Review: The Witcher Ronin
Image Source: CD Projekt Red
Geralt of Rivia has been seen in many different media formats. He was first introduced in a series of novels written by Andrzej Sapkowski. Then, we saw him in the video games, which are not an official sequel to the books and take place in their own universe but occur after the last book. We’ve also seen him in the Netflix show The Witcher, which follows him, Yennefer, and Ciri. Most recently, however, CD Projekt Red, the company that created The Witcher video games, launched a Kickstarter at the beginning of 2021 to introduce a new Witcher story.
The Witcher: Ronin is a new story by CD Projekt Red that reached its funding through Kickstarter. If you funded it through Kickstarter, you received a special edition hardcover version of the comic and a few other goodies. I did support the Kickstarter, and it was definitely worth the wait. The hardcover version of the book has a beautiful gold inlay to it. I also got some exclusive artwork of various variant covers and a smaller, more portable comic book version.
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Image Source: Kickstarter (Details of the Kickstarter edition of the manga)
The Witcher: Ronin follows Geralt of Rivia, who is still a monster killer, and takes the role of a ronin. The stories are set in an ancient Japanese-inspired world. The main story has him trailing the mythical Lady of the Snow, Yuki Onna, who knows where Ciri is. While tracking the Lady of the Snow, he stops by various towns and people who need his help. These people, in return, tell him where they last saw the Lady of the Snow.
After the main story ends, a few short stories are also included. One is about a fox wedding. He meets up with Yennefer, who makes him go to a fox wedding. The two of them get to observe the rare customs of this ceremony. Another follows Geralt and Vesemir as they make their way to a village. They are tasked with protecting the town from Namahage, and the last one follows Geralt on the trail of his skillful prey. On his mission, he is near a castle and has a familiar feeling with tracking his target.
Image Source: Kickstarter (A preview of the short story “Fox Wedding”
While we’ve seen Geralt in comic books, this is the first manga he has been in. The manga is gorgeous. The art style fits the main story and each short story perfectly. The entire manga is black and white, except for the last story, which breaks from the rest, and is in color. The main story is good and keeps you entertained, but it is too short. It keeps you engaged and then just ends. I wish the story was a bit longer, considering a sequel has yet to be announced. The short stories are also immensely entertaining, with the fox wedding being my favorite of the bunch. The end of the manga also features a bestiary to help keep track of all the creatures Geralt encounters.
I give the manga an 8/10. The art was gorgeous, and the story kept you engaged, but it was too short. I also love seeing Geralt as a ronin, which is much different from other mediums.
The Witcher Ronin is a must-read for anyone who is a fan of Geralt of Rivia and those who are fans of ancient Japan and ronin stories. It takes a familiar character and puts him in a new story for fans to enjoy. The art style is gorgeous, and the story is entertaining. While I wish the main story was longer, I recommend this to anyone who needs more Geralt of Rivia content. We also see Geralt in a new way, which is fantastic.
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Source(s): The Witcher: Ronin