RG Veda
| RG Veda | |
| File:RG Veda.jpg manga, volume 1 (Japanese re-release cover) | |
| Genre | Fantasy |
|---|---|
| Anime | |
| Directed by | Hiroyuki Ebata Takamasa Ikegami |
| Studio | CLAMP, ANIMATE |
RG Veda (聖伝, Seiden) is an epic manga created by CLAMP. RG Veda consists ten graphic novels in all. It was first published in Japan in 1989 as CLAMP's debut manga. The story features elements of Sanskrit mythology; the title itself is an alteration of Rig Veda, which is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. The series is known for it's extravagant and richly detailed art. It was popular enough to inspire a 2 episode anime OVA (which can be found on DVD).
The RG Veda graphic novels have been translated and released in many different languages. Tokyopop is currently releasing English versions in the United States.
Plot
Three hundred years ago, the god of thunder, Taishakuten, rebelled against the Heavenly Emperor, killing both him and the guardian god Ashura-ou. With the help of Ashura-ou's wife Shashi, he usurped the throne and began his cruel reign as the new Emperor. However, a prophecy was made:
"Six stars will strike the earth. You are the dark star that goes against heaven. Your journey begins when you find the child of a vanished race. I cannot see if the child is good or evil, but I know only this child can spin the wheel of heaven's destiny..."
Following this prophecy, the Guardian Warrior of the northland, Yasha-ou, awakens the genderless child of Ashura-ou, Ashura, who has slept the last three hundred years under a magical seal. Believing the prophecy to mean that the "Six Stars" together can overthrow Taishakuten, he and Ashura set out to find the "Six Stars". They are joined over time by Souma, Ryu-ou and Karura-ou, three of the Six Stars of prophecy, of which Yasha-ou and Ashura are as well. A mysterious character who appears and disappears quite regularly, Kujaku, gives them helpful advice, but his nature and intentions are unclear.
The gentle and childlike Ashura (who is usually referred to as "he" out of convenience, though some translations use a female pronoun) soon reveals a deadly alter-ego, a youth who wishes to destroy the world with his power, which only the combined efforts of Yasha-ou and the sheer willpower of Ashura's gentle side can bring under control. While the Six Stars seek to bring Taishakuten's reign to an end, Ashura's destiny becomes clear. As Five of the Six Stars confront the "Four Generals", they do not realize that the sixth and last star is Gendappo, one of the Four Generals. Ashura's dark nature is then brought to the surface, as all of the Six Stars were gathered. Ashura jumps out of the window, aiming to destroy all of humanity...
Meanwhile, in Taishakuten's castle, the Six Stars (well, five of them anyway) start a battle against the Four Generals. Three of the four generals die, including Gendappo, along with Five of the Six Stars (Yasha did not die). Yasha goes to look for Ashura and finds him sitting on a pile of dead bodies, laughing as he drank the corpes' blood. Ashura escapes from Yasha, heading to Taishakuten's castle, and Yasha follows him back.
While at Taishakuten's castle, Yasha encounters an Ashura clad in golden armor, inheritence from his father. Yasha does not fight against Ashura, but pleads with him to stop all of the bloodshed. Ashura mercilessly beats Yasha while he is pleading. As Asura goes in for the death blow, Yasha finally excepts the fact that he could not stop Ashura, and allows him to charge. At the last second, Ashura turns his own blade on himself, suiciding. This proves that no matter how evil Ashura is, he cannot bring himself to kill his lover.
Yasha, devestated, sits next to Ashura's body, wanting to die. The mysterious Kujaku comes along, asking why Yasha was just sitting there. Seeing that Yasha was depressed because of the death of Ashura, Kujaku decides to do him a favor. Kujaku suicides, allowing him to enter the realm of the dead and awaken Ashura.
External links
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