| Title | : | Revolutionary Girl Utena, Vol. 4: To Bud |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1591160685 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781591160687 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 192 |
| Publication | : | First published December 15, 1997 |
Revolutionary Girl Utena, Vol. 4: To Bud Reviews
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OMG *flails* This volume... this volume. Wow. I am just stunned. This answered so many of my questions, what World's End is, who Dios is, what Anthy is and why she is what she is now (Poor girl, I feel so sorry for her that she had to go through all of this and didn't have anyone to talk to, to rely on, to be friends with, I can understand her a bit better now. She is still frustrating, and at times I want to shake her a bit, but I also want to hug her now and tell her things will be all right.), we also find out that Sanoji has feelings for Anthy (he has a funny way of showing it though, maybe he should consider some therapy to get those slappy feelings into happy feelings), and I was a bit frustrated with Utena. So naive, so stupid. She fell for it all. :(
The consummation ritual was slightly creepy in more ways than one.
And again, as said before some times, I will just happily think these characters are 16+, because otherwise some scenes with Akio are just too NOPE (given he is at least 20 or older).
OMG at the ending! I had my suspicions he might be x, but I didn't think it would actually be true! This series sure loves cliffhangers. Let the finale begin! Let us see how this series will end! *is excited*
I am off again to read the last volume! Tomorrow, well actually today, I will be reading Adolescence.
Review first posted at
https://twirlingbookprincess.com/ -
I dunno. We'll see. It all just seems pointless.
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Sigo pensando lo mismo, los personajes masculinos de este manga son demasiado sexys.
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Akio creeps me out. Regardless, here is the issue where we find out about The Rose Bride ceremony and the history between Akio and Anthy. As with all of the previous volumes, this is bizarre.
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Just when I started to question whether this series was actually worth it, it got REALLY GOOD. So twisty. I love it.
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Pretty nice for a modern fantasy/shoujo manga.
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I’m honestly so confused and I can’t even pretend to understand this volume.
I feel as though it’s being overly confusing for the sake of being confusing so as to make the reader feel more guarded and afraid of what’s to come. However, one thing I DO know is that Akio Ohtori is walking garbage. He even makes me feel disgusting and terrible just reading about him and the things he does and says. And his version of “love,” whether he truly feels love or not, is unhealthy and nobody should be subjected to it. If there were ever anyone out there who didn’t deserve to love someone else, it would be a person like Akio Ohtori, because his so-called “love” is far too pathologically destructive and manipulative. The only person he truly watches out for and deeply cares for is his own idealized self.
But on the topic of love, I found the differing versions of it in this manga to be interesting. Saionji does truly feel a form of love for Anthy, but that type of love has been built upon an idealization as well, an assumption of who she is and what she is to him. He liked how submissive and tender she was, not thinking to wonder if that wasn’t truly her, or if there was more to her. Never once did he want to inspire her to grow. He wanted to own her. And while his feelings are true and genuine, they come from a place of assumption and possession, which isn’t as unhealthy as Ohtori’s, but is still quite problematic and he should move on.
All throughout these four volumes so far, I keep wondering where the love is between Anthy and Utena, but I believe I may have finally found it through analysis of the others. Touga’s love for Utena is similar to that of Utena’s love for Anthy, in which he feels a desire to let her blossom and grow. He genuinely cares for Utena as a person and whether they are together or apart, he wants her to become the woman she would like to become. Similarly, they also both feel desires to protect their people but for their own ideals. Utena wants to be someone’s prince, and a prince should have a princess to protect. Even if Utena does not realize this, this dream of her is a subconscious driving motivation for her severe desire to protect. As for Touga, he cares for Utena, but still sees her as a strong yet naive woman, and he doesn’t wish to see her fall into the wrong hands. He wants to protect her from harm because he feels that she needs guidance. And he wouldn’t be wrong in that, but multiple times he will let his emotions get the better of him and try to directly control her, which, while it does somewhat work toward his end means, it is not a healthy way of approaching Utena.
As for Utena, she does not hold so tight to Anthy, nor does Anthy to her. As of now, it doesn’t appear as though Anthy loves Utena, but she does seem to respect her, and might be growing some fondness for her. Even so, it’s hard to see past the many walls and fronts she puts up not only to protect herself but to fit the mold and image others and she herself have placed her in.
