Black Clover
Black Clover | |
The cover of the first volume of Black Clover. | |
ブラッククローバー (Burakku Kurōbā) | |
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Genre | Fantasy,[1] Action, Adventure[2] |
Manga | |
Written by | Yūki Tabata |
Published by | Shueisha |
English publisher |
‹See Tfd› |
Demographic | Shōnen |
Imprint | Jump Comics |
Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Jump |
English magazine |
‹See Tfd› |
Original run | February 16, 2015 – present |
Volumes | 8 |
Original video animation | |
Music by | Yūya Mori |
Studio | Xebec |
Released | November 27, 2016 |
Black Clover (Japanese: ブラッククローバー Hepburn: Burakku Kurōbā) is a Japanese fantasy shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Yūki Tabata. The series is published in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine in Japan, and Viz Media is publishing it in their Weekly Shonen Jump digital anthology magazine in the United States. The story centers around a young boy named Asta, seemingly born without any magic power, something that is unknown in the world he lives in. With his ambition, newfound abilities, and friends, he aims to be the Wizard king.
Plot
Asta and Yuno are orphans who were raised together from birth in a church on the outskirts of the Clover Kingdom. In a world where everyone has Magical Power (魔力 Maryoku), Asta was born without any. Unlike him, Yuno was born as a prodigy with immense magical power and the talent to control it. The story follows the two foster brothers as they compete to see which one will become the Wizard King, Clover Kingdom's strongest Magic Knight. But How can Asta become a magic knight without magic? But when Asta gains an unknown "Anti-magic" that can destroy all magic, their journey begins; Asta with his rare anti-magic and physical strength, and Yuno with his wind magic and magical prowess.
Characters
Main characters
- Asta (アスタ Asuta)
- Voiced by: Shun Horie[3] (OVA)
- Asta is an orphan who was left under the care of a church during his infancy. Since he has no magic power, he overcomes his weakness by training his physical strength. He is the wielder of the five-leaf clover grimoire and a member of the Black Bull squad. He uses an anti-magic sword that is capable of nullifying any form of magic called the Magic Cleaving Sword, and an anti-magic sword that is capable of absorbing and using other magic called the Magic Eating Sword. According to Licht, the grimoire that Asta possesses supposed to be belonged to his leader. The Magic Eating sword was found in a dungeon and was not made by his Grimore, but it became part of it later, after Asta used it.
- Yuno (ユノ Yuno)
- Voiced by: Sōma Saitō[3] (OVA)
- Yuno is an orphan who was left under the care of a church during his infancy. He is the wielder of the four-leaf clover grimoire and a member of the Golden Dawn squad. He uses wind-based magics and the chosen partner of Sylph the wind of the 4 great attributes. Sylph, often tries to play around with Yuno, but due to his serious demeanor, she is often found complaining. His serious attitude was born when Asta was injured defending him as a child. When Yuno was being bullied, Asta jumped in, and fought them back. Yuno could only admire how Asta saved him, despite not having magic, and it made him feel ashamed and to make up, he trained himself to become his equal, in a moral sense.
- Noelle Silva (ノエル・シルヴァ Noeru Shiruva)
- Noelle Silva is a member of the Black Bull squad and the second daughter of the Clover Kingdom's royal family, House Silva. She uses water-based magics but is unable to control it, which led to her disownment by her family. To cope with her uncontrollable magic, she uses an item to adjust her magic. It is later revealed that she unconsciously wish to not hurt anyone, which is why her magic always misses, but she has begun to breakdown that barrier for the sake of protecting her friends.
Black Bull Squad
- Yami Sukehiro (ヤミ・スケヒロ Yami Sukehiro)
- Nicknamed the Destruction God (破壊神 Hakaishin), Yami Sukehiro is the captain of the worst squad of the Magic Knights, the Black Bull squad. It is stated that he is not originally from the Clover Kingdom, but from a "Land of the Rising Sun". He is physically very strong, due to his preference of physical violence and due to the fact that he uses his magic by enchanting his sword. He has a short-temper, but cares deeply for his knights
- Magna Swing (マグナ・スウィング Maguna Suwingu)
- Magna Swing is a member of the Black Bull squad. He uses fire-based magics and is an extreme hot-headed person. He and Luck are friends, and never backs down from a fight.
- Luck Voltia (ラック・ボルティア Rakku Borutia)
- Luck Voltia is a member of the Black Bull squad. He uses lightning-based magics and is a borderline psychopath. He and Magna are friends. He often goes looking for the strongest opponent as he likes testing his strength.
- Gauche Adorei
- Gauche Adorei is a member of the Black Bull squad. He uses mirror-based magics and is a pervert with a huge obsession for his little sister Mary. He initially doesn't get along with the squad, but eventually starts to break down his walls.
