Legends from Darkwood Pocket Manga #1, Vol. 1 Book

Deep in the forest, under the lush green canopy and gentle sunlight, a scene of pure beauty and magic takes place before our very eyes. The most revered creature in Mother Nature's menagerie, the Unicorn, presents itself to a worthy human maiden. With the style and grace that only a beautiful maiden can manage, she draws the knife from the folds of her dress. A quick slice, the hearty thump of a Unicorn collapsing into the grass....Welcome to Darkwood.

In this, the most typical of fantasy worlds, magic mingles with science, and spooky and awesome creatures inhabit the ancient forests. Something, though, is... wrong. In addition to dragons and damsels, Darkwood is filled with a few modern problems. To name a few, natives slaughtered by overzealous real-estate developers, a fantastic species on the brink of extinction, and a woman who has combined her maidenhood and hunting skill to form an economic juggernaut.

Publishers Weekly

A fractured fairy tale for adults, this American manga is a dark satire on fantasy conventions. Reid and Kantz's story is set in Unicorntown, a place that's made its fortune as the only known source for unicorn flesh, a great delicacy. The secret to its trade is Raynd, the unicorn hunter, who has discovered that just because she's a virgin who is able to lure unicorns to their fate doesn't mean she can't be a savage mercenary, too. Raynd was raised by Moore, the businessman who runs the town's unicorn business. Appalled by Raynd's trade, Moore's daughter, Rose, sets out to stop Raynd by hiring a bounty hunter. Despite Rose's lofty ambitions, she occupies the same moral low ground as most of the other characters. These include a man-eating unicorn who has made a pact with the devil, a giant talking shar-pei and an anthropomorphic female bounty hunter who tantalizes humans who have "furry" proclivities. None of the characters in Darkwood are particularly likable, but Reid and Kantz have assembled a story that's as fresh as it is biting. Drawn in a manga style, Kantz's art is the weak link; his character designs are sometimes pedestrian and his draftsmanship is slapdash. However, the inventive story and unrelentingly sardonic world view make up for these flaws. (Aug.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.