Title: Immortal Rain, Vol. 1
Author: Kaori Ozaki
First published June 8, 2004
232 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781591827221 (ISBN10: 1591827221)
Rating: 4.14
Overview
For ages, Rain Jewlitt, also known as Methuselah, has managed to escape from assassins and bounty hunters who want to uncover his secret to immortality. One of his pursuers, the Grim Reaper Zol, failed to put an end to Rain’s life.
After Zol’s demise, his granddaughter Machika pledges to avenge her grandfather’s death by ending Rain’s immortality. However, as she delves deeper into her mission, Machika realizes that the thin line between love and hate may become blurred forever.
About the Author
Meet Kaori Ozaki, a skilled comic artist and character designer hailing from Japan. Ozaki began her career in 1993 at a young age of 15, publishing her first series An Angel above the Piano with shojo publisher Shinshokan.
However, it was her widely successful work Immortal Rain that thrust her into the global spotlight. The series was translated into several languages and even published in the United States by Tokyopop.
Ozaki dedicated 12 years to creating the eleven-volume series before changing publishers and genres. She then released her first title from Kodansha’s young adult magazine Afternoon.
Editoral Review
Immortal Rain, Vol. 1 by Kaori Ozaki is an action-packed manga that envelopes readers with an intriguing narrative and beautiful illustrations.
This manga was first published on June 8, 2004, and gained immense popularity in the shonen genre, a genre that targets young male readers. The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where Rin Amami, an immortal bounty hunter, leads a life of solitude.
In his quest for immortality, he is pursued relentlessly by a young girl, Machika Balfaltin, who seeks his head. However, as the story progresses, Rin’s past is revealed, and the story takes a captivating turn, highlighting the complexity of his character.
Kaori Ozaki’s art is an absolute standout feature of Immortal Rain, Vol.1. The details and the engaging art style give life to the characters, and the action scenes are incredibly well done. The narrative flow never falters, and readers can easily keep up with the fast-paced action sequences.
The themes present in the manga are hard-hitting and relatable to issues faced by young people today. They include the search for identity, the loss of loved ones, loneliness and a need for human connection, among others.
The manga explores these human themes with poignancy, giving readers an emotional reading experience. However, the manga comes with some shortcomings.
The dialogue can be stiff and cheesy at times, which might detract from the overall reading experience for some readers. Furthermore, some characters might appear underdeveloped, while others feel like they don’t fit well into the story.
Overall, Immortal Rain, Vol. 1 delivers a well-crafted narrative, accompanied by excellent artwork that holds its own against other manga in the shonen genre.
It is perfect for readers who enjoy action, adventure, and character-driven stories with themes of self-discovery and human connection. The book is recommended for readers aged thirteen and up and would appeal to fans of Fullmetal Alchemist and Cowboy Bebop.
With this first volume’s excellent start, readers will undoubtedly be hoping for more to come. Immortal Rain, Vol.
1 receives a solid four-star rating, with its impressive art, exciting story, and focus on human themes.
