Arago (manga)

Arago: London Shikei Tokushu Hanzai Sōsa-kan (AR∀GO -ロンドン市警特殊犯罪捜査官-, "Arago: City of London Police's Special Crimes Investigator") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takahiro Arai. It was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from December 2009 to September 2011, with its chapters collected in nine tankōbon volumes.

Arago
First tankōbon volume cover
AR∀GO -ロンドン市警特殊犯罪捜査官- (Arago Rondon Shikei Tokushu Hanzai Sōsa-kan)
Genre	Action Supernatural
Manga
Written by	Takahiro Arai
Published by	Shogakukan
Imprint	Shōnen Sunday Comics
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Sunday
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	December 23, 2009 – September 21, 2011
Volumes	9

Plot

The story centers around twin brothers, Arago and Ewan, whose parents were slaughtered by a monster. Years later, as blood begins to flow again in the streets of London, the vengeful Arago crosses paths with Ewan, who has since become a police officer, just as blood begins to flow again in the streets of London.

Characters

Arago Hunt (アラゴ・ハント, Arago Hanto)

His father, Doug Hunt, and his unnamed mother were slaughtered by Patchman when Arago was young. Arago parted with his twin brother, Ewan, to find Patchman and seek revenge. He returned to the streets of London after hearing rumours of the serial killer. Arago and his brother tried to capture him but even their combined attempts failed resulting in Ewan becoming fatally wounded and finally, dying. After defeating Patchman and avenging his parents' death, Arago gained mysterious powers along with his departed brother's arm. Succeeding his older brother's will, Arago became a police officer and has been selected for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Ewan Hunt (ユアン・ハント, Yuan Hanto)

Arago's twin brother. He seeks revenge and indirectly looks for Patchman while becoming an elite cop; unlike Arago who directly searches for Patchman. However, in a meeting with his brother after so long in an attempt to capture Patchman, he gets fatally wounded and died. However, he was resurrected along with Patchman, still retaining some of his mentality as he told Arago to run away.

Rio Butler (リオ・バトラー, Rio Batorā)

A childhood friend of Arago and Ewan, but was forced to transfer to Japan, where her mother was born, due to some circumstances of her father's job. After 15 years, she returns to London only to find out that Ewan is dead and Arago has become a detective, trying to follow his brother's steps. Frustrated at first, she keeps a distant to Arago as she is not in favor of his decision of becoming a detective, and also feeling despondent because she was in love with Ewan. However, after the ghost bus incident, Rio's behavior towards him changes and she becomes more friendly. She is one of Arago's closest companions, despite being kept out of the supernatural world. However, recently, Arago told everything that he knows; from his Brionac ability to Ewan's resurrection.

Joe Sullivan (ジョー・サリバン, Jō Sariban)

The skirt-chasing assistant inspector from the detective department. It seems that Joe has a high opinion about Arago, and as a result recommended him to join the CID. However, he always disappeared into his secret investigation room in the Grey Museum. It is later revealed that Coco is in fact Joe's adopted daughter. He sacrifices his life to save Arago when his brother Ewan (Patchman) tries to kill Arago.

Seth Stringer (セス・ストリンガー, Sesu Sutoringā)

Also known as Orc of Oppression and Revolution (抑圧と革命のオルク, Yokuatsu to Kakumei no Oruku). As an avid fan of William Blake, a poet, painter, and printmaker of the 18th century, he is often seen with his book or quoting pieces by William Blake. At his first appearance, Seth was believed to be acting under the orders of Professor Eames, supposedly the leader of a cult, but instead Seth revealed himself to be the one who was controlling Eames all along. Seth is a contractor of Orc who uses a weapon called Sluagh Ghairm which takes the form of a horn that allows him to control the expansion and contraction of the air including spatial interference. He is a teenager who made an agreement with the devil to obtain his power and to fight with Arago. His ultimate goal and his reason for needing the Brionac (despite the fact that he cannot hold its power) is unclear, however he did said "in order to eliminate the people and the system that have built this world of deception and lies" during his first fight with The White Horseman. He readily sacrifice himself and his Seed to switch place with Arago in the Lia Fáil. Due to the Lia Fáil ability, he may or may not be dead.

Oswell 'Oz' Miller (オズウェル・ミラー, Ozūeru Mirā)

A member of the Queen's Special Forces, "Albion", the Sacred Guardian Corps. It was revealed that he is the last remaining Albion (the others were killed by Patchman) and his mission is to protect the world's last hope; the Brionac's seed holder, Arago. He was presumably dead after an intense battle with the red horseman; one which he was forced to use the Claiomh Solais' seed (a person without resistance cannot accept the seed's power and will eventually die). However, through an unknown mean, he is still alive and he is capable of depositing the seed out of his body.

Patchman (パッチマン, Patchiman)

He possesses the power Brionac and is the one responsible for Arago's parents' death and, subsequently, his brother Ewan's as well. After Patchman's death, Arago gained his power for unknown reasons. It is later revealed that Patchman had been revived.

Lucian Gardner (ルシアン・ガードナー, Rushian Gādonā)

One of the Four Horsemen who follow Patchman's order. He represents the Pale Horseman, which symbolizes death. He may be French, as he uses various French words when talking. As he symbolizes death, he always appears with his demonic dog (composed of his shadows) appropriately named Hades, the king of the underworld and the god of death.

Scarlet Rabi (スカーレット・ラヴィ, Sukāretto Ravi)

One of the four horsemen that follows the order of Patchman. Scarlet holds the title of the Red Horseman, which symbolizes war. She was to obtain the Claiomh Solais, but failed as she retreated after a battle with Oz, in which she loses the Claiomh Solais' seed to him. She first appeared walking towards the estate of Duke Macdonell. She was killed by Oz; who used the Claiomh Solais' seed on himself who impaled her with the unicorn horn.

Hugh Weissman (ヒュー・ヴァイスマン, Hyū Vaisuman)

One of the Four Horsemen who follow Patchman. Hugh is the White Horseman, who symbolizes conquest, and is first seen looking for Lia Fáil. He was later killed by Seth, after a battle which destroy many parts of London as well as Seth's body.

Simon Cloteaux (サイモン・クロトー, Saimon Kurotō)

One of the Four Horsemen who follow Patchman. Simon is the Black Horseman, who symbolizes famine. He works as a doctor and introduces himself to Arago and Coco as a police consultant. Simon has his own expensive clinic, where he treats upper-class people. He also helps illegal immigrants, however it is revealed that this is just a camouflage for getting a limitless amount of corpses. Even after fusing his body with various Gogmagog, he was killed by the combined strength of 'wolf-woman' Rio, Coco and Joe.

Publication

Written and illustrated by Takahiro Arai, Arago was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from December 22, 2009, to September 21, 2011. Shogakukan collected its chapters in nine tankōbon volumes, released from March 18, 2010, to January 18, 2012.

Further reading

• Chevrier, Christophe (November 22, 2012). "BD manga – Arago – Tome 1 – La critique". avoir-alire.com (in French). Archived from the original on December 25, 2014.
• Chevrier, Christophe (March 20, 2013). "BD manga – Arago – Tome 2 – La critique". avoir-alire.com (in French). Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
• "Critique Manga Arago #1". Manga Sanctuary (in French). December 9, 2012. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024.
• "Critique Manga Arago #2". Manga Sanctuary (in French). December 9, 2012. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024.

External links

• Official website at Web Sunday at the Wayback Machine (archived 2011-10-06) (in Japanese)