Black Bird (manga)

Black Bird

First English edition of Black Bird as published by Viz Media
ブラックバード
(Burakku Baado)
Genre Romantic comedy, Supernatural
Manga
Written by Kanoko Sakurakoji
Published by Shogakukan
English publisher Viz Media
Demographic Shōjo
Magazine Betsucomi
English magazine Shojo Beat
Original run January 26, 2007 – ongoing
Volumes 14
Anime and Manga Portal

Black Bird (ブラックバード Burakku Baado ?) is a Japanese supernatural shōjo manga written and illustrated by Kanoko Sakurakoji. It has been serialized by Shogakukan in their Betsucomi magazine since 2007. It depicts the life of a high school girl who can see supernatural beings. Black Bird received the 2009 Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo manga.[1]

In 2008, Viz Media announced they had licensed the series for an English release of the series in North America. The first chapter was previewed in their now-defunct Shojo Beat magazine and the first volume of their version was released on August 4, 2009.

The series has been adapted into a drama CD as well as a light novel.[2][3]

Contents

Plot

Misao sees things that other people don't. Normally, the annoying monsters would do harmless things. But on her sixteenth birthday, these creatures she sees take it up farther, trying to kill her. They would be the only bother, until demons have gone serious into killing her or taking her for his own. She's saved by a childhood friend from her past, Kyo Usui, who just so happens to be a demon as well. Avoiding moments of death with Kyo protecting her, her own future turns out that she is the rare, "Bride of Prophecy", also known as "The Senka" or "The Holy Fruit". The demons are set onto her, and it just happens, that Kyo wants Misao as well.

