Übel Blatt
Übel Blatt is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Etorouji Shiono. It was serialized in the semi-monthly seinen manga magazine Young Gangan from December 2004 to 2009, when it was transferred to Monthly Big Gangan where it continued until its end in March 2019. Its chapters were collected in 24 volumes by Square Enix. The story of Übel Blatt takes place in a medieval, fantasy-like landscape. It follows Köinzell, who is on a quest of revenge against those who betrayed and killed him twenty years ago.
A side story titled Übel Blatt Gaiden was published in Young Gangan Big in August 2011. Yen Press began releasing Übel Blatt in North America in October 2014.
A sequel manga titled Übel Blatt II: Knights of the Fallen King began serialization in Monthly Big Gangan in February 2024.
An anime television series adaptation produced by Satelight and Staple Entertainment aired from January to March 2025.
Plot
Twenty years ago, a young swordsman named Ascheriit earned the fabled title of Blatt Meister, or "Blade Master," for his exceptional skill with a sword. He was chosen by the Emperor of Szaalenden to be one of fourteen elite warriors on a perilous quest to defeat the evil nation of Wischtech. Wischtech was a formidable foe, possessing powerful weapons and dark magic. Equipped with lances blessed by the Emperor himself, the fourteen warriors traveled into enemy territory, losing three of their ranks to the dangers of the land. Seven of the remaining eleven abandoned the quest, fearful of the risks involved. Nevertheless, Ascheriit and three others proceeded to successfully complete the quest. It was then that the seven who abandoned the mission ambushed their comrades. Upon returning home, they told the Emperor that they completed the quest themselves after they were forced to kill the four who betrayed them. As a result, they were hailed as heroes and dubbed the Seven Heroes, while the four who were killed became symbols of treachery and received the moniker of Lances of Betrayal.Thus, the story tells of the voyage of Ascheriit, now known as Köinzell, who indeed survived the slaughter and vowed to take the heads of his traitorous companions, who have over the years become powerful nobles and warlords hailed as saviors by the people.
Characters
Main characters
;Köinzell;Aht
;Peepi
;Geranpen
The Fourteen Lances
The Three Who Were Slain
The Three Lances who died on the journey to defeat Wischtech. So far, only one of them has been named.;Elgunaha
The Seven Heroes
The Seven Heroes who supposedly defeated Wischtech during the war twenty years ago.;Schtemwölech
;Barestar
;Glenn
;Lebelont
;Ischüdien
;Güllengurv
;Nirgenfeled
The Traitorous Lances
The Four Lances who apparently betrayed the Empire to Wisstech. The truth was that they were the ones who actually completed the quest while the Seven Heroes ambushed and murdered them, and afterwards stole credit for their accomplishments.;Kfer
;Güsstav
;Krentel
Szaalenden Empire
;Emperor Largor the Third;Ikfes
;Ms. Gleaa
Order of the Seven Lances
;Rozen;Schemle
;Elseria Rahnclave
;Daliste
Others
The Besiegers
A group led by a former admirers of the "Hero Killer".;Wied
;Altea
The Black Wing Army
A rebel army in the frontier borderlands near Wischtech, the army is led by four former landlords who were veterans of the Wischtech war who lost their lands after defending it from rival warlords but were accused of the starting the border disputes.;Fake Kfer
;Fake Güsstav
;Fake Krentel
;Fake Ascheriit
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Etorouji Shiono, Übel Blatt began serialization in the semi-monthly Young Gangan in December 2004. It returned from a two-year hiatus in Monthly Big Gangan on December 24, 2011. The manga finished on March 25, 2019. Publisher Square Enix collected the chapters in 24 volumes, beginning with volume 0 on July 25, 2005, and ending with volume 23 on June 25, 2019.A side-story titled Übel Blatt Gaiden was published in Young Gangan Big on August 25, 2011. In February 2014, Yen Press announced they had licensed Übel Blatt for English release in North America. They published the series in omnibus format of two volumes in one, with volume 0 released in October 2014, and the last on December 17, 2019. The manga was published in France by Ki-oon, who released the first volume on May 24, 2007, and the last one on October 3, 2019.
A sequel, titled Übel Blatt II: Knights of the Fallen King, began serialization in Monthly Big Gangan on February 24, 2024. Its chapters have been collected in three volumes as of August 25, 2025. The sequel is published digitally in North America by Square Enix via their Manga Up! Global app.
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced in Monthly Big Gangan on February 24, 2024. It was produced by Satelight and Staple Entertainment, and directed by Takashi Naoya, with Tatsuya Takahashi overseeing series scripts, Matsuo Asami serving as assistant director, Kiyoshi Tateishi designing the characters, and Shun Narita composing the music. The series aired from January 11 to March 29, 2025, on Tokyo MX and other networks. The opening theme song is "Zainin", performed by Garnidelia, while the ending theme song is "Stella", performed by Hina Tachibana. Amazon Prime Video streams the series worldwide.Reception
The series' twelfth collected volume sold 29,167 copies in its debut week, the thirteenth sold 28,574, and the seventeenth 22,358 copies.Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network gave the first English omnibus a B rating, praising its revenge story. She saw similarities between Köinzell's past and The Count of Monte Cristo and stated that its supporting cast brings themes of racial inequality and political corruption. However, Silverman noted several "uncomfortable sexual moments", including rape, and called the backgrounds generic.