“Agredios, the son of a local landowner, arrives home from a long hunt…only to find his village silent and devoid of its usual laughter and commotion. What he discovers is an unimaginable agony that sparks a desire to avenge his fallen people by slaying the witch of the forbidden woods. But is the witch truly as vile as rumors say? A new quest begins: to discover the truth, save lives, and survive.” (Yen Press)
An example of unlimited potential with an underwhelming inaugural volume, “The Witch and The Knight Will Survive” is a slightly confusing entry into the fantasy genre. While the source of the disconnect is obvious, there is enough substance to tease a greater narrative that could prove fruitful given time. So, what elements work, and what is lacking?
Where the series shines is in the visuals from Gonbe Shinkawa, who brings the world of “The Witch and Knight Will Survive” to life with a sleek style that is gorgeously detailed. Consequently, the fantasy landscape, from environments to characters/creatures, really pops on the pages and will entice readers to unravel its mysteries. This is apparent from the opening sequence, as Agredios finding his entire town has succumbed to the plague proves highly visceral under the artistic direction of Shinkawa–this tragedy permeates throughout the entire release giving Gonbe's art an alluring bleakness.
In considering the visual presentation alone, there is ample reason for readers to be excited about “The Witch and The Knight Will Survive”. However, the story proves to be underwhelming in notable areas which, ultimately, lessens the impact the first volume could have. The character development is surface level, with Agredios lacking beyond simple tropes and motivations–he is defined by the turmoil that he faces as opposed to the person he is. Moreover, the cause behind the plague that destroyed his town and people is shrouded in mystery to the point of obfuscation. Sadly, the emotions of the characters are only realized in the art, while the story comes across as tepid and uninspiring.
However, this critique rests with the inaugural volume, and while it makes one hesitant to continue on in the series, there are certain plot points teased and the fantastic art direction of Gonbe Shinkawa still keeps the experience pleasant. The series, hopefully, can transform into a ‘slow-burn' that takes a few volumes to get into the flow of the work, and with the series still running it would be misguided to disregard based on first impression.
Ultimately, readers may be better served to give the work a few volumes before jumping in or at least curtail expectations and approach the manga with the intent of collecting the art–Yen Press publishing in a slightly larger edition was an apt choice for where the book's strengths lie. You can even check out the official site and browse chapters released in Japanese, which does allude to development in the right direction.
The manga did not resonate with me beyond the artistic direction, but the series has me intrigued enough to stick with it and see how it develops. If the story can hit the same stride as the visuals, “The Witch and The Knight Will Survive” could evolve into a must-read for fans of the fantasy genre.