Lastly, I just wanted to mention again how I really like the detail in the art for this series. The imagery is made to show emotions individually. There may be multiple characters in one small panel that almost nobody more than glances at, but you can tell that deep reflection and thought was put into each character’s body language and expression, such as the panel in which the student council members were watching (or averting their gaze from) Utena pining away for a slumbering Anthy. -
Today’s nonfiction post is on Revolutionary Girl Utena, Vol. 4: To Bud by Chiho Saitō. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover is an illustration of Utena in her fencing gear. There is no foul language, mild sexuality, and mild violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who likes classic shojo manga. The story is told from third person close following Utena. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- Still searching for the elusive prince who saved her life as a young girl, Utena faces her toughest challenge yet: the romantic overtures of Akio Ohtori. Can she trust the handsome but rakish older man? And if so, will he able to help her ascend to the Castle in the Sky? After a night of passion, Utena hopes the power of love will change her destiny. But is she ready to participate in the Consummation Ceremony?
Review- Everything happens so quickly in this volume. Utena becomes infatuated with Aiko, Anthy’s brother, who in turn is really just using Utena to try and get into the castle to kill Dios and take his power. Utena becomes the rose bride for a while until Aiko does not need her any more and Anthy is shown to be little more than a puppet for her brother and his schemes. Everything that the reader thought we knew about this world has been tossed out the door. Utena is the only one chosen by Dios, the other duelists were just Aiko casting a wide net to try and find the one chosen by Dios. At the end of the volume Utena and Aiko are squaring up for a final confrontation. I am curious about how this is going to end.
I give this manga a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money. -
The temptation, seduction, and ultimate challenge of Utena is underways by a man who knows her better than anyone, who intends to take full advantage of her innocence and her devotion to her prince. What’s more he has Anthy’s assistance. Utena is, however, stronger than her seducer guesses as is her her growing bond with Anthy. This strength give Anthy herself courage along with a return to her lost power when she guides Utena along the final journey of her quest.
A unique fairytale with elements I recognized, transforming into a legend which created its own mythology along with the acknowledgment that love, the power of all kinds of love mingles with the real life dangers of growing up in this remarkable volume. Much is revealed, always wrapped in beauty, drawing readers in, offering visions of the inner self within the myth. This is a series unlike any other. It’s shaped much of my own sense of myth and how much we create it. -
VOLUME 4, WE GET SOME DEEP-DIVE DIVERGENCE FROM THE SHOW AND WE GET WEIRDLY LITERAL AND PRETTY FUCKY
Turns out I completely blocked out my memory from the first half of this volume (because it Hurts My Feelings) and yet my favorite part kicks in in the final quarter!! YESSSS. One of the characters literally says something about all answers being revealed; I don't trust this but I do appreciate it!
Juri: that man is a sexist pig!
Touga (noted sexist pig): no....he just doesn't see us as human, and used all of us as pawns
Me: touga both of these things can be true. And the way akio uses people is predicated on gender roles, both antiquated and modern, which makes the inherent sexism pretty relevant! that's the point!
Anyway the world of utena would be better if there was like 60% less touga and 1000% more juri -
Anything I have to say here would be full of spoilers! Let's just say we finally find out the truth about Anthy, Adio, and Dios... and it all takes a really, really weird turn. (Which, let's face it, you should have been expecting.)
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In this volume the story reaches the gates of the climax of the story. I really feel caught up in the plot and am glad that Utena is beginning to resolve her doubts regarding the prince and what he represents. Hopefully today I'll finish reading the manga and the special issue.
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wow, this is way different than the anime, and I like it better in some ways. I don't hate Touga, and love that he's much more honourable. Akio is still the worst ever though.
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Ya le voy captando!
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4.5 Stars
WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED -
2,5 stars
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Brilliant story telling with enough questions to make you want to finish the series.
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Dude, fuck Akio. Boooo.
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Ça décolle enfin avec une belle montée en tension !
Décidément, la pauvre Utena se sera faite manipuler du début à la fin 😓 -
muy bien!!!
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"you're my friend," was really forced (bc they are obvi in love) but it was good anyway. Also there needed to be less Touga bc he isn't a good love interest
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Manga i anime. Dwie zupełnie inne rzeczy.
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This author is exeptionally great.
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this book takes one bizarre twist after another. i couldn't figure out how utena fell in love with anthy's brother. i understand not being able to help it, but i don't understand how it occurred when she already had dios taking up most of her heart. then there was the consummation ceremony. that had enough twists to keep you guessing from panel to panel yet alone the natural arcs within the book. it was nice to see how everyone came to help and support utena, especially when half of the student council seemed to not like her very much.
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OH MAN THE MANGA TAKES SUCH AN INTERESTING TURN OF THINGS!
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Revolutionary Girl Utena, Vol. 4: To Bud by Chiho Saito (2003)
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Getting to the end and with the world get revolutionized or not.
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See my review for volume 1.
