The world of Assassins is so vast that it has transcended video games into books, movies, and other popular culture creations. Sometimes there are new fictional creations, sometimes we only get the usual adaptations. This time, however, I think that the comic adaptation of Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China hit the spot, especially when it comes to transferring the story to the manga.
What the game does not give, the comic frame will complement
It seems to me that the sequential story, which is comics, and its Japanese variant, manga , can present the story in a completely different style. First of all, we impose the pace of exploring the story, and in the game it sometimes happens that the virtual world does it for us during specific events. Interestingly, the story of the Chinese assassin can be explored in three different pop culture products, and her story becomes truly trans-media. First in the movie Embers, then in the game, and finally in the manga. It is interesting that modern times have also been added to this plot, where the Templars found a descendant of Shao Jun, Lisa Huan, in Japan, and under the guise of treating her attacks of aggression, they are trying to find out where the treasure is hidden. This addition just adds some flavor to the whole narrative.
A journey into history
The manga seems like a good idea. The representation of the Far Eastern architecture in Japanese comics was usually quite good, because the authors drew inspiration from the surrounding environment, which is why it is the same in the comic, where similar Chinese buildings are presented in a simple way. The hand-to-hand combat scenes with well-defined movement of the characters also look convincing, evoking in the reader a sense of communing with the action of Kurosawa’s films. I also enjoy taking care of historical details and a brief history of Macau. The only thing I can fault is the lack of consistency in the narration. Well, in places during the dialogues between Shao Jun’s opponents and herself, it seems as if the author loses the thread and leaves everything to our guesses, without any clues.
Adventures in an even more distant galaxy
What should be praised? The fact that a tip on how to read the manga is included at the end. I think this will help lay people even more into Shao Jun’s story, especially if they’re only reading this comic because they love the Assassin and Templar universes. I will definitely reach for the next issues, especially since, if this is an adaptation of the game and we are on its third chapter, there are probably four more volumes of the story about the Chinese Assassin ahead of us.
