Ashidaka – The Iron Hero is Ryo Sumiyoshi's latest title. Talented mangaka with a captivating line, she had already regaled us with the first two volumes of this tetralogy, masterfully led. She also captivated us with her horror BL MADK, whose second volume was recently released, as well as her fantasy series Centaurs. It is therefore with joy that we find his inimitable style in the last two volumes of his manga mixing steampunk and social criticism. History After an eventful first encounter with the anti-demon army, Ashidaka and Geji agree to join the ranks. Always driven by the goal of uniting multiarms and single-arms, Ashidaka intends to change things from within. However, their first mission may well put his ideal to the test of cruel reality! Because the electric encounter with the mechanic Tsuchi, brimming with hatred towards the multiarms, quickly turns to the disadvantage of the anti-demon army. However, Ashidaka does not give up… Will he be able to convince him to join them? Meanwhile, a dull threat is about to descend on the world. And giant centipedes may not be the only, or the most terrible threat… Ashidaka: childish naivety and burning rage The time for the final battle against the "Demon with a Hundred Arms of Steel" will soon come. But before that, Ashidaka will have to face an armed group whose values seem diametrically opposed to his own. Indeed, if the anti-demon army also wants to reduce the giant centipedes to ashes, its members do not hesitate to attack the monopairs they cross to accomplish their objectives and strengthen. Or even to use the weakest multiarms as sacrificial baits… Their violence responds in a frontal and brutal way to the cruelty of which the multibras have long been victims. But for Ashidaka, this method is truly unacceptable! How can we end segregation without creating a new one? How can we bring together peoples who hate each other when their only difference is their number of arms? Echoing the current questions that cross the world, Ashidaka's dilemma resonates deeply. His boundless optimism, sometimes bordering on total naivety, could nevertheless be the keystone of an incredible revolution. Like the inevitable Luffy with the Straw Hat, Ryo Sumiyoshi's hero seems irresistibly to attract those who gravitate around him. His self-sacrifice, even his sense of sacrifice, will undoubtedly lead his companions on the road to victory. Ashidaka, however, is far from being naïve. His strength lies in his rage at having lost everything and the horror of this trauma. He will not hesitate to go beyond all limits, even to transform into a monster, to achieve his goal, shining like a lantern at the edge of the Styx. Ashidaka – The Iron Hero: striking power If Glénat editions have integrated manga into their shônen collection, Ashidaka – The Iron Hero offers a dense narrative that goes far beyond the codes of the genre. He is supported by the inimitable stroke of the artist Ryo Sumiyoshi. The latter effectively sets up its plot and gradually reveals crucial elements, without ever losing its readers. All the characters are worked to the extreme, even the most secondary, and are part of a unique and founding mythology. Note also the care taken by the mangaka concerning the names of its protagonists, all inspired by arachnids or insects whose natural behavior meets their character, and their links with the Buddhist religion. Ryo Sumiyoshi's other strength is his pencil stroke. Its graphics, instantly recognizable, attention to detail and facial expressions of its characters, are beautiful. The boxes are abundant, sometimes a little busy, which can reduce their readability. However, the scenes come out strengthened in their rendering of power; the chaos of the fights as well as the emotions that animate Ashidaka, Geji, Honchi and the others, dazzles us and jumps at our throats. Add to that a hint of horror (the final form of The Red Demon: Nightmare!), and you get a manga that is a major and breathtaking work, mastered from start to finish, both graphically and in its unfolding. Offering his manga an end in the image of his hero, Ryo Sumiyoshi proves to us, if it were still necessary, his incredible talent as a narrator-artist. With its steampunk atmosphere flirting with mechanical apocalypse, its committed narrative and its endearing characters, there is no doubt that Ashidaka – The Iron Hero will conquer the hearts of its readers until the last line!
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