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Title | Volume 1
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2006
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 1995
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Title | Volume 2
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2007
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 1995
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Title | Volume 3
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2007
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 1995
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Title | Volume 4
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - ?
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - ?
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Title | Volume 5
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2005
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 1995
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Title | Volume 6
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2008
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 1996
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Title | Volume 7
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2008
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 1997
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Title | Volume 8
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2005
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 1997
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Title | Volume 9
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2005
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 1997
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Title | Volume 10
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 1998
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2005
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Title | Volume 11
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2005
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 1998
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Title | Volume 12
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2006
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 1998
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Title | Volume 13
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2006
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 1998
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Title | Volume 14
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2006
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 1999
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Title | Volume 15
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - ?
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 1999
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Title | Volume 16
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2006
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2000
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Title | Volume 17
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2006
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2000
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Title | Volume 18
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2007
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2000
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Title | Volume 19
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2007
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2000
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Title | Volume 20
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Author | Kaori Yuki
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Publisher | VIZ Media - 2007
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First Printing | Hakusensha, Inc - 2001
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Category | Manga
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Warnings | Incest and other sexual scenarios
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Main Characters | Setsuna, Sara, Alexiel, Rosiel, Kira, Kurai, Katan, Arachne, Mad Hatter, Zaphikel, Raziel, Kirei, Kato, Uriel, Sevothtarte, Jibril, Michael, Raphael
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Main Elements | Angels, demons
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Master artist Kaori Yuki has applied a sure artistic hand and dynamic storytelling to some of the most controversial subject matter found in modern manga. Is heaven all good; hell all bad; and are there mortal sins that can lead to salvation?
Volume 1
Why is Setsuna so mixed up? Despite his attempts to be noble, he'll fight anyone anytime; he ignores all authority; and he harbors feelings for his sister that can only be described as "incestuous." Why is he such a mess? The reason may be found with two demons from the underworld and their enemy, an insane angel who is distributing an insidious computer game called Angel Santuary
Volume 2
The most insane creatures in the nine planes of heaven and nine planes of hell are all telling messed-up teenager Setsuna that he is the reincarnation of an angel. That wouldn't be so bad except that some of these beings are trying to kill him, and others want him to lead them in a revolt against God! All Setsuna wants to do is keep a sister he loves away from the dangerous creatures who are trying to harm her. Unfortunately some of the worst harm can come from Setsuna's love, which threatens to bloom into full-blown incest! How can Setsuna protect his sister from himself?!
Volume 3
Despite Setsuna's efforts to deny his love for his sister, he can't allow her to leave the country without letting her know how he feels, but how can she feel about love that borders on incest? She may never live to find out, because an angel has been sent down from heaven just for her—just to make sure that she dies! The two demons from hell, Kurai and Arachne, are still trying to bring out the avenging angel in Setsuna, but first they must deal with the mysterious, seemingly immortal Kira. Even if a way is found to bring the angel Alexiel out of Setsuna, can Tokyo survive the transformation?
Volume 4
Sara, Setsunna's beloved sister, is dead, and Tokyo is a moment away from being utterly destroyed - and this chapter of Setsunna's life is just beginning. Meanwhile, the worst angel in the nine spheres is about to make a power grab and take control of heaven!
Volume 5
Setsunna has seven days to find his beloved sister Sara in the afterlife, and the first stop is to find the Guardian of the Hellgate - a being any normal person would avoid! Kato, an old enemy of Setsunna's is now his only companion, but Kato has a history of being manipulated in life. Now that he's dead at the hands of Setsunna himself, just how far can he be trusted?
Volume 6
With just seven days to find his beloved sister Sara in the afterlife, Setsunna goes to Hell, only to find himself sitting in judgement of the very angel who condemned his sould to life after life of suffering. But the only way out of the pit is through it, and how much time can Setsunna waste on revenge? Meanwhile Heaven is falling apart as assassins move in to murder God's highest ranking angels! Will there be a universe left when - and if - Setsunna gets out?
Volume 7
The angel Alexiel loved God so much that she rebelled against Heaven. Upon her capture, Alexiel's soul was sent to Earth to live an endless series of tragic lives. She now inhabits the body of Setsunna Mudo, a troubled teen in love with his sister, Sara. Setsunna's misery mirrors the chaos among the angels, and their combined passions threaten to destory both Heaven and Earth.
Continuing the hunt for his sister, Sara, Setsunna leaves Hades to search for her in Heaven. Unknown to him, Kurai and Kira are trying to revive his lifeless body. Their efforts pay off in an unexpected way - Setsunna awakens to find himself in the body of the angel Alexiel!
