Almark follows its protagonist of the same name as he traverses the unfamiliar lands beyond his war-stricken northern home. Born and raised by mercenaries, becoming one of them is all he has ever known. That is until Almark’s father, vice-captain of the Black Wolf Riders mercenary band, rescues the headmaster of the Norkh Institute of Magic. The Norkh Institute is situated in the more peaceful southern kingdom, a place that Almark’s father believes is better suited for his growing son. On that fateful day, Almark’s future as a mercenary is changed forever.
The manga’s plot is undeniably character-driven. Beyond its interesting premise, one of Almark’s biggest strengths is its fleshed out cast of distinct characters. Almark’s core motivation is felt in every single instance that the spotlight shifts to him and the decisions he makes. His desire to prove himself to his father, a respected mercenary who taught him everything from arithmetic to survival tactics, is a consistent aspect of his character. When Almark learns his father is planning to have him study magic, he begins honing his swordsmanship in an effort to become someone can make his father proud.
Not only are the individual characters developed consistently, their relationships with others also grow realistically and are portrayed with complexity. Despite the old man’s harsh words and critiques about his son’s weak points in battle, there’s no doubt that his intention is always to protect Almark. It is simply his training as a mercenary that leads him to speak in a cold and cutting manner, not out of hatred or frustration.
Although Almark is an entertaining read overall, it could also be a hard story to get into for those unfamiliar with the adventure and fantasy genres. Like other similar works in said genres, there is heavy exposition and world-building at the start. The pacing either slows down when background information is being passed onto the reader through extended dialogue or speeds up when entire months go by in a single page. Otherwise, the plot is sufficiently captivating, and I only wish that the summarized events had been dramaticized instead.
Almark presents the classic hero’s journey while carving out its own space in a way that makes it memorable. While many of us have never been in the front lines of battle like the Black Wolf Riders, Almark’s story is one that I believe many people can relate to in one aspect or another: the self-imposed desire to meet parents’ expectations, the difficulties navigating an unfamiliar environment, or simply embarking on a new adventure no matter how life-altering. I am certain that Almark can hook you in and have you root for this hero’s success.
Almark, Vol. 1 is available now on Amazon in both print and digital versions.
Title: Almark, Vol. 1
Media Type: Manga
Publisher: Yen Press
Orignal Story: Noboru Yamada
Story & Art: Hiyoto Yunoki
Character Design: Posuka Demizu
Translation: Roman Lempert
Lettering: Ivo Marques
