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Pandora Hearts #4
Pandora Hearts, Vol. 4
As Oz Vessalius and his valet, Gilbert, are reunited with their dear Uncle Oscar, they fail to notice an alienated Alice lost in thought stumbling right into the lurking Xerxes Break. Before Alice can take heed of Break’s warning of a trap set by the Cheshire Cat — a powerful, extraordinary chain — she and Break are spirited away to Cheshire’s lair, where both danger and fragments of Alice’s past reside. With Sharon’s help, Oz and Gil find a way to enter the sealed dimension of memories, but not only do their allies await them there, so too does the man from Alice’s earlier memory! Does he hold the key to the truth about Oz’s “sin”?
Contents:
Retrace XIV: Lop Ear
Retrace XV: Welcome to Labyrinth
Retrace XVI: Keeper of the Secret
Retrace XVII: Odds and Ends
Retrace XVIII: Hollow Eye Socket
Contents:
Retrace XIV: Lop Ear
Retrace XV: Welcome to Labyrinth
Retrace XVI: Keeper of the Secret
Retrace XVII: Odds and Ends
Retrace XVIII: Hollow Eye Socket
192 pages, Paperback
First published December 27, 2007
35 people are currently reading
1278 people want to read
About the author
Jun Mochizuki
184 books910 followersJun Mochizuki (望月淳 Mochizuki Jun) is a Japanese comic artist (manga-ka), best known for the fantasy shounen series Pandora Hearts/パンドラハーツ.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
April 23, 2017
A bit confusing. .but still interesting story! And there are new characters too)
I love Alice&Oz moments! And Oz's thoughts about Alice is to too cute!
I love Alice&Oz moments! And Oz's thoughts about Alice is to too cute!
October 17, 2023
خب....از کار و زندگی افتادم عملا XD
خیلی خوبه. با اینکه قبلا نزدیک یه سال پیش یا بیشتر انیمشو دیده بودم ولی بازم برام جذابیت داره و واقعا از خودم تعجب میکنم که بعد از انیمه مستقیم نرفتم مانگا رو بخونم که خوب احتمالا به این دلیل بوده که یا وقت نداشتم یا اینکه حس میکردم مانگا جذابیت انیمه رو نداره ,که بعد از دی گری من متوجه این اشتباه شدم :دی
پایان این جلد از مانگا فکر میکنم قسمت 13 یا 14 انیمه باشه. میخوام زودتر بخونم تا به قسمت هایی که ندیدم برسم ^ ^
خیلی خوبه. با اینکه قبلا نزدیک یه سال پیش یا بیشتر انیمشو دیده بودم ولی بازم برام جذابیت داره و واقعا از خودم تعجب میکنم که بعد از انیمه مستقیم نرفتم مانگا رو بخونم که خوب احتمالا به این دلیل بوده که یا وقت نداشتم یا اینکه حس میکردم مانگا جذابیت انیمه رو نداره ,که بعد از دی گری من متوجه این اشتباه شدم :دی
پایان این جلد از مانگا فکر میکنم قسمت 13 یا 14 انیمه باشه. میخوام زودتر بخونم تا به قسمت هایی که ندیدم برسم ^ ^
December 28, 2024
I think mochijun likes alice in wonderland idk tho
December 27, 2014
This story... It never fails to surprise me just how incredibly complex it can be. Mochizuki-san is an incredible author. I couldn't for the life of me be able to ever create something so intricate as this story.
Okay, that bit's over. Let me just express my love for this series. Awesome plot line and awesome characters.
And my favorite character. Oh yes, the ever eccentric and lovely: Xerxes Break.
Xerxes is literally the most fun character and his strangeness makes him so intriguing, especially when he obviously knows what he's doing (even though he acts like he doesn't). Yes, Xerxes is my favorite.
Oh ok, a close second would be Gilbert. Aghhh his fear of cats and his protectiveness and his badassness... yes, Gilbert is a close second.
I mean, look at the adorable idiot.
Okay, on to the story. Just wow, there was so much going on in this installment. Reading these are purely a pleasure because just watching the story unfold is fun.
Basically my review for this is done, but I just want to address Mochizuki-san's brilliant ability to draw hands. She is so good at it. I seriously love how she draws them. (Sorry, that may have been pretty random.)
If you made it through this review, I thank you. This was done extremely late at night and I am not exactly coherent whenever I do reviews for books that I love (or at this time in the day).
Check out my reviews on my book blog The Novel Ninja, where this review and others will be posted.
Okay, that bit's over. Let me just express my love for this series. Awesome plot line and awesome characters.
And my favorite character. Oh yes, the ever eccentric and lovely: Xerxes Break.
