黒執事 XIV [Kuroshitsuji XIV]

黒執事 [Kuroshitsuji] #14

by Yana Toboso, Yana Toboso

灰は灰に…悪魔を塵に…斬り刻まれた命が奏でる、笑えない葬送曲(ルヒ゛：ジョーク)――。

葬儀屋(アンダーテイカー)の死神の鎌(デスサイズ)に斬り付けられたセバスチャン。その傷口から溢れ出す走馬灯劇場(シネマティック・レコード)…演目は“シエルとの出逢い”。セバスチャン目線で語られる二人の過去とは!?　大人気豪華客船編最高潮(クライマックス)!!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, Graphic Novels, Supernatural, Comics

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 2012

About the author

Yana Toboso (枢 やな Toboso Yana) is a female Japanese manga artist born in Warabi, Saitama Prefecture, Japan and currently resides in Yokohama. She is best known for Black Butler (黒執事 Kuroshitsuji), a popular shonen manga series.

She has also written yaoi under the pen name Yanao Rock (簗緒ろく).

Appearance
Yana Toboso draws herself as a devil with a black body and horns, a white head, and a pointed tail. She has never uploaded a picture of herself, so her actual appearance is unknown.

Reviews

[Yue · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, again. This time I loved the scenes about Sebastian´s past, his first days as a butler. We get to see how Sebastian improved to become the best butler, and how Ciel improved to become a great Earl. In my opinion, they also started to respect each other while helping each other. It was pretty funny to see Sebastian being reproved by Ciel, and vice versa, each one of them accepting the disapproval, despite their pride.

Then, back to the sinking boat again. Gosh, I love Grell! He does have something for cold guys… Will shows up too, cause his fellows Grell and Ronald are useless to collect the souls. Undertaker vanished leaving Ciel something, and Sebastian is deeply hurt. Even so, he manages to save Ciel and put him on a little boat… until more zombies come up. I gotta say one more time… Sebastian is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Even deeply hurt, he was able to defeat Ronald and all the zombies in such a cool way. It looked so hopeless when so many zombies appeared, and the two of them all alone, and Sebastian so injured, in the water. I loved it when Ciel shouted “Sebastian, get in!” (Ciel was worried for him! I can tell!) and also when Ciel asked him if he was going to be able to take all the zombies down and Sebastian said “There is no need to ask a servant anything. Please give me an order”. Because he seemed to gain power every time Ciel commands him something.

I am soooo sure Sebastian and Ciel care for each other! I do not mean in the yaoi way, but like buddies... like a family. Sebastian went thru all the ways to save Ciel, he even looked worried when Ciel was in danger, and not only because Ciel is his food. And when Sebastian was all hurt, barely resisting, Ciel looked worried too. After Sebastian defeated all the zombies, Ciel told him that, when they get home, he (Sebastian) should take a break because “he did it well”. Awwwww that was so sweet I almost cried. To me, Sebastian felt moved by this too, I am sure.

The chapter of the Easter seemed a filler, although I was very happy to see Soma and Agni again. These two characters grow on me. They are sweet and funny, and care for Ciel, which is always a big plus. The Charles, Grey and Phipps… not so much. And neither Nina… And Lizzy and her brother… MEH

The last chapter, “Attending School”. WOW. Weston College seems like Hogwarts, only that this one is for boys only. But, private school and 4 houses… each one with its own color… and the Perfect Four… looks like the next arc is going to be great! With the Dorm Supervisor, Michaelis… ahhhhhh **nosebleed**

[Sibil · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was just so good to be back in this world, with all these amazing characters!
The best parts of this volume were the first and the last chapters. Mind me, the other chapters were good either, we see Undertaker (and I am always happy to see him around, because he is one of my favorite characters ever, even if his arc is going toward a dark path, sigh!), and interaction between Will and Grell are always amazing! These two are just so much fun!
But in the first chapter, we get to see how Sebastian and Ciel became who they are today and it was sweet and fun and oh my! And in the last, we get some anticipation of things to come... I am so curious!

