Creator: Masami Kurumada
Writer: Kenji Saito
Artist: Shinshu Ueda
Translator: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements
Letterer: Youssef Mohamed
Editor: Louis Yamani
Designer: David Colderley
Publisher: Titan Manga
Price: September 16, 2025
Release Date: $12.99
Shoichiro Tokito is a gifted pianist. His brother, Sojiro Tokito, is an expert boxer. Along with their friend, the gifted archer Cattleya Mikagami, the trio attends Graad International High School. They have made it through their first year in the highly competitive school. Now, they’re enjoying a language study tour with their friends.
While they cruise the seas, traveling from Santorini to Montenegro, Sojiro pushes Shoichiro toward Yoruhime Tsukishima. When Shoichiro summons the courage to speak with the beautiful girl, a cat scampers toward them. Zhu Chunfeng, the effervescent dancer, explains she found little Maomao aboard.
Then, a blast of energy strikes their cruise ship. As Yoruhime tries to recapture the frightened cat, the beautiful singer falls overboard. Shoichiro leaps after her. He hurls Maomao back to Sojiro. But Shoichiro and Yoruhime plunge into the frigid waters. Can the cruise ship workers rescue the students? Or can Shoichiro and Yoruhime swim back to safety? Let's leap into Saint Seiya: Dark Wing Vol 1 and see!
Story
When Shoichiro awakens, he finds Yoruhime awaiting him in the room. She explains that Shoichiro has been asleep for a year. As they walk outside, Shoichiro discovers a scenic paradise filled with happy people and the beauty of nature. As Yoruhime points to a temple on a nearby hill, she explains that they are no longer on Earth. Instead, Lord Hades has transported them to Elysium.
In this realm of eternal peace, the recently dead enjoy harmony with the land and forest creatures. But in Saint Seiya: Dark Wing Vol 1, Yoruhime explains that this tranquility cannot last. When Athena attacked the Underworld, Hades found a new home for the recently departed souls under his care. But they don't belong in Elysium and cannot exist there forever.
In Kenji Saito’s story, Shoichiro realizes that he wields the power of the Celestial Fierce Star Wyvern. Yet his memory is foggy. Still, Lord Hades sends him on a rescue mission. If he can travel back to Earth and kill Athena, Hades can prevent the souls under his protection from fading away.
While the first portion of Saint Seiya: Dark Wing Vol 1 follows Shoichiro’s journey of discovery, the rest of the story follows his brother’s journey. Kenji Saito transports readers back in time to reveal how Sojiro Tokito also gained celestial power. He is a Gemini Gold Saint and one of Athena's defenders. Sojiro must defend Earth against the evil hordes of Hades.
Art
Shinshu Ueda dresses the students in elegant school uniforms. Their expressions reveal how much they enjoy life. Yet as his blond bangs fall over his eyes, Shoichiro remembers his blood-covered hand and an opponent lying still on the floor. When he awakens, Shoichiro feels the Wyvern symbol on his chest in Saint Seiya: Dark Wing Vol 1.
Compared with their uniforms, Shoichiro and Yoruhime wear cloth garments and slippers or sandals as they leave the stone building. Workers toiling in the field smile as they tip their hats or wave. The temple complex oversees the fields and forests from atop a rocky mountain. Amid the Greek columns, explosive energy summons Shoichiro’s lord. Then a dark being appears. Horns sprout from its helmet, and its cape evokes claws.
Youssef Mohamed fills boxes and balloons with fonts of varying sizes. Hades' giant white words appear in black splatters. Sound effects enhance this story about supernatural power and the young people entrusted with protecting their respective realms. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a review copy.
Final Thoughts
Shoichiro and Sojiro grew up together. Then they spent years apart. Now, these gifted students at an exclusive school wield the power of the heavens but fight for opposing gods. Saint Seiya: Dark Wing Vol 1 draws on Working for God in a Godless World, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians to unleash an exciting new era of the famous franchise.
Rating 9/10
To look inside see my preview of Saint Seiya: Dark Wing Vol 1.
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