Orphan Blade

Gr 7–10—In a world where creatures are overlooked, destroyed, and manipulated by the Earth, a young warrior-in-training named Hadashi is attacked by an altered animal and his blade hand is mangled. Driven out of his dojo, he is taken in by a mysterious girl. As he earns his keep by running an errand, he spies the Five Fingers of Death battling. He picks up a fallen sword and is able to control it, even with his hurt hand. This is no ordinary sword but The Orphan Sword, which is made from the bones of old creatures and is now controlling Hadashi in order to eliminate all threats at whatever cost. The artwork is wonderful. The clean lines and attention to detail make the different characters stand out. Backgrounds and shading are carefully and thoughtfully executed. The saturated color work is also well done. There are a few panels that don't flow as well as the rest but nothing that would confuse readers. However, though this looks perfect for younger readers who may enjoy "Avatar" (Dark Horse), the language, innuendos, and violence really make this work more appropriate for an older audience. The secondary characters, though likable, are not as well developed as the main character. The killing scenes end with a dramatic telling of how the character has fallen, such as the endings of the Mortal Kombat video games; a nice touch for gamers.