In Heaven, Sevotharte, who until recently had ruled in God's absence, is forced to publicly declare his loyalty to the mad angel Rosiel, Heaven's new ruler.
Now in Heaven, Setsunna wants his body back. His only choice is to ask for help from Raphael, the reluctant physician-angel, or the demon Lucifer...
Volume 8
Setsunna, in the form of Alexiel, must return to Earth to protect his human body. But Michael, the Angel of Fire, is hot on Setsunna's heels and ready for a fight. Will the angel Raphael be able to keep things from getting deadly, or will he just make matters worse?
Meanwhile, Zaphikel's spy discovers that Sevothtarte's fair face hides foul intentions, and Metraton's little rebellion upsets the balance of power in Heaven. And in Hell, the Mad Hatter offers Kurai a chance to save Setsunna's human body...if she agrees to marry Lucifer.
Volume 9
Setsuna's body is dead on Earth, and the two women who love him will do anything to bring it back to life. Kurai, the last Princess of Gehenna, agrees to marry Lucifer in return for a potion to revive Setsuna. She enters the deepest bowels of Hell, where she soon gets lost. Can Arachne help save her, or will a deadly secret doom Kurai to an eternity as the Dark Lord's bride? In Heaven, Sara tries to convince Raphael to resurrect Setsuna--but the archangel refuses to help unless Sara joins him in bed first!
Volume 10
The angel Alexiel loved God, but she rebelled against Heaven when she saw how disgracefully the other angels were behaving. She was finally captured, and as punishment sent to Earth to live an endless series of tragic lives. She now inhabits the body of Setsuna Mudo, a trouble teen in love with his sister Sara.
Setsuna is still trapped in the body of the Angel Alexiel, but he has more important things to worry about now than an identity crisis. Kurai has promised to marry Lucifer in return for restoring Setsuna to his true body--but it turns out that neither the wedding nor the resurrection are as promised. Can Setsuna travel through the pits of Hell in time to break up the nuptial ceremony, or will he and Kurai be damned for all time?
Volume 11
Deep in Hell, Setsuna has finally found Kurai. But Hell and everyone in it will be destroyed if Kurai doesn't agree to go through with the marriage to Lucifer - who sacrifices his wives to stabilize his power! And in Heaven, the angel Raphael is trying to revive Setsuna's human body, with poor results. A mysterious power is preventing the resurrection spell from working, but Sara is not willing to give up. But when she uses the angel Jibril's powers to assist Raphael's efforts, they are both flung into another dimension!
Volume 12
Setsuna is ready to storm the gates of Heaven and rescue his sister Sara, but things are not that simple. He accepts help from the enigmatic angel Zaphikel, but finds a difficult price attached--Zaphikel is looking for someone to lead an army against the Angels and he wants Setsuna to head the charge.
Sara has her own plans for escape, but they also come with a price. And just when Setsuna thinks he knows everything about Angels, he discovers a terrifying new secret. Tensions are rising and Heaven is on the verge of war. Will Setsuna and Sara be reunited just in time to watch two armies of Angels tear their world apart?
Volume 13
Setsuna and Sara reunite briefly in Heaven, only to be torn apart once again by the cruel angel Sevothtarte. But while Sara is finally ready to accept the responsibility that goes along with her position as Jibril, Angel of Water, Setsuna still refuses to accept his role as the savior. Overcome with guilt at the capture of his sister and Zaphikel, the leader of the angel resistance group, Setsuna falls into a depression and is unable to act. Will he be able to assume the role of the savior and lead the resistance before it's too late?
Volume 14
Setsuna and his team have broken into prison to rescue their ally Zaphikel. But they are shocked to find out that they're too late--Zaphikel's wings have already been cut off. Without their protection, he is infected with disease, and is on his way to becoming a flesh-devouring ghoul.
Meanwhile, the evil angel Rosiel chairs a meeting of the leaders of heaven. He announces that he is one step ahead of Setsuna and the rebels, as he knows where they plan to escape to after the prison break. So when Setsuna's team arrives at their destination, they'll find a rather nasty surprise waiting for them!
Volume 15
Things look bleak for the rebellion as Sevy tightens his grip on heaven. While Setsuna is locked in a cage, severely wounded, Sara heads to court for a trial that Sevy has rigged to insure her conviction. But the evil prime minister's plotting may be beginning to unravel. More and more of the company of Heaven turn against him, and Setsuna begins to receive aid from unexpected sources. All the while, Rosiel constructs his own plots in the background. Has Sevy made the mistake that will be his last? Or will his machinations prevail?