Xerxes is literally the most fun character and his strangeness makes him so intriguing, especially when he obviously knows what he's doing (even though he acts like he doesn't). Yes, Xerxes is my favorite.
Oh ok, a close second would be Gilbert. Aghhh his fear of cats and his protectiveness and his badassness... yes, Gilbert is a close second.
I mean, look at the adorable idiot.
Okay, on to the story. Just wow, there was so much going on in this installment. Reading these are purely a pleasure because just watching the story unfold is fun.
Basically my review for this is done, but I just want to address Mochizuki-san's brilliant ability to draw hands. She is so good at it. I seriously love how she draws them. (Sorry, that may have been pretty random.)
If you made it through this review, I thank you. This was done extremely late at night and I am not exactly coherent whenever I do reviews for books that I love (or at this time in the day).
Check out my reviews on my book blog The Novel Ninja, where this review and others will be posted.
March 21, 2011
Again, with Pandora Hearts pushing forward, the strength of the series astounds me. I'm not sure how Jun Mochizuki can keep the story moving in such a way that brings the reader closer to the characters, but it really works. Despite only having two different titles under his belt, Mochizuki really seems to know what he's doing.
In volume four, there is a lot of story development. A lot. There's so much going on in the story that it's a little hard to keep up with, but that's alright. We get to see little fragments of some characters that make me question their pasts and their sanity. Meeting one of my favorite characters from Alice in Wonderland makes me wonder how the rest of the familiar Wonderland characters will come about throughout the series.
Also, setting is returning for a reason. There's purpose to the recycled scenery and it really makes me think that Mochizuki really thought this out before he started. Everything just seems to fall into place, although more questions keep popping up about the characters and the plot. Really, Pandora Hearts pushes the reader to think of things through the story on a deeper level. What's going to happen to the characters? How do all the facts add up?
Now, I have to wait a month for the next volume because I don't read manga online. Let's see how long I can wait before I start freaking out. Give me a few days.
In volume four, there is a lot of story development. A lot. There's so much going on in the story that it's a little hard to keep up with, but that's alright. We get to see little fragments of some characters that make me question their pasts and their sanity. Meeting one of my favorite characters from Alice in Wonderland makes me wonder how the rest of the familiar Wonderland characters will come about throughout the series.
Also, setting is returning for a reason. There's purpose to the recycled scenery and it really makes me think that Mochizuki really thought this out before he started. Everything just seems to fall into place, although more questions keep popping up about the characters and the plot. Really, Pandora Hearts pushes the reader to think of things through the story on a deeper level. What's going to happen to the characters? How do all the facts add up?
Now, I have to wait a month for the next volume because I don't read manga online. Let's see how long I can wait before I start freaking out. Give me a few days.
December 21, 2019
Read earlier this year, adding late oops.
January 24, 2024
Nic nie zrozumialem
July 13, 2020
4/5 stars
Review to come.
Blog | Instagram (main account) | Instagram (manga account) | Twitter
Review to come.
Blog | Instagram (main account) | Instagram (manga account) | Twitter
June 18, 2023
The series is really getting interesting now. There seems to be a certain urgency to get everything moving which may sometimes make the plot feel clunky but the plot lines are starting to get more structure and definition which helps to keep the reader engaged.
October 25, 2012
It's rare to get a manga series this coherent. I hope it lasts.
If volume #4 was all about family, then volume #5 is about alienation from family, by focusing on the isolation Alice feels. It also hints that memories can be distorted, twisted, and can't always be trusted.
There is so much depth in this series, I really feel inadequate in writing anything about it. Whole essays can be written about the interactions, and I'm not understating that. So much of it is subtle. It kind of reminds me of the anime Revolutionary Girl Utena, which wasn't quite as firmly based in the fantasy genre as PH, but still had a surreal, This Is Just The Tip of the Iceberg kind of feel to it.
Another thing I love about this series is in the economy of Mochizuki's delivery. For example, in the beginning of this volume, Gil is looking for his hat (the one he loaned Oz in the previous volume and that just kind of disappeared in all the action). After Oz suggests that he just get another, Gil storms off, yelling that he really likes that hat. When Alice complains, Oz says that "It might not look like much...but to him...it's nothing short of a treasure". At the same time he's explaining this, we see two frames. One is of the photograph that was precious to Phillipe (a character from the previous volume), and the other is of Phillipe with a big grin on his face, holding the photograph.
Alice, who seems to be insensitive to everything except Oz's feelings, crouches down next to him and asks if he's still down. When we see his face, we know he is. It's clear. And yet, he's smiling through the pain. And lies. He tells her he's not depressed.
