‘Gisei’ Review: A Dark Tale of Assassins and Politics

Manga, as a medium, is one of the most flexible around. The medium has enough space and tools to tell basically any story someone would want to tell. The proof is the countless manga characters that have become stable figures in pop culture. They have been around for decades and are sometimes more recognizable than any cartoon characters from the West. There is so much manga, though, that some stories cannot stand out. They have to be really special to do it. Gisei, is one of those manga series trying to carve its space in the industry.

The series is created by Kona Chise, and tells the story of inmate 1147, a woman who has lost her memories and has also been chosen to be part of the Ravens. The Ravens are a group of powerful assassins that are hired for the most dangerous of situations. If you need to kill monsters, magicians, or even kings, then these are the people you call. However, as 1147 continues on her journey, she might discover things that could send her down an unexpected road that her master might not like.

From the moment you start reading Gisei, it is clear that the story has this dark fantasy feel to it. For those who have read Berserk, and love it, then it would be easy compared to say that the tone is very much in line with how Berserk uses violence. The violence shapes the world where the story takes place. However, just like Berserk, especially the newer Berserk, humor is also an essential part of it, with many scenes having that Pluck humor that made the characters so lovable in the Kentaro Miura series.

Gisei begins with the introduction of its main character, inmate 1147, and from the get-go, it shows us you don’t want to be on her wrong side. The mystery surrounding the surface is intriguing enough to keep you reading. Who is this woman? Why is she in prison? How can they control her? There are many questions to be asked while reading, and we expect the series to answer those questions satisfactorily. The Ravens are fascinating, and their personalities are pretty out there, so there is potential for multiple plotlines exploring them in detail.

However, some things feel a bit rough when it comes to Gisei. One of them is art. Maybe it is a conscious decision, but the art style chosen for the show feels more in line with something like a gag manga than with a Seinen series. Of course, it would be insane to ask for the art of the level on something like the previously mentioned, Berserk. Not everyone can draw characters and environments with so much detail, but especially when it comes to character proportions, it feels like the art style could be more consistent.

There is plenty of humor during the storyline, with many characters adopting those cute poses that are often used to depict moments of embarrassment. This is why the art style might be a conscious decision by the author to create contrast between the darkness of the storyline and the innocent and sometimes naive personalities of some characters. If so, then the decision works very well. We don’t need to be in grimdark mode all the time.

The storyline also goes to places that are not only defined by violence. For example, we get the story of a prince who is in a clear state of depression, and he tries to be as cheerful as he can be even when he hates himself. This character exemplifies the tone of the entire manga; grimdark and cute in equal parts. This could be considered a positive as it makes the storyline feel dynamic, but there is also inevitable whiplash in some moments when the jump between the dark and cute states feels a bit awkward.

Another thing that might give you a whiplash effect, at least during this story volume, is that the introduction feels somewhat false. Let me explain. We are introduced to inmate 1147 and her world of assassination. Still, after a concise mission, we jump straight into a storyline that has more to do with politics and the family drama inside a palace. Maybe the introduction of the Ravens at the start of the story was meant to serve as a cold opener, but as the palace’s storyline continues, it makes you wonder who the main character really is.

Nevertheless, as the storyline in this volume ends, all the storylines start to converge, and you start getting a clearer picture of what Kona Chise is trying to execute here. The result is something with a lot of potential that is certainly entertaining. However, the manga could use a bit more polish, especially regarding the pacing of the story and also regarding character designs, as many characters seem to share the same face and haircut. Making the characters more distinctive from each other can really make each of them feel more unique.

Gise introduces us to a fantastic and lethal world filled with assassins, princes, kings, and magic. The story has all the ingredients to make something that feels epic and majestic. The use of humor is also very welcome, as it contrasts the different elements and gives the turning of each page a sense of the unexpected coming your way. We will follow what happens with 1147 and the other characters in this fascinating world.

You can find Gise manga on UE Comics or support them on their Kickstarter page.

SCORE: 7/10