 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | DEL REY | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | PEACH-PIT | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | JAPANESE / B&W | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 200 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | T | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 05/20/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 07/30/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
Because it comes from the creators of DearS and Rozen Maiden, I’ve been curious about Shugo Chara. The art work is naturally above par but the story goes more for the heart than the naughties in DearS or the bizarre aspects of Rozen Maiden, to instead offer a story as sweet as it is creative. Already by volume 4, big shake-ups are in store for the characters. A new school year begins as a number of changes happen with and around Amu. First she learns that her best friend has gone overseas without so much as a goodbye. Then a new transfer student arrives but Kim’s prettiness is only eclipsed by her cold nature. When the new girl is slated to be the new Queen, Amu seriously considers quitting. The biggest mystery and excitement in this chapter, however, is the fourth egg that has appeared before Amu. The concept that young people develop their true selves by adopting Guardian Characters and deciding which is most suited to them is a unique and creative take on the developmental psyche of one. The way Peach-Pit have worked it into a magical girl adventure is clever and the changes the characters go through makes a moving story. In this volume, all the changes have thrown Amu badly. It is only when she bumps into an old friend that she gets a bit of cheer. Sadly, that is interrupted too soon by Utau, who challenges Amu to a duel for the Humpty Lock. During the fight, a number of surprises occur, including some unexpected transformations, and Utau and Amu possibly inadvertently exchange Guardian Characters! What Amu understood about Guardian Characters and her own abilities are about to be broadened and brought to even more exciting developments. There is also the matter of her Diamond fourth egg and the mysterious reappearance of the cat-boy Ikuto. There’s a bonus side story in this volume that shows Amu torn between not two, but three mysterious men when she meets a third compelling fellow during a visit to a temple. This also is a crucial tale for Shugo Chara fans as it reveals a startling secret about someone very close to Amu!
IN SUMMARY:
Changes are in the air with all kinds of twists and transformations in the latest volume of Shugo Chara! |
