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Title:  Claymore #7

Author:  Norihiro Yagi

Publisher:  Viz

ISBN: 1421510499

May Contain Spoilers

As the sadistic Ophelia continues to battle the Awakened Being, Clare grabs Raki and makes a run for it.  Forcing Raki to run in the other direction while she distracts Ophelia, Clare promises to stay alive and to meet up with her young charge as soon as possible.  With Raki safe, she can concentrate on keeping herself alive.  That’s going to prove a difficult task, however, especially after she loses her sword arm in the deadly battle with Ophelia.  Will she live to keep her promise to Raki?

Ophelia is one wacko wench! She’s a Claymore’s worst nightmare; she sees Awakened Beings everywhere, except in the mirror, where an incredibly ugly one happens to be reflected.  Through her, Norihiro Yagi is able to explore new, grotesque methods of illustration; there’s quite a bit of limb lopping, followed by desperate attempts to retrieve the detached limbs, only to have them diced into lots of itty bits.  Yum!

Clare gets a little assistance when a face from the past rescues her from Ophelia.  Ilena, one of the Claymores sent to kill Teresa, feigned her death and has been hiding in the mountains, suppressing her yoma powers so she remained invisible to the others in the organization.  Teaching Clare her Quick Sword technique to combat Ophelia’s Rippling Sword skill, she also gives her a parting gift.  I didn’t realize that Claymores were like Legos, with interchangeable limbs, so I guess I learned something new.

This volume was a little too predictable, and Ilena’s sudden appearance, just as Clare was about to suffer the ultimate defeat by Ophelia’s sword, was just a tad too convenient.  Still, I guess every hero in a shounen manga needs to have a mentor or ten, and Ilena, with her super cool sword style, fit the bill nicely.  Mostly, though, I just couldn’t stand Ophelia.  She is so nasty that she can’t die fast enough!  Mentally unhinged or not, she lacks the qualities that make for a compelling villain, which is making this story arc feel like it’s starting to drag.  I just want it to wrap up so we can move along to something else.

Grade:  B-

Rated for Older Teen