“The Tokugawa shogunate has fallen, and former samurai Haruyasu is adrift in a strange new world, searching for a place to die. But when he attempts to assassinate a government official, hoping this will bring the eternal peace he craves, Haruyasu finds himself at the mercy of the official's bodyguard, a young woman who claims she's the daughter of an immortal. What will she ask in return for sparing his life?” (Seven Seas Entertainment)
Treading familiar ground of interjecting fantasy elements into historically inspired samurai action, Yu Aida's “The Valiant Must Fall” does little to distinguish itself from the plethora of similar titles. Consequently, for a series of this ilk to be noteworthy in the crowded genre it requires that it nails all elements of art, action, and character-building, with enough skill to warrant a read. And while it is hard to determine an overall verdict from the inaugural volume, Yu Aida, undeniably, has the skills to create a stand-out in the genre.
Notably, the art is sharp and excels in everything, from capturing fast-paced swordplay to the subtle mannerisms of its intriguing cast. Furthermore, Aida excels at bringing feudal Japan to life with an emphasis on the fashion and culture of the period. This representation may not be impeccable, and the background environments feel underutilized, but the overall direction of the work resonates with the sleek coolness required to push the action-heavy series. The only deterrent, applicable to some, would be a lack of excess violence in the sword fights–yes blood is shed, but it is never depicted gratuitously.
“The Valiant Must Fall” succeeds in creating strong personas by establishing their deep sense of honor within the cast, while subsequently challenging their ethic code for a ‘greater good'. In particular, Haruyasu exists in a rather gray area bound by the samurai code but no longer needed by society. Consequently, his development in the first volume is quite the challenge and rebirth of his persona while still staying grounded in morality taught through his training.
Keeping details of this transformation purposely vague to avoid spoilers, fans of historical fiction meet fantasy elements will be pleased by the character progression in the inaugural volume, as it is one of the defining factors that make the series stand out. This sentiment also extends to the few side characters introduced, giving confidence to Aida's ability to manage a larger cast going forward should the story expand beyond its two main protagonists.
While “The Valiant Must Fall” does little to deviate from familiar formulas, Yu Aida proves to be a competent storyteller with a strong command of visuals. Collectors who focus on action-heavy titles should seek this out, while those with rounded collections may still want to wait for a few volumes to see how the general reception around the manga grows. Essentially, the first volume proves Aida's ability to make that instant impact, but whether the series becomes notable in the genre will take time to establish.