Doki-Doki has been lining up new series every month for quite some time. Today, it's the novelty of June that we're going to talk about with The Rising of the Shield Hero!
The Rising of the Shield Hero (Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari)
Author : Aiya Kyu based on the original work by Aneko Yusagi
Publisher : Doki-Doki (Media Factory in Japan)
Release date : 01/06/2016
Number of volumes : 5 in Japan, current series
Price : 7,50 €
Synopsis :
Naofumi is projected into a world close to a heroic fantasy role-playing game. But while other heroes have been equipped with formidable offensive weapons, Naofumi inherits a shield with limited abilities to progress in this game where danger can arise at any moment. Betrayed by his partner and vilified by the population, the young man can now only count on himself to survive in this hostile universe… and perhaps on an idle girl with unsuspected resources.
Self-proclaimed as an average person with otaku inclinations on the edges, Naofumi is projected into the world of the book he read in a library. It has indeed just been invoked by the people who face it. Propelled to the rank of hero, he is the last member of the quartet supposed to stop the threat that hangs over the kingdom. A wave of calamities sweeps over the country and according to legend, only the four chosen can exterminate it. Each of them received a legendary weapon and Naofumi inherited the one that looks the least glowing, the shield. He may make his wearer benefit from an extraordinary defense, his offensive potential is zero, and for his hero, the carrying of another weapon is forbidden. Naofumi's destiny is clear, he must depend on others in order to kill monsters, but how to go about it when no one wants to accompany him? The 4 heroes must make their first weapons separately and the adventurers of the kingdom in search of glory prefer to support the bearers of the sword, the bow and the spear…
The Rising of the Shield Hero immediately plunges us into a world of heroic fantasy! If our hero thinks he has dived into the book he was reading, the other heroes lean more towards the hypothesis of a video game. After some setbacks, Naofumi finally manages to find a sister-in-arms ready to fight with him. But it will betray him and destroy his reputation. Starting lower than earth, Naofumi decides not to trust anyone anymore. But the task is difficult, given the ownership of his legendary weapon. Here we break the image of classic heroic-fantasy stories. Our hero is not equipped with a class weapon, nor supported by brave noble warriors who will become his friends, no, it's quite the opposite. And Aiya Kyu's drawings are there to accentuate this state of affairs, with simple but effective boards. They focus on the mood, character of the characters and action within the fights.
Aiya Kyu offers us a first volume of The Rising of the Shield Hero, effective. We are immediately immersed in the universe and the adventures happen very quickly. Our hero quickly finds himself with his back to the wall and must adapt his way of thinking, to hope to survive. If heroic fantasy is highlighted, there are a lot of references to video games that will appeal to those who love this kind of universe. In any case Doki-Doki, who relies heavily on this title, will publish 4 volumes of the series before the end of the year.