- Finral Roulacase
- Finral Roulacase is a member of the Black Bull squad. He uses warp-based magics, usually for transport, and is a womanizer and a coward, but has recently started becoming braver. His younger brother, Rangils is part of Golden Dawn and like him, uses warp magic, but unlike Finral, his warp magic is offensive in nature. He eventually starts helping out Asta in combat as well.
- Charmy Papittoson
- Charmy Papittoson is a member of the Black Bull squad. She uses wool-based magics and is always eating and thinking about food. If she is not eating then she is sleeping. Despite the strange type of magic she uses, it has been seen to be extremely powerful and has helped them out of more than one difficult situations.
- Vanessa Enoteca
- Vanessa Enoteca is a member of the Black Bull squad. She uses string-based magics and is a drunk which strips down to her underwear. A very laid back member of the squad, she admires Asta's determination. Her strings are so thin, that they can't be seen or even detected by magic.
- Grey
- Grey is a member of the Black Bull squad. Initially an enigmatic character, always appearing as a nonspeaking, massive male shadow, that used disguise magic. They only spoke when copying someone, which made them sound like the copied person. Grey is eventually shown to be a shy young girl, who doesn't let people see her true form, because she is too shy.
Magic Knights
- Julius Nova Chrono
- Julius Nova Chrono is the current Magic Emperor. He is obsessed about magic and loves to search new types of magic. He uses time based magic. He is especially interested with Asta's Anti-Magic and Yuno's Sylph.
Golden Dawn Squad
- William Vangeance (ウィリアム・ヴァンジャンス Wiriamu Vanjansu)
- William Vangeance is the captain of the best squad of the Magic Knights, the Golden Dawn squad. He uses Yggdrasil magic, magic that produces a tree that feeds off of a person's magic.
- Rangils Roulacase
- Rangils Roulacase is the vice-captain of The Golden Dawn squad. He is the younger brother of Finral Roulacase and the heir to the Roulacase noble family. Finral always had a weak warp magic, that wasn't meant for fighting. So when Rangils revealed his own powerful warp magic, he was made the heir to the family and adopted a cocky attitude against Finral, who became a shame.
- Klaus Lunette (クラウス・リュネット Kurausu Ryunetto)
- Klaus Lunette is a nobleman and a member of the strongest squad, the Golden Dawn. He uses steel-based magics. He initially looks down on Asta and Yuno as they are from the "sticks" but eventually becomes friends with both and respects both of them.
- Mimosa Vermilion (ミモザ・ヴァーミリオン Mimoza Vāmirion)
- Mimosa Vermilion is a noblewoman of House Vermilion and a member of the Golden Dawn squad. She is also Noelle Silva's cousin. She uses plant-based magics and specializes in healing magic. She has romantic feelings towards Asta.
Crimson Lion Squad
- Fuego Leon Vermilion (フエゴレオン・ヴァーミリオン Fuego Reon Vāmirion)
- Fuego Leon Vermilion is a nobleman of House Vermilion and the captain of the Crimson Lion squad. He uses fire-based magics. Before the events of the story, he declared that he would try for the position of Magic King.
- Leopold Vermilion (レオポルド・ヴァーミリオン Reoporudo Vāmirion)
- Leopold Vermilion is a nobleman of House Vermilion and a member of the Crimson Lion squad. He is also the younger brother of Fuego Leon Vermilion. After seeing Asta's battle prowess, he one-sidedly decided to make Asta his rival. He uses fire-based magics. He has also declared to try for the position of Magic King.
Silver Eagle Squad
- Nozel Silva (ノゼル・シルヴァ Nozeru Shiruva)
- Nozel Silva is a nobleman of the Clover Kingdom's royal family, House Silva, and the captain of the Silver Eagle squad. He is also the eldest brother of Noelle Silva. He uses Mercury-based magic. He looks down on Noelle, as she cannot control her magic and is extremely disappointed with her, for only getting the Black Bulls
- Nebra Silva (ネブラ・シルヴァ Nebura Shiruva)
- Nebra Silva is a noblewoman of the Clover Kingdom's royal family, House Silva and a member of the Silver Eagle squad. She is also the older sister of Noelle Silva.
- Solid Silva (ソリド・シルヴァ Solido Shiruva)
- Solid Silva is a nobleman of the Clove Kingdom's royal family, House Silva and a member of the Silver Eagle squad. He is also the older brother of Noelle Silva.
Antagonists
- Heath Grice (ヒース・グライス Hīsu Guraisu)
- Heath was a mage that attacked a village in the Forsaken region of the Clover Kingdom before being defeated by Asta, Noelle Silva and Magna Swing. Before he was taken for questioning, he committed suicide in order to protect his employer's secrets which is connected to the Golden Dawn squad. He used ice-based magics and is obsessed with time. He kills himself so that he would not sell out his leader.
