Comics / Manga

Black Butler Volumes 1-2

By Chris Zimmerman
June 17, 2010 - 12:59

For quite some time now, Japan has shown a fascination for manga focusing on super powered maids defending their masters. One had to figure it was only a matter of time before authors began incorporating butlers into the mix.

Black Butler is the story of an extremely proficient butler named Sebastian, whose sole purpose seems to serve his adolescent master, Ciel Phantomhive, though later on it is revealed that there is more to the duo than meets the eye. Upon reading the first few chapters, readers would find nary a hint of the supernatural aside from Sebastian’s uncanny precision concerning all tasks. Even the other servants, whose jobs are all specially assigned to them, cannot hope to compare to his skill.

It is not until later on, when Ciel is kidnapped, does Sebastian’s true nature become evident. Moments such as this are fleeting however, with the majority of the volume focusing on the characters busying themselves around the mansion, concentrating on various tasks.

Volume 2 is where the action truly picks up, with the Queen summoning Ciel and Sebastian to track down the infamous Jack the Ripper. There is some nice tongue in cheek humor to be had, with Ciel forced to dress in drag to ferret out the notorious murderer. Of course, things are not what they seem, as both are threatened by their foe.

Fans of gothic costumes will find much to appreciate here. The character designs are elegant and fit perfectly with the time period in which they inhabit. Yen Press continues its display of impressive packaging including color pages and substantial translation notes.

Unfortunately, the series does have its fair share of problems, the most noticeable of which is its pacing. Half of volume one is spent trying to garner laughs from the audience, with little hint of its supernatural premise. One would have almost thought the series was meant to be taken as a comedy.

The other issue derives from the development of characters, or lack thereof. It should go without saying that for a reader to connect with the character, a certain amount of information needs to be revealed. Sadly, beyond their names, virtually nothing is given to the reader to explain who they are and what their motivations are. This is less noticeable in volume 2, if only because of the time spent following their adventures, not because of plot exposition.

Black Butler has all the right ingredients for a great story. It’s a shame that the series potential is never realized. There is so much more that could have been developed, such as the sinister nature of Sebatian’s relationship to Ciel, rather than treating it as an afterthought in favor of writing slapstick. Volume 2 goes a long way in rectifying this, discarding most of the humor in favor of serious drama, to the point that it would appear to be from a different series all together.

Though the series falters early on, it does show signs of vast improvement. The story contains enough appealing elements to keep readers distracted until a real story can develop, but at this point is probably better considered a guilty pleasure.

Volume 1 - 7.0
Volume 2 - 7.5

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12