“Finé would do anything for her friend, Iris Redhood, even take the illegal magical drug Elixir and become a bloodthirsty monster. Iris would do anything for Finé, including letting Finé drink her blood, the only thing that can calm Finé down when the cravings get too much. But Iris's devotion comes at a price: she's actually a werewolf, and has plans to devour Finé whole!”
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Presenting an intriguing amalgamation of genres' and themes', “Scarlet” gives the reader a lot of content within the first volume. Drawing on such genre's as ‘yuri', horror, fantasy and a splash of dark comedy, the series is perhaps best defined through its hyper-sexualization of its central characters. The focus on the relationship between Fine and Iris, every long embrace and romantic words, will make for an instant divide in reader interest. However, “Scarlet” has various charming attributes that make it feel like something more than just fan service with cute girls.
With the backdrop of a bleak world troubled by monsters and illegal drug use, the central characters act to balance out the other's shortcomings. Fine is more level headed and dedicated to her role of eliminating those who misuse dark materials, while Iris's powers allow the two to have a more threatening presence in the hostile world. As a result, both demand the respect of residents and authorities by leaning on their respective strengths.
By in large, the series focuses on the pull of emotions of the two protagonists, their lust for both each other and blood becoming interchangeable given the situation. These desires can evoke a degree of awkwardness, taking president over the narrative in a way that can feel off kilter. However, it is in these moments the characters' vulnerabilities are best explored as they come close to transforming into the monsters they have dedicated their lives to fighting. This hint at deeper issues remains rather unexplored within the first volume, but does have the potential to develop into something of more substance.
While it remains to be how well the narrative will develop, the artwork of Yuino should draw in readers within the first few pages. With a knack for capturing ‘lewd' behavior, and the ability to transfer that energy into glorious displays of stylized violence, the books visual prowess is undeniable. Yunio certainly showcases an understanding of form and how making the characters' best appeal to the reader (applicable to both erotic and horror). To balance out all the doom and gloom, there is also short deviations into a more cute aesthetic that offers some welcomed respite.
The first volume of Scarlet has been released by Seven Seas Entertainment, with the second volume set to release at the end of November. While it remains to be seen how the relationship between the two will develop beyond haughty romance, Chiri Yuino has set the foundation for a great series in creating an intriguing dark landscape. While the mix of genre's may not be to everyone's taste, fans of horror or ‘lewdness' would do good to take a stab at “Scarlet”.
