Tetragrammaton Labyrinth – Demon Slaying Yuri Action
The school is a typical setting for yuri or shoujo-ai series as it provides the much needed make believe setting that’s dominated by the female characters. There, the girls are protected from the outside world with a make believe girl’s only setting and character development takes place comfortably. Tetragrammaton Labyrinth is different in this aspect as its action packed with guns, magic and gore where the 2 female protagonists battle demons to protect humanity.
If you’re expecting to see the girls with laser beams and in bikinis, you’ll be disappointed. Set in London during the 19th century, characters are dressed Victorian style where pistols and shot guns would be the norm. Meg and Angela work for the Church or how should I say, they represent the Church though the Church has little control over them. Both girls have their own issues to deal with but a common issue would be where they’re not exactly “normal humans”. Angela has difficulty dying and she regenerates like Rin from Mnemosyne while Meg can cast spells that are earth shattering. Coupled with above average reflexes, they’re the ultimate demon slaying combo team that’s on humanity side; that is if they choose to remain to side with humanity.
Meg with gun, Angela with sickle.
Putting their lives at risks and fighting demons on the side of humans would make them heroines right? You’re pretty much wrong if you think that way. Instead of welcoming them both, society fear and ostracize them as immoral and unnatural beings.
Where’s the immorality?
Ostracized by society, Angela and Meg have only each other to rely on during their demon slaying journey. Acting as each other’s emotional and physical anchor, they develop a bond so close that the conservative Victorian society frowns upon. Other than societal norms, Tetragrammaton Labyrinth also touches on the many contradicting issues found in the Victorian era like science vs tradition, past vs modern, supernatural vs natural, morality vs immorality, etc. Knowledge of the Victorian era aids appreciation for this series but is not a necessity.
Meg pretty much reminds me of a neutral good character who would save all humans (be it good or bad humans) from demons while Angela is more of a chaotic neutral character who acts on her self interest; where she and Meg’s lives take precedence over the others. Angela lives for Meg, fights for Meg and she has a soft spot for Meg, so she’s pretty much well controlled and would go along with Meg’s intentions. Thus, we have a plausible bad ass character that’s pretty much in check because of her kind hearted partner.
Angela can be bad ass but Meg keeps her in check.
There’s ample action and suspense in volume 1. The girls encounter something supernatural, they investigate, and they try to solve them with head on assaults. Demons are introduced one by one and all have different abilities and attributes; the demons seem to become stronger and more cunning progressively. Gore and horror, there’s no lack of it too. Front line Angela would make a mess of her targets or her targets would make a mess of her when battles get tough.
Alert! Angela down!
On completing volume 1, I feel that both Meg and Angela might be demons too. Angela doesn’t die and she regenerates half her body back in just a few manga pages; like those high level demon boss in games. As for Meg, casting demonic spells and going berserk attack mode with a sword? She’s definitely not human too. The character’s past remains a mystery and I guess unlocking their past might affect their alignments; will they continue to side with humans or would they jump sides? I can’t help but feel that the characters in Tetragrammaton Labyrinth will come to a tragic end. 2 demon girls in love, conservative society, church trying to rid demons, humans hate demons, etc. Eternal bliss just seems to be a far fetch dream for the both of them.
Berserk Meg stabs anyone in her way, even Angela.
There are 6 volumes to Tetragrammaton Labyrinth and Seven Seas Entertainment has released 3 so far. The 4th volume is scheduled for a December 2008 release. If you’re looking for some horror, gore and yuri action instead of the usual romantic-comedy yuri school setting, give this series a try.
Demon slaying never looked so moe~
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You had me at Tetragrammaton Labyrinth – Demon Slaying Yuri Action.And again at Victorian.And then one more time at yuri.
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This actually looks really promising, and that gruesome scene — *drools*
Sounds interesting, will give it a try.
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The Victorian Setting gives this a nice little twist.Is it a minor plotpoint or does it actually really affect them?
As the other characters are living in such an ideologically entrenched period, their actions affect both Meg and Angela greatly. My guess is that it wouldn’t affect them both if they’re living away from civilization but sadly, they’re living in the civilized London.
The people’s trust isn’t with Meg and Angela as seen in a who to believe match in one of the scenes. A detective, whom they knew for long, refused to believe them and protected a demon possessed woman, whom he met only recently. Angela was then sliced to half by the demon’s sneak attack (seen in one of the pictures) while she tries to protect Meg.