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Title:
  Claymore Volumes 3 & 4 (2-disc collection)

UK Distributor:  Manga Entertainment

BBFC Certificate:  15

Suggested Retail Price (SRP):  £19.99

Episodes:  11 - 18 (of 26)

Audio Options:  English 5.1, Japanese 2.0

Subtitles:  English

Reviewer:  Matt Dark

 

Things are kicking straight off in this latest volume of Claymore.  Picking up right where we left off as Clare and a small band of Claymores have just defeated a powerful Awakened Being, a Claymore that has used too much of its power and transformed into a monster.  The group of Claymores all reveal that they themselves have all come very close to the point of becoming Awakened Beings themselves, but have all managed to regain their humanity and stop the transformation.  The group leader, Miria, believes that they may have been sent to fight this monster so that the Organisation could get rid of them, in fear that they could change at any moment.


Heading their separate ways, Clare is sent on another mission involving an Awakened Being, only to find herself facing of with Ophelia, one of the top-ranked Claymores who has some psychotic tendencies, who forces Clare into a twisted game for her own pleasure. 

But when all seems lost, Clare finds herself aided by someone she had never expected to see again.  With this new ally, and a powerful new ability, Clare will be able to stand toe to toe with Ophelia.


Volume 4 keeps things moving as we find Clare on the road, going from town to town in search of Raki, while also attempting to hide herself from the Organisation.  While staying in one town, she finds a dying Claymore, who warns Clare that she and a group of Claymores were attacked by an extremely powerful Awakened Being.  Clare makes her way to the creatures layer, and finds herself face to face with Riful, a ‘Creature of the Abyss’, one of the strongest Awakened Beings in existence, who after toying with Clare and a pair of other Claymores, informs them that the White Silver King Isley, the strongest of the Creatures of the Abyss, is gathering many awakened beings in the northern continents.
 

The volume closes as Clare is gathered up with a small force of other Claymores, who are preparing to battle with the Awakened Beings in the north, but before the 24 warriors can prepare, a trio of powerful Awakened Beings launch a sudden attack, forcing the Claymore into battle.

Volumes 3 & 4 certainly pick things up, with plenty of action and the introduction of many new characters within the ranks of the Claymore.  We also see some more Depth to

Clare and the other Claymores, as they seemed to start showing a lot more emotion during these episodes.

My only complaint would be the lack of screen time between Raki and Clare, as Raki leaves rather early on in volume 3, just as the relationship between them seems to have grown to an interesting point.

The series seems to be coming to its main point in the story, with the gathering of Claymores and Awakened beings, so we can probably expected a heated battle to come in the next 2 volumes.

Extras:

Along with the clean opening and closing, we have interviews with sound director, Yasanori Honda and art director, Manabu Otsuzuki, who each talk about their thoughts on the show and their respected roles in making it.

There are also a pair of commentary tracks.  On episode 11, we have Colleen Clinkenbeard (VA for Galatea) and Monica Rial (VA for Miria) and for episode 16, we have Laura Bailey (VA for Jean) and Lesley Patrick (Episode 16 director)  Both of which involve a general chat about their thoughts on the series, along with the voice actresses talking about their roles in the series and the work they have done.

Ratings

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