“Claymore” has been a complex but yet entertaining series. It goes beyond the anime series and for those wanting a storyline that is deep and entertaining will find Norihiro Yagi’s “Claymore” to be a manga series worth reading! Major revelations are in store in volume 23 of “Claymore”. Recommended!
© Claymore image courtesy of Norihiro Yagi, Shueisha Inc., VIZ Media
MANGA TITLE: Claymore 23
STORY AND ART BY: Norihiro Yagi
FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: By Shueisha
PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media
RATED: T+ for OLDER TEEN
RELEASE DATE: October 1, 2013
Rebel warrior Miria penetrates the headquarters of the secret Organization that created her, discovering the appalling truth about Yoma. Meanwhile, human warrior Raki joins the Claymores on the battlefield and seems closer than ever to his goal of reuniting with Clare, his Claymore companion. Yet the cycle of violence cannot be stopped – an epic battle is brewing and Priscilla, a powerful force for evil, is back in the fight!
We have read the adventures of Clare and Raki, working together to stop Yoma But things have changed and for seven years, Clare has been looking for Raki until she was absorbed into a Abyssal One.
But now her fellow Claymore warriors are determined in rescuing her, while the organization has revived three former warriors to take on the Claymores who have risen up in revolt.
Will the warriors along with Raki find Clare?
Find out in volume 23 of Norihiro Yagi’s “Claymore”!
What is “Claymore”?
In 2001, the manga series “Claymore†debuted on Monthly Shonen Jump. The popular series created by award-winning mangaka Norihiro Yagi (“Undeadmanâ€, “Angel Densetsuâ€).
The series has remained popular and is still ongoing in Japan via Jump Square. Animation studio Madhouse adapted the first eleven volumes of the manga series in the 26-episode anime series “Claymore†which debuted on NTV in 2007. The DVD’s were released separately in individual volumes and a complete series box set by FUNimation Entertainment in 2009 and in 2010, here we are with a Blu-ray High Definition release of “Claymore: The Complete Seriesâ€.
“Claymore†takes place during a time where monsters known as yoma have lived in villages, disguising themselves as human. They feed on humans and when things get to the point where countless murders are happening in a village, a mysterious organization sends a Claymore to dispose of the Yoma.
The Claymore are humans that are half-human and half-yoma. They are the only ones that are capable of defeating yoma and are primarily female, blonde and have silver eyes. They carry with them a sword and some have supernatural abilities.
Upon defeating the yoma, someone in black collects the money for them. If a village does not pay, a Claymore will no longer defend the city. Claymore also have a rule that they can not kill any humans and also, as a Claymore tries to keep their humanity, by using their supernatural talent, they unleash their own personal yoma but each time they do that, they lose part of their humanity.
The animated series focuses on the Claymore known as Clare. She comes to a village who has been terrorized by a yoma and defeats it. But a boy named Raki becomes attached to Clare and will follow her everywhere to become close to her.
Clare is warned not to have a human close to her but for some reason, she allows him to be close to her and also feels protective over him. Over the course of the series, we learn about Clare’s history and why she is protective of Raki. We also learn what happens to Claymore who overuse their yoma energy and when they become the “awakened†and much, much more.
In volume 23 of “Claymore”, Clare has been gone for several years but an attempt by the Claymores along with Raki in order to save her, will be their ultimate task.
Claymores who have revolted have been on the hunt against the Organization. Who will find who first?
And the truth of the Yoma is finally revealed in volume 23 of “Claymore”!
The main characters of “Claymore†are:
Clare – The protagonist of the story. A Claymore who may be low-ranked Claymore but she is more powerful than most. At times, reserved and emotionless, her life is changed when she meets a human named Raki.
Raki – A boy who’s family was murdered by the yoma. When he first meets Clare, he is the first and only person to welcome her and now wants to be by her side.
Teresa – A woman important in Clare’s life. Known as “Teresa with the Faint Smileâ€, once was the #1 Claymore and is the most powerful Claymore who is emotionless but that was until she came across a human girl named Clare.
Priscilla – A true believer of the laws of the Organization, she has a tremendous amount of power but has not been trained to utilize it quite well. Priscilla uses a lot of her yoma energy that changes her life completely.
Miria – Phantom Miria known for her tremendous speed. Suspects that the Organization is up to no good and although a Claymore, uses her position to investigate the Organization of any wrongdoing.
Ilena – A Claymore from Clare’s past who is known for her “Quick Sword Technique†and returns back to Clare’s life to give her another chance in achieving her goal.
With the release of “Claymore” 23, the U.S. is now behind by one volume from the Japanese release.
And this latest volume is perhaps the biggest volume yet with the long awaited search for Clare finally about to take place but also the truth of the Yoma is finally revealed to the Claymore warriors.
With the latest volume featuring the Claymore’s about to go into war against the Abyssal One, suffice to say the storyline will become quite intriguing and makes one wonder who will survive and who will die in the upcoming volume.
But for volume 23, there is a lot that has been revealed plus a lot of major things happen which I don’t to spoil readers, but I’ll just say that this is an important volume for “Claymore” fans!
As for the manga series, I’ve been captivated by Norihiro Yagi’s character designs. From the eyes to the hair, especially how his shading patterns are, much different from other series as they are literally cross hatching and line art and a style that is very much unique and a style, quite personally his own.
So far, “Claymore” has been a complex but yet entertaining series. It goes beyond the anime series and for those wanting a storyline that is deep and entertaining will find Norihiro Yagi’s “Claymore” to be a manga series worth reading!
Recommended!