Innocent: Rouge Omnibus vol. 2
The fire of revolution quickens in this omnibus as famine ravages the French countryside while rot festers from within the Royal Palace of Versailles. While Queen Marie maintains her status at the top of the country’s social hierarchy, those looking (and failing) to breach it are plotting their own form of vengeance. None more so than Countess Jeanne de la Motte whose vindictiveness will set the Affair of the Diamond Necklace into motion. Meanwhile, King Louis is trying to build a better France, and is starting with the abolishment of torture and executions. This would mean the end of the Sanson family’s livelihood, sending eldest son Charles-Henri to plead with the king regarding a device capable of delivering a swift and impartial death. As for Marie Sanson? She is still ever herself, fighting for what she wants regardless of who stands in her way.
After a soft reset to the story of “Innocent” in the previous omnibus that intrigued, but didn’t quite deliver all the momentum it promised, things continue on much the same here. While it’s definitely a good thing that mangaka Shin’ichi Sakamoto doesn’t take any more volume-length digressions from the main plot, much of what’s here feels like a slow burn as things creep towards the revolution. So we get a lot of stuff about nobles screwing themselves and each other over for social positioning (and just screwing) with lots of high-minded-bordering-on-pretentious talk about how all men are equal. There’s also a curiously abbreviated take on the Affair of the Diamond Necklace which comes off as strange given all of the buildup it got last time.
In spite of all these issues, there’s still a lot to recommend here. Sakamoto’s visual stylings haven’t lost a bit of their energy or power and it’s always impressive to see how he’ll find stylized ways to render straightforward material. Charles continues to work better as a supporting character as his aspirations are a lot easier to take when he’s not the focus of the narrative, and his family’s troubles help give his story some narrative urgency. Marie continues to consume most of the spotlight in this story, even if she doesn’t get as much social norm or taboo breaking stuff to do here. At least, until the end of the volume when the will of the people threatens to overwhelm the Sanson family’s latest execution, which Marie has subtly usurped for what looks to be a literal baptism of blood. It’s the kind of blasphemy that sends this omnibus out on a high note while setting up high drama that you feel it should deliver on next time.