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Thursday, 01 February 2007 |
 | | ▪ | PUBLISHED BY: | | TOKYOPOP | | | ▪ | ART/AUTHOR: | | PEACH PIT | | | | ▪ | FORMAT/COLOR: | | JAPANESE FORMAT / BW | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 188 | | | ▪ | RATED: | | T+ | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 01/02/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 02/02/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | CHRISTOPHER SEAMAN |
The Rozen Maiden dolls are practically one of a kind and have a nearly priceless collectable value. However, the price for being their human companion contains many hidden costs that should be enough to make any prospective ‘owner’ of a Rozen Maiden doll think twice before signing on the dotted line. One is enough to keep you busy. Imagine if you had three or four in your house…
ROZEN MAIDEN is more than cute dolls in frilly dresses. It is also an engaging mystery and metaphysical tale that explores the inner world within each of us that shapes how we interact with the ‘real’ world outside. Yes, dolls do figure prominently in the story, but they are by this, the third volume in the series, becoming more than just bickering and occasionally dangerous annoyances to our human lead, Jun. They are becoming a means for him to re-engage himself with his life, which, because of an emotional condition, has been put on hold.
Having inadvertently adopted Shinku, one of the legendary Rozen Maiden dolls that come to life when wound up, Jun, a shut in who has stopped going to school, and associating with everyone- including his devoted and long suffering sister, Nori- has had nothing but trouble in his stagnant life. Drawn into the service of Shinku as her protector from the predations of her sister dolls, Jun is far from the best person for the job, but rises to the occasion, fending off reanimated knife-wielding teddy bears, journeying into the warped dreamworld of the N-Field, in search of Hollier, Shinku’s spirit, and dealing with Suigintoh and Suiseiseki, Rozen Maidens with a really bad attitude.
In Volume Three, Jun and Shinku is confronted with Suiseiseki’s magic that brings to life a tiny tree that represents his soul. Struggling to survive, it needs Jun to get out of the funk that has crippled him emotionally. However, Jun has little time to dwell on this fact when a full blown brawl breaks out between the dolls in the N-Field, and Shinku literally loses her right arm in the ensuing battle with the psychotic Suigintoh, who has recruited Suiseiseki’s twin Souseiseki as an ally in her fight to become ‘Alice’- the uber Rozen Maiden of legend.
Peach Pit has delivered a surprisingly emotional chapter in this third volume. Shinku and the other dolls have taken on a persona by now that makes for some tense moments, especially when Suigintoh has them all in her demented grip and is trying to decide whether simply to strip Shinku naked in front of everyone or to dismember her completely. Everyone who has seen discarded dolls- often both naked and dismembered in a cupboard or in the trash- may find this part in the story worth a thought or two. Loved, personified, and yet not being truly human in part or substance, the act of defiling and discarding these dolls either by humans or their own kin strikes one as a little disturbing. Certainly, why it should be disturbing is worth examining, but not here in this review. Suffice to say, Peach Pit has explored the territory of love, possession and the casual discarding of things or people dear to one before in another of their tales, DEARs. Perhaps it gives greater meaning, therefore, to the cute little collaboration manga at the end of Volume Three, featuring characters from this manga as well as DEARs and ZOMBIE-LOAN. This is a nice touch, along with the awesome character descriptions and plot summary that are also included in the book.
IN SUMMARY:
ROZEN MAIDEN, created by Peach Pit and published by Tokyopop, is a winning combination of an entertaining story and great art. Rated for the teen crowd, it is safe without being silly or sappy, and savvy enough so that grown ups can enjoy it too- truly a toy story for all ages. |
