manga: Angel's Coffin (complete)
Angel’s Coffin is a single volume manga about the affair between Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria and Baroness Marie Vetsera near the end of the 19th century. As told by Higuri you, the mangaka of Cantarella and Seimaden. This means contracts with demons and more romantic angst and melodrama than you know what to do with.
Seto is an ancient god who was sealed away by a Catholic monk for centuries until a demon named Baphomet made a deal with him: he’ll free Seto, but only if Seto agrees to “lay waste to the first human you set your eyes upon.” The human who frees Seto is Marie Vetsera, a young noblewoman who is hopelessly in love with the married, womanizing crown prince. Seto, naturally, falls in love with Marie almost immediately, and agrees to help her meet the prince while angsting over the fact that he’s supposed to be ruining her life.
I’m far from an expert on the events in question, but the manga does seem to be relatively faithful to history, supernatural elements aside. Unlike Cantarella, where history is pretty much rebuilt around the supernatural elements, Angel’s Coffin’s supernatural elements are additions to the plot to provide more romantic angst. I admit, while Rudolf is a good character and the political aspect of his life is interesting, he doesn’t grab me much as a romantic lead. I can, however, understand why a sheltered seventeen-year-old girl would think he was the best thing ever. On the other hand, the scenes of Seto being a dork and angsting over being in love with Marie and how he’s supposed to ruin her life while she’s fangirling Rudolf are great.
Sadly, that pesky “how things ended up in history” factor had to come along and interfere. I may or may not be sulking a bit over that. Silly history interfering with my gothic shoujo crack. Whether or not I’m serious about that is for you to decide.
The ending implies there may be more with Seto and Baphomet, does anyone know if there is any more manga with them? Possibly with a reincarnated Marie for Seto to angst over.
And now to wait for Crown to come out and read the rest of Seimaden while I wait for Higuri You to pick up Cantarella again. That’s never going to happen, is it?
Seto is an ancient god who was sealed away by a Catholic monk for centuries until a demon named Baphomet made a deal with him: he’ll free Seto, but only if Seto agrees to “lay waste to the first human you set your eyes upon.” The human who frees Seto is Marie Vetsera, a young noblewoman who is hopelessly in love with the married, womanizing crown prince. Seto, naturally, falls in love with Marie almost immediately, and agrees to help her meet the prince while angsting over the fact that he’s supposed to be ruining her life.
I’m far from an expert on the events in question, but the manga does seem to be relatively faithful to history, supernatural elements aside. Unlike Cantarella, where history is pretty much rebuilt around the supernatural elements, Angel’s Coffin’s supernatural elements are additions to the plot to provide more romantic angst. I admit, while Rudolf is a good character and the political aspect of his life is interesting, he doesn’t grab me much as a romantic lead. I can, however, understand why a sheltered seventeen-year-old girl would think he was the best thing ever. On the other hand, the scenes of Seto being a dork and angsting over being in love with Marie and how he’s supposed to ruin her life while she’s fangirling Rudolf are great.
Sadly, that pesky “how things ended up in history” factor had to come along and interfere. I may or may not be sulking a bit over that. Silly history interfering with my gothic shoujo crack. Whether or not I’m serious about that is for you to decide.
The ending implies there may be more with Seto and Baphomet, does anyone know if there is any more manga with them? Possibly with a reincarnated Marie for Seto to angst over.
And now to wait for Crown to come out and read the rest of Seimaden while I wait for Higuri You to pick up Cantarella again. That’s never going to happen, is it?