Übel Blatt


Übel Blatt is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Etorouji Shiono. It was serialized in the semi-monthly seinen manga magazine Young Gangan from December 2004 to 2009, when it was transferred to Monthly Big Gangan where it continued until its end in March 2019. Its 170 chapters were collected into 24 tankōbon volumes by Square Enix. The story of Übel Blatt takes place in a medieval, fantasy-like landscape. It follows the steps of Koinzell, who appears to be nothing more than a mere half-human child most distinguishable for the scar over his left eye. He is on a quest of revenge against those who betrayed and killed him and now call themselves the seven heroes of the land.
A side-story called Übel Blatt Gaiden was published in Young Gangan Big on August 25, 2011. Yen Press began releasing Übel Blatt in North America in October 2014. The series has also been translated into French, where it has ranked amongst the country's best-selling manga.

Plot

Beginning some twenty years prior to the start of the manga, the story narrates on how Koinzell, then named Ascheriit, was a young, prodigious swordsman whose skill granted him the fabled title of Blatt Meister. His deeds made him one of the fourteen chosen by the ruling emperor of the Empire of Szaalenden to venture into a dangerous quest to defeat a powerful enemy invader known as the evil nation of Wischtech, of whom the many powerful engines of destruction and dark sorcery made a dangerous foe. Each armed with a lance blessed by the Emperor himself, and thus known as the Fourteen Lances, the chosen traveled far into the enemy's wasted landscape, losing three of their ranks to the perils of the land, until they arrived into a forest where seven of the eleven remaining decided to forfeit their mission, fearing for their lives. Nevertheless, Ascheriit and three of those still bent on following the Emperor's will continued, and incredibly succeeded in their deed, returning victorious. It was then that the seven who abandoned the mission ambushed their comrades and massacred them. On returning home, they told the Emperor that the four they killed turned traitors against them, and after dispatching them the seven completed the task. Thus, they were hailed as heroes and dubbed the Seven Heroes, while the four who were killed became symbols of treachery and received the moniker of Lances of Betrayal.
Thus, the story tells of the voyage of Ascheriit, who indeed survived the slaughter and vowed to take the head of his traitorous companions, now powerful nobles and warlords hailed as saviors by the people.

Characters

Main characters

;Köinzell
;Ato
;Peepi
;Geranpen

The Fourteen Lances

The Three Who Were Slain

The three Lances who died on the journey to defeat Wischtech. So far, only one of them has been named.
;Elgunaha

The Seven Heroes

The Seven heroes who supposedly defeated Wischtech during the war twenty years ago. However, the truth is that they were too cowardly to continue on through the forest of death. After the four so-called "Lances of Betrayal" entered Wischtech and completed their quest, the Seven Heroes ambushed them and slaughtered them. They then returned to the kingdom and claimed credit for the deeds of the Four, and stained the names of those same Four with the title of "Lances of Betrayal". Following Glenn's resurrection and public revolt against the Empire, the truth is made known to the public and the Seven Heroes are vilified for their actions.
;Schtemwölech
;Barestar
;Glenn
;Lebelont
;Ischüdien
;Güllengurv
;Nirgenfeled

The Traitorous Lances

The Four Lances who apparently betrayed the Empire to Wisstech. The truth was that they were the ones who actually completed the quest while the Seven 'Heroes' ambushed and murdered them, and afterwards stole credit for their accomplishments. After Glenn betrays the Empire, however, the truth is revealed and the Four Lances are exonerated and given the recognition they deserve.
;Kfer
;Güsstav
;Krentel

Szaalenden Empire

;Emperor Largor the Third
;Ikfes
;Ms. Gleaa

Order of the Seven Lances

;Rozen
;Schemle
;Elseria Rahnclave
;Daliste

Others

The Besiegers
;Vid
;Altea

The Black Wing Army

A rebel army in the frontier borderlands near Wischtech, the army is led by four former landlords who were veterans of the Wischtech war who lost their lands after defending it from rival warlords but were accused of the starting the border disputes. Embittered, the former landlords regroup their armies with Wischtech magic and weapons and took the names of the Four Lances of Betrayal to gain support. Under their tyrannical rule, the Black Wing army, pillage, slaughter and raped any civilians and Empire loyalists they found. But their reign ended after Koinzell defeated them.
;Fake Kfer
;Fake Güsstav
;Fake Krentel
;Fake Ascheriit

Release

Written and illustrated by Etorouji Shiono, Übel Blatt began being serialized in the semi-monthly Young Gangan in December 2004. It returned from a two-year hiatus on December 24, 2011. The manga finished on March 25, 2019. Publisher Square Enix collected the chapters into 24 tankōbon volumes, beginning with volume 0 on July 25, 2005 and ending with volume 23 on June 25, 2019.
A side-story called Übel Blatt Gaiden was published in Young Gangan Big on August 25, 2011. In February 2014, Yen Press announced they had licensed Übel Blatt for English release in North America. They publish the series in omnibus format of two volumes in one, with volume 0 released in October 2014. The manga is published in France by Ki-oon, who released the first volume 0 on May 24, 2007.

Reception

The series' twelfth collected volume sold 29,167 copies in its debut week, the thirteenth sold 28,574, and the seventeenth 22,358 copies.
Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network gave the first English-language omnibus a B rating, praising its revenge story. She saw similarities between Koinzell's past and The Count of Monte Cristo and stated that its supporting cast brings themes of racial inequality and political corruption. However, Silverman noted several "uncomfortable sexual moments," including rape, and called the backgrounds generic.
In France, Übel Blatt has made it into the top 15 weekly list for best-selling manga at number 11. It was awarded the Japan Expo Award 2008 in the seinen category.