Title: Tales of Innocence

Author & Artist: Kaidou Hiroyuki

Chapters 1-12 completed (since January at least)

Summary:

For many years the Kingdom of Regnum has been in control over the land.  After the many years of tumultuous war, Regnum has managed to have peace over the land.  But people who display supernatural powers (known as Inousha) start to appear. The people come to fear and hate them, causing a nationwide search to seize and capture them.  Around this time the main character Ruca, a simple merchants son, discovers that he also displays the same supernatural powers.

The Good

Pictures:

I love the artwork in this manga.  Sure it looks like it was all inked, but it makes the story.  This is the style that I would love to learn how to draw.  The proportions were spot on.  The heads weren’t too big and the arms too small.  It looked like an anime, but it comes off very realistic in the end.  I love it.

Story:

The plot was what made me want to read this.  I wanted to know what was going to happen and who was in it.  It sucked me in right at the get-go.  The flow of the pictures leads your eyes from one picture to the next.  In the beginning of the manga you get the background story right when you start reading.  It might seem confusing (because it is), but as you go along it gets more explained.

Characters:

At the beginning you get most of Ruca’s story instantly.  The other characters not so much.  All of the personalities were different.  Ruca was a nervous shy kid.  Iria the obnoxious gunslinger girl.  Spada the cool rogue.  I could go on and on.  I also really liked how they all changed towards the end.  It was mostly because of the background story.  But, their characters grew and became better.

The Bad

Pictures:

Nothing bad to say here.

Story:

As I mentioned earlier you get the background story as soon as you start reading.  But, it makes me ask why?  It was very confusing and hard to follow.  It can be very discouraging to read if it continued on like that (thankfully it didn’t).

Characters:

I loved how you knew where Ruca was coming from.  But, the background story for everyone else was non-existent.  It was like only picking one name out of a hat and throwing the rest away.  I wanted to know a lot more about all the characters, but oh well.  I also mentioned how I loved how they all changed.  Except for Iria.  She freaks out later and does the “feeling sorry for myself” bit.  I hate it when characters, especially girls, do that in manga/anime.

The General

After everything is said and done I really liked this manga.  It might be a bit more destructive and bloody for the beginner, but if you like that action/adventure stuff this is for you.  For beginners this is a bit violent, but I recommend this for you guys who can handle that.  I give this a four point five…out of five.

Rating:

Character Names:

Main: Ruca Milda

Side: Iria Animi

Koda of the Muse

Spada Belforma

Serena Ange(?)

Hermana Larmo

Thitose