Introduction
Asatru is a fantasy western manga; like many other web-manga, that simply means manga-style with heavy western influences, in this case being full colour and a hint of Disney-esque flair. The story is serialized and fairly serious, though the comic itself is only just beginning, weighing in with only 15 pages at the time of this review. Main characters are fairly ambiguous; the story has the feel of a prologue, and we readers are still waiting for the main actors to take the stage. At this point we know there is one Keil Alven, a river god masquerading as a human; Aelwen, his lover who also happpens to be an elvish princess, and Lady Ostara, some sort of meddling oracle goddess. Presumably the main character of the series will be the bastard son of Keil Alven and Aelwen, who is as of yet nameless.
The Positive Aspects
The first thing that will strike readers about this manga is the crisp, clean artwork. Simple and beautifully rendered, it catches the eye and suits the style of drawing perfectly. The artwork is almost all purely CG (computer-coloured), and the application of soft tones and gradients with mild shading works to produce a very soft, dream-like feel to the entire comic. The colour sensibility of the artist is gentle; the art manages to be vibrant without crossing over into garish. While the lineart is not particularly heavy in detail, what we are shown is wonderfully rendered; hints of detailed costumes, curly hair and leafy trees all work together to create a beautiful effect. Sharra Blackfire clearly knows what she is doing; the observant will even catch a clever hints to real world-influences (in this case, Botticelli's "Birth of Venus".) The minor tribute to real-world artwork both explains the technical competence and soft colouring style of the artwork, as well as warms the cockles of any art student or historian who can pick up on the hints.
One striking difference between Asatru and many other web-manga is the attention to background detail. Too often, artists can get caught up in perfecting the figure, and forget to include the ever-important setting of their fantasy worlds. This is clearly not a problem; landscapes and backgrounds are just as carefully rendered as the figures, coming together for a beautiful and almost professional effect.
Another great find in Asatru is the writing; unlike many of its brethren, the story that has been revealed so far is well-written, in proper English grammar, and easy to follow. That the artist has taken the time not only to draw, but also write carefully brings this web manga one step closer to professionalism than many of its compatriots.
The Criticisms
While the art and the writing are both of highest quality in this web manga, unfortunately the web design falls a little short. While the site design itself is crisp, clear and easy to follow, the reader is simply thrown into the comic's latest page with little to no introduction at all - no banner, no title, no story summary. In effect, a first-time visitor to the comic will probably feel distinctly like they are being thrown off of a cruise ship and into the sea with no life jacket. Of course, the pretty tropical corals surrounding you will soon outweigh the shock of having been thrown into the water, but a milder introduction into the comic, such as a cover page, would make it easier for readers to acclimate to the story. At the very least, the title of the comic should be easily visible somewhere on main index.
Story wise, there simply is not enough comic to offer a valid critique of the plot. It is typical standard fantasy fare, almost straight out of the Tolkein universe - the almost-Celtic character names, pretty blond elves, scary drow, river-gods and oracles, and of course a mysterious prophecy to be fulfilled by some sort of destined child. All of these descriptors are not necessarily detractors from the story; the concepts are, however, not particularly original. Whether or not they will blossom into a truly unique story or fall short into the typical fantasy stereotypes will only be understood once the comic is well underway.
The Conclusion
Asatru is a web comic with great potential. Its high points - beautiful artwork and a competent story. Its low points - the danger of sinking into fantasy cliches despite the wonderful artwork, and the simple fact that it needs more than 15 pages for a reader to be able to pass judgement on the story. Altogether, however, it is a tempting comic morsel of unusually high quality and definitely one to keep an eye on.
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Enkida