[Mahdiye HajiHosseini · Rating 4 out of 5]

اپدیت ۵ شهریور ۴۰۰-
من به شدت طرفدار بک‌استوری‌هاییم که کم‌کم رو میشن، کافیه کوچکترین کنجکاوی‌ای برام ایجاد بشه که چرا به اینجا رسیدی و تا لحظه‌ای که نفهمم اروم و قرار نگیرم. کنجکاوی‌ای که بارها باعث شده از انیمیشن به کمیک و بعد به ناول عقبگرد کنم تا بفهمم که چرا لعنتی! و البته که اینجام کنجکاوم برای دونستن گذشته و ذره‌ ذره بک‌استوری‌ای که توبوسو رو میکنه، به شدت مورد پسندمه. رشد سباستین و شیل- با ظرافت‌هایی که زیاد تو کل کار بوده و هست- از دو تا موجود که هیچی از کارایی که از این به بعد باید بکنن نمیدونن به الانشون، واقعا از زیبایی‌های این جلده.
اما مهم‌ترین چیزی که این جلد میسازه، تخمینی از قدرت فوق‌العاده سباستینه که تا این جلد، هرچند عملا شمایل پرفکتی ازش ساخته تا قبل از اینم، پنهان مونده بود.
فایت‌های هیجانی و چشم‌نوازی داره این جلد که به یمن وجود اندرتیکر ساخته شدن و از قبلیا یه سر و گردن بالاترن.
.

.
ارک جدید هم اونقدر جذاب نیست برام هرچند که جلوتر بهتر میشه (بخشی از این بهتر شدن منحصرا مربوط به جذابیت‌های بصری سباستینه). هرچند فرم پارودی‌طوری که توش میبینم و بولی شدن های شیل لذت‌بخشه، ترجیحم اینه این دراماهای مدرسه‌ای رو تو همون سریال‌های کره‌ای و مانهواهای ابکیم بمونه.

[S.Baqer Al-Meshqab · Rating 2 out of 5]

To drop or not to drop....

[Marc D. ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 estrellas.

Es increíble la cantidad de cosas que se descubren en este tomo. Definitivamente esta relectura me está ayudando un montón 💖

Volver a ver a Soma y Agni me alegró el corazón. Creo que voy a llorar en cualquier momento.

Excelente tomo 💖

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am completely hooked on this series!

[Lanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, I loved loved loved it! Seeing Sebastian learning to be a butler & Ciel learning to be an earl. Wonderful. It's nice & really speaks volumes about their relationship, showing them learning how up with each other. :) there's some definite mutual respect there, despite the darkness of the contract. also loved watching Sebastian save Ciel from the zombies. I don't care if ciel Is eventually supposed to be his food, they care about each other! You could tell they were truly worried for each other's safety. When he yelled at Sebastian to get in the boat. Even though he knows how badass Sebastian is, he's still worried! XD. & Sebastian seems really touched by Ciel telling him to rest when they get home. & Sebastian worried Ciel is going to get sick from the cold.

It's just so sweet!

& I know, it's almost completely filler, but I loved reading the Easter chapter. Watching them hunt for Easter eggs was hysterical. Especially with the servants using their special talents like the maids sharp shooter skills & Baldo's exploding eggs. Ciel hanging back while Sebastian hunted was especially amusing.) & the snakes helping finny & Snake. My favorite was Ciel pretending to have another coughing fit just to break Soma's egg. >:) he's such a little ass, using they're caring nature against them. But Sebastian was concerned to! So it also proves that he cares for him more than as his snack.

The whole scene had me literally laughing out loud.

The last chapter is the set up for the next arch, which is going to take place at s boarding school. With 4 houses.

Huh. First a Sherlock murder mystery. Now a boarding school that seems like hogwarts. Seems to be trying to appeal to other fandom so, huh?

Gorgeous art as always!

Loved this! Zombies & grim reapers & Easter egg hunts! Tons of black butler gory fun with a bit of humorous non sense thrown in to balance it all out! Best manga ever! "Black butler" far exceeds my former favorite manga "inuyasha"

Recommended for lovers of manga, fantasy, and steampunk.

[Monsour · Rating 3 out of 5]

Titanic with Zombies

[Kris Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A large chunk of this resolves the Zombie ship arc, with a few chapters focusing on early Ciel/Srb. THe last chapter introduces the new college/dorm arc

[Madhumita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot going on in this one. Really interesting to seeing Ciel and Sebastian's backstory. Makes me appreciate their relationship even more. Glad to see Sebastian wasn't always perfect haha.

What Lizzie said at the end of the Easter hunt chapter... maybe that's foreshadowing for later volumes.

The last chapter started the private school arc. Don't remember liking it much in my first read, but maybe I will like it more the second time around.

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heh, I see some Harry Potter allusions here ;)

[Vendea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vynikající. Je škoda, že bylo arc s Campanií tak krátké, protože mě zombíci fakt bavili. A kombinace Ronald/Grell/Undertaker je prostě neodolatelná.

