There is always something thrilling about a lot of older action-heavy anime. The first episodes are usually slow starters, with crazy wild events taking place right before the middle and leaving you breathless at the end. Many times, the synopsis is barely a warning for the wild ride you’re about to embark on. Reading the first volume of YAN felt just like this. As I turned the pages, I had no idea what I would be seeing next.
YAN is a Taiwanese manga by Chang Sheng and published in English by Titan Manga. It’s about a Peking Opera performer, Yan Tieh Hua, who is said to have died in prison. Yet, it appears she is alive and out for revenge. A detective originally assigned to her case in the past, Lei Ming Chih, is tasked with figuring out what is happening.
This synopsis is accurate, but it does not prepare you at all for the events that will take place in this volume. And for good reason – you need to experience the confusion one page at a time. The pacing in YAN reminds me of X by CLAMP. There are a lot of different elements, and you’re often left wondering how in the world these things relate. Each turn of a page leaves you with more questions and zero answers. I found myself going back a few times to past pages to make sure I didn’t accidentally skip something.
Aside from the story, YAN is an incredibly stunning story. The artwork is highly detailed, and certain scenes feel animated. The intricate backgrounds and characters are reminiscent of some older manga works, like X and Beserk.
It’s hard to say a lot about this story in this review because I don’t want to spoil what made this volume enjoyable for me. I liked feeling clueless as I navigated the chapters, and even as I finished the story, I still have no idea what is going on. That being said, what I can say without spoiling anything is that I’m fascinated by Yan Tieh Hua. Her characterization in the past differs so much from her in the present (for obvious reasons), but it feels like she hasn’t lost some of that spunk she had. She has the makings of a badass main character, and I’m hoping the story continues on that path.
I know this sounds chaotic, and it is, but in the best way. The story moves so fast you’re not able to draw your conclusions just yet, which is exciting. YAN is shaping out to be one of those thrillers where the less you know and the less you try to figure out, the more you’ll enjoy it.
YAN Vol 1
Created By: Chang Sheng
Translation: Vanessa Liu
Lettering: Tom Williams
Editor: Louis Yamani
Designer: David Colderly
Publisher: Titan Manga
YAN Vol 1 is available now here.
Thanks to Titan Manga for an advanced reviewer copy.