He IS depressed!!!! But his ability to not let it get him entirely down is a large part of his charm for me.
Oh, and while Alice is talking to him, she's holding a rat she was about to eat, one that's looking scared out of its mind.
Comedy, pathos, and plot, all in two pages. Brilliant. And two pages is all you get of that emotional moment because Gil finds his hat and the plot moves on right into a cute arm-wrestling scene where Uncle Oscar makes another appearance.
In other manga I've read, this would be an adorable, heartwarming scene that wouldn't really matter, except to satisfy fans. Filler. But here, it provides a reason for Alice to walk away from the main group. She stumbles into Break who's been waiting for her...because he's using her as bait for the Cheshire Cat.
Speaking of Break, we finally get to see his chain in this volume. And I tell you, it is one of the best drawn of all the chains in the series so far. It also has the most amazing ability ever. It explains why Break never seems to get truly freaked out by chains.
We are also introduced to a character whose presence has been known since, gosh, the first volume? Jack Vessalius. A man who looks very much like an older version of Oz. (hmmmm)
In some ways, Jack seems to be a direct contrast to Xerxes Break (I know that should be Vincent but I get the feeling there's a lot of similarities between them and that's why they hate each other so much). Whereas Break appears crazy but is actually a lot more together than it appears, Jack is too calm and collected. In the context of this manga, I'm guessing that means either he's more crazy than all of the characters put together, or he knows more than all of them put together. One of the two. Maybe, both.
He's also the most handsome of the lot. I mean, seriously, I don't usually say that about manga characters. In fact, I don't think I've ever said that about any manga character.* But it's true.
Highlights from this volume:
* Break dropping candy on the stairs. Very well drawn and it even served a purpose.
* Break actually showing some concern when Alice was freaked out. Methinks he has more of a heart than he lets on.
* Oz describing what Alice means to him.
* Finding out that Cheshire's eye looks an awful lot like Break's.
* Anything to do with Jack.
* Finding out why Cheshire was afraid of Break.
This volume ends on a cliffhanger, with Oz heading off to rescue Alice. Meanwhile, Gil and Jack wait in the garden, and Break and Cheshire face off. It's set-up that doesn't feel like set-up.
Next, volume #5.
*Edited to add that I do get small crushes on manga characters and do think some of them are hot. But not like this. This is the first time I've fallen completely in love with one, simply because of how he's drawn. I swear, I have never been this infatuated with a bishie after just one look. More on that when I review volume #7.
If volume #4 was all about family, then volume #5 is about alienation from family, by focusing on the isolation Alice feels. It also hints that memories can be distorted, twisted, and can't always be trusted.
There is so much depth in this series, I really feel inadequate in writing anything about it. Whole essays can be written about the interactions, and I'm not understating that. So much of it is subtle. It kind of reminds me of the anime Revolutionary Girl Utena, which wasn't quite as firmly based in the fantasy genre as PH, but still had a surreal, This Is Just The Tip of the Iceberg kind of feel to it.
Another thing I love about this series is in the economy of Mochizuki's delivery. For example, in the beginning of this volume, Gil is looking for his hat (the one he loaned Oz in the previous volume and that just kind of disappeared in all the action). After Oz suggests that he just get another, Gil storms off, yelling that he really likes that hat. When Alice complains, Oz says that "It might not look like much...but to him...it's nothing short of a treasure". At the same time he's explaining this, we see two frames. One is of the photograph that was precious to Phillipe (a character from the previous volume), and the other is of Phillipe with a big grin on his face, holding the photograph.
Alice, who seems to be insensitive to everything except Oz's feelings, crouches down next to him and asks if he's still down. When we see his face, we know he is. It's clear. And yet, he's smiling through the pain. And lies. He tells her he's not depressed.
He IS depressed!!!! But his ability to not let it get him entirely down is a large part of his charm for me.
Oh, and while Alice is talking to him, she's holding a rat she was about to eat, one that's looking scared out of its mind.
Comedy, pathos, and plot, all in two pages. Brilliant. And two pages is all you get of that emotional moment because Gil finds his hat and the plot moves on right into a cute arm-wrestling scene where Uncle Oscar makes another appearance.
In other manga I've read, this would be an adorable, heartwarming scene that wouldn't really matter, except to satisfy fans. Filler. But here, it provides a reason for Alice to walk away from the main group. She stumbles into Break who's been waiting for her...because he's using her as bait for the Cheshire Cat.
Speaking of Break, we finally get to see his chain in this volume. And I tell you, it is one of the best drawn of all the chains in the series so far. It also has the most amazing ability ever. It explains why Break never seems to get truly freaked out by chains.