4/5*

[Yasamin Seifaei · Rating 5 out of 5]

لامصب چه جای حساسی تموم شد. :| بعرا شاید یه ریویو ای چیزی بنویسم :-؟

[Sarv · Rating 3 out of 5]

سیل بیشتر از باتلر به یه معلم سرخونه نیاز داشته تا ادب یادش بده :|
3.5

[K.S. Trenten · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Campagnia zombie storyline comes to a sinking conclusion which taxes even a devil of a butler to the end of his resources. It’s a battle for Sebastian to make it out intact himself, let alone protect Ciel. For Sebastian has acquired an enemy whom appears to have plans of his own for his precious prey and they don’t include Sebastian’s own dinner plans, even if they are rightfully his via contract.

After all the zombies and violence at sea, Ciel enjoys a light interlude, courtesy of Lizzie in the form of an Easter egg hunt. This game’s stakes get more intense when the Double Charles decided to participate in the hunt and complicate things. What’s more, they’ve got a new assignment for the Queen’s guard dog, a mystery involving missing students at a prestigious all boys publich school. Ciel decides to enroll himself, as himself in order to investigate, leaving Sebastian to use his intiative to find a way to infiltrate Weston College. And infiltrate he does…

More of Sebastian and Ciel’s past is revealed, drawing demon butler and child master closer together, even while they escape a sinking ship and fight an army of zombies. The Undertaker remains as mysterious as ever, posing more of a threat to Sebastian than to Ciel, making the line between good and evil blur even more in the morally murky landscape of this series. Having a light break after the heavy, dramatic, and action driven storyline on the Campagnia felt right, not to mention quite in keeping with Lizzie’s character (she’s responsible for it). Having the Double Charles appear again was fun, especially since Earl Grey seems to have developed a rivalry with Sebastian and Ciel (they did foil his plans during the murder mystery). It was also good to see Snake and Finny together again, err, I mean, the Phantomhive household reunited, along with Soma and Agni. (Actually it was good to see both. :)) The results of the Easter egg hunt were amusing, effecting a smooth transition into a new ongoing arc which looks intriguing. McMillan is adorable, not to mention a fun contrast to Ciel as both an ally and a foil at Weston College. The prefects all seem quite interesting, Edgar Redmond and Gregory Violet standing out in particular in their striking contrast to each other. Clayton, on the other hand, promises plenty of trouble for Ciel. Perhaps for Sebastian, too.

For an exciting conclusion to one strong story, which deepened the characters while offering up more mysteries about them, followed by a light breather which led into a striking new story, this gets four stars.

[TheBookishHobbit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annnnnnd that's a wrap fort he Book of Atlantic arc! It was a strange on, it was basically a cross with zombies and the Titanic, but it was fun. We got some interesting fight scenes. Saw a peek into Sebastian's past, and learned quite a bit about Elizabeth. Not to mention to real identity of The Undertaker, and I bet you anything those hair lockets are that of his family. God I want a backstory on The Undertaker so bad because I think he is a giant piece to the puzzle in this story.

There was also a small Easter story that was fun, but not noteworthy.

This volume also introduces to the next arc which I like to call: "Ciel's School Days" but perhaps I will find out what the arc is actually called lol. To be continued in volume 15!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

God, the climax of this arc was so exhausting, physically for the characters and I, as the reader felt exhausted too. I loved that we got to see Ciel and Sebastian's "origin story"-- how they came form their contract and subsequently their relationship and their bond. It was quite hilarious but also oddly touching to see them fight and complain about each other but fall into a twisted kind of devotion for each other, which I love. Also, the final 'aftermath' chapter with the Easter egg hunt was delightful and much needed after the exhausting fight between all the reapers and Sebastian.

[I.M.BookMeIn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapters 63~66 Luxury Liner Arc [End]
"With all these handsome men in front me, I'm not gonna just leave like Cinderella." - The undisputable wisdom of Grell Sutcliff.
This arc deserved to be animated, what with all the fight scenes and Undertaker's glow up.

Chapter 67 Public School Arc
P4, cant help thinking of Boys Over Flowers .
Bullying, of course the OG tradition..
Dorm Supervisor Michaelis : If Professor Snape was a hottie !!

[Rin · Rating 4 out of 5]

End of the ship arc. That's a fun arc. I'm not a huge fan of the Easter egg hunt but there is a hint of the mystery in it and the outfits are adorable. I don't remember loving the school arc but I don't remember hating it either. I forgot it existed before the new anime season was announced.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting character revelations and makes me more curious about who exactly Ciel is

[Dani St-Onge · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more reviews and bookish content: http://literarylion.ca/

Review to come.