- Lotus Whomalt (ロータス・フーモルト Rōtasu Fūmoruto)
- Lotus is a reputable mage from the Diamond Kingdom. He was tasked to conquer the dungeon alongside Mars and was able to secure a hefty amount of treasures for the Kingdom. He uses smoke-based magics and hates to exhaust himself in a fight, often running away from a fight, usually in a smoke car. He also uses various underhanded tactics such as slow acting poison gases.
- Mars (マルス Marusu)
- Mars is a mage from the Diamond Kingdom who is tasked to conquer a dungeon before the mages of the Clover Kingdom. He uses both crystal-based and fire-based magic which is the result of an inhuman experiment performed by the Kingdom on him, by fusing his grimore with another. While he seems somewhat demented, he is revealed to have a dark past, where he was forced to kill his close friend in order to survive. When he refused, she attacked him, forcing him to kill her. Her last request for him to enjoy the world for all the children who were being experimented with them. It is her magic that was mixed with his.
- Licht (リヒト Rihito)
- Licht is a rogue mage and the leader of the White Night Eye; a squad which wishes to bring the total destruction of Clover Kingdom. He uses light-based magic. He cares deeply for his subordinates, flying into a fury should one of them be injured. He believes that Asta's Grimore belongs to his leader.
Media
Manga
Yūki Tabata launched Black Clover in the twelfth issue of Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump on February 16, 2015.[4] The manga is Tabata's second series in Weekly Shōnen Jump: his first series, Hungry Joker (ハングリー ジョーカー Hangurī Jōkā), was launched in the magazine on November 12, 2012, where it ran for 24 chapters before being cancelled in 2013.[2][5]
On February 9, 2015, Viz Media announced that they would publish the first three chapters of the series in their Weekly Shonen Jump digital magazine as part of their "Jump Start" program.[1] On March 30, 2015, they announced that the series would join their weekly lineup, beginning with chapter 4 on April 6, and publishing at a accelerated rate until the chapters were current with Japan.[6][7] Plans to release the series in print were announced in during their panel at New York Comic Con on October 9, 2015.[8]
Volumes
No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | |
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1 | June 4, 2015[9] | ISBN 978-4-08-880416-3 | June 7, 2016[10] | ISBN 978-1-4215-8718-9 | |
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2 | August 4, 2015[11] | ISBN 978-4-08-880452-1 | August 2, 2016[12] | ISBN 978-1-4215-8719-6 | |
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3 | October 3, 2015[13] | ISBN 978-4-08-880489-7 | October 4, 2016[14] | ISBN 978-1-4215-8720-2 | |
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4 | December 4, 2015[15] | ISBN 978-4-08-880567-2 | December 6, 2016[16] | ISBN 978-1-4215-9023-3 | |
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5 | March 4, 2016[17] | ISBN 978-4-08-880630-3 | February 7, 2017[18] | ISBN 978-1-4215-9125-4 | |
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6 | May 2, 2016[19] | ISBN 978-4-08-880672-3 | April 4, 2017[20] | ISBN 978-1-4215-9158-2 | |
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7 | August 4, 2016[21] | ISBN 978-4-08-880751-5 | June 6, 2017[22] | ISBN 978-1-4215-9432-3 | |
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8 | October 4, 2016[23] | ISBN 978-4-08-880792-8 | — | — | |
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9 | December 2, 2016[24] | ISBN 978-4-08-880823-9 | — | — |
Chapters not yet in tankōbon format
These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume. They were originally serialized in Japanese in issues of Weekly Shōnen Jump.