Characters

Misao Harada (原田 実沙緒 Harada Misao?)
Misao has been plagued with the ability to see monsters ever since birth. Because of her ability, she was never able to make any friends until she met Kyō. Misao became extremely attached to Kyō, but because she is the "bride of prophecy", she can only be the bride to the head of the family, Kyō's brother. In hopes of making her his bride, Kyō left Misao's side in order to become the head of the family. Ten years later, Misao, now in high school, ignores the monsters she sees in order to live a normal high school life. The monsters were harmless until her sixteenth birthday; on the day she turned sixteen, a monster possessing one of the schools idols attacks her. Before she was injured any further, Kyō came to save her and healed her wound by licking it.
Kyo Usui (烏水 匡 Usui Kyō?)
Perverted and cocky, but a powerful Tengu with black wings. Kyo met Misao during their childhood. His older brother, Shou, was supposed to be clan leader, but Kyo surpassed him for Misao's sake (as only a clan leader may seek her as their bride). In order to stay close to Misao, he moved back to his house next door to her's and took a job as a math teacher at her school. He is always protecting her and healing her wounds, also finding moments to steal a kiss. In his demon form, his hair grows longer and he wears a mask that looks like a crow's beak. Kyo took Taro under his wings to train him and make him stronger after Taro was abused by Shou. He is about 20 years old.
Sho Usui (烏水 祥/僧正 Usui Sho)
Kyo's older brother, and original heir to the Tengu Clan. Once the clan realized how cruel he is, Kyo became the heir. He does not truly love Misao. Sho was very cruel to her. Unfortunately (in his mind)kyo stops him. He hates that his brother was always there in case he failed. The previous Clan Leader called Kyo "the spare tire" or "back-up plan". While he cared little for Misao, he hates that she chose Kyo over him. He's 22 years old.
Taro
One of the eight daitengu. After nearly being killed by Sho, Kyo trained him to become stronger. He has two brothers, Jiro and Saburo, and they are all triplets. They are six years old.
Sagami (real name Ryo)
Another of the eight daitengu. He is very protective of Kyo, and dislikes Misao at first. He is Hoki's older brother. He has a sickly wife named Ayame. He is 24 years old. He trained the daitengu to fight.
Hoki (real name Yu)
Another of the eight daitengu, and Sagami's younger brother. He looks very feminine. Hoki is 15 years old.
Buzen
Another one of the eight daitengu who's a playboy but a mature person. He is 26 years old. Loves Kyo and Sho mother.
Zenki (real name Gou)
Another one of the eight daitengu. Misao thinks he's scary but an easy-going and funny person. He's 20 years old. Loves and protects children who lost their families.
Shuhei Kuzunoha (Kuzunoha Shuhei)
Leader of the Kitsune Clan. He is killed by Kyo when they fought for Misao's love.
Tadanobu Kuzunoha (Kuzunoha Tadanobu)
Kyo's childhood friend. They met completely by accident, and formed a friendship based on their shared love of porn. He allowed his younger brother Shuhei to beat him when they fought for the leadership of the Kitsune Clan, because he never wanted to fight his best friend. He is in love with a human girl named Renko. He and Shuhei have an older brother who is not mentioned by name, nor appears in the manga. After Kyo kills Shuhei, he becomes the head of the Kitsune Clan. Eventually, he is forced to challenge Kyo for Misao, but loses. However, he is allowed to live.
Renko
A human girl who attends the university that Misao's father teaches at. She is Tadanobu's lover, and will do anything to protect him. She even goes as far as to threaten to kill Kyo if he hurts Tadanobu. She has competed in archery tournaments in the past. Eventually, she is accepted by the Kitsune Clan. Only Tadanobu is allowed to call her Ren.
Yoshio Harada (Harada Yoshio)
Misao's father. He is a university professor and participates in digs. He teaches Renko. He is very protective of Misao, but says that he will accept her boyfriend if he makes her happy.
Yoko Harada (Harada Yoko)
Misao's mother. She remembers Kyo and trusts him a lot.
Kensuke Dodoji (Dodoji Kensuke)
A snake demon, and heir to his clan. He is very shy, unlike his twin sister Kiyo. He becomes friends with Misao, but is supposed to take her as his own. However, he is much too softhearted to do this. He gives Misao poison, which she uses to paralyze Shou.
Kiyo Dodoji (Dodoji Kiyo)
Another snake demon, and Kensuke's twin sister. She is in love with Kyo, and will do anything to get him. She is very beautiful. She shows up at Misao's school, and asks her to give up Kyo.
Ayame
Sagami's wife. She is very sickly, but gets extremely excited when Sagami gets a chance to visit her. She is cured by drinking some of Misao's blood. She has the power to show images in a pool of water. She showed Kyo Misao, when he was away from her for ten years. She also showed Sho, and he learned this skill just by watching her.She began to like Ryo when she was 15 years old he wasn't her first crush but the first person she ever kissed.
Raikoh Watanabe (Watanabe Raikoh)
Like Misao he can see demons and spirits. However he refuses to believe that humans and demons can live in harmony and uses his abilities to destroy them.
Roh
The man who resurrected Sho after he was trapped under the storage house. He has a daughter named Kaede. Was Sho's servant until he died while resurrecting Sho.
Kaede
Her father Roh supported Sho's ambitions to seize clan leadership. She is Sho's newest attendant. She was abandoned by her parents as a child and became an outcast in the village because of it. She also fell in love with Kyo because he was outcast by the village for trying to become the new clan head. She develops a strong hatred for Misao because of her feelings for Kyo.
You Usui
Kyo and Sho´s Father. His Wife betrayed him, due to his plan to make Kyo to the next heir, instead of his elder brother Sho because she saw no difference between the brothers. He had strangled his wife´s neck out of anger and did not realize what he was doing, and when he came to his senses he stopped. Later he found her dead body and poison and his resignation letter as head of the clan. He is afraid of Sho´s cruelty and supported Kyo at his fight to be the heir to the clan so that he could protect Misao.
Yuri
Kyo´s and Sho´s Mother. She is eleven years younger than her husband and married him, when she was 17 years old. She loves her sons and didn't make a difference between them. She poisoned herself because she was not loyal to him and wrecked his plan to make Kyo heir. She was very beautiful and a very dutiful wife.

Media

Manga

Shogakukan released the first of the series' bound volumes on January 26, 2007.[4] As of July 26, 2010 there are 11 volumes and the series is still running in Betsucomi.[5] The manga is licensed in North America by Viz Media as part of their Shojo Beat imprint.[6] It is also licensed in Taiwan by Tong Li Publishing.[7]

Volume listing

No. Japan North America
Release date ISBN Release date ISBN
1 January 26, 2007[4] ISBN 978-4-091-30837-5 August 4, 2009[8] ISBN 978-1-421-52764-2
Chapters: 1-5
There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person and she want nothing to do with magical realms. She just want a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. All that changes on day when Misao is attacked by a demon. her childhood friend Kyo suddenly returns to save her and tend to-her cuts with his tongue! It turns out Misao is the Bride of Prophecy whose blood gives power to the demon clan who claims her. But most demons want to keep her power for themselves- by eating her! now Misao is just trying to stay alive... and decide if she likes it when Kyo licks her wounds.
2 June 26, 2007[9] ISBN 978-4-091-31085-9 November 4, 2009[10] ISBN 978-1-421-52765-9

