To read about March Story Volumes 1- 3 click here.

In a word: awesome

UPS made me a happy, happy girl when they dropped off a package to me yesterday. With much glee I ripped open the package, and had to shield my eyes against the ethereal light that shone from within. Finally. Volume 4 of March Story had arrived!

First of all, the cover. The magenta hue and March’s skin tight outfit told me there would be some extra focus on the fact that our poor little March is a woman – not the man she pretends to be to avoid falling into the trap that will destroy her – love. The back shows the reemergence of a character we thought long dead…and the dark blue and black colors clue us into the fact that THIS IS THE BAD GUY. Because her creepy face wasn’t an obvious indication. Did I mention I love  Kyung-II Yang?

March Story Volume 4 Cover

*Mega Spoilers Ahead*

Of course, we all know it’s too late for March’s heart. It already belongs to Rodin, and the only thing keeping her from falling into the Ill’s trap is the secret of her true sex. The few times Rodin saw her in female garb, he didn’t recognize her, though he was entranced by her.

This volume was particularly bloody and full of naked (mostly dead) females. And that ill that killed March’s parents and her sister Raspberry? Yeah, she makes a reappearance. ‘But she’s dead!’ Apparently not. And now she’s making pretty crimson dresses out of pretty maiden’s blood, and has a creepy little clown entourage.

She sets her sights on March’s blood after they run into each other at a ball. Much fighting ensues, but the appearance of Rodin puts a stop to that. Perhaps one of the most important parts of this volume is that March’s secret goes up in smoke. First her true sex is discovered by Belma, who had been troubled about his attraction to a ‘boy’ at the beginning of the volume. Luckily he got to avoid questions regarding his sexuality when he finds March hanging naked in the ill’s net of cutting strings.

Of course after saving her he discovers that he loves her, which is unfortunate, because she loves Rodin. Poor Belma. We are also introduced to Belma’s past, which reveals his mother was killed as a result of him stealing from a cold blooded killer, and that the scarecrow is now his…guiding light? I haven’t decided if the scarecrow holds the soul of his mother, or if it simply decided to help out.

The end leaves us in angst, with Rodin finally discovering March’s secret – right before his eye totally get taken out by creepy Elizabeth Bàthory woman and a pair of clown scissors. Eek! I totally hope Rodin doesn’t die…because he’s cute, and that would be tragic. And he finally showed off his bad ass side, which I would love to see more of.

As always, the artwork by Kyung-II Yang is gorgeous, detailed, and bloody! And the story was interesting. While I miss the side stories, it was nice seeing more March-centered plot lines from Kim Hyang-min.

If you haven’t run out to buy it yet, DO SO!!!! This is a VIZ Media Signature item, and you can buy it there or on Amazon (which I did because I’ve got prime, baby!). March Story is one of my favorite on-going mangas, with just the right mix of adult content, human interest, bad-ass villains and heroes, and, of course, violence.

I also suggest that you geek out and rock on.