Spiral: Volume 1: The Bonds of Reasoning

by Eita Mizuno and Kyo Shirodaira

"I'm going to uncover the mystery of the 'Blade Children.'" World-class detective Kiyotaka Narumi's last words prior to his sudden disappearance continue to haunt his younger brother, Ayumu. The cheeky 10th-grader becomes further embroiled in the mystery when he is mistaken for the prime suspect in a murder at his school. Led by Ayumu's sister-in-law, Kiyotaka's wife and fellow detective, Madoka, the investigation into the murder gives Ayumu a chance...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 075952341X
• ISBN13: 9780759523418
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Yen Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.0" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

Magnificent

Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning is definitely the first manga-esque book that I have read. The captivating description of it being about mystery and reasoning hooked me in and after reading left me on a plateau of great feelings. The book consists of about five chapters which consists of a story of a disappearance and three murders. Each of these events are all strung together with the idea of the mystery of the "Blade Children." The main character, Ayumu, is driven by the thought of solving the disappearance of his brother Kiyotaka who left a cryptic message about the Blade Children at the very beginning of the story. Kiyotaka's wife, Madoka, is also seeking to solve the mystery, and in this story, serves as the leading investigator on solving the main crimes that the book presents. The story also gives each of the two main characters their own sidekicks, Ayumu gets the president of the school newspaper Hiyono (who serves to add several hilarious dialogue sequences to the story) and Madoka gets the Officer Suemaru Wataya (who also adds hilarious dialogue sequences to the story). Utilizing this cast of four main characters worked wonders in the story and helped to build even more suspense to the story. The main feature that is really enjoyable about the storytelling is how when the case is finally close to being solved, a detailed "reasoning" sequence is presented in which the characters will immediately present how each of the facts line up to solving the mystery. It is equally enjoyable that when they present it in front of the accused, that the accused has a shocked and surprised expression or action. Eita Mizuno must be commended for delivering the artwork in such a fantastic form. The characters look and react to the words in a lifelike manner, details have been presented clearly, and the translation team led by Christine Schilling did a great job of translating small details. The artist has also took the time to include sound effects above most of the panels. Pros -Book is read in the traditional manga format -Inclusion of Sound Effects above panels adds extra life to the sequences -Characters and scenes are drawn with such quality that it looks like it could be near high quality images of an anime -Mystery and Awe always hold attention -"Blade Children" works to keep attention hooked -One of those bust out your pen and notepad and try to solve the mystery type stories -Great explanations and diagrams of things like a "ward lock", help to make it clear -Cogent and Modern-English sounding translation Cons -Two of the murders take place in the high school, quite unrealistic -It takes a short while to figure out the direction to read in regards to the traditional format if one is new to the book genre -Ends in a Cliff-Hanger Extras -The Spiral Notes-Volume 1 Released -Afterward by the author Kyo Shirodaira -Spiral 1: The Bonds of Reasoninig Omake! -Notes This is a great beginning to a mystery novel and one will not regret

A deadly chess match of creation and destruction

What begins as a fairly generic "detective" series ends as one of the most intelligent and emotionally engaging manga series I have had the pleasure of reading. To a degree, the first volume and a half or so are a necessary introduction to three of the series' foundational characters--Ayumu, Hiyono, and Madoka--but it is with the introduction of the "Blade Children" (beginning in volume two) that Spiral really hits its stride. The series is an interesting mixture of brains and brawn: there is something seemingly paradoxical about a collection of beautiful, intelligent, and psychologically complex characters--kids, really--who have no compunction about stabbing, shooting, and blowing up each other. Ideas of fate and free will, and despair and hope, are discussed at length; but despite their mental and physical prowess, the characters remain remarkably human in their fragility and strength. Indeed, they grow all the more complex and complicated as the series goes on. It is clear that the author and illustrator have the greatest respect and attachment to these characters, and a commitment to keeping them "real" and distinct. Ayumu makes for one of the most psychologically complex and tormented main characters I have encountered, and the supporting cast is no less impressive. This series is notable also for its strong, independent female characters: Rio, but especially Hiyono, come to mind. Of all the series I have read, this is among the ones where I "missed" the characters the most when it was over. There are some plot twists and mental chess games that require some suspension of disbelief along the way, but that makes up part of the fun. Go ahead and ride the "Spiral" down to its fantastic conclusion: it is one ride that you will not soon forget.

Spiral: when there's two geniuses in a family, who wins?

I'm a great fan of the Spiral: Bonds of Reasoning anime, so I only glanced at a fanscan of the manga several years ago out of curiosity. But I was surprised, and even taken aback by how different the manga was. In the first place, the level of violence in the manga is about twice that of the anime, and the anime is plenty violent. There's (so far) at least two more deaths, and the illustrations of those deaths are bloodier. While this would not ordinarily be a recommendation with me, I found it raised the level of tension in this first volume of the manga to that reached much further into the anime (and I can't say more without spoiling both). Second, the amount of problem-solving increases along with the violence. Since the pleasure of Spiral is in seeing the hero solve problems under pressure, this is all to the good. Third, the adults in the story are (somehow) more clownish, more realistic, and more at risk. The hero's sister-in-law, in particular, comes across as a woman at risk. In the anime, this is symbolized by the amount of drinking she does--in the manga, it's much more clear that she is grieving and feels betrayed, wavering between hope and despair. This gives the feelings of the hero a much more solid foundation than they had in the anime. I am taking off a star for the graphic nature of the violence, but all in all, I'm really enjoying this manga, and recommend it both to those familiar with the anime and to those who are completely new to Spiral.

Something I had been looking forward to

I love the anime, and I really wanted to read the manga. I guess from the point of view of a new reader, it might be a little sloe and confusing, but remember that there are a lot of volumes, and the story builds on itself. I am excited that number 3 is available for preorder! (I have ordered but haven't recieved no. 2 yet) basically it is - mystery genre - set around a character whose brother has disappeared and is a link to the mysterious blade children. I don't mind spoilers myself, but I don't want to ruin the story for anyone who hasn't read it.