[Sally Kilpatrick]

This whole storyline that's loosely based on the sinking of the Titanic but with zombies has been one of my favorites of the series so far. Can't wait for the Undertaker to show back up.

[Eden]

Oh boy, time for a public school arc.

[Subhiksha Raman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay more backstory

[Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undertaker, my love!!!!

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely spectacular addition to the Black Butler series. A lot happens in this installment and I loved every bit of it.

We start out on the ship with all the ghouls; seeing the back story of how Ciel and Sebastian made their initial agreement. Sebastian’s life is actually threatened as he goes a bit dark and crazy saving Ciel. Some of the ship sinking is based on the Titanic’s story, which is kind of fun. This is a pretty intense part of this volume.

Then things lighten up (and are pretty hilarious) as the Phantomhive staff celebrates Easter. There are some pretty fun scenes in here and it was a great excuse for Lizzy to throw a party. I really enjoyed the egg hunt and how crazy manipulative the characters got with each other in an effort to win. I also enjoyed the interaction between Ciel and Lizzy; they are so sweet and honest with each other.

After that the story moves to what will be the next big plot. Ciel is enrolled at a private boys school in an effort to solve a mystery that is there. He commands Sebastian to find a way to get on campus and Sebastian does...in a big way. We only see the very start of this story and I am eager to see how it plays out in the next volume.

Overall this continues to be a very engaging and interesting manga series. I love how Toboso slowly unveils aspects of Ciel’s and Sebastian’s personalities. I also enjoy how fresh Toboso keeps the stories and how engaging and creative this series has been. I highly recommend this manga series to all paranormal manga fans out there.

[Yvensong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume picks up where the last volume left off, revealing how Ciel and Sebastian began their relationship as the young Earl and his Demon Butler. It was fun watching the methods they both used to teach each other what would be needed to play their roles perfectly, and to see how they both grew to care for each other.

Soon though, the dangers that surrounded them in the last volume (zombies and sinking ship), take precedence, and Sebastian must do all he can to keep Ciel safe.

As in previous volumes, the artwork is exquisite. The panels for the scenes of violence can be jarring at times, but shouldn't raw violence be jarring? I'm aware that a few readers (including myself at times) have complained that these scenes are hard to "read", but giving it some more thought, it seems they should be. Demons, Grim Reapers, and various other-worldly beings, while fighting with each other, should be difficult to follow with human eyes.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this volume we get the conclusion to Ciel's horrible ocean trip on the ill-fated Campania, and I have to admit, I was sad to see it end. It was possibly one of (if not the most) entertaining story arcs of the series. This volume gets four stars for the outrageous feats of 'Sebastian vs. living dead horde in water' finale and for the rather charming history of Ciel and Sebastian's contract and odd partnership. The rest of the volume gives us some Easter holiday fluff and then brings us into the next story arc in which Ciel's and Seb go undercover at a private all boys school to discover the truth behind a Duke's son. It seems that we are finished our excitement roller coaster and are on to something a little tamer. Still, this series has been pretty good with it's pacing, so I expect big things to come. If not in this new story arc, then the next one.

[Anika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume felt pretty meh to me. It's just a transition volume to finish the previous arc and continue to the next arc. I have to say overall I thought the ship arc was pretty weak compared to the other arcs, maybe except for maybe the curry arc. In fact, I think it's pretty on par with the curry arc. The plot didn't really advance as well as it did in the previous arcs and I felt like the zombies' presence was just there. Like they really didn't play a huge role in the plot, they were just there for the sake of long drawn out battle scenes. I wished they played a much larger role in this story.

I did enjoy the cute Easter story that was thrown in there. I didn't particularly care for Elizabeth much earlier but I am starting to appreciate her more and more. Anyways I am excited for the new arc that's coming up, it seems like it will be great.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best part of Black Butler's fourteenth volume is not the main story. Let's be real for a moment. We all know this boat is going down and everybody is dying like Yana Toboso is reenacting the Red Wedding on the water. No, for me, what makes this volume stand out from the others is our trip down memory lane through Sebastian's cinematic record, invoked thanks to a certain shinigami's scythe. It is seeing how Sebastian and Ciel became what we know them as: the Earl of Phantomhive and 'one hell of a butler'. It's an origin story that has been books and books in the making and now it is finally here and it is great.

You can read my complete review of BLACK BUTLER volume fourteen at my blog, Nagareboshi Reviews: http://nagareboshi-reviews.blogspot.com/