We are also introduced to a character whose presence has been known since, gosh, the first volume? Jack Vessalius. A man who looks very much like an older version of Oz. (hmmmm)
In some ways, Jack seems to be a direct contrast to Xerxes Break (I know that should be Vincent but I get the feeling there's a lot of similarities between them and that's why they hate each other so much). Whereas Break appears crazy but is actually a lot more together than it appears, Jack is too calm and collected. In the context of this manga, I'm guessing that means either he's more crazy than all of the characters put together, or he knows more than all of them put together. One of the two. Maybe, both.
He's also the most handsome of the lot. I mean, seriously, I don't usually say that about manga characters. In fact, I don't think I've ever said that about any manga character.* But it's true.
Highlights from this volume:
* Break dropping candy on the stairs. Very well drawn and it even served a purpose.
* Break actually showing some concern when Alice was freaked out. Methinks he has more of a heart than he lets on.
* Oz describing what Alice means to him.
* Finding out that Cheshire's eye looks an awful lot like Break's.
* Anything to do with Jack.
* Finding out why Cheshire was afraid of Break.
This volume ends on a cliffhanger, with Oz heading off to rescue Alice. Meanwhile, Gil and Jack wait in the garden, and Break and Cheshire face off. It's set-up that doesn't feel like set-up.
Next, volume #5.
*Edited to add that I do get small crushes on manga characters and do think some of them are hot. But not like this. This is the first time I've fallen completely in love with one, simply because of how he's drawn. I swear, I have never been this infatuated with a bishie after just one look. More on that when I review volume #7.
June 2, 2025
"Obwohl du doch hier bist ... bist du nirgends."
December 18, 2014
"To me...Alice's existence...is like the sun...I guess? And I find that...very dazzling. That light of hers hurts my eyes, but...but...it still warms me. I don't have any powers, so I probably can't be Alice's knight. But...I'd like to see it through."
Awwwww that was too cute and romantic for me. I fangirl'd so hard.
*Ahem* SO, we meet the Cheshire Cat!! And boy is he awesome. Gil's fear of cats obviously made him freak when he sees him. After he shoots him: "O-of course he regenerates right away!" Hilarious:)
The people who took Oz to the Abyss apparently are the Baskerville clan, who are responsible for the "Tragedy of Sablier." The Baskervilles and Pandora both want to acquire the Intention of the Abyss-the creator of the Abyss-but they need to have all four doors to the Abyss in their control...turns out though, that there is actually one other door, and the Baskervilles have it.
In the Cheshire Cat's lair, Gil and Oz battle Cheshire, while trying to rescue Alice and Break, who have been targeted by "warped" memories of Alice. In this place, lies the memory Alice wanted to erase more than anything. Yep, she chose to erase her own memories...
We meet a mysterious man who looks just like Oz named Jack. He tells Oz that Alice is precious to him, and asks for his help to save her. But from what exactly?
Gil learns that Alice might not just be a Chain, that she in fact was involved somehow in the tragedy that took place so long ago.
Who exactly is Oz? Who is Alice, why did she scatter her memories, what is everyone trying so hard to hide? Or, to reawaken?
Beautiful, gorgeous art as always. Sharon deserves respect in this volume and I cannot wait to read the next one!
Awwwww that was too cute and romantic for me. I fangirl'd so hard.
*Ahem* SO, we meet the Cheshire Cat!! And boy is he awesome. Gil's fear of cats obviously made him freak when he sees him. After he shoots him: "O-of course he regenerates right away!" Hilarious:)
The people who took Oz to the Abyss apparently are the Baskerville clan, who are responsible for the "Tragedy of Sablier." The Baskervilles and Pandora both want to acquire the Intention of the Abyss-the creator of the Abyss-but they need to have all four doors to the Abyss in their control...turns out though, that there is actually one other door, and the Baskervilles have it.
In the Cheshire Cat's lair, Gil and Oz battle Cheshire, while trying to rescue Alice and Break, who have been targeted by "warped" memories of Alice. In this place, lies the memory Alice wanted to erase more than anything. Yep, she chose to erase her own memories...
We meet a mysterious man who looks just like Oz named Jack. He tells Oz that Alice is precious to him, and asks for his help to save her. But from what exactly?
Gil learns that Alice might not just be a Chain, that she in fact was involved somehow in the tragedy that took place so long ago.
Who exactly is Oz? Who is Alice, why did she scatter her memories, what is everyone trying so hard to hide? Or, to reawaken?
Beautiful, gorgeous art as always. Sharon deserves respect in this volume and I cannot wait to read the next one!
June 23, 2014
3.5 Lewis Carroll references.
I followed along with this one reeeeally well, up until the last 20 pages, and then I was lost, man, But I re-read over that section roughly six times and think I'm a little more on top of things now.