- "Beyond Limits" (限界の先 Genkai no Saki)
- "End of the Battle, End of Despair" (戦いの果て、絶望の終わり Tatakai no Hate, Zetsubō no Owari)
- "Proof of Rightness" (正しさの証明 Tadashi-sa no Shōmei)
- "The Kiten War" (キテン戦役 Kiten Sen'eki)
- "The Strongest Brigade" (最強の団 Saikyō no Dan)
- "Whoever's Strongest Wins" (強い方が勝つ Tsuyoi Hōga Katsu)
- "The Underdog's Declaration" (弱者の宣言 Jakusha no Sengen)
- "Behind the Mask" (仮面の奥 Kamen no Oku)
- "Never Again" (もう二度と Mōnidoto)
- "Because He's Like That" (そんなアイツが Son'na Aitsu ga)
- "The Forest of Witches" (魔女の森 Majo no Mori)
- "Infiltration" (潜入 Sen'nyū)
- "Battlefield Decision" (戦場の決断 Senjō no Ketsudan)
- "The Raging Bulls Charge" (暴れ牛奮迅 Abare Ushi Funjin)
- "Flames of Hatred" (憎悪の炎 Zōo no Honō)
- "Not A Failure" (出来損ないじゃない Dekisokonai Janai)
- "Devastating Thrust" (必殺の一突き Hissatsu no Hitotsuki)
OVA
An original video animation produced by Xebec that is based on the series will be shown at the 2016 Jump Festa between November 27 and December 18, 2016.[25][26][27]
Reception
Volume 1 reached 23rd place on the weekly Oricon manga charts, with 38,128 copies sold;[28] volume 2 reached 17th place, with 61,918 copies;[29] volume 3 also reached 17th place, with 80,462 copies;[30][31] volume 4 reached 13th place, with 93,866 copies;[32][33] volume 5 reached 15th place, with 108,503 copies;[34][35] and volume 6 reached 11th place, with 118,783 copies.[36][37]
Reviewing the series for ComicsAlliance, Tom Speelman described the premise as "what if Harry Potter was a knight and also kinda dumb?" He recommended it fans of Naruto and Fairy Tail, noting its similarities to the former series as well as to Bleach. He praised the author's ability to invigorate stock characters.[2]
Henry Ma of Ka Leo O Hawaii praised the series' humor and art, noting that the latter was "very nice" and was similar to Fairy Tail.[38]
References
- 1 2 "Viz's Shonen Jump to Add Yūki Tabata's Black Clover Fantasy Manga (Update)". Anime News Network. February 9, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
- 1 2 3 Speelman, Tom (March 17, 2016). "Big Spells, Bigger Swords: Should You Be Reading 'Black Clover'?". ComicsAlliance. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
- 1 2 "Shun Horie, Sōma Saitō Star in Black Clover Event Anime". Anime News Network. October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ↑ "Shonen Jump to Launch 4 Manga, Including Detective Story by Psyren's Iwashiro". Anime News Network. January 29, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Shonen Jump to Launch 3 New Manga Series in November". Anime News Network. October 21, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Viz's Shonen Jump Adds Yūki Tabata's Black Clover Fantasy Manga to Regular Line-Up". Anime News Network. March 30, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
- ↑ Green, Scott (March 31, 2015). ""Black Clover" to Join English "Shonen Jump"". Crunchyroll. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Viz Media Adds Kuroko's Basketball, Haikyu!!, Yona of the Dawn Manga". Anime News Network. October 9, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
- ↑ ブラッククローバー 1 [Black Clover 1]. Shueisha (in Japanese). Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Black Clover, Volume 1". Viz Media. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ ブラッククローバー 2 [Black Clover 2]. Shueisha (in Japanese). Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Black Clover, Volume 2". Viz Media. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ ブラッククローバー 3 [Black Clover 3]. Shueisha (in Japanese). Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Black Clover, Volume 3". Viz Media. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
- ↑ ブラッククローバー 4 [Black Clover 4]. Shueisha (in Japanese). Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Black Clover, Vol. 4". Amazon.com. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ ブラッククローバー 5 [Black Clover 5]. Shueisha (in Japanese). Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Black Clover, Vol. 5". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
- ↑ ブラッククローバー 6 [Black Clover 6]. Shueisha (in Japanese). Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Black Clover, Vol. 6". Amazon.com. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
- ↑ ブラッククローバー 7 [Black Clover 7]. Shueisha (in Japanese). Retrieved June 28, 2016.
- ↑ "Black Clover, Vol. 7". Amazon.com. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
- ↑ ブラッククローバー 8 [Black Clover 8]. Shueisha (in Japanese). Retrieved September 19, 2016.
- ↑ ブラッククローバー 9 [Black Clover 9]. Shueisha (in Japanese). Retrieved November 21, 2016.
- ↑ Green, Scott (August 24, 2016). ""Black Clover" Anime Episode To Screen At Jump Festa". Crunchyroll. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
- ↑ "Jump Special Anime Festa Event Confirms Screening of Black Clover Anime". Anime News Network. August 29, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ↑ "XEBEC Animates Black Clover Manga's Event Anime". Anime News Network. October 6, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, June 1-7". Anime News Network. June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, August 3-9". Anime News Network. August 12, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, September 28-October 4". Anime News Network. October 7, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, October 5-11". Anime News Network. October 14, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, November 30-December 6". Anime News Network. December 9, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, December 7-13". Anime News Network. December 16, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, February 29-March 6". Anime News Network. March 9, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, March 7-13". Anime News Network. March 16, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, May 2-8". Anime News Network. May 11, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, May 9-15". Anime News Network. May 18, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
- ↑ Ma, Henry (April 20, 2015). "Manga Mondays: 'Black Clover' special review". Ka Leo O Hawaii. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
External links
- Black Clover at Weekly Shōnen Jump (Japanese)
- Black Clover at Viz.com
- Black Clover (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia