Aug 11, 2022
“Beseeching a God comes with a price”
What if you suddenly die, then reincarnated, bestowed with supernatural powers?
‘Stage S’ commands a very powerful premise, in this debut from up-and-comer author Tomoya Harikawa, that anchors, in deed, talent and oath.
Ukiyo Meguru is a glum and lackadaisical high school student who’s in love with her childhood friend, Tatsumi Sara. A dark tragedy slumbers in his heart, and he believes in God. Nothing abnormal, so far… somewhere, at a Temple, he meets a Snake God, Shirohebi, virtuous enough to foresee the future. Thanks to the deity, Meguru starts dating Sara and his happiness is supreme, until the day an
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omen of his own death befalls. Nonchalantly, he accepts his fate, breaks up with Sara, to soften the blow, and, again, meets Shirohebi-sama, in a realm beyond this life. There he learns the gruesome doom that awaits his beloved – death! “Beseeching a God comes with a price”, and in order to obtain the power to change fate, Meguru surrenders his strong will (which could prove to be his curse) to resurrection and promises to seek and kill Kurohebi (the presumptively shadowy antagonist who kills Sara in the future).
Thus, begins this manga. It’s proving to be cool and swift, but you’ll may encounter some elements most familiar, from other Shounen. Nonetheless, interestingly enough, some ideas are well articulated, with a good throb, mild humour, prompt tempo and agile style. Following Onmyoji rites and exorcism, “humanoid filths”, a.k.a. demons, and ascetism philosophies, a growing breadth of characters are making their way through the pages to entertain us: Kujira-chan (yandere favourite), heir to the Toraden mysterious organization; Fumyo-sama, the peculiar president entity and ever watchful eye, governing Toraden’s esoterism; Himekawa, a splendid and beautiful secretary, plus ripped teacher, and a cornucopia of enemies providing charm and suspense, battling through the panels.
The art, I dare say, is refined at key moments, exhibiting care and passion, and, in a nutshell, comes out to be coherent and cohesive, having a unique allure to it. Dark stages emanating gore and death are my favourites.
It is very, very premature (having only read 13 chapters) to assess this manga, and I believe it would be ungrateful to do so, but ‘Stage S’ pledges tenacity and talent to strive along and conquer some hearts. Wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.
Less than 100 days to save Sara so,
“float like a butterfly,
bite like a snake”
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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