I followed along with this one reeeeally well, up until the last 20 pages, and then I was lost, man, But I re-read over that section roughly six times and think I'm a little more on top of things now.
February 17, 2021
Alice and Break are inside an alternate dimension –not quite the real world, not quite the Abyss. Apparently there is a particular chain, similar in its strangeness to Alice, because it can act without a master: Chesire the Cat, who only wants to protect “The Intention of the Abyss”. This cat-like chain (or maybe human-like?) attacks both of them and so, Oz and Gil, with the help of Sharon’s chain, go to this alternate dimension.
On the other hand, we see a bit of Vincent and uncle Oscar and how everything that happened years ago was planned by the Baskervilles: an entire town was thrown into the Abyss and such tragedy was full of secrets that perhaps what we know now, might not be what real happened that day.
We also meet Jack Vessalius, a guy who looks exactly like a grown up version of Oz (I see what you did there, Jun!) and since he’s no longer alive, a fragment of his soul that was in Alice’s memories explains to Oz and to Gil what must be done in order to get out of there before Chesire kills them all.
This was such an entertaining volume I completely devoured it. I know I sound like a broken record but this story is just marvelous. I cannot praise Jun enough. She’s such a mind-blowing mangaka that I just don’t get why people don’t recognize her as such.
Last but not least, I loooove uncle Oscar so much. He too, deserves the world. Can’t wait to read the next one!
Read if for the #MiniMangaReadathon.
This volume contains Retrace 14 – 18.
PREVIOUS REVIEWS:
Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3
On the other hand, we see a bit of Vincent and uncle Oscar and how everything that happened years ago was planned by the Baskervilles: an entire town was thrown into the Abyss and such tragedy was full of secrets that perhaps what we know now, might not be what real happened that day.
We also meet Jack Vessalius, a guy who looks exactly like a grown up version of Oz (I see what you did there, Jun!) and since he’s no longer alive, a fragment of his soul that was in Alice’s memories explains to Oz and to Gil what must be done in order to get out of there before Chesire kills them all.
This was such an entertaining volume I completely devoured it. I know I sound like a broken record but this story is just marvelous. I cannot praise Jun enough. She’s such a mind-blowing mangaka that I just don’t get why people don’t recognize her as such.
Last but not least, I loooove uncle Oscar so much. He too, deserves the world. Can’t wait to read the next one!
Read if for the #MiniMangaReadathon.
This volume contains Retrace 14 – 18.
PREVIOUS REVIEWS:
Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3
February 22, 2025
*Warning, there will be spoilers*
Pandora Hearts is such a wild ride! Reading these initial volumes back to back really teleported me back to watching the anime around five years ago. Mochizuki's first series has plenty of action, cute art, compelling character motivations, and fun parallels to bring me back to this world with a fervent passion. Oz does have similarities to Noe due to both of them having a naivety towards the world around them due to their sheltered upbringings. In Oz's case, his time in the Abyss has stunted his physical growth. Despite his happy-go-lucky nature, though, there's self-loathing beneath the surface due to being shunned by his father. Although I was initially in this series for Alice, my heart leans towards Break the more I'm exposed to the actual material vs. Mochizuki's official art. His craftiness hides an uneasy past (like most of the characters) I'm curious to re-explore, and maybe build on, as well. That foreshadowing only goes so far...
What makes this series not as strong as The Case Study of Vanitas is the sheer amount of subplots and terminology Mochizuki throws at us as she establishes her world-building. It makes some of the stakes fuzzy and detracts from the main characters' arcs. There are several motivations spurring them on, which also doesn't help readers discern the clear goals they want to achieve. Vanitas's anime adaptation did cut back on some of the side character/antagonist buildup, which made the viewing experience less busy, but the writers for Pandora Hearts went full throttle. As such, they kept everything. Binging the material has helped me pick and choose what to focus on, but I can imagine the story's going to feel more muddled up until I clear what was adapted. Am I still along for the journey? You can bet on it.
Pandora Hearts is such a wild ride! Reading these initial volumes back to back really teleported me back to watching the anime around five years ago. Mochizuki's first series has plenty of action, cute art, compelling character motivations, and fun parallels to bring me back to this world with a fervent passion. Oz does have similarities to Noe due to both of them having a naivety towards the world around them due to their sheltered upbringings. In Oz's case, his time in the Abyss has stunted his physical growth. Despite his happy-go-lucky nature, though, there's self-loathing beneath the surface due to being shunned by his father. Although I was initially in this series for Alice, my heart leans towards Break the more I'm exposed to the actual material vs. Mochizuki's official art. His craftiness hides an uneasy past (like most of the characters) I'm curious to re-explore, and maybe build on, as well. That foreshadowing only goes so far...
