Kurohime is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masanori Katakura. The manga began its run in 2000 and was serialized in Monthly Shōnen Jump until 2007. The series was transferred to Jump Square website in 2007 and finished in 2011. Shueisha compiled the individual chapters into eighteen tankōbon volumes as of April 2011. In North America, Viz Media licensed the series for an English-language release in 2007. Viz stopped the series publication after the release of volume 14 in November 2009.
Plot
Ten years prior to the story's beginning, Kurohime brought an end to a massive war fought to own and rebuild the Tower of the Gods, which once completed would allow the builder to become a god themselves. Upon completion, Kurohime destroyed the tower and entered the realm of the gods to slaughter them, as they were the ones who started the war in the first place. Through a combination of deception and brutality, the gods captured her and then split Kurohime into two beings, one representing her rage, and the other representing her compassion. The being representing her rage, in a form of a small girl named 'Himeko', seeks to regain her body and powers, and attempt to take down the gods again; however the curse can only be undone with love. Throughout the course of the manga, Kurohime is able to regain her ability to love through her relationship with Zero, causing her to evolve into different incarnations throughout the various story arcs.
Magic
Magic is manipulated by gifted humans who are attuned to magic, called witches. It is also a naturally occurring phenomenon that governs living things as well as the dead. Depending on those manipulating these powers, one can achieve feats of great power, rivaling a god's power. One can perform miracles or summon great creatures and manipulate the shape, form and wellbeing of others through magic. It seems all witches are also gunslingers and how effective their magic powers are depends on their ability to create powerful "magical" bullets. A witch must channel her powers into the bullet through a casting duration that imbues her bullets with various magical powers, each having different function, such as summoning powerful beasts to aid in the caster's combat, to heal wounds, manipulate one's shape, and even to bring the dead back to life. The strength of these bullets depends on the ritual as well as the ability of the caster himself/herself. Other magical elements include land deities, such as a mountain god, or the god of death. Other supernatural being exist, such as Shinigami Angels, or Reaper Angels, and demons, who possess astounding magical and destructive powers. Most of these supernatural beings look down on humans as nothing more than pawns in their games, and see none to little value in the lives of those who cross their paths. Also, resurrection is saved for the gods alone, and any human who tried that would face divine punishment, as well as the resurrected soul torn to pieces.
Characters
Protagonists
; ; ; ; Zero ; ; ; ; ; ; Yuki-onna and Yukiotoko ; ;
Antagonists
; ;
Kurohime Punishment Squad
Shortly after Kurohime and Zero killing the God of Death Darkray, Sword, the only surviving Death Angel of the battle, gathered a crew of powerful magical witch gunslingers, all of whom have a grudge against Kurohime, in order to avenge themselves by killing her, thus forming the Kurohime Punishment Squad. ; ; ; ; ;
Spirit Kings
The four Spirit Kings are the only spirits who has their own free wills by each possessing a soul, while other spirits, also known as demons or devils by humans, do not. They are the life forces of the world, a power which the gods covet. Along with this, when the four spirits imbue their life forces into the Yamato Tachi sword, it can become the god-slaying sword. To these ends, the gods captured the Spirit Kings to prevent the sword's completion, as well as slowly drain them of their life forces for their lust of power. Only Seiryu, the Spirit King of the Wind, was able to elude capture. They assist Kurohime in completing the Ultimate Sword, despite their hatred for humans for polluting the world. ; ; ; ; ;
Publication
Kurohime is written and illustrated by Masanori Ookamigumi Katakura. The manga first appeard in Monthly Shōnen Jump Extra in 2000 and ran in Monthly Shōnen Jump from 2003 until 2007, when the magazine ceased its publication. The series was transferred to Jump Square website in 2007 and finished in 2011. Shueisha compiled its individual chapters intro eighteen tankōbon volumes published from February 4, 2002 to April 21, 2011. In North America, Viz Media announced the acquisition of the series in July 2007. The first volume was released on September 4, 2007. Publication of the series stopped after the release of volume 14 on November 3, 2009.
