Review – Black Butler Artworks Vol 1 by Yana Toboso (4/5 stars)
Reading Level: All Ages
Genre: Artbook/Manga
Length: 128 pages
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: October 27, 2015
ISBN-13: 978-0316304412
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in the Black Butler Artworks series
Source: Gift
Rating: 4/5 stars
“In this first-ever full-color illustration collection by manga artist Yana Toboso, the New York Times bestselling manga series Black Butler comes to vivid life. Starting at the beginning of the tale of Earl Ciel Phantomhive and his inimitable butler, Sebastian, the collection focuses on the series through the immensely popular Circus Arc. In addition to these glorious color cuts are illustrations from her debut work, Rust Blaster, as well as promotional art from Black Butler and the artist’s own tribute illustrations for other popular manga series. As anyone picking up this gorgeous beribboned hardcover tome will realise, black is a colour of many facets, indeed!”
I am a huge Black Butler fan and I was excited when I got this for my birthday. This has a lot of the artwork from the Black Butler series in beautiful full color. The book itself is incredibly well made and very solid. It has a lot nice little touches to it; for example black silk ribbons in each cover that you can either tie together to bind the book close or use to mark your spot.
In the back of the book there is a section where Toboso comments on the pictures throughout; this was really interesting to read and I enjoyed it alot. Most of the artwork is focused on the Circus Arc of Black Butler but there are many other pictures as well.
Additionally there is a small section in the back featuring artwork from Toboso’s RustBlaster series; which I had never heard of but plan to go and check out now.
Overall recommended for die hard Black Butler fans. This is a beautiful and high quality art book that is interesting and makes a great coffee table type book. I also plan on picked up the 2nd Artbook at some point.
This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– Graphic Novel Reading Challenge
– Paranormal Reading Challenge
