Criss Angel is a well-known magician and illusionist who has captivated audiences with his mind-bending tricks and stunts. One of his most famous acts is his use of swords in his performances. In his performances, Criss Angel incorporates the use of swords in various ways to create jaw-dropping illusions. One of his signature tricks involves him seemingly impaling himself with multiple swords, only to emerge unharmed moments later. This illusion leaves audiences in awe as they try to comprehend how he was able to perform such a dangerous feat without any apparent harm. Another notable use of swords in Criss Angel's magic is his ability to make them appear and disappear at will.
Main Article: Chapter 86
Chlaus comes to the Phantomhive Manor for dinner, jokingly telling Ciel that his butler is rather elusive and suddenly appeared while he was at a sauna in Finland. Being that it seems to be nowhere near the end, not only with the main story but also this current story arc, I honestly don t think it will ever be completed, and if it is, it will take a long LONG time.
Another notable use of swords in Criss Angel's magic is his ability to make them appear and disappear at will. He can make swords seemingly materialize out of thin air or vanish into thin air in an instant. This adds an element of suspense and mystery to his acts, as audiences are left wondering where the swords went or where they came from.
Manga Review: Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler)
There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to Black Butler. I picked up this series since I enjoyed the anime, and it was worth it!
To begin, let’s talk a little about canon manga material vs. the anime adaptation. The anime series uses canon material for the first half of the first season, the third season (Book of Circus), and the ovas Book of the Atlantic and Book of Murder. In season one, the story pivots after episode 6 or so into a different storyline (Regarding the missing girls and the puppeteer). This is not manga related. The second season is not canon in any form, and I thought it was terrible. I’ll be focusing mostly on canon material and the differences and similarities in the manga and anime (which both were very enjoyable, despite straying from original material.)
First of all, the manga begins as more of a comedy then anything else. It is very lighthearted and funny as you settle into the Phantomhive manor and get to know the main characters. As the story arcs continue the the show does get gradually darker as the overarching story begins to weave itself through. It seems unbalanced at times, with strange pacing, humor to darkness to humor again, they don’t lace together as well as I would have hoped.
In any event, its an easy read. Its interesting and fun and the art is great. As I always say for manga, I like clean lines and easy to understand panels, and this does not disappoint.
The story arcs run like so:
1. Black Butler Arc- Chapter 1 to 5
2 – Red Butler Arc- Chapter 6 to 14
3 – Indian Butler Arc- Chapter 15 to 23
4 – Circus Arc- Chapter 24 to 37
5 -Phanomhive Manor Murders Arc- Chapter 38 to 50
6 – Ship Voyage Arc- Chapter 51 to 66
7 – Public School Arc- Chapter 66 to 85
8 – Emerald Witch Arc- Chapter 86 to 107
9 – Blue Cult Arc- Chapter 108-present
Arcs 1- 6 are more or less covered in season one, season three, and the ‘Book of the Atlantic’ and ‘Book of Murder’ OVAs. The way that they divided up two important arcs and gave them their own movies was absolutely brilliant.
My favorite thing about the anime was fun characters randomly showing up together. You didn’t have to miss the servants, the reapers, or any of the other cast for too long, because they would always be back for one reason or another, popping up where unexpected. This was very enjoyable.
In the anime Grell, Sebastian and Ciel are what I would describe as “frienimies”, their actions and reactions to one another are always comical and it adds so much humor to the show. In the manga, Grell (and the reapers in general) are background characters and Grell, Ciel and Sebastian are primarily adversaries. I really missed the relationship between these three characters, as strange as it was.
A couple complaints about the anime: continuity errors, due to the overlapping canon/non-canon material. (People being suprised at a big reveal regarding a character when they had already been privy to this information, etc.) Also, let’s be honest. In the anime Ciel is really an asshole. He is rude to Sebastian, bossy, snotty, and doesn’t care about anyone around him. In the manga he and Sebastian have more comradery and he is never particularly rude or demanding. He does not carry an obsession about his parent’s murder, which is the theme of the anime, instead his main focus is always on his duties as the Queen’s guard dog, with the loss and past in the background.
