- yes violence, yes gore, but this had so much better story than the izuna one
- Shinnosuke had that troubled backstory and his motivations are clear. The journey is awful but his goal to find and save Mikiko is pure
- i love the pacing of this one, especially establishing who Shinnosuke was before the mask of fudo completely changed him
- kaida as a double crossing wench sits okay with me. I wish it was better female rep (bec this story really lacks it) but i love that she's not just an accessory to Fudo
- the sacrifices of Fudo's men was gut wrenching but brilliant
- i love the metaphoric inclusion of an old legend somewhere in there. brilliant
- Shinnosuke's life is just so full of tragedy, the village of sunago (!!)
- The betrayal in the time of the gods!!!
- I saw one of the plot twists very early but i wasn't prepared for the ultimate twist at the last few pages. both of them!

Although I enjoyed the Izuna issue more than the Mask of Fudo, I have nothing but praise for this entry into the series of tales from Legend of the Pierced Veil. These stories are not graphic novels for children or for the faint of heart. They are powerful, emotional and pull no punches. the Mask of Fudo falls a young warrior who is cursed by a found ancient mask that is slowly devouring his soul along with his desperate quest to find his stolen sister. The pace is breakneck speed and the illustrations are stunning but the heart of this book comes from how immensely well the writers and artists portray the emotions driving the characters. Nothing is black and white. You can never tell who is good or evil or just many shades of gray between. You long for a reunion and a happy ending but often doubt there can be any good resolution to the problems. The historical context is crafted into the tale with deft talent for storytelling and the violence is sudden, shocking and unsettling but drives the story along. I can’t praise the artwork enough. It’s some of the most beautiful work I’ve seen in a graphic novel.

This is a super gripping tale with beautiful illustrations (although gory and graphic), but I did find myself struggling to understand the plot of this story and the motivations of the characters. The rationale and scheming definitely was confusing.

Not an easy read, but I think people can enjoy it if they take notes to keep track of the twisting plot and any names or words that are easy to mix up.

This is such a brilliant graphic novel. Set in feudal Japan, it tells the story of the warrior Nobu Fudo who wears a mask. As a poor child when his sister is attacked he puts on the magical mask which he finds and he becomes a vengeful warrior, but unbeknownst to him greater forces are at work and as he hunts for his sister he unwittingly fights against dark powers that threaten Japan, including the dark powers wielded by his own mother.

The storytelling is pure excellence and very gripping. At times I wasn’t sure what was happening but as the story unfolded I was gripped by the battles, the spirits, the powers and the twists and turns of the story. It had a very satisfying ending which drew all the strands of the story together.

The artwork is phenomenal. Another excellent graphic novel from the publishers, Humanoids. This should be made into a film. It is just that excellent!

Copy provided by publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

In this graphic novel we follow a young boy named Shinnosuke as he goes on a quest for revenge. After his sister is attacked and taken, Shinnosuke vows to get her back and exact his revenge on the people that took her. He uses the power of a mysterious mask to defeat his enemies as he searches for his sister. Over the course of the book we see Shinnosuke transform into a fearsome warrior called Nobu Fudo. Will he be able to find his sister and exact his revenge?

This book was very good. I love anything about Feudal Japan so this was right up my alley. The artwork however, was some of the best that I've seen in a graphic novel. It blew me away.

Thank you to Humanoids, Inc. and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for a review.

Legends of the Pierced Veil: The Mask of Fudo is a visual feast that transcends the boundaries of traditional graphic novels. The illustrations in this book are nothing short of spectacular, breathing life into the gruesome and visceral narrative with each meticulously crafted panel. Tenuta's ability to capture the essence of the story through his artwork is remarkable, and the attention to detail immerses readers in a world that's both haunting and beautiful, making it an unforgettable visual experience.

While the artistry of "The Mask of Fudo" is undeniably its standout feature, some readers might find themselves occasionally disoriented by the alternating timelines within the story. The narrative shifts between different points in time, which can be a bit challenging to follow. However, despite this minor drawback, the overall experience is still highly enjoyable. If you're a fan of graphic novels that push the boundaries of storytelling through exceptional artwork and mythical tales of bloodshed set in a Feudal Japan, then Legends of the Pierced Veil: The Mask of Fudo is a must-read that offers a captivating blend of the macabre and the mesmerizing.

This graphic novel was very interesting and fast-paced. While the different timelines may confuse some readers, I found all storylines easy to follow.
Sadly, it was hard to connect to the characters or emphasize with them. Also, the women in this book, while smart and scheming and often very capable, were almost exclusively used as plot devices to further the MCs story and character development.
The art style was very fitting and detailed though, I enjoyed it.
All in all not a bad read, but also not completely convincing.

It was a decent and interesting story. A bit hard to follow at times but overall good. A quick read.

I’m a sucker for a good revenge story. Berserk, Vinland saga, those types of stories. This book was all in all very appealing. A striking cover and a good hook. But, I found the story a little lackluster. Not enough to call it bad, just a little flag for me. And, to be honest, I was not really a fan of the art style. Sometimes art styles grow on me, but this one didn’t. Just not my cup of tea all in all.

Mythical tales of bloodshed set in a Feudal Japan that runs rampant with spirits both demonic and heroic fighting for the fate of their world, from acclaimed creator Saverio Tenuta.

This was really well written and well drawn. I would read more.