Chapters: 6-9

Extra: Special Feature
Kyo, the head of the Tengu demon clan, is Misao's only chance for survival. But even though she has sweet memories of him as a childhood friend, she has trouble reconciling them with the man he has become. Despite the strange attraction she feels for Kyo can she trust her life, let alone her heart, to a man who only cares about the promise of her blood? Misao is the Bride of Demon Prophecy and her blood grants incredible powers,her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right of her hand...or her life!
3 October 26, 2007[11] ISBN 978-4-091-31300-3 February 2, 2010[12] ISBN 978-1-421-52766-6

Chapters: 10-13

Extra: Special Feature
Misao is starting to trust her heart where Kyo is involved, especially after he gives her one of his primary feathers. It isn't just her first present from him,it's a magic talisman that will keep her safe when he's not nearby! Misao is elated to go to school without the fear of being eaten, just like a normal teenage girl. But her feeling for Kyo deepen, she starts to realize that as his bride she will have to leave her human life behind-including her family!
4 February 26, 2008[13] ISBN 978-4-091-31437-6 May 4, 2010[14] ISBN 978-1-421-52767-3

Chapters: 14-17

Extra: Decade
Despite the constant danger Misao finds herself in, she's determined to stay by Kyo's side no matter what happens. But a chance meeting with one of Kyo's best friends shows her just how hard a human-demon relationship can be. Tadanobu, heir to the Kitsune clan, gave up everything to be with his human girlfriend but not he is being forced to take on the clan leadership and abandon his love-and it's all Kyo's fault!
5 June 26, 2008[15] ISBN 978-4-091-31649-3 August 3, 2010[16] ISBN 978-1-421-52768-0

Chapters: 18-21

Extra: Sanctuary
Misao thinks she's come to terms with being the bride of prophecy and dating a tengu lord. but is she ready to bear her handsome demon an heir?! Kyo's grandfather is impatient to secure the power of prophecy and the line of succession, and he doesn't care which of his grandsons father Misao's baby. if Kyo doesn't act fast, he'll lose Misao and the leadership of the clan. But despite his desire for Misao, Kyo is hesitant to consummate their relationship, for that withh brinds about catastrophe...
6 October 24, 2008[17] ISBN 978-4-091-32130-5 October 5, 2010[18] ISBN 978-1-421-53066-6

Chapters: 22-25

Extra: Bonus Manga
Misao and Kyo have traveled to the tengu village to end Sho's claim on the leadership of the clan once and for all. Misao knows there will be bloodshed, and thing will only get worse if the battle is drawn out. But her attempt tp help is thwarted by a cunning trap. Locked in with Sho with little hope of rescue, Misao has a terrible choice to make-betray Kyo or die a horrible, painful death!
7 January 26, 2009[19] ISBN 978-4-091-32208-1 February 1, 2011[20] ISBN 978-1-421-53311-7

Chapters: 26-28

Extra:Angels/Black Bird Gaiden And Ice
Misao knows her relationship with Kyo is dangerous, but she's used to being the one in peril! Will she be able to stand it when the tables are turned and Kyo is threatened? As the leader of the tengu clan and boyfriend of the Senka Maiden, Kyo gets a lot of attention in the demon world, and very little of it is good. From the wrath of a reincarnated dragon of the hatred of a demon hunter, Misao must face the fact that she isn't the only on at risk in the relationship. But how can she just stand by with Kyo is threatened?
8 May 26, 2009[21] ISBN 978-4-091-32374-3 May 3, 2011[22] ISBN 978-1-421-53580-7

Chapters: 29-32

Extra: Nightmare
Raiko, the demon hunter who has been staying at Misao's house, is determined to save her- even if that's the last thing she wants! Kyo won't allow a threat to Misao to go unchecked and plans to take care of the problem in his own special wa. Misao, however, hopes that she can broker a peace between Raiko and Kyo before things get out of hand. But when Raiko's attempt to "free" Misao fail, he hatches a devious new plan that will use Misao's bond with Kyo to destroy him!
9 November 26, 2009[23] ISBN 978-4-091-32728-4 July 5, 2011[24] ISBN 1421537745

