Chapter 1
The moment you start reading CC, the first thing you'll notice is just how gorgeous the artwork is. This is seriously one of maybe the top 5 most beautiful graphic novels I've ever read in my life. Unlike most Japanese comics, the backgrounds are exquisitely detailed, as are the characters. Oh, also, we're introduced to Rosette Christopher and Chrono. Chrono is cool-headed, Rosette is fiery as can be. I'll elaborate on their dynamic later.
Chapter 2
We learn that Rosette and Chrono are part of an organization called the Magdalene Order, a society fighting an invisible war against demons and other supernatural baddies. And yes, Rosette is a nun with guns. (Whoa, a part of the Catholic Church has become a militia? Trinity Blood flashback.) I told my mom about this series back when I first started reading this; she thought this series would really piss off Catholics. I can't be certain if they really would, (all the Christians in my family are either Methodist or Lutheran) but I have read a theory on the web that the Magdalene Order just disguises itself as a Catholic Church. Is that really true?
Chapter 3
We are now introduced to Azmaria Hendric, a Portuguese girl who has a beautiful singing voice. There's four heroes in this piece: Rosette, a hotheaded American girl, Chrono, a coolheaded demon boy, and Azmaria, a . . . Mary Sue-ish moe girl. Don't fret, she undergoes character development as the series progresses. Party Member #4 appears in a later volume.
Chapter 4
Daisuke Moriyama, the author of CC, did a great deal of research when making this series. You can see it everywhere; the detail in real-life locations, how America was during the 1920s, how much the world was affected by the First World War. Oh, also, Rosette is crazy. Very, very, crazy. And to think, she's my favorite character in this series. That must say a lot about me right there.
Chapter 5
The villains of this series are rather, well, evil. The Villain of the Week here is Lerajie, a demon that Chrono once fought in the past. Looks like they're gonna fight again!
Chapter 6
In CC, Chrono and Rosette are bonded together with a stopwatch. With this stopwatch, Chrono's powers are receded, but he is also much friendlier than demons usually are. When the time is necessary, Rosette can weaken the seal on Chrono, allowing him to tap into the full extent of his powers. We see this for the first time. In his "true" form, Chrono is an absolute beast in combat, but he is also much more violent, and also uncontrollable. (Wait, a demon fighting other demons, who has a "Superpowered Evil Side"? More Trinity Blood flashbacks.)
Omake #1
We see Daisuke Moriyama for the first time. He always illustrates himself as a shaggy dog man. He talks about his inspirations for making CC, and also comes across as a manic-despressive individual. Is he really that neurotic in real life? There is also a note by ADV Manga, who, if I may say, did a superb job translating this series. (I was saddened when they lost their Yotsuba&! license.)
Final Thoughts
I first read CC Vol. 1 about two-and-a-half years ago in my city library. Right then and there, I knew, I had discovered something special. And I'm glad I did. More gushing to come!