Volume 16
Prime Minister of Heaven Sevothtarte's plans to cement his control over the astral domain end in ruin. At the show-trial, the testimony of archangels Jibril and Raphael reveals his evil machinations, turning public opinion against him. Then Setsuna and the rebels' assault on the courtroom results in chaos and a shocking revelation: Sevothtarte's true identity, along with his relation to the Sandalphon project! With all other forces in disorder, Rosiel is now poised to take control of Heaven, with a new and mysterious ally at his side. But how will the emergence of Sandalphon alter the balance of power?
Volume 17
Now that his rivals are out of the way, Angel Rosiel's plans to control Heaven are moving forward, with Lucifer at his side, and Sandalphon under his control. But the Angel of Judgment Uriel is trying to unite the opposition by arranging a meeting between himself and Setsuna on one side, and the Elemental Angels Michael and Raphael on the other. Sandalphon himself has his own ideas and escapes captivity. To fulfill his destiny as destroyer of the world, he needs a physical body, and Sara is the key. Now the race is on to see who will find Sara first: Setsuna and the rebels, or the angel of the apocalypse!
Volume 18
As the pieces fall into place, High Angel Rosiel's master plan becomes clear. With Lucifer under his control, he intends to enter Atziluth, the highest plane of Heaven, through the Gate of the Grand Cross and take control of the Tablet of Heaven, an object that can grant all wishes. Aware of Rosiel's plan, Setsuna and the other angels race to the Gate to stop Rosiel from bringing about the destruction of the world. But the closer they get the more they see that Lucifer may have his own reasons for entering the Gate.
Volume 19
The war of angels against demons reaches its climax, as all the players converge on the Tower of Etenamenki, where lies the Tablet of Heaven--the key to unlimited power. Having fought their way through the Gate, Setsuna and his crew find that Lucifer and High Angel Rosiel are already inside. Meanwhile, Sara, possessed by Angel of the Apocalypse Sandalphon, has made her own way to the Tower. Rosiel plans to use the tablet to control the universe. Sandalphon wants the power to unleash the Apocalypse, while Setsuna wants to repair and restart the human world. Who will reach the Tablet first--those who want to destroy the world, or those who want to save it?
Volume 20
In this final volume, Setsuna and the high angels have entered the Tower of Etenamenki and approached the throne of God. There they find all secrets revealed--the reason for the creation of angels and demons, the origins of the two wars of Heaven and Hell, and the real whereabouts of Adam Kadamon. Meanwhile, the battle outside the Tower rages on. Sara, still possessed by the Angel of Destruction Sandalphon, is intent on destroying the Tower and all inside, as a first step in the destruction of all creation. In the face of this onslaught, can Setsuna prevent the Apocalypse and restore the balance of life on Earth?
I first came across Angel Sanctuary years ago when I was first getting into anime and there was a cheap copy of one the first DVD. I thought a storyline involving angels would be wonderful, but I didn't count on being exposed to just about every sin there is, including incest. I still shudder a little bit at the scenes where Setsuna and Sara express their undying love for each other (somehow Rosiel's obsession with Alexiel is just that, obsession, not love, plus he's crazy so it's not so weird). I'm not a fan of putting incest on a positive light where the reader can't help but root for siblings to be together (the same thing happened in the Shadowhunter series by Casandra Clare but since that was "instalove" I was already rolling my eyes, and also figuring that things would turn out ok somehow since YA instalove in North American literature is "meant to be". Japanese lit however can be much more dark...)
Anyway, when I saw my library had the series I decided to give it another go. With just the one DVD I didn't have the full series and I have this need to finish things I start so decided to push my way through the manga (and it does have a lot of good points, and gorgeous art!). Well, I really got into it. I tried to ignore the incest bit and focused on the rest, of which there were a lot of many things going on. Here we see Heaven is the, well, heaven we think it is, with a strict hiearchy of angels and their cruelty in maintaining their positions. They war with the demons, they war with themselves, and no one quite knows where God went.
Kaori Yuki managed to take characters from the Christian mythology but then added her own personalities to the characters, with a few characters entirely from her vivid imagination. The plot is actually incredibly complex with virtually no one being what they first appear, everyone has secrets, and a common problem I have at times with manga, I couldn't always recognize who was who all the time. I think I'll probably read this again some time, now that I know all the messy threads and will be able to see how they were all woven together more clearly.
And of course one cannot get enough bishonen with wings...
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