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Manga-ka/Author
M. Alice LeGrow
Genre
drama, fantasy, supernatural, gothic
Volumes: 2+
Distributor: Tokyopop
Classification: 12
Rating
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After the death of her two parents in a car crash, schizophrenic teenager Dinah
Wherever is sent to live with her aunt in the forgotten and decaying town of
Bizenghast. Her only friend and confidant is local boy Vincent Monroe, who helps
her to escape (if only momentarily) from the watching eyes of her aunt and the
doctor.
On a walk through the dreary woods surrounding Bizenghast, the two come upon a
strange sight; a towering mausoleum. Vincent persuades Dinah to explore the
ruins, and when they enter an open trapdoor, Dinah falls under the mausoleum's
curse. The graveyard is full of restless souls; the spirits of those who died a
violent death and are prevented from entering the next world. As the strange
creature Bali-lali tells Dinah, she must release these spirits or become one of
them.
Vincent decides to help her, and each night the two return to the mausoleum to
solve the riddles and do whatever it takes to free each restless soul. Before
long, they are visited by a helper - the strange-looking Edaniel. However, as
the spirits become more dangerous and Dinah's aunt threatens to move her away
from Bizenghast, Dinah and Vincent have a fight on their hands to ensure Dinah's
survival...
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Bizenghast is an interesting and bizarre series which nevertheless caught
my interest and persuaded me that yes indeed, I do like gothic (even if setting
the ancient gothic town of Bizenghast in America is a little amusing). Those who
turn their noses up at non-Japanese manga should really take a look at this
title, as both the story and art style are quite something else.
Rejecting the usual impulse to go for a Japanese setting, LeGrow instead used
her childhood influences from German art and literature, and legends and ghost
stories of New England. Each panel is exquisitely detailed, and it's obvious a
lot of loving attention has gone into creating Bizenghast.
Quite a lot of hype has surrounded this series since its debut, but personally I
think it deserves the recognition it has received. Bizenghast is at once
beautiful and macabre, touching and frightening and is an excellent ambassador
for global manga.
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Manga
American manga and
cosplay enthusiast Marty LeGrow was a finalist of Tokyopop's second Rising
Stars of Manga competition in 2003, and later won a deal with Tokyopop which
resulted in the publication of her series Bizenghast. The first and
second volumes are available in the West, with a third on its way.
Anime
There is no
Bizenghast anime as of yet.
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