Chapters: 33-35

Extra: Little Black Bird Parts 1 & 2
Misao and Kyo finally go all the way, and Misao can't regret the new levels of intimacy, even though all the other demons seem to be able to tell that they are now lovers. But does Kyo feel the same way? Instead of bringing them closer, their new status seems to make him turn away from Misao. Is that just the nature of guys, be they human or demon? Or is there something darker behind Kyo's sudden lack of warmth?
10 March 26, 2010[25] ISBN 978-4-091-32728-4 September 6, 2011[26] ISBN 1421538431

Chapters: 36-39

Extra: Black Bird Special Feature
The past returns to haunt Kyo and Misao when Kyo's long-lost father suddenly reappears. But the reunion is less than happy, for Lord Yoh is suspected of murdering his wife! Misao learns the real story of the deadly incident, but it is hardly comforting. Should she tell Kyo about his mother's fate, or should she protect him from a truth he might not want to know?
11 July 26, 2010[5] ISBN 978-4-091-33387-2 November 1, 2011[27] ISBN 1421539373
Chapter 40-43
Sho has miraculously returned to the tengu village, and while he seems content to live quietly on the outskirts, Kyo has learned the hard way not to trust his brother. To make matters worse, the villagers are resentful that Kyo won't share the restorative power of the Senka Maiden with them. But most demons don't possess Kyo's willpower, and one taste of Misao's blood would send them into a frenzy. Is it possible for Kyo to be a good leader and a good husband?

Drama CD

Columbia Music Entertainment released Black Bird drama CD on the January 21, 2009.[2] Artists on the drama CD include Kōki Miyata, Kishō Taniyama, Akira Ishida, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Takahiro Sakurai, Yuko Kagata, Takehito Koyasu, Kyoko Hikami and Mikako Takahashi.[28]

Light Novel

The series was also adapted as a light novel, titled Black Bird - Missing- (BLACK BIRD ―MISSING―?), released on March 26, 2010 (ISBN 9784091332707).[3]

Reception

The sixth volume of Black Bird was ranked 12th on the Japanese Comic Rankings between October 28 and November 3, 2008.[29] The seventh volume was ranked 4th in its first week, selling 75,689 copies.[30] The eighth volume was ranked in 3rd place during its first week and then fell to 27th in the second week of publication.[31][32] Volume 9 of Black Bird sold a total of 100,014 it its first two weeks of publication, debuting at 11th place on the charts, then falling to 20th place in its second week.[33] The tenth volume of the series debuted on the Oricon charts in 14th place, selling a total of 51,172 copies.[34] The first volume was ranked 4th on the manga section of the New York Times Best Seller list on September 3, 2009.[35] The second volume was ranked 7th on November 26, 2009, 9th on December 3, 2009 and 8th on January 7, 2010.[36][37][38] Black Bird was awarded the 2009 Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo manga.[1]

Anime News Network's Casey Brienza commends the English edition of the manga for being "amusing and sexy. Good if you want to put your critical sensibilities into neutral with something trashy" however she criticises the manga with the comment "its creative horizons are that of a bodice ripper. Don't expect the next modern manga masterpiece."[39] Katherine Dacey, writing for The Manga Critic, criticises Misao for not defending herself even as "demons slash her throat, poison her, push her off rooftops, and slam her against walls." Dacey comments that "younger readers may find [Kyo] sexy, but older readers will see him for what he is: a wolf in knight’s clothing, posing as Misao’s savior while manipulating her for his own selfish interests."[40]

