Twilight Princess manga Volume Four review: The cast expands

After a stellar third entry, the Twilight Princess manga laid out high expectations for its fourth volume. Not only was the preceding book a contender for the greatest piece of The Legend of Zelda literature ever, but Volume Four was also assigned the task of adapting the meaty sections of the video game where Link helps out the Gorons, followed by his ventures with the Zora.

Read our review of Volumes One, Two, and Three.

Unfortunately, Volume Four is a little sluggish out of the gate.  After each major section of the original game essentially got a book’s worth to tell its part of the story, Link’s escapades at Death Mountain feel like they’re in a hurry to get out of the way. Technically, a sumo match against a Goron goes down, but thanks to Midna’s assistance, it’s over in just a few panels. There is no jaunt to collect the Iron Boots or to learn the way of sumo from Mayor Bo in Ordon Village, which also means that the manga does not identify the apparent relationship that Bo and Gor Coron had in the source material. At one point in the video game, Gor Coron even mentions that he knew Ilia’s mother before her death.

That’s not to say that the Gorons and humans are completely distant from one another. Luda has a particular fondness for the Gorons and a special bond with one named Darb. Unlike in the video game, the humans of Kakariko, with their over-ambitious mining projects into Death Mountain, are the ones to disturb the Shadow Crystal hidden there, which leads to the Gorons’ eventual plight. Once Fyrus is defeated and Darbus is freed, the manga has set readers up to potentially see that rejuvenation of relationships between the Gorons and Kakariko Village, as was brilliantly portrayed in the video game.

No matter how many characters enter the fray, the Twilight Princess manga does a fantastic job of balancing the ever-growing cast.

Volume Four stabilizes the pace as Link departs Death Mountain, signaling that the last two-thirds of the book will offer sufficient pages to adapt the many events of the video game’s early Zora section. Following a brief, but compelling flashback to Midna’s time as leader of the Twilight Realm, Volume Four begins to introduce multiple characters to the story who fans will immediately recognize. The motley crew of Telma, Ilia, and ― appearing far earlier than he did in the video game ― Shad get a chapter or two to themselves, while Prince Ralis enters the narrative shortly thereafter.

No matter how many characters enter the fray, the Twilight Princess manga does a fantastic job of balancing the ever-growing cast. Occasionally shifting the focus away from Link and showing what his comrades are up to during the adventure emphasizes that the stakes are high for anyone and everyone in Hyrule. Few characters feel like they’re getting shortchanged, and are faithful, if not elevated, adaptations of their portrayals in the video game. Shad is a quintessential example in this regard: he is still the same studious, somewhat absent-minded scholar, but he also has a charming, chivalrous side that sees him take a very earnest liking to Ilia. He’s the same character who fans of the video game will remember, making references to the City in the Sky (yet another instance of foreshadowing that this series has excelled in), only now with a little more depth to subvert readers’ expectations and make him that much more than merely a helpful NPC who assists the player.

Ilia, though, is a bit of a conundrum.

Ilia, though, is a bit of a conundrum. Defying the hope we expressed in the review of Volume Three, Volume Four decides to dredge up the amnesia that dominated her character arc from the video game. There’s no specific explanation as to how she began to suffer that amnesia since the last book, nor are there details as to how she escaped the Bulblins’ clutches, but at least she regains her memory well before Volume Four comes to a close. Readers can breathe a sigh of relief that Ilia’s convictions and compassionate nature will determine her role in the story going forward rather than an affliction.

The return of her memory serves as the payoff to a terrific recreation of the caravan escort throughout Hyrule Field. Like the encounter with King Bulblin from Volume Three, those sprawling setpieces on the plains of the Hyrulean countryside serve as the perfect inspiration for elaborate battles to be illustrated in the manga. Himekawa effectively choreographs the bountiful action as Link, Telma, and Ilia fend off waves of Bulblin Riders and Stalhounds on their way to Kakariko Village with Ralis in tow.

“YOU HAVE GOOD EYES. THE EYES OF A PROUD BEAST.” – TELMA

The second half of Volume Four, as a whole, is a sheer gallery of stunning imagery that will regularly make you stop and hold your eyes to a particular page. With Lanayru’s appearance, all four Light Spirits have been reawakened and impressively realized in illustrated form. You would not think that black and white imagery could appropriately render them, but Himekawa dispels all doubts. The artists’ effective use of shading, and the lack of it in Hyrule’s ethereal guardians brilliantly convey the Light Spirits’ luminous features.

Utterly haunting depictions of the frozen Zora’s Domain, and a gorgeous full-page shot of Rutela’s ghost meeting with Link and Midna reaffirm Himekawa’s ability to visualize the grim, yet majestic mood of so many Twilight Princess moments. Rutela figures prominently in the back half of the book, even though she is not even alive. The unexpected, but exhilarating aid she provides Link in his battle against Morpheel is the highlight of an otherwise bland encounter with the aquatic monstrosity. It’s rather bizarre that the fights with boss enemies still can’t match the scope and intensity of those setpiece battles like what played out across Hyrule Field. Hopefully, the clashes with Stallord, Blizzeta, Argorok, etc. (if any or all should happen) are given the page count and intricacy they deserve.

Volume Four concludes with a heart-jolting note, its final two pages portending what is perhaps the most memorable scene from the Twilight Princess video game. Knowing that iconic, harrowing sequence will open the next book, readers should be eagerly anticipating Volume Five’s imminent release date.