Sora no Kiseki Gaiden: Löwe Monogatari

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

>no Lowe Monogatari review
>only other person (as of writing this) rates it a 9
>no topic or discussion about this manga

This is why we can't have nice things people. This is the first review I've written on this account, and I hope this is my last because I only ever care to write one for very very under-appreciated stuff. And Lowe Monogatari is criminally underrated.

Lowe Monogatari is a must-read for all Kiseki fans. It follows Sword Emperor/Kentei Leonhardt from his younger days back in Hamel all the way to the climatic ending in Sora no Kiseki SC. It goes into detail regarding what he does in ... Ouroboros and his point of view in the Liberl arc. Characters from the Sora arc pop up here and there, and some Crossbell characters even make a few cameos!

The art is a bit lacking when it comes to backgrounds, but it more than makes up for it with the other details in each scene. For example, each character's clothing is exactly how they appear in the games, and locations such as the Celestial Globe and Hamel are drawn beautifully. The characters' faces are also surprisingly similar to the game, or at least not as jarring as the ones in Ring of Judgment or the Sora no Kiseki manga.

Characters? Exactly what you expect from a Kiseki work. They just...work. The manga goes deep into what Leonhardt sees and feels throughout the entire Sora arc, so it's not just a simple rehash after the Hamel chapters. There's also a fair bit of Renne in it, and more Renne is something I'd never turn down.

I cannot stress enough how good this manga is. If you're a Kiseki fan and have played through at least FC and SC, this manga will hit you where it hurts and send you straight back to reminiscing about the Sora games.

I'm not sure why i decided to write this review, been years since I finished reading Loewe Monogatari, but perhaps looking at the portrait of a sad Loewe resting inside the favorites section of my MAL, especially after a long period of absence from this ev̶e̶r̶ ̶m̶a̶l̶f̶u̶n̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶i̶n̶g̶ website , and the waves of Nostalgia following it did have a role.

This Tale belongs to a period that things actually did have consequences. No, here you will not see the dead rising miraculously from their silent chamber. No, you will not see the rules and laws of Zemuria conveniently bending to the wills of its makers. No, ... in this tale you only find characters, Villains and Heroes alike, with deep and understandable motives keeping you closely connected, making you constantly relate to them.

The Tale of Loewe is the epitome of an imperfect masterpiece, it charms you in a way that forever leaves a satisfying taste.

The Art here is by no means great, it is full of wrongs and errors, from the bland designs to sometimes incorrect perspectives.
The story is incomprehensible for those who did not carefully follow it's trails in the main trilogy, after all it's supposed to be the greatest form of a fan service that any spin off hopes to be.
But you know what makes it great? The perfect blend of a good writing and expressions! I have not seen any other manga after Jun's Pandora Hearts doing the formula this neatly. Words fail to describe all the heavy emotions hitting me as i was looking at Loewe with his heart full of wounds and sorrow, silently staring at the innocent children from afar, playing together in the park reminding him of himself and his own heartbroken little brother, Joshua. or Weissman's wicked smile alerting you, the reader of this Tale, of his sinister intentions. Yes, the atmosphere is what shines the brightest here.

Now if you allow me i'm gonna wrap this up with a little bit of an angry rant.

Ironic isn't it? That the People in Falcom became a victim to the Very self deception that Loewe spent his life to fight against. I still remember of the good ol' times when Falcom actually cared about their own offspring instead of being a hack that rashly copy/pastes the cringiest tropes from whatever show that was popular at the moment.
I am very sad to see the continuation of such a great Tale becoming an slave to the corporate greed of its masters but nonetheless, It's a manga i will always be proud of spending months translating it, as the first and perhaps the last title i will ever go so far for.

And in the end, just like the wise guy before me, i cannot stress enough how good this manga is. If you are a Kiseki fan, don't miss it!