What makes this series not as strong as The Case Study of Vanitas is the sheer amount of subplots and terminology Mochizuki throws at us as she establishes her world-building. It makes some of the stakes fuzzy and detracts from the main characters' arcs. There are several motivations spurring them on, which also doesn't help readers discern the clear goals they want to achieve. Vanitas's anime adaptation did cut back on some of the side character/antagonist buildup, which made the viewing experience less busy, but the writers for Pandora Hearts went full throttle. As such, they kept everything. Binging the material has helped me pick and choose what to focus on, but I can imagine the story's going to feel more muddled up until I clear what was adapted. Am I still along for the journey? You can bet on it.
January 1, 2023
4.5 stars!
“alice is as important as the sun”
THIS VOLUME BY FAR IS MY FAV. we got introduced to cheshire and the baskerville family. i’m so so excited to see what happens next and i cannot wait to see more of the baskervilles and their plans
“alice is as important as the sun”
THIS VOLUME BY FAR IS MY FAV. we got introduced to cheshire and the baskerville family. i’m so so excited to see what happens next and i cannot wait to see more of the baskervilles and their plans
September 28, 2019
La historia me tiene enganchada, pero a la vez tengo la sensación de no estar enterándome de nada. ¿Qué es esto? JAJAJAJA
February 13, 2021
Uno dei volumi più belli che io abbia letto fino ad adesso. I nuovi personaggi mi intrigano un sacco!
November 6, 2022
finalmente tengo más contexto pero aaah como terminará esto 😭
September 3, 2023
ci sto capendo qualcosa? no
September 17, 2024
A banger ngl
June 19, 2025
He is here, ugh
April 20, 2023
More confusing than questions answered, although more from the past was revealed. But still very interesting and exciting.
I do hope that there won't be any romance, though.
I do hope that there won't be any romance, though.
February 9, 2021
Ah, yes, no saber qué está pasando en los mangas es mi pasión.
Lo bonito de este manga es que te pone las respuestas en la cara, pero como no sabes a qué responden te confundes sin más.
Aquí sale Jack y aunque es obvia su relación con el pasado de Alice, aún no se sabe qué ocurrió hace cien años. Oz, por otro lado, cayó en la trampa de Chesire junto con Break, quien es una cadena peculiar porque no está en el abismo y vive en su propia dimensión protegiendo las memorias de Alice.
Lo bonito de este manga es que te pone las respuestas en la cara, pero como no sabes a qué responden te confundes sin más.
Aquí sale Jack y aunque es obvia su relación con el pasado de Alice, aún no se sabe qué ocurrió hace cien años. Oz, por otro lado, cayó en la trampa de Chesire junto con Break, quien es una cadena peculiar porque no está en el abismo y vive en su propia dimensión protegiendo las memorias de Alice.
January 14, 2018
Another fantastic addition to the Pandora Hearts series, Volume 4 answers some questions, while creating even more. All of this is done while maintaining both the serious aspects and the more light hearted moments throughout the story. The manga-style of the art utilizes the combination of detailed environments and enemies with iconic characters only adds to how memorable both the art and the story of this book are. I would definitely recommend this book, as well as those before it.
The story remains relatively the same, with Oz, Gilbert, and Alice all searching to find Alice's memories. However, both Break and Alice have been kidnapped by the Cheshire Cat, a unique Chain who lives in his own world. As Gilbert and Oz attempt to save them from the grasp of the Cheshire Cat, we learn of a mysterious man from Alice's past, who greatly resembles an adult version of Oz, named Jack Vessalius. We also learn the true purpose of Pandora, along with the name and some of the intentions of the group who kidnapped Oz. Finally, it is revealed that the purpose of the Cheshire Cat's world is to defend the memory that made Alice want to forget in the first place, along with more information about Break.
The characters continue to fascinate and intrigue, but some revelations and changes are beginning to emerge. Oz shows more of his scary and intimidating side, along with his massive amounts of determination and caring for those close to him. Very little changes in terms of Gilbert and Alice, but Break reveals a much more serious and dangerous side to his usually eccentric and ridiculous persona.
The story remains relatively the same, with Oz, Gilbert, and Alice all searching to find Alice's memories. However, both Break and Alice have been kidnapped by the Cheshire Cat, a unique Chain who lives in his own world. As Gilbert and Oz attempt to save them from the grasp of the Cheshire Cat, we learn of a mysterious man from Alice's past, who greatly resembles an adult version of Oz, named Jack Vessalius. We also learn the true purpose of Pandora, along with the name and some of the intentions of the group who kidnapped Oz. Finally, it is revealed that the purpose of the Cheshire Cat's world is to defend the memory that made Alice want to forget in the first place, along with more information about Break.