References

  1. ^ a b "54th Shogakukan Manga Award Winners Announced". Anime News Network. 20 January 2009. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-20/54th-shogakukan-manga-award-winners-announced. Retrieved 2009-01-23. 
  2. ^ a b "ドラマCD" (in Japanese). Columbia Music Entertainment. 2009. http://columbia.jp/blackbird/. Retrieved 2009-01-23. 
  3. ^ a b "BLACK BIRD ―MISSING―" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/sol_detail?isbn=9784091332707. Retrieved 2010-03-31. 
  4. ^ a b "BLACK BIRD 1" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/sol_detail?isbn=9784091308375. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  5. ^ a b "BLACK BIRD 11" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/comics/detail/_isbn_9784091333872. Retrieved 2010-08-14. 
  6. ^ "Ōoku, Detroit Metal City, More New Manga Listed for Viz". Anime News Network. 2008-11-21. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-11-21/ooku-detroit-metal-city-more-new-manga-listed-for-viz. Retrieved 2009-01-23. 
  7. ^ "黑鳥戀人 ~ BLACK BIRD ~ 1" (in Chinese). books.com.tw. http://www.books.com.tw/exep/prod/booksfile.php?item=0010397030. Retrieved 2009-07-05. 
  8. ^ "Black Bird, Vol. 1". Viz Media. http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?product_id=8163. Retrieved 2009-07-05. 
  9. ^ "BLACK BIRD 2" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/sol_detail?isbn=9784091310859. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  10. ^ "Black Bird, Vol. 2". Viz Media. http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?product_id=8164. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  11. ^ "BLACK BIRD 3" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/sol_detail?isbn=9784091313003. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  12. ^ "Black Bird, Vol. 3". Viz Media. http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?product_id=8165. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  13. ^ "BLACK BIRD 4" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/sol_detail?isbn=9784091314376. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  14. ^ "Black Bird, Vol. 4". Viz Media. http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?product_id=8166. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  15. ^ "BLACK BIRD 5" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/sol_detail?isbn=9784091316493. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  16. ^ "Black Bird, Vol. 5". Simon and Schuster. http://books.simonandschuster.biz/Black-Bird-Vol-5/Kanoko-Sakurakoji/9781421527680. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  17. ^ "BLACK BIRD 6" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/sol_detail?isbn=9784091321305. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  18. ^ "Black Bird, Vol. 6". Simon and Schuster. http://books.simonandschuster.com/Black-Bird-Vol-6/Kanoko-Sakurakoji/Black-Bird/9781421530666. Retrieved 2010-04-17. 
  19. ^ "BLACK BIRD 7" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/sol_detail?isbn=9784091322081. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  20. ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/1421533111
  21. ^ "BLACK BIRD 8" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/sol_detail?isbn=9784091323743. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  22. ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/1421535807
  23. ^ "BLACK BIRD 9" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/sol_detail?isbn=9784091327284. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  24. ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/1421535807
  25. ^ "BLACK BIRD 10" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/sol_detail?isbn=9784091331175. Retrieved 2010-03-31. 
  26. ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/1421535807
  27. ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/1421535807
  28. ^ "Black Bird Drama CD". cdjapan.co.jp. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=COCX-35368. Retrieved 2009-03-20. 
  29. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, October 28-November 3". Anime News Network. 6 November 2008. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-11-06/japanese-comic-ranking-october-28-november-3. Retrieved 2009-01-23. 
  30. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, January 27-February 2". Anime News Network. 2009-02-04. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-04/japanese-comic-ranking-january-27-february-2. Retrieved 2009-07-05. 
  31. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, May 25–31 (Updated)". Anime News Network. 2009-06-03. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-06-03/japanese-comic-ranking-may-25-31. Retrieved 2009-07-05. 
  32. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, June 1–7 (Updated)". Anime News Network. 2009-06-10. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-06-10/japanese-comic-ranking-june-1-7. Retrieved 2009-07-05. 
  33. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, November 30-December 6 (Updated)". Anime News Network. 2009-12-09. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-12-09/japanese-comic-ranking-november-30-december-6. Retrieved 2010-04-07. 
  34. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, March 22–28". Anime News Network. 2010-04-07. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-04-07/japanese-comic-ranking-march-22-28. Retrieved 2010-04-07. 
  35. ^ "Graphic Books". The New York Times. September 3, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/books/bestseller/bestgraphicbooks.html?_r=2. Retrieved 19 December 2009. 
  36. ^ "Graphic Books". The New York Times. November 26, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/books/bestseller/bestgraphicbooks.html?. Retrieved 19 December 2009. 
  37. ^ "Graphic Books". The New York Times. December 3, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/books/bestseller/bestgraphicbooks.html?. Retrieved 19 December 2009. 
  38. ^ "Graphic Books". The New York Times. January 7, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/books/bestseller/bestgraphicbooks.html. Retrieved 10 January 2010. 
  39. ^ Brienza, Casey (July 1, 2009). "Black Bird GN 1". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/black-bird/gn-1. Retrieved 2009-07-04. 
  40. ^ Dacey, Katherine (July 21, 2009). "Black Bird, Vol. 1". The Manga Critic. http://mangacritic.com/?p=1274#bb1. Retrieved 24 November 2009. 

External links