<blockquote>What we are is our deepest secret, concealed behind a face we dare not look at...For fear we may discover that our mask does not exist.</blockquote>
<img src="https://imgur.com/5ff0SnK.jpg"/>
I have received a copy of this Graphic novel ARC, in exchange for an honest review, Eternally grateful for Saverio and Humanoids for the pleasure of reading More Legends of the pierced veil.

<img src="https://imgur.com/fusjYO0.jpg"/>
This Graphic novel will come out 19 September it presents us with even more Supernatural tales, from the kingdom of the rising sun, The Writer comes up with these, as per Izuna, You can't really track what's really part of the mythology and what's not, but i would take this over the real thing anytime, of any century!
If you don't like Stories that use flashback a lot this is not for you, luckily i don't have that issue, when it's used as beautiful as it was here, While this shares the Name Legends of the Pierced veil, As Izuna, the two stories are not tied by any character or by any event, you don't need to read Izuna before or after this, But read it anyway it's beautiful!

<img src="https://imgur.com/ACC4bjl.jpg"/>
<blockquote>Things taste better when we eat them from something beautiful we've made with our hands.</blockquote>
Saverio WOW, and what a pleasant surprise this was, It should be illegal to be this talented, i saw first hand in Izuna, what a talented writer Saverio was, i made Izuna join my all time favorites shelf, But here we are introduced to his talent as an artist, and boy oh boy, he is good, as good as Carlita in Izuna.

<img src="https://imgur.com/lRov6pZ.jpg"/>
Shinobi and Samurai all day, This is a tale about a mask possessed by a god, and what it will eventually turn a man into, can he remain pure despite the evil supernatural mask, can he resist the allure of power? Will he lose himself or will he prevail?

<img src="https://imgur.com/X945LaH.jpg"/>
<blockquote>She would only marry a man whose face expressed sincerity, kindness, altruism, and the noblest of virtues</blockquote>
Good luck with that i am not holding my breath...

<img src="https://imgur.com/DXah2DI.jpg"/>
I want Kaida to kill me, her flying in the air, with these long beautiful legs, and kicking me in the head, that's the way to go, she is obviously crazy, but cute crazy, not i ll kill you while spouting nonsense about Mr. J crazy.
Also u didn't just read that, it's an illusion.
And if you think i am crazy, you are probably right, but i ll deny.

Saverio is one of the living gods of storytelling, with words, and art to contend with all others, Please Write Legends of the Pierced Veil forever!

I requested an ebook copy of this graphic novel from Netgalley because the art looked amazing. This was an entertaining story of a boy who finds a mask and becomes a strong samurai in exchange for his soul. I enjoyed the story yet was sometimes confused as it moves back and forth in time and rushes to describe politics and ancient prophecy that I am not familiar with. The artwork is gorgeous and does a great job of carrying the story forward, so I didn't get lost. I don't know if the author will create more for this character, but I am intrigued by Shinnosuke and his future, especially after such an abrupt yet revelatory ending.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Humanoids, Inc for advanced copy of this graphic novel set in feudal Japan featuring creatures of myth and legends, along with an evil far older than man, in this tale of revenge.

There was a time in Japan when demons and mythical creatures traversed the landscapes, causing mischief for some, pain for others, and lots of violence and death. Cursed objects were the bane of many an innocent person, a gift that turns dark and evil corrupting sometimes so slowly that one is unaware of the changes, until it is too late and blood has been drawn. Legends of the Pierced Veil: The Mask of Fudo is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel written and illustrated by Italian artist Saverio Tenuta, and is a tale of blood, revenge, and lots more blood set in same world as the Izuma and The Scarlet Blades.

Shinnosuke is eldest son of a poor but proud family, elder brother to a sister who he loves immensely. While trekking in the mountains Shinnosuke comes across a battle or massacre, Shinnosuke is not sure which, when he finds a mask that looks slightly broken, in the ruins,a pale mask that seems to draw him to it. Returning home he finds that his sister is being assaulted by the son of a local lord, who claims everything including its people as his. Shinnosuke dons the mask, and fights off the assailants, claiming to be an Oni, a Japanese demon and taking the nose of the lord's son off in the process. Shinnosuke's sister is not fooled by the mask and knows it is him, something they try to hide. The mask is giving Shinnosuke skills he should not have, skills that are a little bit more than man. However actions have consequences and soon Shinnosuke will have to follow the path of vengeance, changing his name to Nobu Fudu, and hiding behind his mask and his swift and terrible sword.

The art in this is really wonderful. Crisp images, the characters move gracefully, creatures designs really stand out, and shine. Also the violence is really well done, with panels loaded with kinetic energy and blood, and fire. The story is ok. Nothing is bad about it, it just seems familiar, with some dialogue that might be suffering from translation problems in its clunkiness. Familiarity with the story will help a lot in the enjoyment, otherwise there might be a few sections where some readers might be confused. The art though does hide a lot of this.

Recommended for manga and anime fans, of course and for fans of Izuma and The Scarlet Blades. And for people who really like Japanese style stories with beautiful art.

Immediately I found myself uninterested in the story.
At the beginning, exposition is wrapped in dialogue, with some throwaway characters. A violent scene then took place, by more throwaway characters and instead of having any investment, I found myself disinterested. Then after navigating through exposition, the reader is given a flashback.

Not the best narrative, however the saving grace was the art.

Stunning visuals of varying landscapes and cities, draw you in. The violence and gore was also impressive. It was as though you could hear the thwack and crunch of bones as people were hit.
Unfortunately though, with uninteresting plot lines, which seemed unoriginal, like a rape, a saviour, a protective big brother, an abused family, slaves rising up… it all felt too copy paste and I lost
interest quickly.