The characters continue to fascinate and intrigue, but some revelations and changes are beginning to emerge. Oz shows more of his scary and intimidating side, along with his massive amounts of determination and caring for those close to him. Very little changes in terms of Gilbert and Alice, but Break reveals a much more serious and dangerous side to his usually eccentric and ridiculous persona.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2012
. . . And suddenly, these characters are very clearly taking on the roles of characters from Alice in Wonderland. I thought the stories were just going to have, like, symbols in common, and stuff.
So! In case you're just joining us, there's this place called the Abyss populated by freaky supernatural creatures called chains. Generally speaking, a chain can only come to our world by binding itself to a contractor - a human who agrees to the contract. This allows the human to control the chain's power (though not necessarily to actually command the chain's actions), but leaves the contractor stuck with a mark called an incuse, which looks like a clock face tattooed on her/his chest. When the clock's hand goes all the way around - I forget what exactly causes this, but I think it's related to the chain's powers and their use - then the contractor will be dragged to the lowest level of the Abyss.
Presumably there's some way out of this, or else it's hard to imagine why anyone would agree to become a contractor.
Our main character, Oz Vessalius, got pulled into the Abyss by a group of baddies called the Baskervilles. In order to get out alive, he formed a contract with Alice, a chain who can look like a young girl or like a giant black rabbit. Now he's back in the regular world, with Alice, but ten years passed in this world while he was (seemingly briefly) in the Abyss. Oz's childhood friend and servant Gil, once a total wimpy pushover, is now a badass gunslinger determined to protect Oz. He has a contract with a chain called Raven, which looks like (surprise!) a giant raven. Still, Gil does on occasion show himself to still be the boy who Oz lovingly terrorized as a child.
Aaand, things are complicated. One hundred years ago, the four major families/dukedoms united to stop the Baskervilles after the Baskervilles dropped an entire city into the Abyss. Those dukedoms include the Vessalius family and also their rivals, the Nightray family. After Oz disappeared into the Abyss, a wacky guy called Xerxes Break (who is the best character ever EVER) showed up and convinced Gil to accept being adopted by the Nightray family. Gil still feels bad about this because he sees it as a betrayal of his Vessalius peeps, but it was the only way he could get hooked up with the chain Raven.
Also, the Nightrays had already adopted a boy who claims to be Gil's younger brother, even though they look NOTHING ALIKE, even for bishounen manga characters, who at minimum all have the same nose. This guy, Vincent, is linked to a chain called the Dormouse, which causes Vincent to basically be narcoleptic.
So, in this issue, a chain called the Cheshire cat shows up to drag people into his own personal mini-dimension. This turn of events is popular with no one, especially Gil, who is terrified of cats. Alice is confused, as she's been searching for her lost memories, and a lot of them seem to be here, but she's suddenly unsure of whether or why she wanted to get them back. The cat claims that Alice ditched her memories on purpose and didn't want them back, because they were too painful. There's some implication that she lost everything on the day that city got dropped into the Abyss, for some reason to do with Oz's ancestor, Jack Vessalius. At any rate, this dimension is mostly made up of Alice's memories, but it also includes a shard of Jack Vessalius' soul, allowing him to act as a person within the dimension, a la Tom Riddle in his diary.
Oh, and Break is the Mad Hatter.
So, I guess the take-home lesson from this particular volume is that if you ever decide to cast off a bunch of memories because they're too painful, but it would be possible with effort and risk to recover those memories, then maybe you want to retain just enough memory to remember that you DON'T WANT THE OTHERS BACK.
Also, Break + Vincent 4ever.
So! In case you're just joining us, there's this place called the Abyss populated by freaky supernatural creatures called chains. Generally speaking, a chain can only come to our world by binding itself to a contractor - a human who agrees to the contract. This allows the human to control the chain's power (though not necessarily to actually command the chain's actions), but leaves the contractor stuck with a mark called an incuse, which looks like a clock face tattooed on her/his chest. When the clock's hand goes all the way around - I forget what exactly causes this, but I think it's related to the chain's powers and their use - then the contractor will be dragged to the lowest level of the Abyss.
Presumably there's some way out of this, or else it's hard to imagine why anyone would agree to become a contractor.