The Emerald Witch arc was very good. The illustration, art and events were suspenseful and interesting, with the great art that would be excellent in anime form. The main, overarching story arc begins in the ‘Book of the Atlantic’ and continues throughout the upcoming chapters. Its interesting and continues to be more mysterious, dark and suspenseful.
As the manga carries on there are more lovable characters added.We see a lot more of Prince Soma, Snake, and Lizzy’s older brother, who becomes a heartwarming, recurring character. Finnian becomes one of my favorite characters, and the first thing I noticed about him was how his entire personality, skill set and overall attitude was exactly the same as Kenji in Bungo Stray Dogs. They have to be the same person. Or at least brothers? They even have the same hat!
Is the Manga worth reading? Absolutely. Its funny, it’s interesting, and if you liked the other animated material, pick it up- however begin at chapter one, since the anime vs manga can vary wildly at times.
In a disappointing turn of events, Black Butler just had its 15 year annerversery and it is still continuing in publication. It publishes an episode every month. Being that it seems to be nowhere near the end, not only with the main story but also this current story arc, I honestly don’t think it will ever be completed, and if it is, it will take a long LONG time. Even though it is far from finished, it is worth reading with some great visuals and events. This current arc isn’t particularly one of my favorite, it felt like it was a jerky, unexpected pivot and something that hadn’t been expected at the beginning of the series (no foreshadowing) so it kind of just came out of the blue. I’m sure it will all come together in the end, if I am alive long enough to see it come to an end.
What about you? Did you read the manga? What did you think?
I really liked this panels from this chapter of the ‘Emerald Witch arc’. It showed what we suspected: Ciel is not a innocent boy or a hero. He knows about his own darkness and his own sins. He’s a greedy person and will move for his own interest. However, this scene also discards the possibility that Ciel is a sociopath. A sociopath wouldn’t have this internal conflict about what he’d done in the past. What I really see is a severe case of PTSD, which is what caused this event.
Criss Angel's use of swords in his magic acts goes beyond mere props. He uses them to create a sense of danger and excitement, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in magic. His tricks with swords require precision, skill, and a deep understanding of illusion techniques. In addition to his sword tricks, Criss Angel also incorporates other elements of magic, such as levitation, escapes, and mind-reading, into his performances. These elements, combined with his unique style and showmanship, have made him one of the most iconic magicians of our time. Overall, Criss Angel's use of swords in his magic adds an element of danger and excitement to his performances. Whether it's impaling himself with multiple swords or making them appear and disappear, his tricks with swords leave audiences in awe and questioning the boundaries of reality..
Reviews for "The Force of Illusion: Criss Angel and the Swars"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Criss Angels Magic with the Swars". It felt like a cheap imitation of other magic shows I've seen. The tricks were predictable and lacked any sense of awe or mystery. The storyline was confusing and didn't seem to connect well with the magic acts. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable and underwhelming experience.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - "Criss Angels Magic with the Swars" was such a letdown. The whole show seemed like a desperate attempt to capitalize on the "Star Wars" franchise without actually delivering anything substantial. The magic tricks were subpar and didn't impress me at all. I felt like I was just watching a poorly choreographed fan play with some half-hearted magic tricks thrown in. Save your money and skip this one.
3. Mike - 2/5 - I had high expectations for "Criss Angels Magic with the Swars" but unfortunately, it fell short. The integration of "Star Wars" elements felt forced and unnecessary, and the overall performance lacked the polish and finesse that I was hoping for. The tricks themselves were mediocre and didn't leave a lasting impression. I wouldn't recommend this show to anyone looking for a memorable magic experience.
4. Emily - 1/5 - As a fan of both magic and "Star Wars", I was excited to see "Criss Angels Magic with the Swars". However, it was a huge disappointment. The magic tricks were lackluster and didn't seem to have any real connection to the "Star Wars" theme. The storyline was convoluted and hard to follow, making the overall show feel disjointed. I was left feeling underwhelmed and regretful for choosing this show.