Manga Monday: Blackguard Volume 1

Author/Artist: Ryo Hanada
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Released: February 8, 2022
Received: NetGalley
Warnings: Suicidal talk

Who’s in the mood for some science fiction with a helping of monsters and gore? If so, then check out Blackguard Volume 1 by Ryo Hanada.

The world is falling apart. Monsters by the name of Shojo roam the land with the ability to make more with a single infectious bite. It isn’t a good time to wander the countryside or do anything other than desperately try to survive.

That’s where the Guards come into play. They protect the aerial cities that humanity has turned towards. It is their job to step between the people and the Shojo. Minami is one such Guard. He’s not like the others. While his presence gives much hope, in truth, Minami has what others would call a death wish.

Wow. I went into Blackguard Volume 1 and got something entirely different. I knew that it would be heavy (the very nature of the plot makes that much evident). But I was unprepared for the depths this graphic novel takes.

If suicidal talk is something you find triggering or uncomfortable, I strongly urge you to seek out another series to dive into. Blackguard Volume 1 doesn’t pull punches, which means it addresses Minami’s death wish.

I’ll give credit to Blackguard Volume 1. It tackles a lot of heavy subjects. While I wasn’t a massive fan of everything done in this volume, I can see why others have enjoyed it.

Thanks to Kodansha and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.