Our main character, Oz Vessalius, got pulled into the Abyss by a group of baddies called the Baskervilles. In order to get out alive, he formed a contract with Alice, a chain who can look like a young girl or like a giant black rabbit. Now he's back in the regular world, with Alice, but ten years passed in this world while he was (seemingly briefly) in the Abyss. Oz's childhood friend and servant Gil, once a total wimpy pushover, is now a badass gunslinger determined to protect Oz. He has a contract with a chain called Raven, which looks like (surprise!) a giant raven. Still, Gil does on occasion show himself to still be the boy who Oz lovingly terrorized as a child.
Aaand, things are complicated. One hundred years ago, the four major families/dukedoms united to stop the Baskervilles after the Baskervilles dropped an entire city into the Abyss. Those dukedoms include the Vessalius family and also their rivals, the Nightray family. After Oz disappeared into the Abyss, a wacky guy called Xerxes Break (who is the best character ever EVER) showed up and convinced Gil to accept being adopted by the Nightray family. Gil still feels bad about this because he sees it as a betrayal of his Vessalius peeps, but it was the only way he could get hooked up with the chain Raven.
Also, the Nightrays had already adopted a boy who claims to be Gil's younger brother, even though they look NOTHING ALIKE, even for bishounen manga characters, who at minimum all have the same nose. This guy, Vincent, is linked to a chain called the Dormouse, which causes Vincent to basically be narcoleptic.
So, in this issue, a chain called the Cheshire cat shows up to drag people into his own personal mini-dimension. This turn of events is popular with no one, especially Gil, who is terrified of cats. Alice is confused, as she's been searching for her lost memories, and a lot of them seem to be here, but she's suddenly unsure of whether or why she wanted to get them back. The cat claims that Alice ditched her memories on purpose and didn't want them back, because they were too painful. There's some implication that she lost everything on the day that city got dropped into the Abyss, for some reason to do with Oz's ancestor, Jack Vessalius. At any rate, this dimension is mostly made up of Alice's memories, but it also includes a shard of Jack Vessalius' soul, allowing him to act as a person within the dimension, a la Tom Riddle in his diary.
Oh, and Break is the Mad Hatter.
So, I guess the take-home lesson from this particular volume is that if you ever decide to cast off a bunch of memories because they're too painful, but it would be possible with effort and risk to recover those memories, then maybe you want to retain just enough memory to remember that you DON'T WANT THE OTHERS BACK.
Also, Break + Vincent 4ever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2017
What is going on? I really have no clue, but I absolutely love it!!!
September 2, 2016
This Pandora Hearts series has been an interesting one for me. There are some things about it I really love and some things that aren’t done all that well. In the end though I think I love the creativity and content enough that I end up enjoying these even though I find them somewhat difficult and confusing to follow.
It all starts with Gilbert and his need to find his awesome hat…. From there things quickly get complicated as Alice finds herself lured into the Cheshire Cat’s domain. Break ends up in the trap with her and things get a bit complicated.
I absolutely loved the addition of the Cheshire Cat chain. He was awesome and I hope we see more of him. I also really continue to enjoy Alice, Break, Oz, and Gil. They are all interesting characters with complex pasts.
I am struggling a bit with following the story at points. A lot of these characters are starting to look similar and I am really having to pay attention to costume detail to keep track of who is who. The story jumps around a lot in tone; going from silly to darkly dangerous in a heartbeat. This is interesting but also makes things a bit tougher to follow.
I am still enjoying this crazy world and the wonderfully complex characters; however I do wish that the story was a bit easier to follow and that the characters were more easily distinguishable from one another.
Overall this was a great addition to the Pandora Hearts series. I love some of the new characters and the way this ties in with the traditional Alice in Wonderland story. I do with the story was a bit easier to follow though. I plan on reading the next couple books in this series to see if things start to make a bit more sense to me.
It all starts with Gilbert and his need to find his awesome hat…. From there things quickly get complicated as Alice finds herself lured into the Cheshire Cat’s domain. Break ends up in the trap with her and things get a bit complicated.
I absolutely loved the addition of the Cheshire Cat chain. He was awesome and I hope we see more of him. I also really continue to enjoy Alice, Break, Oz, and Gil. They are all interesting characters with complex pasts.
I am struggling a bit with following the story at points. A lot of these characters are starting to look similar and I am really having to pay attention to costume detail to keep track of who is who. The story jumps around a lot in tone; going from silly to darkly dangerous in a heartbeat. This is interesting but also makes things a bit tougher to follow.
I am still enjoying this crazy world and the wonderfully complex characters; however I do wish that the story was a bit easier to follow and that the characters were more easily distinguishable from one another.
Overall this was a great addition to the Pandora Hearts series. I love some of the new characters and the way this ties in with the traditional Alice in Wonderland story. I do with the story was a bit easier to follow though. I plan on reading the next couple books in this series to see if things start to make a bit more sense to me.
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