Sayonara Sorcier

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

This manga intrigued me because of the concept of twisting things that we believe as of today and creating a story out of it. Until now I haven't read a manga based off a historical figure, in this case the artist Vincent Vhan Gogh. This manga is about the strong bond between brothers and their dedication to one another. I feel as though this manga has been underrated because both the art and the story are equally beautiful. Vincent, the older brother with a gift for art and a tendency to accept the world as it is and see it as a subject of beauty ... is one of the protagonists of this story. The other one is his younger brother, Theodore, a mysterious man who strives to show the world the gift of his brother while behind the scenes. Overall, I enjoyed this manga and I hope you guys enjoy this manga as much as I did. :)

Personally I was intrigued by the idea for the story - not pure fiction but a piece inspired by two of van Gogh siblings: Theo and Vincent. Well, mainly about Theo.

Because of this fact - which is the story on canvas of historical characters/events - I had certain expectations and was afraid a little what the outcome would be.
In general, I enjoyed Sayonara Sorcier. Theo was coloured up, obviously, but it fit the story that was focused on his person. His thoughts and true relation with brother were exposed gradually, with light twists. On the other side was Vince. I was trying not to be ... strict and I did understand the point of his personality shown in the manga but, in my opinion, he appeared to be too light-hearted and naive. It simply irritates at moments. But still, I see what the purpose was.

The story is enjoyable - it uses some facts and presents an alternative version of Vincent's (and Theo's) life (different from the "official" one). It touches the topic of art, subjective perception and the matter of personal desires. I'd say Sayonara Sorcier is an interesting concept, definitely worth reading. For me, it is a big advantage.

The art style stays pleasent for eyes, I had nothing to complain about. Aand I don't think anyone would have. Aesthetically, the manga is polished.

I consider Sayonara Sorcier to be very good for both those who are interested in art as well as those who doesn't really belong to this world. Although I guess it may be more appealing to the former. There are two volumes only but I think it is a perfect length. Nothing drags on or feels rushed. It is worth the time unless you're very strict when it comes to historical evidence and compatibility with facts.

I have mixed feelings about this story. On one hand, I was incredibly excited when I found out that there was a manga that focuses on Vincent Van Gogh's younger brother, Theodore. And the way the story set itself up at first, with Theo's ambition to break from the Conservative clutches that the Art Academy has established and a passion for bringing his brother's genius into the limelight.

Other than the story, the art is decent with some very nice depictions of art pieces from the time.

Our protagonist, Theo, is captivating. Much like a performer on a stage, everything he does demands attention in all ... its charisma and intellect. That said, his brother Vincent was a lot less interestingly written. The creative changes to his character made him feel rather plain and unmotivated for the majority of the story, though the writing itself acknowledges this perception.

On the other hand, if you are expecting historically-accurate storytelling, you will be disappointed. The artistic divergences from actual known events that the story decides to take were a little less favourable to me. Without spoiling the ending - I had hoped and been looking forward to the exploration of the brothers' bond in their times of struggle, particularly in the events of Vincent's psychiatric struggles and Theo's chronic health issues. Unfortunately this was not explored in the way I had hoped, and that really ruined my enjoyment of the series.

Overall, I wouldn't say the series itself is bad. If you like the re-interpretation and twisting of commonly known events into something new, you may love this manga. However, from my very subjective perspective, it just didn't meet the particular expectations it had set when I first began it.