The story's setting is rather catchy, and will be familiar to fans of Samurai manga. We're at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in Japan, and foreigners are gradually starting to arrive. We are quickly drawn into the brutal and obscure daily lives of two orphans, whose parents have died of disease. By a twist of fate, they end up becoming samurai, and their actions have repercussions for the whole region. The review won't contain any more spoilers, so I'll just cut to the chase.
The first thing I appreciated was the atmosphere of the story. As usual with the author, you can feel that there's a permanent tension, with a sustained rhythm where events follow one another without concession. In the case of Sidooh, the author shows us without detour the violence of the world in which the orphans have landed. The story is full of conflict and twists and turns. I was really into it while reading, and the pace didn't bother me. This proves, I think, that the storytelling is perfectly mastered.
Secondly, I really enjoyed the character development. I tend to find that the author doesn't always go all the way on this level, but it seems that in Sidooh he really went all the way with what he wanted to do. No character is left by the wayside, and every time we get a backstory associated with them that really adds depth. These developments are perfectly matched to the masterful narration. In fact, there's no exaggeration, and everything remains truly realistic, unlike other works that go off in all directions. The development of the antagonists is particularly successful in my opinion, especially in the finale.
Still on the subject of development, I really appreciate the fact that the author has chosen not to make any concessions and to stick to pure brutality. He doesn't hesitate to sacrifice certain characters in order to advance others, or to pause the story.
On the technical point, as usual with the author, I thought it was brilliant. His drawing style is as magical as ever. His unmistakable line gives his work a truly enchanting quality. I find it even more fitting in a samurai work!
There are some magnificent double-page spreads, and certain dazzling cuts and dialogues that hooked me more than usual in his work. Everything is meticulous; from the simple lines of dialogue of the secondary characters to the idealization of key moments.
It'll be hard to go any further without giving away key elements of the story. In any case, I enjoyed catching up with the author once again. Sidooh is an uncompromising work, which touched me at times because it's still a rather complicated story that I found sad at heart. Against a backdrop of family drama, we follow two orphans as they try to make their way in the most ruthless world of the time. It's the kind of story I enjoy reading, and one that proves to me every time that I can go further in discovering manga.
You should consider discovering this manga and Tsutomu Takahashi.
