri and Agnieszka.
Black Rose Alice is wrought with Christian imagery. The crown of thorns around Agnieszka’s head is reminiscent of a savior figure, and the first interaction between young Agnieszka and Dimitri emphasizes the angelic nature of the young girl. Pair that with the emphasis on the marred purity of Agnieszka, and you’ve got a female character with no agency in the story.
Black Rose Alice volume 1 introduces an interesting world that utilizes elements of romantic horror. The story, told from the perspective of Dimitri, does not set up Agnieszka as a traditional shojo heroine. The second half of the book, taking place in 2008, has more promise for a shojo heroine who attempts to take charge in her own horrible situation. The first volume does a great job distinguishing itself from other vampire romances while also setting up an interesting love story.
Setona Mizushiro’s professional debut, Fuyu ga, Owarou Toshiteita (Winter Was Ending), won the 1993 Shogakukan Manga New Author Award. Her gender bending psychological thriller, After School Nightmare, was nominated for an Eisner Award and also recognized by YALSA as a Great Graphic Novel in 2007. Black Rose Alice is available digitally from VIZ manga app for $6.99 USD/CAN and in print for $9.99 USD / $12.99 CAN.
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