Orphan Blade

by M. Nicholas Almand, Jake Myler

Overview

Hadashi is a boy with simple dreams, but his life changes when a horrific accident maims his hand. Unable to hold a sword, he's kicked out of his dojo home. But the Orphan Blade is no ordinary sword. When Hadashi comes across the abandoned blade, he finds that not only is he able to wield it--the sword seems to be wielding him! He's not the only one interested in the Orphan Blade, though, and his ownership draws the attention of the Five Fingers of Death--a deadly group of mercenaries who have their own magical and deadly weapons.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620101506
Publisher:	Oni Press
Publication date:	11/26/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	179 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

Editorial Reviews

03/01/2015
Gr 7–10—In a world where creatures are overlooked, destroyed, and manipulated by the Earth, a young warrior-in-training named Hadashi is attacked by an altered animal and his blade hand is mangled. Driven out of his dojo, he is taken in by a mysterious girl. As he earns his keep by running an errand, he spies the Five Fingers of Death battling. He picks up a fallen sword and is able to control it, even with his hurt hand. This is no ordinary sword but The Orphan Sword, which is made from the bones of old creatures and is now controlling Hadashi in order to eliminate all threats at whatever cost. The artwork is wonderful. The clean lines and attention to detail make the different characters stand out. Backgrounds and shading are carefully and thoughtfully executed. The saturated color work is also well done. There are a few panels that don't flow as well as the rest but nothing that would confuse readers. However, though this looks perfect for younger readers who may enjoy "Avatar" (Dark Horse), the language, innuendos, and violence really make this work more appropriate for an older audience. The secondary characters, though likable, are not as well developed as the main character. The killing scenes end with a dramatic telling of how the character has fallen, such as the endings of the Mortal Kombat video games; a nice touch for gamers. VERDICT Ideal for slightly older readers who won't judge this graphic novel on a first glance.—Mariela Siegert, Westfield Middle School, Bloomingdale, IL

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