▪	RELEASED BY:		VIZ MEDIA
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		NORIHIRO YAGI
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / BW
		▪	PAGES:		189
		▪	RATING:		OT
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		07/08/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		07/17/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		SCOTT CAMPBELL

Claymore volume nine is intense. All the books have kept with having a certain level of suspense and intensity of action, but the conflicts just keep getting better. The larger portion of this volume is taken up by a fantastic fight between two very powerful Yoma, and our heroines of the moment. Not only do they attack the Claymores physically, but strong mental powers are required to come out on top of this particular fight. There’s a great part where Jean is turning over to her Yoma half, and asks Clare to kill her before she turns completely. Only through the strongest amount of mental will are the two girls able to help each other and bring Jean back to her wits. This has never been done before, and awakens new understanding in Clare, bringing about depth to her quick sword attack that she never realized possible. She’s now basically able to swing her weapon at a speed that can’t even be seen, but can also strike at hundreds of different points while avoiding any objects she doesn’t wish to strike. In a moment of frustration she lashes out at one of her comrades, misses them, but slices the trees behind them into splinters. It’s pretty crazy, and presented visually in a really creative and believable way.

Everything else that makes Claymore so good is still present also. In no way is this series reaching its peak or heading downhill. The art is great, the imagination behind the abilities of the Claymores and the Yoma alike is still going strong, and the Yoma character designs just keep getting crazier. There’s one Yoma that turns into somewhat of a female body with 1000 tentacles reaching out from her center. Not exactly something you’d want to meet in a dark alley, but cool to read about none the less. Something to mention that may not have been mentioned before in past reviews is how cool the text format use is for some of the Yoma beasts. Some Yoma have a text style that looks like a bold messy paintbrush script, really helping to drive home that they are a terrible monster. It also helps to show which character’s speech is represented by that bubble – it makes reading of the books flow so much better.

As for a plot summary, volume nine throws us into the depths of the deep abyss of purgatory – hooray! Clare and her fellow Claymores Galatea and Jean must battle the awakened beings that are holding them captive, otherwise they will never be able to continue their mission. In the process of defeating their adversaries, they find their captors’ true motive: by torturing the warriors, they want to force them to awaken, and therefore join them in a gathering of Yoma. It will take a lot of mental and physical strength for Clare and her comrades to avoid turning into Yoma themselves – they’ve never had to face an enemy with such a well-laid plan of attack before. The Claymores may be in trouble if the Yoma start to truly utilize their brains, as well as their already overpowering strength!

IN SUMMARY: 
Claymore continues to impress – it’s a hugely enjoyable action story and power struggle. This series is the perfect mix of being extremely affordable, while still managing to uphold a quality of excellence.