Dragon Eye (manga)


Dragon Eye is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Kairi Fujiyama. The manga was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine, Monthly Shōnen Sirius. The manga is licensed in North America by Del Rey Manga. Since early 2008, the series has been on hiatus in Japan, apparently due to the creator's illness. The manga features a squadron of fighters who are immune to "D-virus" and the Dracule which is a group of creatures who spread the "D-virus". The series has continued under the name Dragon Eye RT in Japanese and has released about 4 volumes.
Dragon Eye was ranked equal fourth with Black Sun, Silver Moon and Zombie-Loan on an About.com's reader poll for the best shōnen manga of 2007. It was also nominated as one of Young Adult Library Services Association's 2008 Great Graphic Novels.

Plot

Forty years ago a terrible virus spread throughout the world, and people and animals alike were infected and transformed into horrible monsters that eat the flesh and drink the blood of the uninfected. These creatures were henceforth known as "Dracules" and what created them the "D-virus". Even worse, because the virus affects the sufferer immediately, a cure has never been developed; the only way to "save" its victims is to kill them. Luckily, there are those who were born with an immunity to the D-virus - they are the VIUS, a Dracule elimination force based in the city of Mikuni who safeguard humanity from extinction.

Characters

Squadron Zero

Squadron Zero is known for being "dangerous, difficult and its captain detested". It is a squadron branch of Troop Mizora of the Enforcement Corps.
;Issa Kazuma
;Leila Mikami
;Sōsei Yukimura

Squadron One

Squadron One is a squadron branch of Troop Mizora of the Enforcement Corps.
;Shun'ichi Sakuraba

Squadron Two

Squadron Two is a squadron branch of Troop Mizora of the Enforcement Corps.
;Kajiyama

Squadron Three

Squadron Three is a squadron branch of Troop Chihiro of the Enforcement Corps.
;Tadanaka Myōjin
;Sazanami
;Ranran Yume

Squadron Five

Squadron Five is a squadron branch of Troop Chihiro of the Enforcement Corps.
;Kiura

Squadron Six

Squadron Six is a squadron branch of Troop Kazan of the Enforcement Corps.
;Shizue Aoi
;Masamune Hibiki

Squadron Seven

Squadron Seven is a squadron branch of the Enforcement Corps.
;Nanbu

Squadron Eight

Squadron Eight is a squadron branch of the Enforcement Corps.
;Jūbe'e Ino'o
;Kyōko Rin

Squadron Ten

Squadron Ten is a squadron branch of the Enforcement Corps.
;Shō Koiai
;Rokurō Hyuga

Dracule

Dracules are group of creatures that are the main target of VIUS. Their intellect, battle capabilities and overall threat to people depend on their level. Level five dracules are the lowest ranks of all dracules and they possess low intellect, making them incapable of speaking. Level one dracules have human-like intellect and are capable of speech.
;Kaligera
;Daraku

Manga

Dragon Eye is written and illustrated by Kairi Fujiyama. Kodansha published the manga's 9 tankōbon between December 22, 2005, and February 22, 2008. The manga is licensed in North America by Del Rey Manga, which released the first volume in June 2007.

Reception

Dragon Eye was ranked equal fourth with Black Sun, Silver Moon and Zombie-Loan on an About.com's reader poll for the best shōnen manga of 2007. Dragon Eye was nominated as one of Young Adult Library Services Association's 2008 Great Graphic Novels. Anime News Network's Theron Martin commends the manga for its "good artistry despite generic design, lots and lots of action" but criticises it for "zero originality or freshness, little character development". Mania.com's Sakura Eries criticises the manga for its excessive use of speedlines saying, "unfortunately, between the speed lines and the "blurred" depictions of weapons in motion, it's difficult to distinguish who is being hit by what in certain panels". Comics Worth Reading's Ed Sizemore commends the characterisation of Leila as "a wonderful blend of passion, seriousness, honesty, and naivete". He also commends the fight scenes for being "dynamic and fluid". A later review by Sizemore commends Kairi Fujiyama's storytelling for being able to "blend the background material into the narrative. As the characters face various challenges, they are reminded of situations in their past, leading to a flashback sequence". Coolstreak Comics' Julie Gray comments that the manga "reminds me a lot of Bleach in both style and feel". She criticises the manga for its dialogue saying, "in some places the dialogue didn't always flow very well or make sense even though the storyline itself is engaging". Active Anime's Scott Campbell commends the fast pacing of the manga which "results in a "never a dull moment" kind of feel to the series". He also recommends the manga to "any Naruto or Bleach enthusiast". Jason Thompson's appendix to Manga: The Complete Guide comments on the manga's "clear Naruto influence" through the "pseudo-Asian setting and the central character dynamic". He also comments that "despite lots of swords slashing around, the series is low on violence, as the Dracules turn to smoke when killed".