Sacrifice, Swordplay, And Magical Stones — Reviewing ‘Legends Of The Pierced Veil: Izuna’

Welcome to the table,

One of my favorite things to do late at night is to sit in the dark, mute the TV, and watch samurai movies. The world is very still and I have done it for so long that I am able to leave my phone face down so I’m not distracted. It always feels slightly magical, like I am posted up in some dream real movie theater watching swordmasters and entities of folklore clash. It’s really a good time.

Speaking of folklore fantasy romps through eastern settings…

Humanoids has announced Legends of the Pierced Veil: Izuna. It’s a brand new deluxe edition hardcover collecting both volumes of the Eisner Award-nominated Izuna by creator Saverio Tenuta, co-writer Bruno Letizia, artist Carita Lupattelli, and translator Montana Kane, for fans and readers worldwide. This definitive hardcover edition follows the epic battle between spirits both chaotic and novel for the fate of their world.

The story follows the noble Izuna wolves who have stood as guardians, shielding this version of Japan from evil spirits of corruption while respecting the delicate boundary that separates the realms of Kami, a hidden world where more magical entities dwell, and humanity. However, a sinister force known as the Noggo emerges, infecting the spiritual plane and prompting the Izuna, bound by duty, to resist its advance. Yet, a profound disruption arises when an Izuna cub takes the form of a young human girl, unsettling the balance between the ethereal realm and the waking world.

This book is beautiful. The whole thing has an art style that speaks to the time that was put into each page. The colorwork and the way light is used to play a role in the storytelling is subtle but without it, I think the work would be far less impactful. There are stories that can be told in fast and frantic more minimalistic styles but the painterly weight brought to each panel really elevates this story and is another reminder that some things can only be done in comics on the page.

There are a few points where the book has a beautiful shift in the art style to something more simplistic and gesture-based as we are treated to stories from the past. These moments really stand out for me because, unlike some other offerings that do this story within a story to foreshadow and give exposition, these are done in a more folklore narrative way that feels way less heavy-handed and does not interrupt the flow of the narrative.

Legends of The Pierced Veil: Izuna will be a favorite of those who love Japanese folklore, high fantasy adventures, or just want a story about sacrifice, swordplay, and magical stones. Let the beautiful art and the compelling charicters take you away on an adventure in a land of myth, legends, and memorable monsters.

Legends of The Pierced Veil: Izuna is currently available in bookstores and in comic shops.

Until next time, check out Zatoichi if you have not seen any of those films yet. It’s some of my favorite late-night entertainment.